That rail bridge at Keadby

[Melita]

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/29067-keadby-vazon-bridge-out-ot-order

 

Closed again!

[David Mack]

But an 'opportunity' to pass through tonight:

"Network Rail will be opening the bridge on Wednesday evening between midnight and 1am (Thursday morning) to see if they can resolve the issue with the structure.

Any boats which need to get through will be able to do so at this time."

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/29067-keadby-vazon-bridge-out-ot-order

 

[Jon57]

2 hours ago, David Mack said:

But an 'opportunity' to pass through tonight:

"Network Rail will be opening the bridge on Wednesday evening between midnight and 1am (Thursday morning) to see if they can resolve the issue with the structure.

Any boats which need to get through will be able to do so at this time."

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/29067-keadby-vazon-bridge-out-ot-order

 

This could become the norm if network rail don't get there so called engineers to sort it out. They have had plenty of time. 🤔

[Jen-in-Wellies]

8 hours ago, Jon57 said:

This could become the norm if network rail don't get there so called engineers to sort it out. They have had plenty of time. 🤔

Their engineers aren't that bad. At least the Vazon bridge almost always seems to fail in a state where trains can still run. Compare that with CaRT, where almost every failure stops navigation. Network Fail engineers have their priorities right. 😀

[Jen-in-Wellies]

The obvious solution for the Vazon bridge would be to make it canal priority, rather than rail, with it open for boat traffic and the deck is slid across the canal only when a train wants to cross. It could be driver operated, with a pedestal where the train driver would stop and insert their Network Rail key to operate the bridge. They would then drive across the bridge, stop again, walk back, open the bridge to boat traffic again, retrieve their key, walk back to the cab and continue on their way. When the bridge fails, Network Rail could send emails out to the drivers advising them of the closure and the drivers could look at their maps and work out an alternative route to their destination.

[system 4-50]

CRT vs Network rail:

 

CRT: Maintain only one side of the thoroughfare and wonder why the other side falls in.

NR: Maintain both sides.

 

CRT: Every piece of equipment is a bespoke size.

NR:  Standard gauge is standard gauge.

 

CRT: Nearly all the equipment is operated by amateurs.

NR: Nearly all the equipment is operated by trained professionals.

 

CRT: Users are conveyed in steel tubes with openable doors.

NR: Users are conveyed in aluminium tubes with sealed doors.

 

CRT: Exists on minimal funding.

NR: Encouraged to spend billions.

[Ewan123]

10 hours ago, Jon57 said:

This could become the norm if network rail don't get there so called engineers to sort it out. They have had plenty of time. 🤔

Sounds like they're planning to try and sort it out on Wednesday night... they're not opening it for the sake of boat passages at that time.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

11 minutes ago, system 4-50 said:

CRT vs Network rail:

 

CRT: Maintain only one side of the thoroughfare and wonder why the other side falls in.

NR: Maintain both sides.

 

CRT: Every piece of equipment is a bespoke size.

NR:  Standard gauge is standard gauge.

 

CRT: Nearly all the equipment is operated by amateurs.

NR: Nearly all the equipment is operated by trained professionals.

 

CRT: Users are conveyed in steel tubes with openable doors.

NR: Users are conveyed in aluminium tubes with sealed doors.

 

CRT: Exists on minimal funding.

NR: Encouraged to spend billions.

Some more.

CRT: Users travel on water, which shrinks in hot weather.

NR: Users travel on steel rails, which expand in hot weather.

 

CRT: Started off as private, then was nationalised (BW) and is currently a charity.

NR: Started off as private, then was nationalised (BR), then was privatised (Railtrack), then was nationalised, again.

 

CRT: Autumn leaves are only a slight problem. .

NR: Leaves on the line are a big problem.

 

CRT: Ice stops travel.

NR: The wrong sort of snow stops travel.

 

CRT: Much of the civil engineering is still Georgian.

NR: Much of the civil engineering is still Victorian.

 

CRT: Many of the boats burn coal.

NR: Very few trains burn coal.

 

CRT: Boat spotters are called gongoozlers.

NR: Train spotters are called train spotters.

[magpie patrick]

CRT - bring a paddleboard and mix with boats big enough to squish you

NR - Bring your own train? er, no, just no...

[1st ade]

41 minutes ago, magpie patrick said:

NR - Bring your own train? er, no, just no...

But in the early days of rail - Private trains (and private wagons) were very much the thing. One reason for introducing signalling...

[Tony Brooks]

27 minutes ago, 1st ade said:

But in the early days of rail - Private trains (and private wagons) were very much the thing. One reason for introducing signalling...

 

Still are, but very heavily controlled. I am going on one on Saturday. As far as I know, one particular licence to operate is open to anyone, but more usually companies. I think Hull Trains is one of these and I know there are others serving niche markets.

 

There are others running excursions with their own rolling stock and engines they hire in from all sorts. One runs an HST.

[1st ade]

1 hour ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Still are, but very heavily controlled. I am going on one on Saturday. As far as I know, one particular licence to operate is open to anyone, but more usually companies. I think Hull Trains is one of these and I know there are others serving niche markets.

 

There are others running excursions with their own rolling stock and engines they hire in from all sorts. One runs an HST.

Thanks Tony

 

I'd completely forgotten "Vintage" excursions - Very remiss of me, as Magpie the Elder (AKA Dad) was instrumental in saving one, 8F 48773 which is still running.

 

I had two (very different) copies of "Red for Danger" - which I now can't find. These had eloquent descriptions of private carriages "falling off" the back of scheduled trains and of owners turning up at locomotive sheds demanding that "their" engine be made ready...

[ditchcrawler]

6 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Their engineers aren't that bad. At least the Vazon bridge almost always seems to fail in a state where trains can still run. Compare that with CaRT, where almost every failure stops navigation. Network Fail engineers have their priorities right. 😀

Same on the Broads.

[Momac]

15 hours ago, Jon57 said:

They have had plenty of time. 🤔

Sounds like you haven't worked with the railways.😁

[IanD]

3 hours ago, 1st ade said:

Thanks Tony

 

I'd completely forgotten "Vintage" excursions - Very remiss of me, as Magpie the Elder (AKA Dad) was instrumental in saving one, 8F 48773 which is still running.

 

I had two (very different) copies of "Red for Danger" - which I now can't find. These had eloquent descriptions of private carriages "falling off" the back of scheduled trains and of owners turning up at locomotive sheds demanding that "their" engine be made ready...

I seem to remember Sherlock Holmes ordering up a private train when he was in a great hurry...

[Stroudwater1]

16 minutes ago, IanD said:

I seem to remember Sherlock Holmes ordering up a private train when he was in a great hurry...

Queen Victoria had one too, a situation available right up to the present and much used by Queen Elizabeth 2nd but for reasons unclear it seems to be very expensive to run? 
 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13665321/King-Charles-Yorkshire-Royal-Train-Flying-Scotsman-cost-British-taxpayers.html
 

(Please no usual political jibes….)

 

 

[Momac]

3 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Queen Victoria had one too, a situation available right up to the present and much used by Queen Elizabeth 2nd but for reasons unclear it seems to be very expensive to run? 
 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13665321/King-Charles-Yorkshire-Royal-Train-Flying-Scotsman-cost-British-taxpayers.html
 

(Please no usual political jibes….)

I think we all know rail travel is expensive.

Not surprising about the cost . Much of the expense must be in keeping the train in operational condition regardless of miles travelled.

A bit like a boat really.

 

[ditchcrawler]

17 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Queen Victoria had one too, a situation available right up to the present and much used by Queen Elizabeth 2nd but for reasons unclear it seems to be very expensive to run? 
 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13665321/King-Charles-Yorkshire-Royal-Train-Flying-Scotsman-cost-British-taxpayers.html
 

(Please no usual political jibes….)

 

 

She also set the maximum speed it could travel and what time they had to stop overnight in a siding so she could get a good nights sleep 

[Mac of Cygnet]

I seem to remember that when Charlie was seeing Diana Spencer they had a Royal train parked in a siding overnight to let them get on with it.

[Jon57]

2 hours ago, Mac of Cygnet said:

I seem to remember that when Charlie was seeing Diana Spencer they had a Royal train parked in a siding overnight to let them get on with it.

I was doing a job for the owner of Hasty polo club a long time ago when Charles was seeing Camila P B on the quiet. The local groundsman told us the used to take a horse to the perimeter of the owner's property to pick her up (allegedly 😁) They said it was park and ride time when they had to shoot off to do the deed. 😂