...and I thought the hours of service regulations for truck drivers were arcane...

---

.

Hello, from Albany, CA!...

A few piccies from a little jaunt to two UK narrow gauge lines
We start at England's highest narrow gauge station (and highest market town)


Haulage for the day, sadly only one diesel loco on duty :-(




One of the UK's newest narrow gauge locos - a battery electric, built in Tamworth only a couple of miles from where I live!


Something that is obviously a bit shy!


Interior shot of Alston station, showing its nice new roof - shame the track and the stock aren't up to the same standard. Ride was very poor, even when considering the state of the track, at least two of the four coaches had massive flats, and the staff just shrugged saying "Well what do you expect at the end of the season, we might get it fixed for next season"


Now a couple of days later, and into North Wales for the Weshpool & Llanfair Railway, sorry no pictures of the stations as there just so many people around!


Monarch was the last steam industrial loco built, for Bowater's paper mill in Kent. Since retiring from service it has had a very chequered story, narrowly escaping the gas axe on at least two occasions, and now in "stuffed and mounted" condition, with little or no hope of it ever returning to traffic.


Many of the W&L's locos originated on plantation lines, thus have way over-sized spark arrestors.

What a contrast, clean stock, pleasant staff, decent to good ride 9again track bed not perfect, mostly due to the state of the underlying "ancient" foundations having suffered from being eroded over the years.

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Ex GWR Pannier tank 6430 was sitting on the back of a low loader at South Mimms lorry services last night.

---

Kevin

90 years later, an upgraded South Shore rail line is on track

Back in 1927, representatives of the South Shore railroad discussed adding a second track to speed travel times, add trains and attract more passengers.

It took 90 years, but Indiana officials think that a double track for the South Shore from Gary to Michigan City, along with a line extension from Hammond south to Dyer, could finally happen. The state along with northwest Indiana counties and municipalities have pledged half the money for the nearly $1 billion project — now it needs the rest in federal grants.

Indiana officials are optimistic the grants will come through next year, given the project's bipartisan support, including the approval of Vice President Mike Pence, a former governor. It shows what can happen if a transit project is touted as a key to jobs and growth, instead of just a nice, green thing to do, said William Hanna, chief executive of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

"You had the General Assembly looking at this from the viewpoint of economic development and not a transit ask," Hanna said.

---

90 years later, an upgraded South Shore rail line is on track

Only 90 years?
It took almost 150 years to get a railway from Darwin to Adelaide built.

EDIT- Which, with WWII occurring makes it all the more ridiculous. When the Darwin wharf was bombed and put out of commission the only way to get large volumes of freight to Darwin was by road (more of a dirt track at the time) from Alice Springs to Birdum, then from Birdum to Darwin by rail.
Prior to the war, there was 1 train a week on the line. With the war, that rose to 147. Goods hauled increased by 6,346%

---

Grant
Darwin NT

90 years later, an upgraded South Shore rail line is on track

Back in 1927, representatives of the South Shore railroad discussed adding a second track to speed travel times, add trains and attract more passengers.

It took 90 years, but Indiana officials think that a double track for the South Shore from Gary to Michigan City, along with a line extension from Hammond south to Dyer, could finally happen. The state along with northwest Indiana counties and municipalities have pledged half the money for the nearly $1 billion project — now it needs the rest in federal grants.

Indiana officials are optimistic the grants will come through next year, given the project's bipartisan support, including the approval of Vice President Mike Pence, a former governor. It shows what can happen if a transit project is touted as a key to jobs and growth, instead of just a nice, green thing to do, said William Hanna, chief executive of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

"You had the General Assembly looking at this from the viewpoint of economic development and not a transit ask," Hanna said.

Not much being handed out in compensation for those forced to move or for businesses forced to close or move.
Small-business owners in Purple Line’s path worry about being forced to move

Whew. Been so busy I haven't had time to post lately. It's amazing how much time is wasted in railroad operations, how much time I spend sitting on my butt in yards.

But I should really confine my stories to the museum. Let's see, what have I been up to lately? First, what did I last tell you? Oh yeah...

The next day after my 12 hour shift as dispatcher was Labor Day. However, I was tired and slept late. No big deal, since the train I was supposed to work didn't run anyway. I went out and took a ride on something.

The following Saturday, I was coach trainman. The conductor would have been quite happy to give me the job and go work on electric cars, but I was too tired to take that much responsibility. I felt better Sunday, but I was trainman again.

Next came Museum Showcase weekend. I was signed up for shuttle conductor (same as 2 weeks earlier), but again I slept in. I arrived at 1:45, made an urgent visit to the euphemism, then found out someone was just getting out the CTA 2000s to substitute for the still-ailing 2200s on the shuttle. I also learned the whole railroad was running on a single substation because the other one had a problem. Since there were two on the crew, I said I'd meet them at 50th Ave. When I got there, I found the CRT woods 1797/1268 coupling onto 24. They needed a 3rd crew member more than the shuttle, so I did two trips on that instead. When the train went out of service, I got off at the depot and got in line for the annual barbecue dinner. When that was over and Superintendent had taken over as dispatcher, I took a ride on 3142 (never having done so at night -- whoop de doo). Sup was about to issue an order to 1630 for an 8:00 trip when one of the steam guys said there was no conductor present. Sup asked where he was and I think finally figured out that no one had signed up for it. He announced that Trainmaster1 was going to sign in and do it. i headed over to take a ride. Just as I got on, steam guy also said the brakes had not been tested and Sup decided to delay the trip until 8:30. The whole car full of passengers heard that from my radio and decided to go ride the North Shore instead. At this point, I called Sup and offered to do the brake test. You could hear the hope in his voice when he asked me what I was supposed to be doing, and the covered disappointment when I said I was supposed to be going home and getting some sleep so I could dispatch tomorrow. But he accepted my offer to do the brake test. I immediately called for a set, but someone else had started talking. I finally turned on my phone's flashlight and waved it over my head toward the engine until they set the brakes. I observed that they set properly on the last car* and held up the phone again, holding still this time until the engineer released. I observed a release on the last car and called out a good brake test on the now-clear radio. TM1 finally showed up and confirmed the brake test with me. I went along on the 8:30 trip, then took a ride on VC 19 and left.

There was a surprising lack of volunteers out for Sunday of Showcase. Only three trains ran, none more unusual than the Zephyr. It was actually a fairly boring day for me. I could have dispatched from the ground, but it was just warm enough that I wanted the air conditioning in the tower. When the Zephyr first came out, I sent it to the main to get to the west end of the station: short turn East Switch and go west to Signal 91. Once the electric train came in, I told the Zephyr "sit there and look pretty for the railfans until 1630 leaves, then you have authority to pass 91, short turn West Switch and into 2." Later, I had to tell them to reeeeeeeallly take their time passing 91 to Jefferson St. and back to 2 to accommodate 1630's departure.

This last weekend, I was less tired but still overslept. However, I was still there in plenty of time to be coach conductor for three trips. Sunday, I got in another trip and a half on the CA&E steels, and I felt much better about them. I'm getting a feel for the brakes, including how the different cars react differently. If I can get in a couple more trips next Sunday, I may ask to qualify (if there's a qualifier there).

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

@David, any comments?
https://apnews.com/3701e993b6d74ea0aade38e5fad93aea/Democrats'-bill-requires-sleep-apnea-testing-for-engineers

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers from New York and New Jersey are introducing legislation Thursday to force federal transportation officials to implement a rule to test train engineers for sleep apnea.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker announced the legislation a week after the National Transportation Safety Board said that the engineers involved in crashes in Hoboken and Brooklyn were suffering from undiagnosed sleep apnea.

It also comes ahead of Friday’s anniversary of a crash in Hoboken when a New Jersey Transit train slammed into Hoboken Terminal, killing a woman standing on a platform and injuring about 110 passengers and crew.

The legislation would force the Department of Transportation to implement a proposed rule to require the test, overturning President Donald Trump’s decision last month to allow individual railroads to decide whether to conduct the test.

@David, any comments?
https://apnews.com/3701e993b6d74ea0aade38e5fad93aea/Democrats'-bill-requires-sleep-apnea-testing-for-engineers

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers from New York and New Jersey are introducing legislation Thursday to force federal transportation officials to implement a rule to test train engineers for sleep apnea.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker announced the legislation a week after the National Transportation Safety Board said that the engineers involved in crashes in Hoboken and Brooklyn were suffering from undiagnosed sleep apnea.

It also comes ahead of Friday’s anniversary of a crash in Hoboken when a New Jersey Transit train slammed into Hoboken Terminal, killing a woman standing on a platform and injuring about 110 passengers and crew.

The legislation would force the Department of Transportation to implement a proposed rule to require the test, overturning President Donald Trump’s decision last month to allow individual railroads to decide whether to conduct the test.

I hope it doesn't include museums. It's already hard enough to get train crews.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Just in time for Halloween...
Is Europe's ghostliest train station about to rise again?

It was one of the world's most opulent railway stations, sitting imposingly on the French-Spanish border - but then it fell into disrepair. Now, writes Chris Bockman, the building is showing new signs of life.

When they built the station at Canfranc, it was on a grand scale and with no expense spared. It had to be bold and modern - an architect's dream come true, built in iron and glass, complete with a hospital, restaurant and living quarters for customs officers from both France and Spain.

At the time it was nicknamed the "Titanic of the Mountains".

To give you an idea of its size - there are 365 windows, one for each day of the year; hundreds of doors; and the platforms are more than 200m long. The question is, how did such a extravagant station, high up on a mountainside in a village with a population of just 500 people, ever see the light of day?

---

A couple of quick pics, not the usual.

Yesterday I decided to go to London, and of course I go by train. Obviously since I have been away, there have been a few changes, the Siemens Desiro City class 700's have totally taken over the Thameslink route between Brighton and Bedford I and wanted to travel on one. Now most of them go via Blackfriars, and I really wanted to go to London Bridge.

However I decided I would just have to walk from Blackfriars. So waitng for the 9:40 to Blackfriars it magically transformed to the 9:55 to London Bridge.

Here it is arriving as another pulls out on the opposite platform.



A bit grainy as it is well "zoomed" as I didn't want to get hit as I was standing on the platform edge,

700-1 means it is a 12 car set 700-0 are 8 car sets. So yes there is a 700007

Must say they are really quiet and quite comfortable inside, if a little "spartan" there are no doors between carriages so it is just one long train.

Just outside the station on one of the very few sidings left these days was this.





DR-73913 a Plasser and Theurer switch and crossing tamper. Picture was taken through the train window hence the odd reflections.

So I haven't logged onto the train cams for a few months now I find even more new cameras and as Photobucket wiped out most of my Amtrak screenshots, I will have to make up for that. ;-)

The first one is in West Newton PA about half way between Pittsburgh and Connesville, extremely rural and here is Amtrak 30 on Saturday passing.



This is on the Railstream site where I get full HD

The second interesting camera is in the Virtual Railfan site where for the same money as Railstream you only get SD

This camera is located at Davisville RI, on the North East Corridor,(Boston, New York Washington) about 30 minutes train time from Providence. It is a spot I must have passed 4 times on my Amtrak trips!!

Yesterday the Amtrak track crew was working there all day. As you can see the speed of the trains means the SD camera feed basically blurs all the identifying features.



Yes an Acela on a train cam!!

The Amtrak train map said the speed was around 108MPH

The Amtrak map has also changed it now only fills half a screen!!



Oh well I am sre things will settle down.

9/30: Bus Day. I slept late, washed the bathroom floor, took a shower, slipped on the still-slightly-soapy, fell on my back, determined that nothing was broken or strained, got dressed, went to the hardware store, decided I was too sore to drive 45 miles for not much reason, and went back home.

10/1: Fortunately, I was feeling much better. Got in two trips on the steels and decided I'm ready to qualify.

10/7: Milwaukee Transit Day. Slept late, got out there around 12:30. A strong gust of wind grabbed my car door and (I only realized when I returned to it later) hyperextended it a bit. Rode the streetcar and a bus, bought some old books, rode the steels in the rain, left early (just as the rain was ending). Ended up getting the van and sitting on my butt on the railroad's dime for a few hours.

10/8: There was already a full crew signed up, so I got the van again and sat around waiting for a call.

Follow-up: Today I went to a body shop for an estimate on the car door. It's not serious and I may be able to get it fixed cheap, without making an insurance claim.

Future: I asked for conductor slots on four of the six remaining days. One already has a full crew. For the last day of the season, the streetcar is still open, but I don't want it, so I asked for dispatcher.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Future: I asked for conductor slots on four of the six remaining days. One already has a full crew. For the last day of the season, the streetcar is still open, but I don't want it, so I asked for dispatcher.

I'm in for everything I asked for. Still no motormen on anything this Saturday. Two of us expect to qualify on the CA&E steels on the 22nd.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Investigation-Underway-After-Freight-Train-Derails-in-Lincoln-Heights-450750763.html

Authorities are investigating the cause of a derailed Union Pacific freight train in Lincoln Heights after five rail cars carrying automobiles derailed early Friday.

The derailment was reported at approximately 4:10 a.m. in the 700 block of South Lamar Street near the San Antonio Winery.

The incident will not interfere with commutes since the derailment was in the Union Pacifc Railroad Yard, according to Justin Jacobs, a representative for Union Pacifc Railroad.

No injuries, fires or hazards were reported.

---

10/14: I arrived late, in the rain, to find that Crew Caller and the signed-up conductor had already brought out the North Shore train. Nobody had ever signed up for motorman on anything, so that was all we ran. However, he let me run it all day. By the third trip, he didn't even stand next to me, he sat down to supervise me. Those cars are even easier than the CA&E steels. For one thing, they're more consistent with each other. (The windshield wipers also work nicely.) The first two trips, we went around the Car Line before heading down the Main, but the second time around the water was nearly up to the top of the rails at Barn 9 North, so we decided not to take a chance on it after that -- rules forbid running through water higher than the rail tops. We had two cars, but never had more than half a car of passengers on a trip.

10/15: Weekday A-Sup was considering whether to run North Shore again or 4000s like he signed up for. He decided to stick with the L. As it turned out, one of the Electric Car guys decided to run North Shore. However, he just took one car... which filled to capacity and had to leave people behind for its first trip. We also had a single car, 4290. 4412 is out of service with door issues. They were planning to take it out anyway, but had to do it immediately instead of waiting for 4410 to go into service. I ran the last trip. Heading for the barn, the pole came off... and pulled its rope out of the catcher. Afterward, I went to hang out with the Electric Car guys, who were installing a new motor lead on 431. This means I'll be trying to qualify on a car I've never run before, but it shouldn't matter. At one point, I was walking out of the Car Shop and failed to lift my foot over the chain across the doorway. Third time in four months I've landed on my back. Nothing worse than a skinned knee from the gravel, though.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

OK a couple of train pics I got today and not an Amtrak in sight.

There was a steam excursion that passed through South Croydon station today, before it I got a better pic of two of the 700 class passing.



700016 and 700004, both are the 8 carriage set as it is Saturday it is less busy.

Also a nice view of the 3 banner repeater signals, needed due to the bridge.
Nowadays they are LED bulbs.

Amazing how "untidy" railways get

Now the steam excursion, It was the Bognor Belle, destined for Bognor Regis.




Hauling the train was LMS Royal Scot 41600

10/21: Full crew signed up and I stayed home.

10/22: Arrived early in the rain and made an urgent trip to the euphemism. Coming out, I found my fellow trainee hiding from the rain. We both went to sign in and I made myself dispatcher. Then we headed off to open barns and wait for our trainer. The motorman of 4290 showed up, followed by Weekday A-Sup, who was supposed to be our trainer but stepped aside because we wanted to qualify and he's not a qualifier on CA&E cars; he said he'd be conductor on 4290 instead, but then someone else showed up to do that, so I'm not sure what he did.

Our trainer finally came and walked us through inspecting the car (409 solo; it had been separated from 460 and 431 had developed governor trouble after the motor lead was repaired) and setting it up for service, making sure we both knew what to do. I allowed 4290 out of the yard first and gave them orders for a 10:30 trip. After they left, we made our way out with me at the controls. 3142 also went into service on the Car Line. I ran our 11:30 trip and the other trainee ran the 1:30, then the trainer signed both of our forms.

Last week, I mentioned to one of the mavens of the CA&E wood cars that we were going to qualify on the steels and he said he wanted to also, having never officially qualified on them. Twice this day, he came looking for our trainer, but he wasn't there. About 3:00, he called on the radio to ask if 415 could come out for a couple of training trips. I said yes and be ready for a 3:15 departure. Our trainer wanted to run the 3:30 trip himself, so I decided to go along for the ride on 415, giving 409 orders to meet 415 at Johnson. It was early, but it was also cold and rainy, so I gave 4290 orders to go to bed after 409 departed. When we got back to radio range, 4290 called to say they had passengers and wanted to make another trip. I gave them orders for 4:00, meeting 409 at East Switch, to the Grove, and westbound meet 415 at Johnson, to Signal 91 and call.

When 409 returned, the trainer and other trainee came up to 415 and Wood Car Guy finally got to talk to him. When he mentioned that he couldn't do a trip now because he had to supervise the guys who were training on 415, I said either I or the other trainee could do that. Since I had to issue orders, other trainee took the next ride on 415 and I would be conductor on 409. 3142 also came to chat; he was cold and I gave him authority to go to bed at his discretion. I gave 415 a 4:15 departure, meet 409 at East Switch, to the Grove, westbound meet 409 again at Johnson, to Signal 91 and call. I was trying to figure out how to give 409 orders for a 4:30 when I finally realized if we left before 4290 returned it would constitute three trains on the Main, which I can't do if I'm on the crew of one of them. Then it turned out 4290 had a couple of people who wanted to ride 409, so we waited for them. Meanwhile, I gave 4290 authority to bed.

Now the question was, how do I word the order to my own train? Finally, I said immediate departure, meet 415 at Johnson, to the Grove, west to Signal 91 and call, and we all need to verify that 415 is out of our way when we get back. As we approached Johnson, I called 415 and gave them authority past 91 to Jefferson, back to One, and into the barn, watching out for 4290 and 3142. I also said to keep a radio on so I could verify their location when 409 returned. When we did, we saw 415 just pulling into the Tail Track, so I authorized us past 91 to Jefferson and back to One. Then we went to the barn and the trainer showed Wood Car Guy how to shut it down (minor but important differences from the woods). He signed his form too, but it needed a couple other signatures as well (including "line training not required" because he's already qualified on other cars in the same category). After signing out, I went to the Electric Car Shop and watched someone fight with 431's governor, and listened to discussions of what photo to use for next year's calendar (one from a friend of mine is a serious contender).

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Was on the road yesterday and saw a truck with a 250 gal water tank and backhoe on it and on the door was an outline of an AnsaldoBreda P255 on the door. That made me take a more careful look as I hadn't see any RR equipment with such a logo. It had the name of the owner and "Landscape Company, Specializing in RR right of way clearance." So a private business that hires out to do brush clearance for RR's.

Now for something different ...
https://apnews.com/901ad9a74b71d7f0df68b85a2f2bc435/Union-Pacific's-3Q-profit-grows-6-percent-despite-challenges

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific delivered a 6 percent improvement in third-quarter profit even though it hauled 1 percent less freight and dealt with disruptions from Hurricane Harvey.

The Omaha, Nebraska, railroad it earned $1.19 billion, or $1.50 per share, in the third quarter. That’s up from $1.13 billion, or $1.36 per share, a year ago.