I got caught out on 23rdon way to Reading fortuantely the friend I was meeting phoned to say tha the train I ws intending to catch fro Taplow was not on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website). however, the one beofre was running late so I just had time to rush to the station. Manged it but only because it was running late.

Are we talking individual items or whole route.

I note Grahame listed Retractable Bridge at Barry Docks which I didn't know about until I looked it up on Wkipedia where I found.

"It is one of over 1,450 movable bridges that I have recorded for my historical website www.movablebridges.org.uk. There were at one time two of these bridges in Barry Docks, plus a swingbridge and a submersible bridge (floatable caisson), the latter to seal off the drydock parallel with the Lady Windsor lock."

So to continue the theme

Keadby Slide Bridge

This which is still in use. I have been past it slid back on a boat  and been trapped in in Scunthorpe yard on a railtour (Hertfordshire railtour Roxby music 23 jul 1994) when they couldn't get the FPLs^▸ (Facing Point Lock) locked (there are 4, 2 each end), after opening it one hot afternoon. The geometry is interesting It pulls back at rightangle to the canal but the tracks are skewed

Could add Severn Bridge Signal Box Shrewsbury.

How about cuttings Twyford, Tring and Edge Hill come to mind.

It seems I may be back.

Heard something on Radio 4 this am that a new cut and cover tunnel being built for HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) may have to be demolished due to defects in the cast concrete segments.

C'est la vie.

What's the number? I need to renew a card.

I thought all the Gatwick - Reading trains stopped at Redhill to reverse.

Whatever the merits of the unions case it seems to me that the government would welcome  the strikes as an excuse to down size the railways and decrease the deficit. 

It reminds me of the prelude to the 1984 of the miners strike

It's going to get messy.

Thanks for the link. however it doesn't answer the question as to what side of the bridge the halt was situated.

Slough and Windsor Railway have a line drawing of the halt which suggests it was the Windsor side. On the left of the photo if it was taken looking West.

I used to live in one of the maisonettes in Ragstone opposite the railway and assummed the halt would have been opposite us.

Any thought on exact location?

Interesting. Can't seem to find the Clifton Rocks Railway on the  map.

Having said I'd buy one, I don't have a smart phone.

If someone could give a quick explanation of how the railway manages locations on fast lines but which have two differing approach speeds (e.g. one for "Straight on" and another for "turn left") depending on circumstancesis near

This can be done in several ways and is quite complicated.

1. Holding the junction signal at red until the train is nearly upon it when it changes to a proced aspect.   This occurs at many places one example being Dolphin junction on the down main when a train is routed Down main (125 mph) to Down Relief via 40 mph points. The driver picks up a double yellow East of  Langley station signal 483 TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about) and a single yellow just West of the station signal 489 the junction signal 501 changing to a proceed aspect with 45 degree feathers as train approaches and the is route set. The driver has to be prepared to stop at 501 in case there's something coming on the Up Main in which case the route won't be set so if they SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) 501 there's no collision. it's called Approach control.

The next 2 are describe in: https://www.jonroma.net/media/rail/opdocs/world/uk/RS521%20Iss%205.pdf by the RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board).

2. Flashing signals basically the signal before the junction signal flashes if a slower speed route is to be taken. Signal 523 Down Relief at Slough flashes if  next sigal 529 is st for Down Main. Miss reading the flashing signals led to the Colwich accident.

3 Splitting distants where by there are two signal heads  the the main plus a secondary on the side of the juction. Signal 271 on the Down Main at Southall West is a splitting distane for Airport Jn 285 at Hayes.

Which system  was in use at Peterborough I don't know.

I think I've just about sussed out Contactless bar a couple of queries.

If you are travelling with someone can you tap twice to get 2 tickets otherwise I presume they have to use a second card?

Taplow and Gatwick airport both have readers so it would be possible use contactless to buy a ticket, but what happens if you go Reading tap in at Taplow out at Gatwick?

My research suggests contactless is only of use for pasengers over 25s and under Senior Card age who make 
 journeys within the area which cost less than the weekly season ticket.

Buyer beware.

In Germany most tickets are valid to around 03:00 04:00 the following day.

Never Trust Electronics

RA thanks for the info. There are still a couple of points I'm unclear on:

Do you have to register your card? i couldn't find anything on your link unless I missed it.

Like a travelcard can it be used for any destinations in Zones 1 to 6.

it's no good for me as I have a railcard

A point that doesn't seem to be mentioned is what is the effect on current services having to serve two new stations. How many train paths do they take up. It should be remember that both Cullompton and Welling had 2 through lines with their platforms on loops allowing slow trains to be overtaken by faster services. perhps they should be provided with a bidirectional line speed through line to allow overtaking.

Another issue as has been mentioned is how do people get to the station, as has been said public ransport needs to be ready before the houses are occupied.

Further if we going all electric how many charging ppoints will be provided in the carpark? How would they be allocated it would be unfair if the first people there plugged in and remained plugged in all day denying others the chance to recharge perhaps we'll need carpark "shufflers" to move cars around.