Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Canals: not 'the lighter side', but I do commend this to our readers In "Introductions and chat" [371576/31515/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:47, 26th January 2026 |      |
Thanks, grahame. [Image from here is not available to guests]
... like Frome ...
... or Bath, which I really struggle with, in terms of where best to put a post or topic: it could be equally appropriate being placed on any one of some half-dozen boards, depending on the context. [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire - HST derailment: three dead - 12 August 2020 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371574/23891/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:34, 26th January 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Inquiry into fatal Stonehaven train derailment to begin
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Christopher Stuchbury, Donald Dinnie and Brett McCullough died in 2020
A fatal accident inquiry into a train derailment which killed three men in the north east of Scotland is due to begin.
The Aberdeen to Glasgow train came off the rails at Carmont in Aberdeenshire on 12 August 2020 after it hit a landslide following heavy rain.
Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died in the crash. Network Rail was later fined £6.7m in court for a series of failings.
The inquiry in Aberdeen - which is expected to last between three and four weeks - is due to get under way from 11:00.
During the court case in 2023, Network Rail admitted a number of maintenance and inspection failures before the crash.
It also admitted failing to warn the driver that part of the track was unsafe, or tell him to reduce his speed.
At the High Court in Aberdeen, Lord Matthews said no penalty could compensate for the loss suffered by the families of those who died and the people injured.
Law firm Digby Brown later said that a total of nearly £1m in civil actions against Network Rail had been settled.
(BBC article continues)
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Christopher Stuchbury, Donald Dinnie and Brett McCullough died in 2020
A fatal accident inquiry into a train derailment which killed three men in the north east of Scotland is due to begin.
The Aberdeen to Glasgow train came off the rails at Carmont in Aberdeenshire on 12 August 2020 after it hit a landslide following heavy rain.
Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died in the crash. Network Rail was later fined £6.7m in court for a series of failings.
The inquiry in Aberdeen - which is expected to last between three and four weeks - is due to get under way from 11:00.
During the court case in 2023, Network Rail admitted a number of maintenance and inspection failures before the crash.
It also admitted failing to warn the driver that part of the track was unsafe, or tell him to reduce his speed.
At the High Court in Aberdeen, Lord Matthews said no penalty could compensate for the loss suffered by the families of those who died and the people injured.
Law firm Digby Brown later said that a total of nearly £1m in civil actions against Network Rail had been settled.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [371573/31359/18] Posted by grahame at 10:32, 26th January 2026 Already liked by matth1j | |
I am delighted that the 07:21 in the mornings has consistently been on time, so (Thingley Junction traffic allowing) will allow a good connection into Bristol.
I wish you hadn't said that - I'm going to be testing it out later... [Image from here is not available to guests]BTW the (unofficial) connection at Chippenham is even tighter than it used to be, isn't it? Has the Paddington Weston-super-Mare service crept forward a minute?
07:30 - 07:31 Salisbury to Worcester train calls at Chippenham
07:31 - 07:33 London to Weston-super-mare train calls at Chippenham
A year ago, yes, it was 07:34 departure from Chippenham in the public timetable, with the 07:31 departure to Worcester unchanged and I would assume (data no longer easily to hand) that the arrival from Salisbury was at 07:30. So 4 minutes has indeed become 3.
I am - disappointed - that this has just slipped in, bearing in mind requests to move it to 07:35 as GWR have been known to do for their own convenience when engineering works have been taking place. At the least, I would have hoped to have received a notification of changes as has happened with so many changes in the past. However, the GWR team could be characterised at present by being operational rather than customer responsive. Ask passengers who used to finish work at Salisbury at the end of a conventional 9-to-5 day and catch the 17:42 home to Dilton Marsh, and suddenly found on 15th December that the train that had called at Dilton Marsh was now running empty, and their alternative didn't leave Salisbury until 19:13.
Conversations are being had, but in reality the passengers and the regulators are pretty toothless. There are times that changes make sense and occasionally that will inconvenience some people - we have accepted a number of such changes in the past - but at present changes are being put in more, it seems, with a view to improving performance stats than to serving the customer. Frustrating, as there are ways of doing both at the same time.
| Re: Dawlish - permanent resilience work - ongoing discussions In "London to the West" [371572/22771/12] Posted by ChrisB at 10:08, 26th January 2026 | |
More torrential rain for Cornwall and Devon tomorrow and Tuesday, also into next week.
Less windy, that said.
Less windy, that said.
Hmmm. Forecast this morning was for more gale-force winds, maybe from a slightly different direction though.
| Re: Canals: not 'the lighter side', but I do commend this to our readers In "Introductions and chat" [371571/31515/1] Posted by grahame at 10:07, 26th January 2026 | |
This is another topic which doesn't fit neatly into any of our existing boards or topics. However, I remain determined not to start another new one - purely in the interests of simplicity, here on the forum.
It makes sense not to start another board - but they may be sense in moving a few boundaries and descriptions. Rather like Frome which really should be in Wiltshire, and Cricklade which might more logically be in Swindonshire. There may be some boards that merge / simplify.
It will never be straightforward. We have been line / service based which gets awkward when we want to discuss a multisevice station, and there are so many more general topics which are - ALL - "Across the West" and that becomes a bit big. Things like "passenger experience" - everything from wheelchair access to catering, softness of seats, ticket office closures and fellow passengers putting their feet up and passing wind all seem to end up "Across the West" or "Wider Picture" .... and then we have corollary topics which ARE of interest to a lot of members. "Chat" seems logical ....
| Re: Dawlish - permanent resilience work - ongoing discussions In "London to the West" [371570/22771/12] Posted by Mark A at 10:00, 26th January 2026 | |
That installation needed to have been designed by a nautical architect.
Me: not experienced as a nautical architect, but aware that, say, farm animals, in poor weather, do not by choice stand facing the prevailing wind: wishing I'd had more input into the design than just the opportunity given (and taken) to comment on the planning application.
Mark
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK, with implications for infrastructure - ongoing discussion, 2 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371569/30953/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 09:55, 26th January 2026 | |
Another update, from the BBC:
Body found believed to be missing antiques dealer
[Image from here is not available to guests]
A body recovered from the sea is believed to be missing antiques dealer Matthew Upham
The body of a man recovered from the sea is thought to be antiques shop owner Matthew Upham, one of two swimmers who went missing on Christmas Day.
Devon and Cornwall Police said emergency services were called to Exmouth Beach in Devon just before 15:00 GMT on Sunday following a report of a body seen near the shore. Formal identification is yet to be carried out, but officers said the family of a 64-year-old man from Budleigh Salterton had been informed.
The body of a 47-year-old man, thought to be the other swimmer who went missing, was recovered on Tuesday.
Upham, 64, owner of an antiques shop in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, was previously named by his family as one of the swimmers. According to his friend, singer-songwriter Kate Bush, he had gone into the sea to help a woman in difficulty. "Matthew is deeply loved and will be forever missed," said his family, thanking emergency services who responded.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton shortly after 10:25 GMT on 25 December after two men could not be located. The coastguard search operation was called off at about 17:00.
RNLI crews as well as coastguard helicopters carried out extensive shoreline and offshore searches and a number of people were safely brought back to shore. They were checked either by paramedics at the scene or taken to hospital as a precaution.
Organisers of some Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had postponed or cancelled events due to a yellow weather warning for wind.
[Image from here is not available to guests]
A body recovered from the sea is believed to be missing antiques dealer Matthew Upham
The body of a man recovered from the sea is thought to be antiques shop owner Matthew Upham, one of two swimmers who went missing on Christmas Day.
Devon and Cornwall Police said emergency services were called to Exmouth Beach in Devon just before 15:00 GMT on Sunday following a report of a body seen near the shore. Formal identification is yet to be carried out, but officers said the family of a 64-year-old man from Budleigh Salterton had been informed.
The body of a 47-year-old man, thought to be the other swimmer who went missing, was recovered on Tuesday.
Upham, 64, owner of an antiques shop in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, was previously named by his family as one of the swimmers. According to his friend, singer-songwriter Kate Bush, he had gone into the sea to help a woman in difficulty. "Matthew is deeply loved and will be forever missed," said his family, thanking emergency services who responded.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton shortly after 10:25 GMT on 25 December after two men could not be located. The coastguard search operation was called off at about 17:00.
RNLI crews as well as coastguard helicopters carried out extensive shoreline and offshore searches and a number of people were safely brought back to shore. They were checked either by paramedics at the scene or taken to hospital as a precaution.
Organisers of some Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had postponed or cancelled events due to a yellow weather warning for wind.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [371568/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 09:14, 26th January 2026 | |
175002 un-refurbished being used on a training run then to make up passenger 1340 to Penzance. 175001 refurbished also out training.
| Re: Number of police forces in England and Wales to be cut in major shake-up In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371567/31503/31] Posted by broadgage at 09:09, 26th January 2026 | |
I can see the merits of a national force to deal with terrorism, and organised/large scale crime. One caveat is the risk of the local force declining to deal with say shoplifting, by stating "we believe that a large organised gang are responsible and are therefore leaving it the national police"
| Re: Number of police forces in England and Wales to be cut in major shake-up In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371566/31503/31] Posted by Electric train at 07:10, 26th January 2026 | |
The proposals seem to mirror those proposed in 2005 which were described by the BBC here:
If so it would be between 12 and 18 police forces
If so it would be between 12 and 18 police forces
East Midlands - Either one East Midlands force; or two forces - one covering Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and another for Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
Eastern - Either one Eastern force; or two forces in one of two different combinations: Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex plus Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire
OR Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex plus Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire
London - No change proposed - reviews are continuing into the future of the City of London police and British Transport Police in the city
North East - Create one force for the region by merging Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland
North West - Either two forces - one for Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside and another for Cheshire and Greater Manchester Police
OR three forces - one for Lancashire and Cumbria, another for Cheshire and Merseyside, and a separate Greater Manchester force
South East - Any of the following options:
Two strategic forces - Kent, Surrey and Sussex plus Thames Valley and Hampshire
Three forces - one for Kent alone, another for Thames Valley and a third for Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire.
Three strategic forces - Kent, Surrey and Sussex; Thames Valley as a standalone force; plus Hampshire as a standalone force
Three strategic forces - Kent and Sussex; Thames Valley as a standalone force; plus Hampshire and Surrey
Four strategic forces - Kent as a standalone strategic force; Thames Valley as a standalone strategic force; Surrey and Sussex; and Hampshire as a standalone strategic force
South West - Either one regional force
OR two forces comprising Devon and Cornwall as a standalone force, alongside one covering Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset
Wales - A national Welsh force merging North Wales, Dyfed-Powys, Gwent and South Wales
West Midlands - Either one West Midlands force
OR two forces - Staffordshire and West Mercia; plus Warwickshire and West Midlands
Yorkshire and Humberside - Either a single regional force
OR two strategic forces - one for West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire; another South Yorkshire and Humberside.
Eastern - Either one Eastern force; or two forces in one of two different combinations: Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex plus Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire
OR Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex plus Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire
London - No change proposed - reviews are continuing into the future of the City of London police and British Transport Police in the city
North East - Create one force for the region by merging Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland
North West - Either two forces - one for Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside and another for Cheshire and Greater Manchester Police
OR three forces - one for Lancashire and Cumbria, another for Cheshire and Merseyside, and a separate Greater Manchester force
South East - Any of the following options:
Two strategic forces - Kent, Surrey and Sussex plus Thames Valley and Hampshire
Three forces - one for Kent alone, another for Thames Valley and a third for Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire.
Three strategic forces - Kent, Surrey and Sussex; Thames Valley as a standalone force; plus Hampshire as a standalone force
Three strategic forces - Kent and Sussex; Thames Valley as a standalone force; plus Hampshire and Surrey
Four strategic forces - Kent as a standalone strategic force; Thames Valley as a standalone strategic force; Surrey and Sussex; and Hampshire as a standalone strategic force
South West - Either one regional force
OR two forces comprising Devon and Cornwall as a standalone force, alongside one covering Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset
Wales - A national Welsh force merging North Wales, Dyfed-Powys, Gwent and South Wales
West Midlands - Either one West Midlands force
OR two forces - Staffordshire and West Mercia; plus Warwickshire and West Midlands
Yorkshire and Humberside - Either a single regional force
OR two strategic forces - one for West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire; another South Yorkshire and Humberside.
I could see an option of a Kent and Essex joining in a combined force, there is a lot of crime across the Thames with the bad guys making use of the Thames crossings and the current disconnection of the policing
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026 In "TransWilts line" [371565/31359/18] Posted by matth1j at 06:10, 26th January 2026 | |
I am delighted that the 07:21 in the mornings has consistently been on time, so (Thingley Junction traffic allowing) will allow a good connection into Bristol.
I wish you hadn't said that - I'm going to be testing it out later... [Image from here is not available to guests]BTW the (unofficial) connection at Chippenham is even tighter than it used to be, isn't it? Has the Paddington Weston-super-Mare service crept forward a minute?
| Re: The Two Ronnies, The Little Trains of Wales In "The Lighter Side" [371564/31303/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 04:14, 26th January 2026 | |
They even got 'GWR' badges to put on their caps. That's quality comedy. [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Burns Night in Scotland - topical military music, related post In "Introductions and chat" [371562/31516/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 03:07, 26th January 2026 | |
From YouTube:
One of my favourite comments there, from a military perspective, is "You want to hear this beside you - not in front of you!"
CfN. [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: Melksham Station - "InfoStation" / loos / snack bar / info point opportunity? In "TransWilts line" [371561/31510/18] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 02:20, 26th January 2026 | |
Over the years, I have used Melksham station a fair few times, as a visitor [Image from here is not available to guests]. On many such occasions, I found the help from a knowledgeable local volunteer (grahame, in my case [Image from here is not available to guests]) to be very useful ...
I saw the cafe and thought that was an excellent facility ...
I saw the cafe and thought that was an excellent facility ...
Years ago now ... I last met Peter and Margaret Blackburn there, they were sitting outside enjoying a coffee, on that occasion. My respects to both of them, RIP. CfN. [Image from here is not available to guests]
Looking forward, I could see me enjoying either of:
1. In the summer, a cold drink - the MTUG proposal suggests £1.50 for a can, which I regard as good value, with the option of adding a pack of locally sourced packet snack products;
2. In the winter, a hot drink - again, the MTUG proposal suggests £3.00 for a coffee or £2.00 for a tea (not sure whether they would / could provide mugs, rather than 'bring your own', to avoid having to use recycling cardboard or plastic items).
I commend the concept. [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Canals: not 'the lighter side', but I do commend this to our readers In "Introductions and chat" [371560/31515/1] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 00:34, 26th January 2026 | |
This is another topic which doesn't fit neatly into any of our existing boards or topics. However, I remain determined not to start another new one - purely in the interests of simplicity, here on the forum.
I am an avid follower of 'cruising the cut': I thank David there for his posts.
This one particularly resonated with me - classical music, on the canals - and with a very sad update.
Chris. [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: The most annoying habit for UK train passengers revealed In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371559/31513/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:46, 25th January 2026 Already liked by eightonedee | |
I really don't know what the issue is with putting on makeup though...fear of face powder fallout?
That rather depends: if it was Donald Trump sitting opposite me, I'd leave that train at the next available station stop. [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: OTD - 23rd January (1947) - Start of the big freeze In "Railway History and related topics" [371553/25922/55] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:58, 25th January 2026 | |
I was a 9 year old milk monitor at my primary school, and well remember carting in 24 third of a pint glass bottles of milk with the silver caps 3 or 4 inches above where they should be as the cream had frozen.
I have similar memories to those, chuffed! Similar role, similar bottles - Plymouth, 1967 or so. [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: The most annoying habit for UK train passengers revealed In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371552/31513/51] Posted by johnneyw at 20:58, 25th January 2026 | |
Don't get me started on the "feet on seats' issue but while I'll always have my rucksack on my lap in a crowded train, I'm comfortable with having it on the seat next to me if the train has got plenty of empty seats.
I really don't know what the issue is with putting on makeup though...fear of face powder fallout?
| Re: OTD - 23rd January (1947) - Start of the big freeze In "Railway History and related topics" [371551/25922/55] Posted by chuffed at 20:51, 25th January 2026 | |
I was a 9 year old milk monitor at my primary school, and well remember carting in 24 third of a pint glasses bottle of milk with the silver caps 3 or 4 inches above where they should be as the cream had frozen. Put next to the coke stove to thaw out by 11am ready for Singing Together with William Appleby. Fast forward 20 years I was teaching similarly aged children in '82....no milk but Singing Together and a cream coloured coke stove lived on !
| Re: The most annoying habit for UK train passengers revealed In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371550/31513/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:48, 25th January 2026 | |
Years ago, I did perhaps ... well, fart ... in Coach A. [Image from here is not available to guests] [Image from here is not available to guests] [Image from here is not available to guests]
| Re: The most annoying habit for UK train passengers revealed In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371547/31513/51] Posted by grahame at 20:39, 25th January 2026 | |
So much of it comes down to a question of being considerate and look at the circumstances and there are no absolute wrongs and rights.
A whopping 74 per cent feel leaving behind litter on a train is never acceptable, but surprisingly plenty of travellers admit to doing it.
I will admit to leaving litter behind ... and indeed the train operators provide me with a litter bin for the purpose of.Doorways often become a popular spot for travellers to stand, but many (68 per cent) find this habit frustrating when there is space inside the carriage.
Guilty again, on single station hops on a turbo, especially to Dilton MarshIt's a common sight on almost every train journey - passengers putting their bags on empty seats when there are people standing up.
Some 66 per cent find it unacceptable, but a whopping 41 per cent admit they often place their bags on seats.
Oops - another. If there are complete bays available but people are choosing to stand anyway, I will admit to expanding into the seat next to me.Some 66 per cent find it unacceptable, but a whopping 41 per cent admit they often place their bags on seats.
