Phil’s Good Tonight. Ain’t e!
by Phil Cooper
Hello again. Time is flying by. We finally had Summer in the UK but only for a week! I’m sure many modellers didn’t get into their rooms to improve their layouts. I certainly didn’t! In the last blog I introduced some brilliant modellers describing them as “Galacticos”; a reference to the great Real Madrid who always signed the worlD’s best footballers such as former Gallacticos, Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham .I’m featuring 2 of my Calacticos today in Neil Stanley and Mark Wison, both, remarkable modellers. Their photos show fantastic and complex work requiring great skill and patience. I’d love to have 10% of their skills. Their photos are breath-taking, I;m sure you all agree but first, let’s have some fun. I’m introducing a new feature, “Photo of The Fortnight” . It’s MY blog so I’ll be selecting it. The criteria will be excellence or humour. The first one makes it because when I saw it for the first time I laughed out loud and subsequent views have brought the same reaction. Even NannyBarb who is the Antichrist of railway modelling broke into a titter!
So here’s my first Photo of The Fortnight
Many thanks to Vin Blick for this bit of absolute magic
I’ve looked at it loads of times and I still crack up. Thank you Vin, its brilliant.
Right onto the Galacticos starting with:
NEIL STANLEY
At the start of The Roling Stones 1971 live album, “Get Yer Ya Yas Out” Mick Jagger says, “Charlie’s good tonight, ain’t ‘e”, referring to drummer Charlie Watts, and the band kick into “Honky Tonk Women” -classic Stones!
I’m going to steal the line,
“Neil’s good tonight, ain’t ‘e.”
SOME REALRAIL NEWS
Northern has undertaken a £350 000 modernisation of Neville Hill depot in Leeds over 14 weeks. This included converting an old laundry room into an office, installing a communication and briefing area with interactive screens, and upgrading lighting.
In Florida Brightline has announced that it will not commence passenger services to Orlando from 1 September in time for the Labor Day weekend as planned.
It is therefore offering refund or rebooking options to passengers who have purchased tickets for this period.
Drone footage of the new Brightline platforms in Orlando
Despite finishing construction on the project in June, Brightline has been unable to complete all elements of certification and crew testing for this project in line with its schedule.
A new opening date for the extension to Orlando is now yet to be confirmed.
In its official statement, Brightline comments:
“We’re working through the final stages of certification and crew testing but it’s apparent that we won’t hit our opening weekend as planned (Sept 1–6). Knowing it’s a holiday weekend, we want to give guests as much time as possible to adjust their travel plans. We have already started engaging them and will refund their tickets and provide a premium credit “on us.” We hope they will rebook and enjoy the inaugural Brightline experience. We look forward to announcing an official date as soon as possible.”
DID YOU KNOW
That in America, their Amtrack Long Distance trains travel at an average speed of just 40-42MPH
Southeastern has opened cycle hubs at Birchington-on-Sea, Folkestone Central, Dover Priory, Marden, Walmer and Westgate-on-Sea. Features include a key-fob entry system, CCTV, charging points for electric bikes, bicycle pumps and repair stands.
The Department for Transport is reviewing its policy on recognition of EU conformity assessments for rail products regulated under the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 in light of the Department for Business & Trade’s intention to indefinitely extend recognition of the CE marking scheme. DfT said no decisions have been taken yet and its position remained that it would end recognition of EU conformity assessment documentation for rail interoperability constituents and subsystems at the end of 2024
TransPennine Express to stop using loco-hauled push-pull trains in December
TransPennine Express has confirmed that it will cease using its push-pull sets of Class 68 locomotives and MkVa coaches, previously designated Nova 3 sets, from the December 2023 timetable change.
This is horrible news for class 68 lovers like Chuck Batley and me! But Chuck I’ve got something nice for you down at the bottom of the blog.
The decision is the result of a review of operations after TPE was transferred to the Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort.
It is understood that eventual winner FirstGroup was the only bidder for the franchise to propose the acquisition of new rolling stock.
Hitachi Rail’s cutting-edge trams to begin service in Turin
Pasenger services on bespoke new trams manufactured by Hitachi Rail for Gruppo Torinese Trasporti (GTT) will begin running in the city of Turin on Monday 11 September.
An initial 30 trams will enter service with the contract, signed in Spring 2020, providing for the delivery of 70 trams by 2024. The framework agreement is financed by the Ministry of Transport through an agreement with the City of Turin aimed at boosting rail transport in large urban centres.
The fleet is being manufactured at the Hitachi Rail plant in Naples, which employs around 1,700 people. Each tram has a maximum speed of 60km/h, is 28 meters long, and can accommodate up to 218 passengers. The trams livery takes up the yellow and blue colours that represent the city of Turin, and the colour scheme of the new GTT buses.
The service will deliver a high level of passenger comfort and design, providing exceptional space compared to previous models and an innovative air conditioning system that ensures a continuous exchange of air from the outside, guaranteeing high safety standards. The design also combines large windows with transparent sides to the roof, providing excellent internal brightness and visibility of the outside world.
Reflecting Hitachi Rail’s commitment to inclusive design, the trams are equipped with two areas for people with disabilities and provide easy access and good manoeuvrability for wheelchairs. External display signs are also provided at the ideal height to be visible to passengers in wheelchairs.
“Hitachi Rail’s new trams for the city of Turin represents the evolution of the previous SIRO model, of which hundreds have been built for cities in Italy and abroad,” said Luca D’Aquila, COO of Hitachi Rail
“The trams incorporate new technologies and high quality standards for reliability and passenger comfort, and are designed to further encourage the use of public transport in cities. We are proud to contribute to Turin’s drive to provide seamless and sustainable travel on its public transport network.”
My next Galactico MARK WILSON
Mark’s good tonight. Ain’t ‘e
I make no apology for including so many photos in this blog. Neil and Mark possess great skills and I’m sure their photos will inspire all of you. They’re both great blokes who regularly post photos in Facebook and they are happy to give advice to us mere mortals! Catch them both in Facebook.
AND FINALLY just for Chuck Batley. We have star of The Railway Children and The Railway Children Return, Jenny Agutter looking scrumptious at 70.
Nice shirt Jenny. Shame you couldn’t find your pearl necklace though!!!!!
WOOF WOOF
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