Another masterpiece, Don, rendered even more interesting thanks to Dave's commentary. I can't help speculating what an amazing archive your works will be for people in 50 or 100 years time. Long may you keep it up and your chosen charities prosper as a result!
Thank you from USA. Another fantastic video from Mr. Coffey. Glorious English sunshine, perfect view of trains, tracks, countryside, excellent commentary, perfect videography, including sound, and helpful route information. Excellent.
I find these driver's eye views very relaxing and I can even use them to fall asleep when I'm overtired. I'm 77 and don't do much travelling by train nowadays! As the train gathers speed and we rush headlong into the future, it seems quite remarkable, even magical, that railways work as well as they do. There is such a lot of infrastructure involved, and even more since the advent of overhead power cables and the gantries to carry them. But perhaps even more impressive than the actual train, it's the signalling system and especially points control that most impress me. At busy junctions there are often many sets of points and every single one has to be set correctly to avoid catastrophe. I suppose modern signalling systems rely to a great extent on computers to ensure the points are set right and the signals, too.
In various videos I explain various systems that are used to control the trains safely. A common question is why we don’t go over 125mph but the simple answer is that all of the infrastructure needs to go with it to ensure safe passage.
I took this route last year during a visit to England (from Australia) to visit my uncle in Hull, I really enjoyed looking at the beautiful English countryside. Thank you for bringing back such good memories :)
Thanks Don for yet another excellent video. What a good day for travel: crystal clear long distance viewing! Thanks also to Dave for making it possible. What a good service that is from Hull to London.
Impressive how this speed of 125mph is maintained on Victorian-era routing, and that there's an upgrade to 140 in the works. As much as I bash UK rail for it's shortcomings, you have to commend the 19th century engineers who built this, and the following generations who maintained and upgraded this stuff to support speeds currently sustained today.
Yes, I risked a copyright strike with that but I thought it was worth it. There is no ownership of the soundtrack so I’d have to fight it if it arises.
Really looking forward to this one, Don. It includes, at its northern end, some track that I've never even travelled on, let alone seen from video. Thanks, in anticipation, to you and to driver Dave Kildea.
Your best production (so far). Excellent video, audio, annotations, and narrative (thanks Dave). A well deserved Congratulations and Thank You from Battle Ground Washington.
One of your best and the fastest I've traveled sitting at my computer. How things have changed in rail travel since I left England and I truly marvel at the engineering and design of railway tracks in all of the videos I watch. Thank you Don. Happy New Year and have a great year ahead.
Wonderful as always to see a run into my home town. Thank you for continuing to upload fantastic content, and thank you to Dave for allowing those of us who were unable to follow our childhood dreams to live vicariously through you! Also, for anyone who's interested, here are a couple more interesting historical facts about Hull: According to many accounts, Hull is where the English Civil War began, when King Charles I was refused entry into the city by the parliamentary governor, Sir John Hotham. This altercation took place at the Beverley Gate entrance through the walls, and, though the gate and walls were demolished in the late 1700s, the remnants of the gate have since been excavated and are now open to the public. The subsequent Siege of Hull by Charles and the royalists has been called the "first blood" of the Civil War. Hull was, until the 1960s, a major fishing port. This caused it some problems in the last century or so. For instance, during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, Russia decided to send their Baltic Fleet to help out in the Far East (resulting in the last ever surrender of one battle fleet to another on the high seas, but that's another story). This was at a time when naval technology was seeing a period of rapid growth and development, and there was a lot of fear in the Russian fleet about the new "torpedo boat." So, when they sighted a few small boats in the North Sea, they panicked and opened fire. The boats turned out to be fishing boats from Hull, and three trawlermen were killed. A monument to them now stands on Hessle Road in Hull, and this event very nearly saw Britain joining the war against Russia. A little known fact about Hull is that it was the single most severely damaged city in the country in the Blitz, the German night-bombing raids of 1940-41. Hull was the target of both the first daylight raid of the war, and the last manned raid against Britain. Out of 91,000 houses in the city, only 6,000 were spared from damage of some form, and more than 5,000 were destroyed outright. The reason for this damage was twofold. First, as mentioned previously, Hull was a major fishing port, actively working against the German strategy of starving Britain into submission. Secondly, Hull was surrounded by several strategic targets; a waterworks, a gasworks, a power station, an oil refinery, and of course, several docks, in addition to being a fairly major rail hub. There were also several grain mills further up the River Hull. As you can see, Hull has had a rather dangerous history, but it wasn't without it's peaceful moments. In this video, just visible over the right-hand end of the station roof is a brick building. This is the original station building, and, beyond that, the Station hotel, which, in 1853, housed Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and five of their nine children.
Well Adam, I can’t thank you enough for the very informative feedback. I’d love to take you all with me in turn as I know I used to dream of a cab ride in my day but at least I can offer the next best thing. My daughter lives in Hull so I’ve got a soft spot for it but I’ve learned more from your comments. You might like the Cleethorpes video later this week because it’s just across the Humber so fairly local. Once again, thank you 👍
Yes, they really take off on AC power. There’s another video on the same rout on UA-cam by AWL57 from a Class 91 which was a beast but nowhere near the same acceleration.
I watch your videos with my pre-grouping atlas to follow the route. The number of stations and lines that have disappeared is so sad. Many of them would be most useful these days. I really enjoyed this offering, thanks Don.
Yes, it would be interesting to know just how well these assets would be used. You can’t make assumptions though, some stations are worryingly quiet. You have to wonder how long they can be sustained.
Hello from the US! I just happened upon these wonderful train vids. Trains/railroads have been a lifelong hobby of mine; and--via the computer--I can travel to places I could not go to otherwise. Gotta love that English accent as well. I know I'll enjoy the other train vids as well & Many Thanks Again!!! :)
Watching from Rotorua, New Zealand on a wet day trying to get some milage on indoor machines. Thanks for a brilliant video and a great help in making me move faster!
Don epic video the best yet, Dave is immense in this vid. his knowledge of the route is brilliant credit to him. Wicked journey from South to North awesome detail ....Cheers IAN
Outstanding picture quality combined with all the interesting information scrolls make your work the gold standard not matched by any of the other producer of similar videos. Thanks for your hard work and keep them coming
Another great video as usual. Amazing acceleration compared with 30+ years ago. Grantham - for a while in 80s/90s, my local station... you missed out Sir Issac Newton in the locals list!!... who proved how things go down, whilst Maggie showed how to make everything go up. My old college mate Graham (Jilted John) was actually born in Sheffield, not Grantham. I remember the wires going in on the ECML and the arrival of the 225s, when the 17:00 Leeds Pullman could just get me onto the my home platform within an hour. And I am sure Sir Frank Whittle was born in Coventry before moving to Leamington Spa where he attended my old school (long before me I hassen to add!).
You might be right but virtually all those little factoids come from Wikipedia about famous people. I like your analogy between Newton and Thatcher!!! I’ve been to see Graham as John Shuttleworth - he’s very talented.
Thank you for another excellent video...great film, the incredible naming of all the level crossings & footpaths, plus the detailed commentary across the bottom....a lot of hard work....much appreciated!
Brilliant video, the commentary and annotations made it fascinating. Got to say a word about Hull Trains who really are something else - excellent service and some of the nicest staff in rail. Actually make rail travel enjoyable! And those class 802's are fabulous - the seamless switchover from electric to diesel is just so impressive. Thank you for posting.
Great video, and hugely impressed at the quality you achieve. Small correction (if I remember correctly) - the wrong type of snow was actually from the early days of class 319s, where a particularly fine type of snow defeated the weatherproofing of the unit's traction motors and managed to short them
Thanks Ian. There were all sorts of problems with the weather including traction motors as you say. They also had snow in the door gear and in the brakes but there was definitely problems with the collector shoes too. The point I was making really was that they made out it was snow on the line 👍
Actually Paul, that was a special arrangement to allow me to film. We took a train southbound and there should have been a break for the booked driver but we brought the next one back after a shorter break to get the filming done. In other words, that was the return trip you saw.
Excellent video, just the thing in December when the rain and wind are lashing down outside to take us back to warmer summer days, seeing beautiful British countryside and some interesting historic railway infrastructure. Thanks and Happy New Year to you.
Interesting to see Slipper Bridge. Here in Victoria (Australia) they've just completed a near identical version to take the railway line between Traralgon and Sale over the last phase of the Princes Highway duplication between those two cities. As of two weeks ago, however, they were a long way from completing the roadworks, so this holiday period must have been fun for the many holidaymakers wanting to get down to the south eastern resorts, including ours here in Paynesville - which is currently heaving with them...
Thank you for this video. Nice and interesting cab ride. Globally it was a sunny day, with more sun at the begining and more clouds at the end. At 1h28mn33sec, there is a double interchange between the two tracks. The mention "crossovers" is indicated. It is always in these cases. Also, thank you for all infos given. In fine, best wishes for the new year 2024.
Excellent watch! We used to have a signal on the Up Westbury outside Reading that was similar to the Mexican Hat. Drivers used to call, and still refer to that location (despite not having it anymore) as 'Nelson's Hat'
Very impressive video. I watched a few months back and never got round to leaving a comment! Dave was fantastic with his knowledge and passion. I do miss the class 43s and the roar of the 91s but i like these Hitachi trains, their acceleration is excellent and their versatility to bring intercity/high speed services on non electrified stations to towns such as Hull is a positive things in my eyes.
Another great video Don - a very relaxing watch. Struggled to hear Dave due to the noise of the train, however, didn't really feel his commentary was necessary as your rolling narrative always keeps us well informed.
Brilliant video Don most enjoyable thank Dave for the commentary and thank you for the great quiz question (smallest window) will use it in my quiz on the 15th, many thanks 😊
0) Thank you, Don and Dave! :-) 1) ECML/WCML: I wonder who inserted "Coast" in these names... 2) All these foot paths level-crossing a four-track high-speed line... Using one would be the last thing I'd do (final steps I'd take). 3) The Selby - Hull section puzzles me. I rode it as a passenger in 1971, 1972 and 1974 as a Dutch boy bound for the Lake District (and back to the ferry to Rotterdam). My only surviving memories of it are being 4-track in full use (1971), 4-track, apparently only the middle ones in use (1972), 2-track, outside tracks lifted (1974). However hardly any piece of your footage would have accomodated four tracks. Has my memory been wrong for fifty years, or would major works have trimmed the track bed etc.? 4) As you (Don) mention the good connections: in 1974 we were unable to plan a train ride that would bring us from Ulverston to Hull in time for the ferry. On a Saturday in July, I assume. We had to travel to Hull the preceding day and wait long hours before checking in on the ferry. - Sidebar: my breakfast in Hull marked the first time I had white beans in tomato sauce for breakfast. It appealed to me. 5) Another sidebar: around 2010 I rode the length of the port of Rotterdam on my bike. I remember a signpost along the cycling lane: "Hull 2" (kilometres). Yes, it pointed to the ferry dock.
1. The country is divided by the Pennines hills and we have a main line up each side. It’s just a way of distinguishing them. 2. The crossings are a dangerous problem but are mandatory rights of way. 3. Towards the end of the BR years, the railway was subject to a lot of rationalisation and you can see evidence of it in virtually every video. It’s amazing how quickly nature takes over. 4. The services to Hull these days are very good and the city is well served by train. 5. In my motor industry days before the railway, I used to travel extensively through Europe and I’ve seen the sign you’re talking about!
Thanks for sharing your journey and also to Hull Trains. I noticed 2 Go pros. I presume one is a back up incase the other "fails to proceed". Someone once told me to "go to Hull". I thinks that's what they said. Anyway, Happy New Year from Australia.
Good to see you Richard. Yes, on trips like that which take a lot of organising, I’ve taken to using two cameras just in case one decides to stop working. As you know they can be fickle instruments but I must admit, the GoPro 9s I’m using just now are behaving very well.
Yet another superb video Don. Enjoyed watching all of it at one go ! Liked the odd comments from the driver ?. Looking forward to the next one Don. (Crewe-Lincoln, via Uttoxeter maybe).
HAppy New year Don, great film enhanced by the drivers comments. I watched this over the festering season and this year , and I did look , no yonder pheasant . Good health and happiness for the new year .
I WORKED WITH A SURVEYOR,-ON "THE "DARWIN RIVER DAM" PROJECT (aust)-in 1971,-I WAS HIS "OFFSIDER"-& HELD THE POLE,-& DUG THE "PROFILES"--I WAS A LABORER ON THE JOB,-AND HE WAS A REAL NICE BLOKE,-& TAUGHT ME A LOT !-IVE BEEN TO ENGLAND & AM ASTOUNDED BY THE"UNBELIEVABLEY FANTASTIC"ENGINEERING-THAT IS STILL AVAILABLE TO SEE EVERYWHERE !--LOVE YOUR SHOW DON-(do they still make "ACRINGTON" bricks ?)
I think this was your best video yet Don. And a really nice touch having the running commentary from David as well. Having done a couple of front end turns and a few of my handling hours on the ECML, I couldn’t help but wonder why they never stopped the flashing greens from flashing if they were never to be used. Unless there’s some distant plans in place to finally utilise them? Happy New Year to you.
It’s a fair point James but we’d have to know what’s involved. They often delay such things until a new signalling project then keep delaying it and so on.
Thank you Don and all others involved - the voice of Driver Duddington was an inspired addition. I was surprised how few passing loops there are for such a busy line, and they are labeled "passenger loops", is there little freight on the line? May I suggest you add the build dates of the duplicate tunnel builds eg Hadley Wood 1850 and early 1809s, to the informative 'sub-titles' on the route? As a boy I watched the Hull Pullman on the shorter Goole-Thorne route from Hull. Why do they use the Selby route now? More miles under the wires, larger population of Selby?
Thanks Paul. The amount of freight varies through the day so the loops do get utilised, there are times when every one seems to be occupied. I have to be careful with the amount of information I add or it becomes a chore trying to read and watch but I do understand your point.
Your viewers might be interested to know that Sandy station was where the original East-West Rail link between Oxford and Cambridge via Bedford briefly joined the ECML. Travelling North as you were, you'd have seen it climb a gradient on the right (ie East) side and cross over a bridge heading West towards Bedford. The route is being reinstated, but will not go through Sandy again, as the Bedford to Cambridge section is long gone and much of it built on. I rode the entire route as a boy.
Just beyond Biggleswade(27:47)there's a private footpath, with what looks like a newly constructed footbridge just after, which looks like it's replaced another foot crossing. Probably a safety audit decided it was worth the cost as it's on a curve where visibility would be limited
Thanks for another great video. I seem to remember that the stretch of line between Selby and Brough (or thereabouts) was in the Guinness Book of Records for being one of the longest straight rail tracks in the UK? Do you know if that is still the case? I know the Redhill to Tonbridge line is a contender for the title.
I try to include different information in each video and in time, most things are described. The pings relate to green signals which have a magnet typically 200 yards on approach. It indicates a clear signal but for caution, stop signals or speed restrictions, you get a buzz which the driver needs to acknowledge to avoid an automatic brake application. Keep in mind Bill that if it’s foggy, you can’t always see the signals.
amazing clip at 52:17 about being on the same stretch as 'MALLARD' did the 126mph world record run. i mean..come on 126 miles per hour just by boiling water up and compressing the steam from it how fantastic.
Astonishing isn’t it. The whole thing is, that’s what fascinates me. Building a stone bridge on a moor up Settle where all the stone and materials had to be imported.
Could line speeds be increased on the longer straighter/less curvy sections, could the infrastructure be adapted to cope if faster EMU/DMU trains were introduced .Or is that another whole can of worms ?. Thanks for your content Don, its always a highlight to see new videos.
You’ve hit the nail on the head. As you suspect, it isn’t just the signals or the wires it’s everything and the track has to match the quality of the wires so it requires vast investment to make it a 140mph railway.
There can be numerous reasons and I don’t sign it but the signallers have a simplifier or a log of where trains are booked or there may be a special reason like access or doors don’t line up with certain access points. It is possible that there is absolutely no reason and it was just an option.
I believe you’ve heard the vigilance device which keeps checking the driver is alert. It has to be acknowledged to avoid an automatic brake application.
50:16 Often use the Casewick PF crossing. Steep steps either side, good visibility to see if trains are coming , does gets the heart pumping a little 😆. There was a plan to close this footpath crossing along with Greatford LC, there was a public consultation in my village a few years ago. I guess it was abandoned.
Most of the are ancient rights of way and are protected by act of parliament. They occasionally get approval to close one but it’s rare despite the risks.
Im sure I watched one your excellent videos, where a class 66 freight train came down the Ivanhoe line to Bardon Hill, Leicestershire but I now can’t find it. Unless of course it wasn’t one of your 😂
Great video.. and fabulous additional commentary from Dave. I had completely forgotten the ECML used to go via Selby - was too long ago for me to remember. I do wonder though, given how straight the rail is from Selby through to the other side of Brough, why the line speed is so slow? Is the line at risk of poor drainage / subsidence and the speed cannot go faster? Or just that Network Rail have never upgraded the line?
It’s as you suspect. The line is very much still within the Selby coalfield and suffers from a lot of subsidence. In fact if you look at my earliest Hull video you see it still under the old semaphore signalling where it has since been upgraded for 100mph. However, the track is nowhere near good enough without a lot of work.
I’ll probably do a TRU update a bit later in 2024 and include that run from Wakefield to York via Castleford. It’s already changed a fair bit since I did it.
Hi Don, great video. Thank you. Question on the 140mph test section. What dictates that the current 125mph is the fastest that we could go using the existing infrastructure? Or to ask another way, what's so magic about 125? How is it determined that we can't go say 130mph safely?
Good question. It’s all sorts of things. They have a margin of safety and then you have to consider signal sighting and spacing. You also have to consider the infrastructure so the track bed needs to be near perfect and the overhead wires become unsuitable at higher speed so you need the Series One structures I talk about in other videos. Level crossing equipment and approach speeds, platform clearance and power distribution are others but there are more.
38:20 - a friend in engineering told me that the wrong kind of snow was big fluffy snowflakes that get sucked into the VFD (variable frequency drive motor drivers) and block airflow. The snow blocks the air inlets but there isn't any heat since the inverters are inside. The inverters overheat due to lack of airflow, despite it being cold and wet out!
Correct, the media at the time took any excuse to mock and any kind of snow came under fire. There was the fluffy stuff you explain, the frozen stuff in the captions, snow on the signals etc etc. it left leaves alone for a while.
Passing through Hitchin, I noticed you named Sir Frank Whittle being a notable person with connections there living out the last few years of his life, but was actually from my old home city of Coventry, being born there in 1907. He was a pioneer of jet engines and wrote a book which my late great uncle, Leonard Griffiths contributed further information in writing on the mechanics of how the electrical parts to the jet engine were installed. My claim to fame and nothing to do with railway trains.
Thanks Richard. I’m very limited to what I can add in order to get the timings right and of course when our train is barreling along at 125. I do take your point that there was more to be acknowledged.
I don't entirely understand why the train fired up its diesels at Retford (1:19:52) when it was under the wires for almost 25 minutes after that (Temple Hirst at 1:43:55). They can't really take that long to warm up, can they?
Watching this video. I cannot help thinking that the cost of the electricalinfrastructure. Surely it would be more cost effective to power the trains by batteries. Maybe a battery car that could be switched?
They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. That is one very long chain. It's amazing that it operates with as few hitches as it does; an obvious testament to the team that keeps it running. But it did occur to me that there's a lot of mischief to be made on those tracks, and I imagine anyone so inclined would find it easy to do a lot of damage. It's also amazing the amount of public infrastructure that remains safe simply by assuming that most people would not be so inclined.
I don't know if it's still there Don but at the bottom of Stoke Bank is a little memorial plaque dedicated to a man named Brian Carter who passed away in 1950 at the age of 23. Despite having Multiple Sclerosis and a weak heart he made countless visits to that spot. His dying wish was to have his ashes scattered there.
I have read that the distant towers of Lincoln cathedral can be visible on clear days, presumably between Newark and Retford? Also, the Newark flat crossing is a real hindrance.
Not sure about the Lincoln towers but I wouldn’t be at all surprised. The flat crossing is really no more of an operational challenge than any other junction but it is definitely unusual.
Nice to see train doing KX to Grantham in one hour. And in 2024 finally, 810's comming to MML (2 years late) I waiting for these sets, maybe they can cut some travel time inbetween Nottingham to St.Pancras. But my wish is: morning service from Leeds to St.P via Erewash Valley is back to timetable (return at evening) It was great "weekend" train to visit capital for people living north of Nottinhgam (no train change)
Yes they do Graham. The whole process is triggered by GPS and everything is automatic. It starts and primes the engine and systems in good time and it drops the pan before the end of the electrified section so it leaves the wires on diesel. On the return, it raises the pan on the hoof after joining the wired section and it then allows a short idling time before shutting the diesel power down. Again, completely automatic. Clever stuff.
If it was done in error, the pan (pantograph) would raise up to its full extent and possibly get knocked off if it wasn’t dropped quickly - that’s definitely tea and biscuits. If it was done as an experiment then the train would continue for a few miles before it eventually stopped.
If it was done in error, the pan (pantograph) would raise up to its full extent and possibly get knocked off if it wasn’t dropped quickly - that’s definitely tea and biscuits. If it was done as an experiment then the train would continue for a few miles before it eventually stopped.
I’ve just discovered these driver view videos. Absolutely addictive. I watch in stages. Got a wide screen TV great effect. Thanks
Welcome aboard!
Another masterpiece, Don, rendered even more interesting thanks to Dave's commentary. I can't help speculating what an amazing archive your works will be for people in 50 or 100 years time. Long may you keep it up and your chosen charities prosper as a result!
Yes it will be a legacy for people to refer to. I wish there was one from the sixties for me to look at!
Thank you from USA. Another fantastic video from Mr. Coffey. Glorious English sunshine, perfect view of trains, tracks, countryside, excellent commentary, perfect videography, including sound, and helpful route information. Excellent.
That’s very flattering David, thank you 👍
I find these driver's eye views very relaxing and I can even use them to fall asleep when I'm overtired. I'm 77 and don't do much travelling by train nowadays! As the train gathers speed and we rush headlong into the future, it seems quite remarkable, even magical, that railways work as well as they do. There is such a lot of infrastructure involved, and even more since the advent of overhead power cables and the gantries to carry them. But perhaps even more impressive than the actual train, it's the signalling system and especially points control that most impress me. At busy junctions there are often many sets of points and every single one has to be set correctly to avoid catastrophe. I suppose modern signalling systems rely to a great extent on computers to ensure the points are set right and the signals, too.
In various videos I explain various systems that are used to control the trains safely. A common question is why we don’t go over 125mph but the simple answer is that all of the infrastructure needs to go with it to ensure safe passage.
I took this route last year during a visit to England (from Australia) to visit my uncle in Hull, I really enjoyed looking at the beautiful English countryside. Thank you for bringing back such good memories :)
Glad you enjoyed it! 👍
An exemplary narration; simple facts and no more.
Much appreciated 👍
Thanks Don for yet another excellent video. What a good day for travel: crystal clear long distance viewing! Thanks also to Dave for making it possible. What a good service that is from Hull to London.
Glad you enjoyed it and I really can’t thank the Hull trains guys enough.
Great demonstration of route knowledge from our driver 👍
Completely agree 👍
This was a great run to watch. Indeed thanks to David and all at Hull Trains.
Merry Christmas and a safe New Year to all my fellow railway folk.
Thanks John, they’ll probably see your comments but I’ll let them know.
Impressive how this speed of 125mph is maintained on Victorian-era routing, and that there's an upgrade to 140 in the works. As much as I bash UK rail for it's shortcomings, you have to commend the 19th century engineers who built this, and the following generations who maintained and upgraded this stuff to support speeds currently sustained today.
Yes, that service ran to time a treat. Like you say a good proportion at 125mph.
Absolutely brilliant looking forward to more!
Coming soon 👍
most interesting journey, especially with all the up and down traffic on this route
Loved this one. Good to hear the driver and great that you spliced in the driver of Mallard!
Yes, I risked a copyright strike with that but I thought it was worth it. There is no ownership of the soundtrack so I’d have to fight it if it arises.
Tolle Fahrt..vielen Dank!
Es freut mich, danke fürs Zuschauen.
Really looking forward to this one, Don. It includes, at its northern end, some track that I've never even travelled on, let alone seen from video. Thanks, in anticipation, to you and to driver Dave Kildea.
Dave was super helpful getting this done. Hope you like it Martin.
Another great run to watch. Thanks to David and all at Hull Trains
I’ll pass on your comments Chris.
Your best production (so far). Excellent video, audio, annotations, and narrative (thanks Dave). A well deserved Congratulations and Thank You from Battle Ground Washington.
Many thanks and take care over there. I’ll let Dave know about your comment.
One of your best and the fastest I've traveled sitting at my computer. How things have changed in rail travel since I left England and I truly marvel at the engineering and design of railway tracks in all of the videos I watch. Thank you Don. Happy New Year and have a great year ahead.
Yes, we’ve moved on a bit. Same to you Richard.
Great video Don, thanks so much. A trip I've done many times -but you don't get this view from the cheap seats!
Glad you enjoyed it. We do get a very nice view up front and I’m more than pleased to share it.
Many thanks to you Don and driver Dave. Such a well produced video. And such a smooth ride. We've come a long way since "clickety-clack" :)
Yes although it’s quite a thrill to get a bit of jointed track 👍
Another great video. Thank you so much.
Our pleasure! All the best!
Thanks don and everyone at Hull trains for this. My usual route to London 😊
Nice one Cameron, glad you enjoyed it 👍
Wonderful as always to see a run into my home town. Thank you for continuing to upload fantastic content, and thank you to Dave for allowing those of us who were unable to follow our childhood dreams to live vicariously through you!
Also, for anyone who's interested, here are a couple more interesting historical facts about Hull:
According to many accounts, Hull is where the English Civil War began, when King Charles I was refused entry into the city by the parliamentary governor, Sir John Hotham. This altercation took place at the Beverley Gate entrance through the walls, and, though the gate and walls were demolished in the late 1700s, the remnants of the gate have since been excavated and are now open to the public. The subsequent Siege of Hull by Charles and the royalists has been called the "first blood" of the Civil War.
Hull was, until the 1960s, a major fishing port. This caused it some problems in the last century or so. For instance, during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, Russia decided to send their Baltic Fleet to help out in the Far East (resulting in the last ever surrender of one battle fleet to another on the high seas, but that's another story). This was at a time when naval technology was seeing a period of rapid growth and development, and there was a lot of fear in the Russian fleet about the new "torpedo boat." So, when they sighted a few small boats in the North Sea, they panicked and opened fire. The boats turned out to be fishing boats from Hull, and three trawlermen were killed. A monument to them now stands on Hessle Road in Hull, and this event very nearly saw Britain joining the war against Russia.
A little known fact about Hull is that it was the single most severely damaged city in the country in the Blitz, the German night-bombing raids of 1940-41. Hull was the target of both the first daylight raid of the war, and the last manned raid against Britain. Out of 91,000 houses in the city, only 6,000 were spared from damage of some form, and more than 5,000 were destroyed outright. The reason for this damage was twofold. First, as mentioned previously, Hull was a major fishing port, actively working against the German strategy of starving Britain into submission. Secondly, Hull was surrounded by several strategic targets; a waterworks, a gasworks, a power station, an oil refinery, and of course, several docks, in addition to being a fairly major rail hub. There were also several grain mills further up the River Hull.
As you can see, Hull has had a rather dangerous history, but it wasn't without it's peaceful moments. In this video, just visible over the right-hand end of the station roof is a brick building. This is the original station building, and, beyond that, the Station hotel, which, in 1853, housed Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and five of their nine children.
Well Adam, I can’t thank you enough for the very informative feedback. I’d love to take you all with me in turn as I know I used to dream of a cab ride in my day but at least I can offer the next best thing. My daughter lives in Hull so I’ve got a soft spot for it but I’ve learned more from your comments. You might like the Cleethorpes video later this week because it’s just across the Humber so fairly local. Once again, thank you 👍
Excellent production and informative as always!
Much appreciated!
Great journey. The fast acceleration just after Digswell was pretty amazing. Thanks.
Yes, they really take off on AC power. There’s another video on the same rout on UA-cam by AWL57 from a Class 91 which was a beast but nowhere near the same acceleration.
I watch your videos with my pre-grouping atlas to follow the route. The number of stations and lines that have disappeared is so sad. Many of them would be most useful these days. I really enjoyed this offering, thanks Don.
Yes, it would be interesting to know just how well these assets would be used. You can’t make assumptions though, some stations are worryingly quiet. You have to wonder how long they can be sustained.
Another fabulous journey!
Many thanks!
Hello from the US! I just happened upon these wonderful train vids. Trains/railroads have been a lifelong hobby of mine; and--via the computer--I can travel to places I could not go to otherwise. Gotta love that English accent as well. I know I'll enjoy the other train vids as well & Many Thanks Again!!! :)
We have an accent?!! Just kidding - glad you found us David, more videos soon 👍
Watching from Rotorua, New Zealand on a wet day trying to get some milage on indoor machines. Thanks for a brilliant video and a great help in making me move faster!
Have fun!
Don epic video the best yet, Dave is immense in this vid. his knowledge of the route is brilliant credit to him. Wicked journey from South to North awesome detail ....Cheers IAN
Yes, I’ve already made him aware that his commentary was appreciated. Thanks for the feedback Ian.
Outstanding picture quality combined with all the interesting information scrolls make your work the gold standard not matched by any of the other producer of similar videos. Thanks for your hard work and keep them coming
Glad you enjoyed it Brendan. There’s a lot of work in putting them together so glad you appreciate it.
Fantastic as usual Don really good commentary from Dave.well done Hull Trains
My sentiment too. They were very helpful.
Great vid and info as always. Thank you.
Another great video as usual. Amazing acceleration compared with 30+ years ago.
Grantham - for a while in 80s/90s, my local station... you missed out Sir Issac Newton in the locals list!!... who proved how things go down, whilst Maggie showed how to make everything go up.
My old college mate Graham (Jilted John) was actually born in Sheffield, not Grantham.
I remember the wires going in on the ECML and the arrival of the 225s, when the 17:00 Leeds Pullman could just get me onto the my home platform within an hour.
And I am sure Sir Frank Whittle was born in Coventry before moving to Leamington Spa where he attended my old school (long before me I hassen to add!).
You might be right but virtually all those little factoids come from Wikipedia about famous people. I like your analogy between Newton and Thatcher!!! I’ve been to see Graham as John Shuttleworth - he’s very talented.
Excellent footage.👍
Thank you for another excellent video...great film, the incredible naming of all the level crossings & footpaths, plus the detailed commentary across the bottom....a lot of hard work....much appreciated!
Glad you enjoyed it George. Thanks for the feedback 👍
The city of culture 😉nice of them to leave a Turbostar in your way at platform 7 in Hull!
Haha, it seems daft when there are other platforms but the signaller has a log of all train movements and it probably makes sense.
What an excellent video. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it Don.
Brilliant video, the commentary and annotations made it fascinating. Got to say a word about Hull Trains who really are something else - excellent service and some of the nicest staff in rail. Actually make rail travel enjoyable! And those class 802's are fabulous - the seamless switchover from electric to diesel is just so impressive. Thank you for posting.
Thanks Paul and I’ll definitely feed that back to Dave and the Director - Alex Walker.
Thanks Don & Dave, a very interesting journey and information. Passed through my neck of the woods: Biggleswade/ Sandy. 👍👍👍
Nice one David, glad you enjoyed it.
Always a good day when you’ve posted a new video Don. Have a happy safe New Year. All the best. Mick.
Same to you Mick. All the best 👍
Great video, and hugely impressed at the quality you achieve. Small correction (if I remember correctly) - the wrong type of snow was actually from the early days of class 319s, where a particularly fine type of snow defeated the weatherproofing of the unit's traction motors and managed to short them
Thanks Ian. There were all sorts of problems with the weather including traction motors as you say. They also had snow in the door gear and in the brakes but there was definitely problems with the collector shoes too. The point I was making really was that they made out it was snow on the line 👍
Tremendous video again Don. And Dave's explanation of signals and such. Spot on.
Would Dave have to make the
return journey after a break
Actually Paul, that was a special arrangement to allow me to film. We took a train southbound and there should have been a break for the booked driver but we brought the next one back after a shorter break to get the filming done. In other words, that was the return trip you saw.
Another brilliant video thank you and love the driver Dave’s cheerful commentary Exelent
Our pleasure Gordon. Glad you enjoyed it.
Awesome video! Thank you!!!
Glad you liked it!
Excellent video, just the thing in December when the rain and wind are lashing down outside to take us back to warmer summer days, seeing beautiful British countryside and some interesting historic railway infrastructure. Thanks and Happy New Year to you.
Same toy too Mick. I must admit it brightened my day up.
Interesting to see Slipper Bridge. Here in Victoria (Australia) they've just completed a near identical version to take the railway line between Traralgon and Sale over the last phase of the Princes Highway duplication between those two cities. As of two weeks ago, however, they were a long way from completing the roadworks, so this holiday period must have been fun for the many holidaymakers wanting to get down to the south eastern resorts, including ours here in Paynesville - which is currently heaving with them...
It’s been there a long time Geoff. I wonder how it compares given the heat you have.
Great video and the commentary was interesting and informative.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this video. Nice and interesting cab ride. Globally it was a sunny day, with more sun at the begining and more clouds at the end. At 1h28mn33sec, there is a double interchange between the two tracks. The mention "crossovers" is indicated. It is always in these cases. Also, thank you for all infos given.
In fine, best wishes for the new year 2024.
Same to you, much appreciated 👍
Excellent watch! We used to have a signal on the Up Westbury outside Reading that was similar to the Mexican Hat. Drivers used to call, and still refer to that location (despite not having it anymore) as 'Nelson's Hat'
Yes, that would work too. We have regional variations on terms up here. All the best.
Very impressive video. I watched a few months back and never got round to leaving a comment!
Dave was fantastic with his knowledge and passion.
I do miss the class 43s and the roar of the 91s but i like these Hitachi trains, their acceleration is excellent and their versatility to bring intercity/high speed services on non electrified stations to towns such as Hull is a positive things in my eyes.
I’m sure Dave will read your comment. Thanks for coming back to us.
Superb Vid and some great commentary as well. Love to see a Kings X to NCL one day. Thankyou for all the hard work you do to bring these great Videos.
You can nearly do it Tim by watching the York to Newcastle video 👍
Another great video Don - a very relaxing watch. Struggled to hear Dave due to the noise of the train, however, didn't really feel his commentary was necessary as your rolling narrative always keeps us well informed.
Well let’s just say you had a choice. I did notice his voice got drowned out at high speed.
Another excellent video. Great descriptions of the area and landmarks!😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant video Don most enjoyable thank Dave for the commentary and thank you for the great quiz question (smallest window) will use it in my quiz on the 15th, many thanks 😊
Glad you enjoyed it Robert. Land of Green Ginger is another!
What an absolutely amazing video! I’ve taken this journey over 100 times through the years and it’s nice to see it from the drivers perspective
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you.👍
Another amazing ride. Thanks so much for the entertainment of a train lover beset by Amtrak.
Glad you enjoyed it Robert.
Another brilliant video. Many thanks to you and Dave. Makes me want to take this service just for the ride.
As superman would say - my work here is done!
Looking forward to this one Don. Even though I live in Gilberdyke now, I'm born and raised in Hull,
Nice one. It was a nice day too. Gilberdyke is a regular haunt for me although I haven’t stopped there for a while.
0) Thank you, Don and Dave! :-)
1) ECML/WCML: I wonder who inserted "Coast" in these names...
2) All these foot paths level-crossing a four-track high-speed line... Using one would be the last thing I'd do (final steps I'd take).
3) The Selby - Hull section puzzles me. I rode it as a passenger in 1971, 1972 and 1974 as a Dutch boy bound for the Lake District (and back to the ferry to Rotterdam). My only surviving memories of it are being 4-track in full use (1971), 4-track, apparently only the middle ones in use (1972), 2-track, outside tracks lifted (1974). However hardly any piece of your footage would have accomodated four tracks. Has my memory been wrong for fifty years, or would major works have trimmed the track bed etc.?
4) As you (Don) mention the good connections: in 1974 we were unable to plan a train ride that would bring us from Ulverston to Hull in time for the ferry. On a Saturday in July, I assume. We had to travel to Hull the preceding day and wait long hours before checking in on the ferry. - Sidebar: my breakfast in Hull marked the first time I had white beans in tomato sauce for breakfast. It appealed to me.
5) Another sidebar: around 2010 I rode the length of the port of Rotterdam on my bike. I remember a signpost along the cycling lane: "Hull 2" (kilometres). Yes, it pointed to the ferry dock.
1. The country is divided by the Pennines hills and we have a main line up each side. It’s just a way of distinguishing them.
2. The crossings are a dangerous problem but are mandatory rights of way.
3. Towards the end of the BR years, the railway was subject to a lot of rationalisation and you can see evidence of it in virtually every video. It’s amazing how quickly nature takes over.
4. The services to Hull these days are very good and the city is well served by train.
5. In my motor industry days before the railway, I used to travel extensively through Europe and I’ve seen the sign you’re talking about!
Great trip lads TY. Merry Xmas and happy new year from down under !
Same to you Jamie.
Thanks for sharing your journey and also to Hull Trains. I noticed 2 Go pros. I presume one is a back up incase the other "fails to proceed". Someone once told me to "go to Hull". I thinks that's what they said. Anyway, Happy New Year from Australia.
Good to see you Richard. Yes, on trips like that which take a lot of organising, I’ve taken to using two cameras just in case one decides to stop working. As you know they can be fickle instruments but I must admit, the GoPro 9s I’m using just now are behaving very well.
Yet another superb video Don. Enjoyed watching all of it at one go ! Liked the odd comments from the driver ?. Looking forward to the next one Don. (Crewe-Lincoln, via Uttoxeter maybe).
That video is currently being filmed so watch out for it in 2024!
Fantastic video I travel on Hull Trains lots so its fantastic to see the route from the driver view
Glad you enjoyed it Jack 👍
HAppy New year Don, great film enhanced by the drivers comments. I watched this over the festering season and this year , and I did look , no yonder pheasant .
Good health and happiness for the new year .
Same to you Stephen.
I WORKED WITH A SURVEYOR,-ON "THE "DARWIN RIVER DAM" PROJECT (aust)-in 1971,-I WAS HIS "OFFSIDER"-& HELD THE POLE,-& DUG THE "PROFILES"--I WAS A LABORER ON THE JOB,-AND HE WAS A REAL NICE BLOKE,-& TAUGHT ME A LOT !-IVE BEEN TO ENGLAND & AM ASTOUNDED BY THE"UNBELIEVABLEY FANTASTIC"ENGINEERING-THAT IS STILL AVAILABLE TO SEE EVERYWHERE !--LOVE YOUR SHOW DON-(do they still make "ACRINGTON" bricks ?)
You can probably tell from the captions that I love the architecture and the history so I’m glad you do too John.
I think this was your best video yet Don.
And a really nice touch having the running commentary from David as well.
Having done a couple of front end turns and a few of my handling hours on the ECML, I couldn’t help but wonder why they never stopped the flashing greens from flashing if they were never to be used. Unless there’s some distant plans in place to finally utilise them?
Happy New Year to you.
It’s a fair point James but we’d have to know what’s involved. They often delay such things until a new signalling project then keep delaying it and so on.
Thank you Don and all others involved - the voice of Driver Duddington was an inspired addition.
I was surprised how few passing loops there are for such a busy line, and they are labeled "passenger loops", is there little freight on the line?
May I suggest you add the build dates of the duplicate tunnel builds eg Hadley Wood 1850 and early 1809s, to the informative 'sub-titles' on the route?
As a boy I watched the Hull Pullman on the shorter Goole-Thorne route from Hull. Why do they use the Selby route now? More miles under the wires, larger population of Selby?
Thanks Paul. The amount of freight varies through the day so the loops do get utilised, there are times when every one seems to be occupied. I have to be careful with the amount of information I add or it becomes a chore trying to read and watch but I do understand your point.
Your viewers might be interested to know that Sandy station was where the original East-West Rail link between Oxford and Cambridge via Bedford briefly joined the ECML. Travelling North as you were, you'd have seen it climb a gradient on the right (ie East) side and cross over a bridge heading West towards Bedford. The route is being reinstated, but will not go through Sandy again, as the Bedford to Cambridge section is long gone and much of it built on.
I rode the entire route as a boy.
Thanks Christopher. I’m always pleased to see railways brought back even if they have to adapt to new surroundings. All the best.
Just beyond Biggleswade(27:47)there's a private footpath, with what looks like a newly constructed footbridge just after, which looks like it's replaced another foot crossing. Probably a safety audit decided it was worth the cost as it's on a curve where visibility would be limited
Thanks for another great video. I seem to remember that the stretch of line between Selby and Brough (or thereabouts) was in the Guinness Book of Records for being one of the longest straight rail tracks in the UK? Do you know if that is still the case? I know the Redhill to Tonbridge line is a contender for the title.
Redhill to Tonbridge is the longest at about 30 miles and Selby to Brough is just less than 19.
Enjoying the video from Texas! What are the "dings" heard about every 30 seconds? Is that the alerter???
I try to include different information in each video and in time, most things are described. The pings relate to green signals which have a magnet typically 200 yards on approach. It indicates a clear signal but for caution, stop signals or speed restrictions, you get a buzz which the driver needs to acknowledge to avoid an automatic brake application. Keep in mind Bill that if it’s foggy, you can’t always see the signals.
amazing clip at 52:17 about being on the same stretch as 'MALLARD' did the 126mph world record run. i mean..come on 126 miles per hour just by boiling water up and compressing the steam from it how fantastic.
Astonishing isn’t it. The whole thing is, that’s what fascinates me. Building a stone bridge on a moor up Settle where all the stone and materials had to be imported.
Could line speeds be increased on the longer straighter/less curvy sections, could the infrastructure be adapted to cope if faster EMU/DMU trains were introduced .Or is that another whole can of worms ?. Thanks for your content Don, its always a highlight to see new videos.
You’ve hit the nail on the head. As you suspect, it isn’t just the signals or the wires it’s everything and the track has to match the quality of the wires so it requires vast investment to make it a 140mph railway.
Brilliant video Don...very enjoyable. Do you have any videos of trains using the new tunnels and tracks leading to KX Platform 0/1?
Not as yet but you never know what might happen.
Good video! Strange as to why it was routed into platform 7 at the end when 6 was completely empty!
There can be numerous reasons and I don’t sign it but the signallers have a simplifier or a log of where trains are booked or there may be a special reason like access or doors don’t line up with certain access points. It is possible that there is absolutely no reason and it was just an option.
Hi Don, what do the double bleeps mean. Love the video and ride 👍
I believe you’ve heard the vigilance device which keeps checking the driver is alert. It has to be acknowledged to avoid an automatic brake application.
50:16 Often use the Casewick PF crossing. Steep steps either side, good visibility to see if trains are coming , does gets the heart pumping a little 😆. There was a plan to close this footpath crossing along with Greatford LC, there was a public consultation in my village a few years ago. I guess it was abandoned.
Most of the are ancient rights of way and are protected by act of parliament. They occasionally get approval to close one but it’s rare despite the risks.
Another great video run Don 👍
Glad you enjoyed it David 👍
Im sure I watched one your excellent videos, where a class 66 freight train came down the Ivanhoe line to Bardon Hill, Leicestershire but I now can’t find it. Unless of course it wasn’t one of your 😂
We did the freight line special that mentioned it but we didn’t actually go that way. I might have it in which case you will see it in time.
Many thanks for another very interesting video, where do you get your knowledge from, well done
Some is experience but on a route I don’t sign I have to research it. Take care William.
Great video.. and fabulous additional commentary from Dave.
I had completely forgotten the ECML used to go via Selby - was too long ago for me to remember. I do wonder though, given how straight the rail is from Selby through to the other side of Brough, why the line speed is so slow? Is the line at risk of poor drainage / subsidence and the speed cannot go faster? Or just that Network Rail have never upgraded the line?
It’s as you suspect. The line is very much still within the Selby coalfield and suffers from a lot of subsidence. In fact if you look at my earliest Hull video you see it still under the old semaphore signalling where it has since been upgraded for 100mph. However, the track is nowhere near good enough without a lot of work.
1:52:22 - 2:09:27 (Selby to Brough) is the longest section of straight railway track in the UK (just under 18 miles I believe).
I think second to Tonbridge or in that area.
Cheers for the great upload and quality as usual Don, any Leeds related services on the way?
I’ll probably do a TRU update a bit later in 2024 and include that run from Wakefield to York via Castleford. It’s already changed a fair bit since I did it.
Just a thought - a speed indicator might be a nice addition.😊
It’s been suggested many times but I don’t want to over clutter the screen and in any case I haven’t got the software to support it.
Hi Don, great video. Thank you. Question on the 140mph test section. What dictates that the current 125mph is the fastest that we could go using the existing infrastructure? Or to ask another way, what's so magic about 125? How is it determined that we can't go say 130mph safely?
Good question. It’s all sorts of things. They have a margin of safety and then you have to consider signal sighting and spacing. You also have to consider the infrastructure so the track bed needs to be near perfect and the overhead wires become unsuitable at higher speed so you need the Series One structures I talk about in other videos. Level crossing equipment and approach speeds, platform clearance and power distribution are others but there are more.
Great video great information on the route shame about no speeds being shown tho
I haven’t got the software but to be honest I’m not sure it adds anything and you can have too much information.
38:20 - a friend in engineering told me that the wrong kind of snow was big fluffy snowflakes that get sucked into the VFD (variable frequency drive motor drivers) and block airflow. The snow blocks the air inlets but there isn't any heat since the inverters are inside. The inverters overheat due to lack of airflow, despite it being cold and wet out!
Correct, the media at the time took any excuse to mock and any kind of snow came under fire. There was the fluffy stuff you explain, the frozen stuff in the captions, snow on the signals etc etc. it left leaves alone for a while.
Great video again. If Hull Trains can deliver why can’t the others?
There’s underlying issues but hopefully things are somewhat better now. It’s the kind of politics I can’t really comment on Mike.
Passing through Hitchin, I noticed you named Sir Frank Whittle being a notable person with connections there living out the last few years of his life, but was actually from my old home city of Coventry, being born there in 1907. He was a pioneer of jet engines and wrote a book which my late great uncle, Leonard Griffiths contributed further information in writing on the mechanics of how the electrical parts to the jet engine were installed. My claim to fame and nothing to do with railway trains.
Thanks Richard. I’m very limited to what I can add in order to get the timings right and of course when our train is barreling along at 125. I do take your point that there was more to be acknowledged.
I don't entirely understand why the train fired up its diesels at Retford (1:19:52) when it was under the wires for almost 25 minutes after that (Temple Hirst at 1:43:55). They can't really take that long to warm up, can they?
No they don’t take that long but it takes into account that it might not stop at Doncaster.
Watching this video. I cannot help thinking that the cost of the electricalinfrastructure. Surely it would be more cost effective to power the trains by batteries. Maybe a battery car that could be switched?
Probably but batteries are nowhere near good enough yet.
They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. That is one very long chain. It's amazing that it operates with as few hitches as it does; an obvious testament to the team that keeps it running. But it did occur to me that there's a lot of mischief to be made on those tracks, and I imagine anyone so inclined would find it easy to do a lot of damage. It's also amazing the amount of public infrastructure that remains safe simply by assuming that most people would not be so inclined.
Keeping people off the railway is no mean feat. There’s always a risk as you say.
Double yellow and ooovvveeerrrr
I don't know if it's still there Don but at the bottom of Stoke Bank is a little memorial plaque dedicated to a man named Brian Carter who passed away in 1950 at the age of 23. Despite having Multiple Sclerosis and a weak heart he made countless visits to that spot. His dying wish was to have his ashes scattered there.
That’s interesting and a poignant memorial to him - very nice.
I have read that the distant towers of Lincoln cathedral can be visible on clear days, presumably between Newark and Retford? Also, the Newark flat crossing is a real hindrance.
Not sure about the Lincoln towers but I wouldn’t be at all surprised. The flat crossing is really no more of an operational challenge than any other junction but it is definitely unusual.
Nice to see train doing KX to Grantham in one hour.
And in 2024 finally, 810's comming to MML (2 years late)
I waiting for these sets, maybe they can cut some travel time inbetween Nottingham to St.Pancras.
But my wish is: morning service from Leeds to St.P via Erewash Valley is back to timetable (return at evening)
It was great "weekend" train to visit capital for people living north of Nottinhgam (no train change)
That’s one you’d have to put to EMR but I’m all for new services.
Great video Don. Do the pantographs come down automatically when the train switches to diesel power?
Yes they do Graham. The whole process is triggered by GPS and everything is automatic. It starts and primes the engine and systems in good time and it drops the pan before the end of the electrified section so it leaves the wires on diesel. On the return, it raises the pan on the hoof after joining the wired section and it then allows a short idling time before shutting the diesel power down. Again, completely automatic. Clever stuff.
A big thank you to all involved. I got so engrossed that I forgot to have a cup of tea and a biscuit. Kettle on now!
Haha! I always have a drink and treat myself to something unhealthy to eat during a premier!
thanks don, what would happen if they left the diesel engine off , would the train continue for long ?
If it was done in error, the pan (pantograph) would raise up to its full extent and possibly get knocked off if it wasn’t dropped quickly - that’s definitely tea and biscuits. If it was done as an experiment then the train would continue for a few miles before it eventually stopped.
If it was done in error, the pan (pantograph) would raise up to its full extent and possibly get knocked off if it wasn’t dropped quickly - that’s definitely tea and biscuits. If it was done as an experiment then the train would continue for a few miles before it eventually stopped.