One for the train buffs.

[Hell Razor5543]

Looks like another 'Beat the Barge' T shirt to me.

[CitroJim]

I'm still trying to figure out that T Shirt band, song etc

It's this Ryan

A commemorative tee from a much loved annual event...

[Rp0thejester]

Serious train question for you lot. I got into Kings X this morning and spotted an LNER train, not the Azuma one but older. Had marron and red stripe on white body. On the 'driving end' there were 4 hatches, 1 water, 3 sand. What's the sand used for???

[mickthemaverick]

Usually used to soak spills or to provide grip on greasy or icy rails in uphill sections. eg 'leaves on the track' etc.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Looks like it is automatically delivered in conjunction with Wheel slide Protection Systems in the modern locomotive.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_sli ... 20manually.

Sanding

Sanding is one method of reducing wheel slip or slide. Locomotives and Multiple units have sandboxes which can deliver dry sand to the rails in front of the wheels. This may be initiated automatically when the Wheel Slide Protection system senses loss of adhesion, or the driver can operate it manually. Sanding may be connected to a computer system that determines the train's direction and where the sand should be applied: either forward or aft of the trucks. In older locomotives there was a manual lever attached to a valve that had three positions: Off, Forward, and Aft.

Didn't know anything about that before today!

Neil

[Rp0thejester]

Oh okay that makes sense, thx

[myglaren]

Something to add to Neil's Alson notes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-66810825

[NewcastleFalcon]

Thanks Steve. Now the MOT is out the way need to get back to the finishing off jobs with the shed/signal box homage.

falcon original

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Looking the business Neil, great job!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Looking the business Neil, great job!!

Thanks Mick, just come in from having a conversation with a couple of "tourists" wandering off-piste who were complimentary about it, and got both barrels on Alston and the named bricks then we moved onto coffee roasters in Northumberland

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

A siting plan would be helpful for us to fully visualize it!

[mickthemaverick]

Time for the fag packet calculations then Neil!!:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256220206008 ... R7za3eHTYg

Go on you know you want to!!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Time for the fag packet calculations then Neil!!:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256220206008 ... R7za3eHTYg

Go on you know you want to!!!

I would probably have to go for a funicular version

Neil

[CitroJim]

Go on you know you want to!!!

Now you have the signal box you definitely need a garden railway Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Couple of old stations visited today on the Border Counties Railway at Wark and Barrasford following the North Tyne Valley down towards Hexham. Both now residential, and well preserved.

Disused Railways has info on both and there is a nice little tale on the page for Wark.

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/wark/index.shtml

Wark Station was the scene of a 'Keystone Kops- style' caper around the turn of the 20th century when a couple of Barrasford lads ‘borrowed' the train for a lift home. It was well-known locally that the last train of the day stopped at Wark Station for the driver and firemen to refresh themselves at the Chipchase Arms pub. These two Barrasford wanderers came across the unattended train and decided to make best use of it.

Only when they had the engine rolling did they remember that they had no idea how to drive it. The runaway train came down the track towards Hexham running through Barrasford, Chollerton and Chollerford until finally coming to a stop at Wall when the un-stoked loco ran out of steam and the two boys fled the scene. It's not known what happened to the driver and his firemen.

This is what the two stations look like 20th September 2023. Probably rather too grand for the line.

Falcon Original
Former Wark Station

Falcon Original
Former Barrasford Station

Neil