tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964653702148488357.post638886045618714267..comments2016-01-03T15:51:15.493+11:00Comments on Yeah, I guess I should have a blog: A Buxton Blog - 1/8, a day outMichael Angelicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243521105582433095noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964653702148488357.post-14723429187832883072011-08-16T02:50:27.970+10:002011-08-16T02:50:27.970+10:00Re semaphores at night:
1. kerosene or electric la...Re semaphores at night:<br />1. kerosene or electric lamps behind the spectacle plates. VR had to light the kerosene every night and check the light globes weekly.<br />2. Sometimes fitted with reflective stripes over the semaphore bladeDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05925258908682131582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964653702148488357.post-23777443831189985322011-08-02T05:05:11.405+10:002011-08-02T05:05:11.405+10:00I miss my train back to Buxton in time for tonight...I miss my train back to Buxton in time for tonight's show, argh. We start heading back to the station but I miss the train that will get me back for the Festival Club, double argh! Oh well, I have a nice sunburn so at least I'll look Australian for the rest of Buxton.<br /><br />There are so many route options for getting from one side of the continent to the other. In fact I really don't know how the nationalrail.co.uk journey planner can cope. It tells me to go to Birmingham and up the west coast (Pendolino territory :D) but at Peterborough I'm overcome with thirst so as the train's pulling in I do a trip plan and work out I can be 10 minutes later into Manchester Piccadilly (and still get the same Buxton train) if I jump off and go up the east coast line instead.<br /><br />While I was waiting, a 91 and Mk.4 set went through at speed. It was just as loud (and awe-inpiring) as I'd imagined it. Unfortunately, once you see it there's no time to grab a camera. If it's not in your hand, you've missed the shot. But never fear, by hook or by crook www.youtube.com/gobyrail is going to have some footage of high speed trains doing what they do best.<br /><br />So here I am, dampened down for the night (with a private's baton in my knapsack) on a Mk.4 train, stealing their power as well as their wifi, and once again enjoying 200km/h running. There's a sensation of speed, like being on a freeway but more so - but there's a smoothness which suggests we could be doing 300 or 400 if we wanted to, rather like a clear soprano voice which gives the impression there's another few octaves of range available. That's something you don't get on a car, or a plane taking off, or a V/Locity or XPT either. Did I ever mention how much I love gunricing?<br /><br />I don't think anything else exciting is going to happen today so I'll sign off. See you tomorrow!Michael Angelicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08243521105582433095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964653702148488357.post-24134624638892965962011-08-02T05:04:47.882+10:002011-08-02T05:04:47.882+10:00OK here comes part 2, and it's coming in the c...OK here comes part 2, and it's coming in the comments just because I can.<br /><br />So here I am still on the Kings Cross service from Doncaster. This is the life. Through Huntingdon station at full line speed! That'd be a place to take videos!<br /><br />The East Coast main line seems to be signalled for a train every few minutes, and there are quite a few running too. It's almost like being on a spark! Which, incidentally, we are... an electric loco hauled (or propelled) high speed intercity train.<br /><br />Stevenage, and we're ten minutes down now... I really thought we'd have caught up some time, we were on or around 200km/h for most of the trip. Ah well.<br /><br />The station here is laid out like Burnley with the high speed lines down the middle (although all four platforms are bi-directionally signalled). It's actually quite grimy and in need of refurbishment compared with most I've seen over here, almost as bad as our Loop stations... or Westall for that matter.<br /><br />As I'm waiting for the Cambridge train a Class 365 goes by at full line speed. We just don't get sights like that in Victoria! Apart from trackside in RFR territory of course, but AC drive electric motors are so much awesomer than Cummins diesels.<br /><br />So I get on my train and it's a 365 also. They look like suburban units that have been refurbed to do a semi-interurban job - the toilets are like on the Voyagers and the seats are high back and well padded. Also they have first class - whoopsy, change carriages Michael! The traction package is the same as on the 323s judging by the sound.<br /><br />Just as we're getting to the junction for Cambridge we're overtaken on the down through line by an HST - I didn't get a chance to see whose but the nose is distinctive.<br /><br />Cambridge is a weird station - one long platform with a station building and all, and a pair of dock platforms at each end. There's a new island platform being built (or maybe just refurbished) on the opposite side of the tracks from the long one.<br /><br />As you exit the station, the first thing you notice is bikes - lots of bikes. The next thing is more bikes. And then a whole heap more. I don't think I've seen so many bikes in one place ever before. Think of the rows and rows of cars at the factory, off into the distance - or the Emirates tails at Dubai Airport. It's beyond belief!<br /><br />So I find Charli and we take a walk around Cambridge. It's a very arty kind of town, judging by the shops - as a university town I'd have expected it to have an equal smattering of interests in engineering, business, law, medicine etc. Maybe those sorts of things aren't as evident.<br /><br />Argh damn character limit... splittage.Michael Angelicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08243521105582433095noreply@blogger.com