TheGreatBritishRailScene

Dear GB Rail Scene, I  am writing to you with regards to the post dated Tuesday 11 November 2014: Plans for UK Train Stock and Units by Harry.  I would like to add my own comments with regards to what is happening to trains affected by PRM TSI (Persons of Reduced Mobility Technical Specification for Interoperability and replaces Disability Discrimination Act), which comes into effect from 1 January 2020 and features the following legal requirements:        EAO series 56 ‘easy to see, easy to press’ yellow circular LED Passenger Door Controls.       Audible door opening sounders and door closing hustle alarms.      Easily accessible grab poles/sanchlions.        Ceiling mounted passenger information displays and audio announcements.        Internal gangway door handles.        RVAR universal accessible toilet (if the train is already fitted with toilets)

I have the following information from my visit on Saturday 16 July: London Overground have refurbished the former Stansted Express Class 317/7 EMU trains with the following enhancements/ improvements: * New hard wearing non slip 'easy to clean' vinyl flooring replaced the carpet * Repainted dado side panels and wall ends * Repainted vertical sanchlions * Retrimmed seats in new moquette trim.

PETER: Lea Valley Lines/West Anglia Main Line modernisation through the years.... During the mid 1950s British Railways electrified the Lea Valley Line between London Liverpool Street – Chingford/Enfield Town with chunky, heavy duty, sturdy steel gantries holding both the catenary wire and contact wire itself. Electrification of the West Anglia Main Line to Cheshunt (as well as the branch line to Hertford East), Harlow and Bishops Stortford was approved and this was completed in 1969.

Quite frankly, a sombre topic for anoraks and rail fans alike.... trains just disappearing quite literally into the undergrowth and becoming forgot about.  So today I thought I'd dig up details of some of the locations where trains are withdawn and scrapped, and possibly twigging memories of this stock with the elder generation of readers. Readers of a nervous disposition, turn away now..... Pig's Bay is one of the less known sites where trains go once withdrawn. Situated just next to the beach in East Shoebury, linked to the C2C line near Shoeburyness Essex, the site is primarily used by the MOD for training.  However, it's hardly talked about as a place where rail vehicles are stored or scrapped - even though it's large site! There's approximately 6 miles of track across the site, with many junctions and sidings (as seen to the right) to store many ex-Railway stock. 

Harry here, I'm on the Saturday shift as Matthew's away. Just a quick report today.... Between 2002 and 2004, Southern acquired nine 2-car ( 171721-730 ) and six 4-car ( 172801-171806 ) 171 Turbostars for the non-electrified routes. In 2006, one further 171 transferred from South West Trains.  Now, all of these units are used for the Marshlink Line, between Ashford and Hastings, for Ashford-Brighton, London Bridge to Oxted, Ashford to Rye/Hastings (Peak-Time, using 171/7s) and also the Oxted to Uckfield Branch (6 or 8 car units, so 2x 4-car or 1x 4-car coupled to a 2-car).

Peter's made some  excellent reports, so we couldn't resist using them! Part 1 is the London , Tilbury and Southend Line modernisation through the years. "In 1962 British Railways electrified the London, Tilbury and Southend Line between Fenchurch Street – Laindon/Tilbury – Southend – Shoeburyness at both 25 Kv AC and 6.25 Kv AC (within London area, between London Fenhurch Street and Barking due to limited clearances) with chunky heavy duty, sturdy steel gantries. The trains would be maintained at a brand new purpose built depot at West Ham. Also the signalling was upgraded from manual semaphore signals to colour light signals and the line has a maximum speed limit of 75 mph.

Welcome Back. Today, We Take A Look At Some Photos From Thameslink, Of Their Own Class 700 Units Which Begin To Take To The Tracks In South Easterly England....  A stock focus of these units can be found   here if you missed it, as this will summarise the majority of train specifications and features already announced. All I will state about these units (in roughly 50 words) are that they are Class 700s, built by Siemens, are more suitable for the audience, have lots of gadgets and features, are cutting edge, used primarily on the Bedford-Brighton route and are in the 2+2 style seating. Phew! Wow!

As I said in my first post, I was just covering the summer before going my own way due to other commitments. This comes my final post, as the blog is now on its feet and I don't  have the time. And this is my goodbye post. I went and saw the Retro Railtours Class 68 Tour at Clapham on Saturday 9th July, so here is my photo.

Kirkstall Forge station, on the Northern Rail network in Leeds, opened on Sunday 19th June - providing one train per hour in each direction. The orignal station was not too far from the current site, but this one is host to numerous aspects: 129 spaces in the carpark; Fully accessible platforms; A footbridge and ramps; Secure cycle parking; and Waiting shelters.

FURTHER TO LIAM'A REPORT, I BRING YOU ALL A BRIEF TOC FOCUS, HIGHLIGHTING THE PROGRESS OF OVERHAULS AT GWR..... This is 158956 , a hybrid unit at GWR. What makes this unit different to the rest is that two units have been combined into one - so 1 driver cab off a 158 is attached to a 2-car 158, leading to 3 cabs (though only 2 operational, obviously). All 158/7 series was apparently 2-cars originally, converted to 3-cars, except the unused cab was removed. So this is why 056 is so different!

As you should all know by now, Great Western Railway (GWR) have ordered a total of 36 Class 800s, 21 Class 801s and 29 Class 802s. The first branded Class 800 (800 004) has finally been unveiled at GWR's depot at Reading looking fine in its dark green GWR livery, similar to that of many refurbished Class 166s presently. The set was unveiled on 30th June 2016. What's facinating is this unit has two names, one for each cab.  800004  is named Sir Daniel Gooch and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. A photograph courtesy of Jack Boskett , who was invited to North Pole depot on 28th June 2016, can be found below. ©Jack Boskett

2016 BRISTOL SPM OPEN DAY: As you probably remember, the milestone SPM Depot Open Day was at the start of May, with an array of locomotives, stock and DMUs.  Such a good event, with such variety, that we've decided to take a trip down memory lane - we return to the Open Day for lots of photos plus a few descriptions.

The Week Review Is Back, By Popular Demand! And We're Giving This Series A Whole New Lease Of Life With A New Style! So Here We Go.... Today, we tie up loose ends of news we haven't yet reported on this blog.