Nice to see you posting again.  Retirement can be so busy. 

Returning to topic.  Domestic users also had to apply for fuel coupons.  They were never used but focussed the mind.

Weekend leisure driving was also discouraged.

 

You are so funny. 

 
Afterwards.....

 
The line east of Didcot was quadrupled (and remains 4 track), there was a short section west of Didcot.   

Money was clearly tight, as never managed to extend 4 tracks throughout west and north of Didcot, although did quadruple Challow to Wantage Road (1932-34) including the stations, so fast trains could overtake stoppers and freight.  And was a section with 4 tracks approaching Swindon.

It would be relatively easy to reinstate lifted freight loops Didcot-Oxford.   Of course it's unclear if actually need 4 tracks, or if 3 tracks with a reversible slow in the centre would be sufficient

Near Oxford the (partly former) freight yards make doing section north of Crowley Bridge easy to have 4 running tracks.   The layout of Oxford station suggests would be better to have freight on centre tracks with outside ones as fast, off top of my head can't think of any passenger tracks that pass the station non stop.

The big problem really is flat junction at Didcot, the fast line from London has to cross everything on flat due to lack of flyover, really need to be able to segregate to avoid conflicting moves.     Obviously really need any flyover lines and how it arranges fast-slow etc to be consistent with layout nearer Oxford.

I do wonder if a new line diverging south of Radley, passing between Abingdon and Sutton Courtenay, passing north of Sutton Wick, crossing A34, then heading direct to near Challow is better option.  But I am thinking big, with a Bristol - Bath - Corsham - Swindon - Abingdon (new station) - Oxford - Bicester - onwards East West route

 
No comfort for those who can only use accessible toilets but at least there is a second smaller toilet for those who can access those. 

 
Taunton 

 
A much needed two weeks off from the full time care of Mumsy. With a week abroad.

Where were we today, 4th May 2026?

 
Public transport should be one of the last forms of transport to be reduced to save fuel, the first measure should be as with the 1973 fuel crisis a temporary measure to reduce fuel consumption a 50 mph speed limit on all roads was introduced.  (This did result in the 1974 of the introduction of the National speed limit of 60 mph and 70 mph)

 

Agreed.

Three tracks to Radley are likely to form part of the Oxford<>Cowley reinstatement AIUI.  There is available width within the existing boundary.

South of there?  Costly to say the least.  Three stations and two Thames crossings within a few short miles to deal with for starters!

Grade separation at Didcot East (and DID<>OXF electrification) would be much higher on the priority list IMHO.

 

They do, yes.

 

 
You can tell there’s an election due! Luke is vote hunting!
The parallel road has a bus every 10 to 15 minutes weekdays right into the city centre.
Why would anyone dive down a back alley (for that is the approach to the old Laira Halt) to a station?

 
Given the number of both passenger (limited stop expresses & stoppers) and freight services using this line some quad tracking would probably be a 'nice to have' and make timetabling easier but I think completion of the electrification to at least Oxford and preferably onwards to Banbury should be a higher priority so that the PAD<>BAN service can fully utilise the Class 387's.

 
From Plymouth Live

 
What's the difference between an egg and a cornish gig etc etc.

Mark

 
I have added the date to "On This Day" - to be noted during today along with the Festival of Britain opening to the public, and the first WECA mayor being elected.

"OTD" is really my editorial call and I try to avoid flooding it with closures.  However, we do now have 15 significant railway closures spread through the year, and I am happy to add a few more - like this one - which looks and feels significant.

 

Top advise is - if in doubt - read the official sites very carefully.

the ETA is for the UK.

If you and your "we" company are British, you each should have a UK passport.   That is even if you are a dual national. If you are dual national, best to hold a UK passport in addition to the other, though you can obtain (costs a lot more than a UK passport) a certificate of authourisation.  Your UK passport should be valid on the day you return to the UK.

and the EES is for the Schengen area or Europe.

Again, if you are British, you should have a UK passport and this needs to be valid for at least three months after your return to the UK, and that must be within 10 years of the original validity.  OR if you are dual and hold a passport from a Schengen / EU country, that passport will suffice for your entry into and exit from the Schengen area.  Entering under EES (and Norway is part of Schengen) you'll probably have photo and finger prints taken, and the Schengen computers will enforce the rule that you can only spend 90 days in any 180 period in Schengen.

In summary - if you are "just" British - as I am for example - no need for and ETA,  and this year the EES is done on the fly.  Just need a UK passport with 90 days validity left.    For a cruise, they will insist on insurance too.

 

I used to have a view of the creek where their boats are stored from upstairs at the family pile just up the hill but over the past (50+) years the Holm Oak at the corner of the road has grown and now obscures that vista.  While I wouldn't wish anyone to fell it, I must say that I rather miss the sight of the water there.

 
Been over for a Saturday day trip during gig weekend a few times as our daughter in law was rowing with her local team.
Great atmosphere (expensive mind).
Lovely day out.
Was looking to do a few days breakaway for my Wife and I, but hotels mostly fully booked up in the quieter parts of the year.

 
If the thermal transfer has taken place ie. The plug has melted and torched the carriage lining, then no RCD can put that ‘back in the box’ and a proper emergency is then underway.

Incidentally do GWR trains carry fire extinguishers in passenger carriages? I recall them being stripped out of TFL trains many years ago due to misuse.

 
We're probably booking a Norwegian cruise from/to Southampton next year.
Probably won't affect us needing ETA's, etc?

 

I wondered about that - after all, don't they cook food (on a few trains) in the kitchen on the IETs - is that electric these days?

 

I can remember free/subsidised 12 bore ammunition which was actually marked "Pest Control", also a faint recollection of a bounty on grey squirrel tails.  Seems to be borne out by:

https://www.greysquirrelcontrol.info/control-history

I don't remember many squirrel tails, but the pest control ammo and wood pigeons certainly helped boost my pocket money !

 

The problem is with that approach is:  what do you do with the buses that you make redundant by reducing the frequency ? I hear people saying that you still need them for the busy periods. Then the finance dept start saying why do we have a thousand (or two) buses that are only in use 4 hours a day ? - we can save £X million a year if we get rid of these under-used vehicles and not have to pay drivers, etc to operate/maintain/clean them.

An idea - buy short buses that you can join together into longer buses for busy periods................hang on though, I think that other transport suppliers have already tried that and you just end up with short buses most of the time............

 
On this day 4 May 1970 the line between Bourne End and High Wycombe closed to passengers, with the 2 stations between Wooburn Green and Loudwater closing. along with the 5 level crossings.

There have been a number of looks at a possible reopening, sadly the right of way has been built over in a number of places and at the High Wycombe end the embankment and bridges have been demolished and the land built on.

 

 

Yes, this is the most obvious way towards a solution.

 
In my personal (and to some extent professional) opinion the issue that actually concerns GWR is the thermal risk from the appliance, not the electrical consumption or potential circuit trip.

RCD/fuses are there to keep consumers safe from electrical malfunction but it is possible that a thermal overload takes place, or the appliance torches a combustible material, without tripping the RCD. 

The risk to passengers is from fire, not electrocution.

 
I have received financial papers for the year ending December 2025 from Railfuture, and AGM details for 4th July are on Their website at https://www.railfuture.org.uk/conferences/


The financial papers show subscription income of around £29,000 which suggests around 1400 members (+-20%).  It is good to see some use of campaigning / fighting funds including an incoming donation of £18,000 and expenditure of £31,000 in that.  General operating costs total around £25,000, and Railfuture has £320,000 "cash in hand and at bank" which they describe as a "substantial reserve".

 

Agreed, and that's probably enough for most passengers ... "too many trains around" ... I might personally like to see some more detail, I suppose, but that can typically be gleaned from Open Train Times; more aware users can spot single lines blocked by out-of-path freights, platform shortages, etc

 
Amsterdam becomes first capital city to ban advertising of fossil fuels and meat, on public property.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wejdekpwyo

Sounds good to me, I support personal freedom, to eat meat, drink alcohol, and even to smoke.. But I can not support advertising such behaviour.