20/5/08 0837 WOS to PAD short formed

[whole diary]

[Btline]

http://www.trainpics.net/p44200019.html Don't fancy doing 70mph over that! Bear in mind much of the Cotswolds is operated by Mechanical signal boxes, therefore points aren't really designed for high speed.

I didn't realise the extent of the bend near the junction.

But after that bend it is dead straight all the way (according to Ordanance survey) and is only 70 mph!

They need to motorise the points. Axe Norton signal box, and move it all (plus staff) to Worcester Shrub Hill. Cut the token exchange.

Possibly even on a small branch line, the token should be scrapped - it is 2008!

Never noticed the 70 at Norton - and the train ALWAYS comes to a halt at Norton anyway.

That is for the token exchange (/the signal man has fallen asleep and forgotten to change the points )!

A waste of relatively good track geometry IMO^▸ (in my opinion) (even if less than 90)!

[Btline]

PS: Just to check, in your pic D/M what is the speed limit shown?

I take it it is 70.

[willc]

Is there some speed restriction?

No, it's called waiting for the 17.50 from Worcester to get off the single line. If they know it won't be too late, most of the drivers prefer crawling up to Wolvercot junction to try to keep the train on the move, rather than zoom up there, then have to restart after standing at the signal.

And the 17.51 has been booked to sit in the platform at Oxford for 10 minutes since December because of having to wait for that service coming the other way and so they can keep the line north clear for the freights that chase the 17.51 from Didcot - usually two are booked to pass it at Oxford - an EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) train for the MoD and a Freightliner.

As my previous post clearly stated, my reference to this train being empty is beyond Oxford - it's always very busy that far, but not beyond, and even less so now that the Hanborough stop is gone. On Monday night, when it was a 125, I was spoilt for choice in coach A. I think there were two of us past Charlbury and we both left at Moreton.