That has been "nagging" at me.  I suspect it's beccause our "like" function may communicate with the server(s) using http rather than https protocols and security settings in your browser are too tight to let that through / or you have some anti-tracking software running that thinks your "like" is a tracking mechanism.  It's probably not a sensible use of what could be a lot of time to replicate, fix and test when the "like" mechanism as a whole needs sorting - sorry!

 
A couple so far today:

 
You invest to get a return, but GWR see no return in the South West but are prepared to ride on the backs of others. Taxpayers, Stakeholders, third parties.

Some more passing loops and increased services would give them more passengers, more revenue.

This applies to SWR as well. They were under the same umbrella once long before nationalisation.

They just don't seem to see what is happening to a city like Exeter which has become a hub for most of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset.

 
https://brilliantmaps.com/most-stressful-train-stations-in-the-world/


Posted on "the lighter side" based on how hugely terrible the maps are.  The maps are stylised, but "Sutton" looks to me to be somewhere near Dunbar ... and it's interesting that it's the only one in the top 100 in the UK.

 
From Blackpool Transport posted yesterday, 10th September 2026

 


This is a temporary change - "Sorry for any inconvenience caused and we will resume normal services once the building is made safe or demolished and the road reopens."

 
They terminate at Fishers Wharf,and the bus takes you to the Fleetwood stop.
This is due to possible collapse of a building on the tram route.
Surprised that
1)There are no departure display boards on any of the tram stops
2) There are no ticket issuing machines at any of the tram stops

 

D cells are less used than in years gone by, but have the merit of costing about twice as much as AA cells but giving from 6 to 10 times the capacity.
Mainly used in larger torches and lanterns. Four D cells in a torch with a 700 ma bulb will run for about 12 hours, with AA cells under 2 hours.

D cells can also be used, with an adaptor, in railway type Bardic lamps, now that the correct AD 28 batteries are extinct.

 
Nothing yet for GWR, but seems new train orders for UK have started again. 

I don't think there has been any non Open Access orders since 2019 (except the 10 extra Elizabeth line trains and the 10 CAF class 387s for LNER)

29 x 5car trains for Transpennine have just been announced (but not until 2034) from Alstom at Derby

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd94y7d7qyzo

 

I verged on just adding a 'like' to IndustryInsider's post, but I then thought better of it: that would be too simplistic.

The fact of the matter is, with their commercial parent group First looking at re-nationalisation of their railways from December 2026, they are rather unlikely to spend anything they don't have to in the meantime ...

CfN. 

 

As an aside here on this topic, may I thank MVR S&T here for his very generous , and much appreciated, arrangement to post some of his surplus Ordnance Survey maps to me.

Chris from Nailsea.

 
There's a section on the class 175 problems in this week's Green Signals podcast and weekly You Tube video, including an interview with Barry Milsom of GWR. See https://www.greensignals.org/podcast/more-diversions-gwrs-plan-to-keep-customers-on-trains-over-christmas/ at 14.55
 
(it also includes a piece on diversions during the up-coming blockades between Reading and Paddington that members will find of interest).

 

Why would they?

 
Ely :2: 175008 (half), 175104

Wolverton : 9 : 175005 by road.  175102/103/105/106/107/108/109/110. 175008 (half) Bold are Green

Laira : 14: 175002/007/009, 175114 ex Ely; 175001/003/006/011, 175101/111/112/113/115/116 ex Wolverton

Exeter : 1 : 175004 ex Wolverton

Long Rock : 1 : 175010 ex Ely

as of 10 September 2026. No trains from Wolverton since the 23 June 2026

A video of Ely Papworth. Very few trains anymore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Pxs7EZLo0&t=81s

 

Yes, because those three groups always got on so well together under British Rail, didn't they! 

 

Indeed the problems of the interactions between the interests of a private operating company and other parties WILL go away - there will be no private operating company any more.    Magic.  Of course, there will be a new management at the DfT ... and what they do and how they do it is the $64,000 question

 
Looking from left field, I recall a heritage train running to Windemere.   And I learn from an Internet search that a Hastings Diesel unit visited Barnstaple on 25th June 2005 - https://www.hastingsdiesels.co.uk/railtours/2005tarka - and presumably there's no real reason why one of those couldn't be hired out to the Tarka Line now that it has returned from Sheffield Park.

Loading might still be a problem - even with a six car Hastings unit, so many enthusiasts would be drawn that even at that length it might overload ...

 
That was my thoughts, what do we use D cells for now?
OS in post CFN.

 

Of course it will: that's the whole point of re-nationalising the railways.

Pay attention, at the back of the classroom there! 

 

Again, I agree with broadgage here.

In our household, we have a plentiful supply of candles in store.

We also have plenty of batteries, particularly AA and AAA.  Interestingly, we also had a large number of D Cell, but after a family conference, we couldn't identify any of our appliances which used them.  After making local enquiries, we couldn't find anyone else who would have a use for them - so we dumped them, in the recycling container at the local civic amenity site. 

Bottled drinking water we also have.  This has already proved useful, as we have suffered a couple of water supply outrages temporary failures, one due to a JCB driver impaling a water main on a building site the other side of Nailsea. 

As well as those, we also have a sufficient supply of canned and dried food to last for several days, in case of need.

CfN. 

 

I loved to see it. Also the EU in the south west, a poster from 2018:



Edit: Postimages seems to have derailed, let's see if it comes back and the above image appears...

 
We are rather straying from the original topic, but I do agree with broadgage on that one. 

CfN. 

 
From the BBC:

 
Long underwear is preferred in severe cold weather, or in moderate cold if heating fuel is short, short underwear at other times.
Cotton is most comfortable for daily use, wool is warmest.

 
Some more including a "regular" pair:


(edited to add the 15:08 WOF:PAD)

 

Not wrong. I do think it was a mistake not.to havw created a few more battery powered class 230s to.use on some local services around Bristol TM  especially as its likely we'll be waiting years for a order of BEMUs

 
Thank you for the replies, I am not sure why, but I am unable to "like" a post

Out of interest, has the journey time changed?
I assume getting on a the bottom of Temple Way adds a minute or so

 
There is one 175 running today 113 on mileage accumulation and is 80 minutes late at the moment.

There now seems to be a problem with brake applications after the sunflower problems; which incidentally never arose last December in those dark winter days of operation on the Newquay branch.

There is a definite problem between management, unions, and train crew. Will it all magically go away this December?

 
The 0722 from Barnstaple was meant to be, by now, a 175 five car train but that looks further away than ever.  A way was worked out to lock out one unit for some stops.

As for investment by GWR in the south west; they have rebuilt Exeter Depot but that has an indirect effect on better services. They did spend money on Exeter Central because the staircases and ticket gates were a safety hazard, and new doors to the ticket hall at Paignton station untouched by the recent fire.

For twenty years they were reluctant to spend their own money in the Southwest.  The (I hate to say it) EU kick started the half hour Paignton service. Government money through various agencies built the new stations and Okehampton line. GWR did run a Sunday summer service (it must have been safe) to Okehampton paid for by Devon County Council. GWR have not paid for the Newquay investment.

Here is an interview from the GWR strategy director that just mentions third party funding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-NLuAzRVXU&t=1287s

 

Glad to see that both long and short underwear made the cut - you can't be too careful with these matters!