Good Morning Ron and greetings from Poland Lots and lots of passenger trains speeding by going to and coming from many places. The three different locations you selected certainly gave an exciting view of the trains - especially loved by the little boy standing on the platform at Ashchurch Station. Wonderful to see the GWR steam loco and the Tesco Train
Hi Michael, hope you are well. I often look at passengers on trains and wonder where they are going and why. Just nosey I guess. Look after yourself. Ron
Morning Ron, The design of the level crossing seems sensible with only half barriers allowing an escape if you got trapped in the middle. Good safety message on fast trains, not sure about the music I expected the indigenous population of snakes to appear and be charmed. I was hoping to give Ron’s guide to Victorian railway architecture as Christmas presents this year but they tell me it is still not published.
Nice array of fast moving locomotives with their cars. Just think of the hundreds of tons of weight hurtling towards you and the only thing keeping that on the track is the 1inch high flange that is about 3/4" thick on the wheels. Very little steel keeping all that energy focused down the the tracks and not in your lap.
Hi Ron - Lots of Action for us Train Folks this Week - There’s a Long Straight at Wadborough Bridge at Abbots Wood, down the Rd from Worcester Parkway where I used to take the Kids “Spotting” Years ago for Cheap entertainment 😁 I enjoyed Bolero which I do find very Atmospheric, tho I’ve never associated it with Railways, til now! 😉 - Ok Question of the Day….How do the Other 3 of “The Top 4 Supermarkets” in the Uk, Move all their Logistics About, as I only Ever See Tesco/Lessco Trains, Never Any of the Others 🤔 Many Thanks Ron, Keep on Filming 🎥 🚂🚞🚞💨
Hi Ron. Sure, our trains here are usually much longer that your, but they don't come nearly as frequently. I used to ride my bike over to a quiet parking lot next to the main line and wait and wait and wait for a train to pass. Usually, they only finally came when I had given up and was well on my way home...I've always found the sound of a train whistle in the distance a bit "mocking" and I wondered whether CN or CP had some kind of schedule that coincided ALMOST perfectly with mine. It was nice to see you caught more than your fair share and I really appreciate you sharing your daring day out with us. The weather is cold now and I put the cover on the air conditioning unit...I've got to keep it in good nick for its test next summer. Now back to report writing...it seems like only a few weeks ago I was complaining about them. Have a good week Ron. James and Sumac.
Hi James sorry to hear CN and CP railways have found time to pick on you, Most unfair when you think of all the thousands of other people they could have chosen. Glad you have covered the air/con unit, we would all hate it if it failed it's annual summer one day test. I can imagine Sumac's disappointment if that were to happen. Take care on that bike. Ron
Mornin' Ron, That was fun!! Sage advice too at the start and end, you never know who might be watching. I think in general the UK railways are well fenced off except maybe the footcrossings. The best I remember seeing is the Paris Metro where the platforms are screened off so that no one can fall (or be pushed) down onto the rails, its always been a concern of mine on the London Underground with the packed platforms. The music really built up and of course Bolero was the music that Torvill and Dean won their Olympic gold in 1984. If you had descended to the ground like a Swan at the end I would have awarded you a 6.0 for artistic interpretation but I'm going to have to dock you a point so its 5.9 from me!! Been to the quacks this week and they will do an ultrasound operation to remove the KS early next year. I will be late for the show next week as the 6th is a bank holiday, the Day of the Constitution Have a great weekend!! PS: I think the small box on the track is probably some form of sensor to detect when the train has passed the crossing and allow the gates to be opened. Lets hope someone more knowledgable can inform us.
Hi David, as I understand it the railways were fenced not to keep people out but to keep them in. The land owners didn't want the great unwashed trespassing on their land. Good news on the KS I guess rather you than me, but I'm sure you will be fine. Harsh with your scoring I thought, didn't you see my double axle! Well alright that was on the train. Look after all. Ron
Afternoon Ron. That was great fun and the music choice made it even more so . I think those turnbuckles were to anchor the platforms in place between the rails. The cabling and sensors would most likely be the track circuiting which give the position of the train at all times. I think there's also other detectors too like faults on the train such as over heating bearings. Stay Safe Pete Tanya and Syd
Hi Pete, the rain has eased off a bit so you and syd won't be getting as wet as usual, I expect Tanya has more sense and stays in the dry. Thanks for the rail info, Andrew Merriman has popped up from long ago to give us some more info as well. Look after everyone. Ron
Hello again Ron from Thailand. I know the line in this video well as I have a friend who lives in Tewksbury who meets me when I visit I at Ashchurch station where we usually end up standing watching the trains for quite a while ! Before retirement we both worked for the MoD Rail service at the military base at Ashchurch, indeed there is still a branch line in to it from this main line just along from the station. Now purely as a point if interest, I am here in central Thailand each year during the cold English winters and over the last few days I took a short break to the northern city of Chiang Mai, travelling both ways on the Royal Thai Railways which believe me a very different to our English trains ! Keep up the good productions, Roger.
Hi Roger, having been to Thailand I can see why you would like it there, a stunning place. One of our subscribers is there at the moment on a golf holiday (The Hairy Golfer). Hope you are taking good care of yourself. Ron
Hello Roger, I am in the land of smiles right now. No trains down on Phuket. I did plan a trip to Chiang Mai one time and was going to use the sleeper from Bangkok to get there. I couldn't get the flight timings right and it would of meant having quite a few hours waiting for said train. I should of done it. I should of put up with hanging around just to make those memories. I'm off home in one week, enjoy the rest of your winter stay. Simon
@@thehairygolfer Hello Simon. Last year I actually went on the overnight sleeper to Chiang Mai, it has brand new coaches and is very smart, however before I went I was told that the air conditioning was rather fierce so even with an extra layer on I was still extremely cold all night, this along with the noise of the track I didn't get much sleep ! Enjoy the rest of your sunshine holiday, your fellow Thai friend Roger.
@@rogercook6360 That's a shame Roger. I was thinking the train might put me to sleep after a 12 hour flight. The sun has returned this week which makes golf very hard. Who am I kidding? It's a holiday - nothing is hard. Cheers
Good morning Ron from a wet but warm Wales. Trains passing close by are an amazing experience and MUST always be observed from a safe viewpoint. I remember standing safely trackside on the Lickey Incline some years ago watching HST's thundering over the top and racing down to Bromsgrove at the bottom - unleashed power in all its glory. I was surprised how few of the trains featured sounded a warning when approaching the crossing (or maybe your mic didn't pick it up). When out walking I sometimes encounter a footpath which crosses a railway. If a train is coming I stand well back and, when the driver sounds his horn on the approach, I always raise a hand to show that I have heard it. The driver will always then raise a hand in return to show he has seen my signal. On our heritage railway I work on permanent way and if a train is approaching it will always sound a warning and we respond by raising one arm above our head to acknowledge that we have heard the warning. We should then attempt, if possible, to stand at least 10 feet away from the track in the cess (that's the area to the side of the track; NEVER in the 6 foot which is the area between two tracks. The answers to your two questions have been addressed by others but, to elaborate, the turnbuckles hold the road panel sections between the rails securely in place and allow the removal of the panels for maintenance. Andrew (so good to hear from you again 👍) has hit the nail on the head by giving a good account to your second question regarding axel counters. There are many different designs and some are placed outside the rail in the cess rather than between the tracks. There are also many random bits of equipment alongside railway tracks such as axel counters, hot wheel box detectors and speed detectors to record if a driver exceeds the speed limit. Add to that all the signalling and communications equipment etc, and its is a real metal jungle out there!! Should be decent weather for a stint on the railway tomorrow and hopefully I can get enough people together to help in removing a trap point to allow us to start installing one of the three new turnouts we will need to go into our new locomotive shed. I've done the surveying which is the easy bit and now we have to get our hands dirty and start doing the heavy stuff! That's about it Ron, best wishes to you Pauline and the rest of the PW family, especially those suffering from ill health at this time. p.s. I hope David has sent in a letter from his mum asking him to be excused from being late on parade next week! 🤣😂
Hi Trev, how are the tendons doing? You are right to reinforce the safety aspects for getting anywhere near a live railway, I tried to get that across in the intro. Thanks for the technical details and yes it is good to hear from Andrew again. I hope the weather holds fair for your trap point and turnouts work. Be careful you are not as young as you think you are!! Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Thanks Ron. Just waiting for appointment with the specialist shoulder surgeon to see what's possible. They can do some work to ease things but closing up the 3cm gap along the whole length of the main tendon is a real challenge and may not be possible ☹.
Good morning Ron. Well it’s not 745 yet and what an exciting morning. My prospective Ukrainian guest sent me pictures of Kiev at 545 where she has gone after a 12 hour journey to have her biometrics done before she will be granted a visa. It’s taken a year to get to this point. I think she forgot the time difference! Then I got up about 630 to advance the heating and was attacked on the leg by my best cat Maisie and yes she did bite me and drew blood (not much) because I got back into bed rather than getting her breakfast. When I did feed her she ate about 4 mouthfuls and has gone off to look out of the window. And then your filming with dramatic musical accompaniment! I was awaiting the finale with some trepidation. I couldn’t get the first location but I do know there are one or two crossings like that north of Cheltenham. Ashchurch is a brilliant place to go with the long stretches either way. Pity there’s no cafe and shelter to speak of but we have to be very thankful when there is a station especially a new one. I haven’t been train spotting for at least two weeks so need to go somewhere today. Possibly Stafford as there’s lots going on there and a cafe and covered seats. I hope the Parkinson’s family is doing well and all ailments under control. Bye for now Rom and thanks for the inspiration. 🌻
Hi Marilyn, a new guest, company for you, provided Maisie doesn't mind. If your new guest likes trains this could be a win win. I bought the book you recommended on kindle, I was so impressed I bought his other 'Signalman' books too. Thanks for the tip. Hope Maisie starts talking to you soon. Take care. Ron
I wonder how many of those speeding trains were running on time? Lovely view of the Malvern's in the distance. They have a much slower geological timetable! Nice video. thank's.
Hello Ron, trains are very dangerous. I'm not talking about the physical contact but the movement of air. A fast train moves a lot of air, it sets up eddies and currents along the train and a vaccuum at the back. It can drag along objects behind it. A friend of mine worked the railways, Signals and communications. He was working one time in a cutting with brick walls. The whistle went and they had to down tools and hold onto the handrails as a 125 was approaching. The movement of air against those brick walls is very very dangerous. You need to give yourself a lot of space from fast moving trains. Sometimes I worry about you being so close especially on those unmanned crossings. Simon
@@ParkinsonsWalks I will tell you the rest of the story. While holding onto the handrails somebody on the train happened to have an evacuation which of course goes on the tracks. Paint the picture yourself. The plus side of working the railways is all the embankments with housing behind. People throw their waste from the vegetable patch over the fence onto the railway land and of course some of it regrows the following year. A steady supply of free veg for the workers. Simon
Greetings from the Parkinson's Walks retirement home for past contributors. The little box at 06:22 is an axle counter. On the approach to the crossing there would be another one when each set of wheels depresses the arm it adds 1 to the counter, when the train passes over the crossing and passes the second counter it subtracts one from the counter. Only when the counter reads zero proving that the complete train has passed over the crossing will the barriers raise. They are being used to replace track circuits as they are more reliable. Looking forward to your Christmas offering which in years gone buy I have felt is the best one of the year.
Andrew, you don't know how much you are missed, you still get a mention now and then. Thank you for the information about the axle counter, you were always good at the nitty gritty. I hope the Christmas offering will be ok, not long now. Take care of yourself, I remember you are not a fan of the cold. Ron
Hi Andrew, good to see you here again. I guessed what the function of that box was likely to be but didn't see the little lever, I thought it might have been optical. Thanks for adding the details, much appreciated!! All the best!!
Hi Ron, This morning I was using a foot crossing when just up the line a train went over an axle counter that didn't operate correctly leaving the barriers down and the lights flashing well after the train had left. Using the foot crossing telephone I phoned the Signalman in Machynlleth Signal Box to inform him of the failure on the Up Loop Axle Counter. A Signals and Telegraph Engineer was sent for but I can confirm after 2 minutes of a Axle Counter failure the barriers will go up and the red lights stop flashing. So if anyone finds themselves in this situation don't panic within 3 minutes they will be able to use the Level Crossing as expected. @@ParkinsonsWalks
@@andrewmerriman7133 Hi Andrew, what a coincidence. I'll use that in the next vlog in a fortnight if that is alright with you, your last post went down well. Take care. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Evening Ron, I mentioned my observations to let viewers know they would be able to use the Level Crossing after a few minutes should an Axle Counter fail. It is Importortant to state that nobody goes onto the railway line to try and cancel the axle counter by interfering with it, in most cases the Axle Counter will be used in conjunction with Track Circuiting so the track would need to be occupied for the Axle Counter to function. Anyone encountering this situation should use the crossing telephone which will be connected to the Signal Box and report the problem to the Signalman. You are most welcome to use any information I have posted in your next Vlog as you see fit.
Great spots for photographers there, Ron. I don't know exactly where that line was, but they were very busy in all your locations. The first spot was wonderful. In the centre of a long curve. Easy to see where the next train was coming from! Best of all, no unsightly overhead cables. Some of the stopping services were of very short consists. I spotted some with only two coaches. Great piece of video. Was that all on the same day?
Hi Lionel, you should ask Mary where that was, I expect she has been there!! Hope she is OK we haven't seen much of her lately. Filmed over two days. Look after yourselves. Ron
Good day Ron! Well, the shot as 5:15 had me puzzled. I thought it was Pershore Abbey at first, but then realised it was on the wrong side of the railway. It was after much comparing that I realised that it must be Tewkesbury Abbey - looks so odd from that angle because you can't see the rest of the town at all. Maurice's finest playing over the sound of the fast trains was a stroke of genius. Lots of trains - and that line just keeps getting busier and busier - much busier than I ever remember it in the 1970s. I think there was a train every 2 or 3 hours from Gloucester to Worcester, and down to Bristol - now its hourly to Ashchurch and Worcester, and half hourly to Bristol. Think they are going to need to bring back the quad tracking at some point, like they did on Filton Bank a few years ago. You also had the Cross-Country shuttles from Cardiff to Nottingham in there, as well as some long distance Penzance/Plymouth to Leeds or Manchester expresses mixed in with the Worcester-Gloucester-Bristol regular services. Good to see the Tesco train and a light loco too. Great work! I was very fortunate to see the Pullman train at Bath Spa station yesterday and I managed to get some shots of it, which I have now put on my Facebook Group - they'll also appear at the end of my next monthly vlog. Hope you have a good week. Take care, Paul
Hi Paul, hope you are well. You certainly know a lot about the train scheduling, I guess that is because you use the trains as often as you can rather than drive? Glad to see I stirred the old grey matter trying to work out the abbey. I'm trying to catch up on my viewing in fits and starts, there is a lot going on here at the moment. Keep looking after yourself. Ron
Good Morning Ron and greetings from Poland
Lots and lots of passenger trains speeding by going to and coming from many places. The three different locations you selected certainly gave an exciting view of the trains - especially loved by the little boy standing on the platform at Ashchurch Station.
Wonderful to see the GWR steam loco and the Tesco Train
Hi Michael, hope you are well. I often look at passengers on trains and wonder where they are going and why. Just nosey I guess. Look after yourself. Ron
Morning Ron,
The design of the level crossing seems sensible with only half barriers allowing an escape if you got trapped in the middle. Good safety message on fast trains, not sure about the music I expected the indigenous population of snakes to appear and be charmed. I was hoping to give Ron’s guide to Victorian railway architecture as Christmas presents this year but they tell me it is still not published.
Hi Barry, not only is it not published, it is also not written yet. Keep watching this space. Keep smiling. Ron
Nice array of fast moving locomotives with their cars. Just think of the hundreds of tons of weight hurtling towards you and the only thing keeping that on the track is the 1inch high flange that is about 3/4" thick on the wheels. Very little steel keeping all that energy focused down the the tracks and not in your lap.
Hi Charles, that is the engineer in you coming out. I'm glad I didn't think of that before I went filming. Take care. Ron
Hi Ron - Lots of Action for us Train Folks this Week - There’s a Long Straight at Wadborough Bridge at Abbots Wood, down the Rd from Worcester Parkway where I used to take the Kids “Spotting” Years ago for Cheap entertainment 😁 I enjoyed Bolero which I do find very Atmospheric, tho I’ve never associated it with Railways, til now! 😉 - Ok Question of the Day….How do the Other 3 of “The Top 4 Supermarkets” in the Uk, Move all their Logistics About, as I only Ever See Tesco/Lessco Trains, Never Any of the Others 🤔 Many Thanks Ron, Keep on Filming 🎥 🚂🚞🚞💨
Hi Donni, 'cheap entertainment' I thought I was the only one that used that on the children. Happy days. Ron
Hi Ron. Sure, our trains here are usually much longer that your, but they don't come nearly as frequently. I used to ride my bike over to a quiet parking lot next to the main line and wait and wait and wait for a train to pass. Usually, they only finally came when I had given up and was well on my way home...I've always found the sound of a train whistle in the distance a bit "mocking" and I wondered whether CN or CP had some kind of schedule that coincided ALMOST perfectly with mine. It was nice to see you caught more than your fair share and I really appreciate you sharing your daring day out with us. The weather is cold now and I put the cover on the air conditioning unit...I've got to keep it in good nick for its test next summer. Now back to report writing...it seems like only a few weeks ago I was complaining about them. Have a good week Ron. James and Sumac.
Hi James sorry to hear CN and CP railways have found time to pick on you, Most unfair when you think of all the thousands of other people they could have chosen. Glad you have covered the air/con unit, we would all hate it if it failed it's annual summer one day test. I can imagine Sumac's disappointment if that were to happen. Take care on that bike. Ron
Mornin' Ron, That was fun!! Sage advice too at the start and end, you never know who might be watching.
I think in general the UK railways are well fenced off except maybe the footcrossings. The best I remember seeing is the Paris Metro where the platforms are screened off so that no one can fall (or be pushed) down onto the rails, its always been a concern of mine on the London Underground with the packed platforms.
The music really built up and of course Bolero was the music that Torvill and Dean won their Olympic gold in 1984. If you had descended to the ground like a Swan at the end I would have awarded you a 6.0 for artistic interpretation but I'm going to have to dock you a point so its 5.9 from me!!
Been to the quacks this week and they will do an ultrasound operation to remove the KS early next year.
I will be late for the show next week as the 6th is a bank holiday, the Day of the Constitution
Have a great weekend!!
PS: I think the small box on the track is probably some form of sensor to detect when the train has passed the crossing and allow the gates to be opened. Lets hope someone more knowledgable can inform us.
Hi David, as I understand it the railways were fenced not to keep people out but to keep them in. The land owners didn't want the great unwashed trespassing on their land.
Good news on the KS I guess rather you than me, but I'm sure you will be fine.
Harsh with your scoring I thought, didn't you see my double axle! Well alright that was on the train. Look after all. Ron
Afternoon Ron. That was great fun and the music choice made it even more so . I think those turnbuckles were to anchor the platforms in place between the rails. The cabling and sensors would most likely be the track circuiting which give the position of the train at all times. I think there's also other detectors too like faults on the train such as over heating bearings. Stay Safe Pete Tanya and Syd
Hi Pete, the rain has eased off a bit so you and syd won't be getting as wet as usual, I expect Tanya has more sense and stays in the dry. Thanks for the rail info, Andrew Merriman has popped up from long ago to give us some more info as well. Look after everyone. Ron
Hello again Ron from Thailand. I know the line in this video well as I have a friend who lives in Tewksbury who meets me when I visit I at Ashchurch station where we usually end up standing watching the trains for quite a while ! Before retirement we both worked for the MoD Rail service at the military base at Ashchurch, indeed there is still a branch line in to it from this main line just along from the station. Now purely as a point if interest, I am here in central Thailand each year during the cold English winters and over the last few days I took a short break to the northern city of Chiang Mai, travelling both ways on the Royal Thai Railways which believe me a very different to our English trains ! Keep up the good productions, Roger.
Hi Roger, having been to Thailand I can see why you would like it there, a stunning place. One of our subscribers is there at the moment on a golf holiday (The Hairy Golfer). Hope you are taking good care of yourself. Ron
Hello Roger, I am in the land of smiles right now. No trains down on Phuket. I did plan a trip to Chiang Mai one time and was going to use the sleeper from Bangkok to get there. I couldn't get the flight timings right and it would of meant having quite a few hours waiting for said train. I should of done it. I should of put up with hanging around just to make those memories. I'm off home in one week, enjoy the rest of your winter stay. Simon
@@thehairygolfer Hello Simon. Last year I actually went on the overnight sleeper to Chiang Mai, it has brand new coaches and is very smart, however before I went I was told that the air conditioning was rather fierce so even with an extra layer on I was still extremely cold all night, this along with the noise of the track I didn't get much sleep ! Enjoy the rest of your sunshine holiday, your fellow Thai friend Roger.
@@rogercook6360 That's a shame Roger. I was thinking the train might put me to sleep after a 12 hour flight. The sun has returned this week which makes golf very hard. Who am I kidding? It's a holiday - nothing is hard. Cheers
Close action video, kept thinking of Sarajevo 1984 as the trains whizzed by. 😊
Thanks for posting Jonathan. Ron
Good morning Ron from a wet but warm Wales. Trains passing close by are an amazing experience and MUST always be observed from a safe viewpoint. I remember standing safely trackside on the Lickey Incline some years ago watching HST's thundering over the top and racing down to Bromsgrove at the bottom - unleashed power in all its glory. I was surprised how few of the trains featured sounded a warning when approaching the crossing (or maybe your mic didn't pick it up). When out walking I sometimes encounter a footpath which crosses a railway. If a train is coming I stand well back and, when the driver sounds his horn on the approach, I always raise a hand to show that I have heard it. The driver will always then raise a hand in return to show he has seen my signal. On our heritage railway I work on permanent way and if a train is approaching it will always sound a warning and we respond by raising one arm above our head to acknowledge that we have heard the warning. We should then attempt, if possible, to stand at least 10 feet away from the track in the cess (that's the area to the side of the track; NEVER in the 6 foot which is the area between two tracks. The answers to your two questions have been addressed by others but, to elaborate, the turnbuckles hold the road panel sections between the rails securely in place and allow the removal of the panels for maintenance. Andrew (so good to hear from you again 👍) has hit the nail on the head by giving a good account to your second question regarding axel counters. There are many different designs and some are placed outside the rail in the cess rather than between the tracks. There are also many random bits of equipment alongside railway tracks such as axel counters, hot wheel box detectors and speed detectors to record if a driver exceeds the speed limit. Add to that all the signalling and communications equipment etc, and its is a real metal jungle out there!! Should be decent weather for a stint on the railway tomorrow and hopefully I can get enough people together to help in removing a trap point to allow us to start installing one of the three new turnouts we will need to go into our new locomotive shed. I've done the surveying which is the easy bit and now we have to get our hands dirty and start doing the heavy stuff!
That's about it Ron, best wishes to you Pauline and the rest of the PW family, especially those suffering from ill health at this time.
p.s. I hope David has sent in a letter from his mum asking him to be excused from being late on parade next week! 🤣😂
Hi Trev, how are the tendons doing? You are right to reinforce the safety aspects for getting anywhere near a live railway, I tried to get that across in the intro. Thanks for the technical details and yes it is good to hear from Andrew again. I hope the weather holds fair for your trap point and turnouts work. Be careful you are not as young as you think you are!! Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Thanks Ron. Just waiting for appointment with the specialist shoulder surgeon to see what's possible. They can do some work to ease things but closing up the 3cm gap along the whole length of the main tendon is a real challenge and may not be possible ☹.
I had it Trev, honest .... But the dog ate it!!
@@davidberlanny3308 yea yea.....🤣😅😂
Good morning Ron. Well it’s not 745 yet and what an exciting morning. My prospective Ukrainian guest sent me pictures of Kiev at 545 where she has gone after a 12 hour journey to have her biometrics done before she will be granted a visa. It’s taken a year to get to this point. I think she forgot the time difference! Then I got up about 630 to advance the heating and was attacked on the leg by my best cat Maisie and yes she did bite me and drew blood (not much) because I got back into bed rather than getting her breakfast. When I did feed her she ate about 4 mouthfuls and has gone off to look out of the window. And then your filming with dramatic musical accompaniment! I was awaiting the finale with some trepidation. I couldn’t get the first location but I do know there are one or two crossings like that north of Cheltenham. Ashchurch is a brilliant place to go with the long stretches either way. Pity there’s no cafe and shelter to speak of but we have to be very thankful when there is a station especially a new one. I haven’t been train spotting for at least two weeks so need to go somewhere today. Possibly Stafford as there’s lots going on there and a cafe and covered seats. I hope the Parkinson’s family is doing well and all ailments under control. Bye for now Rom and thanks for the inspiration. 🌻
Hi Marilyn, a new guest, company for you, provided Maisie doesn't mind. If your new guest likes trains this could be a win win.
I bought the book you recommended on kindle, I was so impressed I bought his other 'Signalman' books too. Thanks for the tip.
Hope Maisie starts talking to you soon. Take care. Ron
I wonder how many of those speeding trains were running on time? Lovely view of the Malvern's in the distance. They have a much slower geological timetable! Nice video. thank's.
Hi Malcolm, I think the Malvern's are more my pace these days. Take care. Ron
Hello Ron, trains are very dangerous. I'm not talking about the physical contact but the movement of air. A fast train moves a lot of air, it sets up eddies and currents along the train and a vaccuum at the back. It can drag along objects behind it. A friend of mine worked the railways, Signals and communications. He was working one time in a cutting with brick walls. The whistle went and they had to down tools and hold onto the handrails as a 125 was approaching. The movement of air against those brick walls is very very dangerous. You need to give yourself a lot of space from fast moving trains. Sometimes I worry about you being so close especially on those unmanned crossings. Simon
I was very careful Simon. Honest. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks I will tell you the rest of the story. While holding onto the handrails somebody on the train happened to have an evacuation which of course goes on the tracks. Paint the picture yourself.
The plus side of working the railways is all the embankments with housing behind. People throw their waste from the vegetable patch over the fence onto the railway land and of course some of it regrows the following year. A steady supply of free veg for the workers. Simon
Greetings from the Parkinson's Walks retirement home for past contributors. The little box at 06:22 is an axle counter. On the approach to the crossing there would be another one when each set of wheels depresses the arm it adds 1 to the counter, when the train passes over the crossing and passes the second counter it subtracts one from the counter. Only when the counter reads zero proving that the complete train has passed over the crossing will the barriers raise. They are being used to replace track circuits as they are more reliable. Looking forward to your Christmas offering which in years gone buy I have felt is the best one of the year.
Andrew, you don't know how much you are missed, you still get a mention now and then. Thank you for the information about the axle counter, you were always good at the nitty gritty. I hope the Christmas offering will be ok, not long now.
Take care of yourself, I remember you are not a fan of the cold. Ron
Hi Andrew, good to see you here again.
I guessed what the function of that box was likely to be but didn't see the little lever, I thought it might have been optical. Thanks for adding the details, much appreciated!!
All the best!!
Hi Ron, This morning I was using a foot crossing when just up the line a train went over an axle counter that didn't operate correctly leaving the barriers down and the lights flashing well after the train had left. Using the foot crossing telephone I phoned the Signalman in Machynlleth Signal Box to inform him of the failure on the Up Loop Axle Counter. A Signals and Telegraph Engineer was sent for but I can confirm after 2 minutes of a Axle Counter failure the barriers will go up and the red lights stop flashing. So if anyone finds themselves in this situation don't panic within 3 minutes they will be able to use the Level Crossing as expected. @@ParkinsonsWalks
@@andrewmerriman7133 Hi Andrew, what a coincidence. I'll use that in the next vlog in a fortnight if that is alright with you, your last post went down well. Take care. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Evening Ron, I mentioned my observations to let viewers know they would be able to use the Level Crossing after a few minutes should an Axle Counter fail. It is Importortant to state that nobody goes onto the railway line to try and cancel the axle counter by interfering with it, in most cases the Axle Counter will be used in conjunction with Track Circuiting so the track would need to be occupied for the Axle Counter to function. Anyone encountering this situation should use the crossing telephone which will be connected to the Signal Box and report the problem to the Signalman. You are most welcome to use any information I have posted in your next Vlog as you see fit.
Great spots for photographers there, Ron. I don't know exactly where that line was, but they were very busy in all your locations. The first spot was wonderful. In the centre of a long curve. Easy to see where the next train was coming from! Best of all, no unsightly overhead cables. Some of the stopping services were of very short consists. I spotted some with only two coaches. Great piece of video. Was that all on the same day?
Hi Lionel, you should ask Mary where that was, I expect she has been there!! Hope she is OK we haven't seen much of her lately. Filmed over two days. Look after yourselves. Ron
@ParkinsonsWalks Hello Ron from a very wet Sunday morning. Mary is fine, but she didn't go to Newbury Show. (N̈ot her thing)
Good day Ron!
Well, the shot as 5:15 had me puzzled. I thought it was Pershore Abbey at first, but then realised it was on the wrong side of the railway.
It was after much comparing that I realised that it must be Tewkesbury Abbey - looks so odd from that angle because you can't see the rest of the town at all.
Maurice's finest playing over the sound of the fast trains was a stroke of genius.
Lots of trains - and that line just keeps getting busier and busier - much busier than I ever remember it in the 1970s. I think there was a train every 2 or 3 hours from Gloucester to Worcester, and down to Bristol - now its hourly to Ashchurch and Worcester, and half hourly to Bristol. Think they are going to need to bring back the quad tracking at some point, like they did on Filton Bank a few years ago. You also had the Cross-Country shuttles from Cardiff to Nottingham in there, as well as some long distance Penzance/Plymouth to Leeds or Manchester expresses mixed in with the Worcester-Gloucester-Bristol regular services. Good to see the Tesco train and a light loco too.
Great work!
I was very fortunate to see the Pullman train at Bath Spa station yesterday and I managed to get some shots of it, which I have now put on my Facebook Group - they'll also appear at the end of my next monthly vlog.
Hope you have a good week.
Take care,
Paul
Hi Paul, hope you are well. You certainly know a lot about the train scheduling, I guess that is because you use the trains as often as you can rather than drive? Glad to see I stirred the old grey matter trying to work out the abbey. I'm trying to catch up on my viewing in fits and starts, there is a lot going on here at the moment. Keep looking after yourself. Ron