How extensive is the underground? How much of London and suburbs does it cover?
Any train fans around?
- Thread starter Ar-Pharazon
- Start date
How extensive is the underground? How much of London and suburbs does it cover?
Brightline West is starting to do geological borings and survey for its planned route. So work is actually underway on it. It will be interesting to see when they surpass total miles completed by CHSR whose had a 10 year head start and still hasn't finished environmental studies on some of the critical areas of the first operational segment.
North of the River Thames, the Underground covers a fairly wide area, with some lines going right across from east to west, and others going quite far north. Ironically though, the Northern Line serves the southern-most point of the network.
In central London you can often stumble upon stations, and there are some where it's quicker to walk between them than to catch a train. I think Covent Garden and Leicester Square hold this particular honour. There's tons of connections between lines, and also between Underground, suburban and mainline services.
I rode the London Underground, way back when I was a kid. Thought it was really cool.
When it works, it works pretty well. It doesn't always work well! I've generally been fortunate to avoid major delays on it.
do you have any interest in heritage lines in the uk?
I am fascinated by the beautiful steam trains of old, and have been privileged enough to ride on the Strathspey Railway, which runs out of Aviemore in Scotland. As a young meerkat, I also rode the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. There is something gorgeous and romantic about these old, preserved lines and locos, and I have ton of respect for those who work on them.
growing up near the Smoky Mountains, I'd often heard there was a locomotive abandoned somewhere in the park after it derailed. Later on talking to someone who was helping preserve an old Shay locomotive that had been used on the treacherous logging trails, they told me it was a shay and was still there. I just took it at face value that there was a wrecked shay in the park, but people I knew who hiked the park never saw it.
so the other day I finally saw images of it come up in a facebook post of all things, and it wasn't a shay, not remotely. it's not even a locomotive. It seems like the rumor mill passed on bad information more than the correct information that was always out there, but it's still pretty interesting. There is indeed a wrecked steam traction engine deep inside the park, and it's not a mystery or anything, just not somewhere easily accessible: (the video below shows someoen who found a stationary boiler near Kuwohi used to pull logs.
so the other day I finally saw images of it come up in a facebook post of all things, and it wasn't a shay, not remotely. it's not even a locomotive. It seems like the rumor mill passed on bad information more than the correct information that was always out there, but it's still pretty interesting. There is indeed a wrecked steam traction engine deep inside the park, and it's not a mystery or anything, just not somewhere easily accessible: (the video below shows someoen who found a stationary boiler near Kuwohi used to pull logs.
Now TechBros want to mess with trains
My Dad worked for L&N
My Dad worked for L&N
Home - Birmingham Mineral Railroad Signs Project
The Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad Signs Project is installing signs at various locations throughout the Birmingham area and in surrounding areas where the Birmingham Mineral Railroad ran during its century-long era (1884-1988) so that people will become more aware of that part of this...
bham-mrr.com
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Smells like vaporware
Here is some information on one of the more dangerous rails:
www.secretprojects.co.uk
It seems anyone can hack a train:
hackaday.com
That spooks me. Rails are under threat as it is with budget cuts. We never should have gotten rid of the caboose….although I actually did see one with an EOT device.
Back around 1989-1990 or so, when walking around Bermco Aluminum’s Birmingham facility near Sloss Furnaces—I heard some clattering.
I turned around and saw five flat-bed cars *with no locomotive* heading down the track all by themselves…around a curve no less.
That could have been bad.
Killer Train: The story behind the Deadliest rail line in America
Ever since this railroad started operating, all you ever hear about it are the frequent accidents. This article provides a deep dive into why it became so dangerous. https://www.wlrn.org/killer-train-brightline-death-toll-surpasses-180-but-safeguards-are-still-lacking
www.secretprojects.co.uk
It seems anyone can hack a train:
This Week In Security: Trains, Fake Homebrew, And AI Auto-Hacking
There’s a train vulnerability making the rounds this week. The research comes from [midwestneil], who first discovered an issue way back in 2012, and tried to raise the alarm. To understand t…
hackaday.com
That spooks me. Rails are under threat as it is with budget cuts. We never should have gotten rid of the caboose….although I actually did see one with an EOT device.
Back around 1989-1990 or so, when walking around Bermco Aluminum’s Birmingham facility near Sloss Furnaces—I heard some clattering.
I turned around and saw five flat-bed cars *with no locomotive* heading down the track all by themselves…around a curve no less.
That could have been bad.
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For their latest Curator with Camera video, the British National Railway Musuem have looked look the Ellerman Lines which was a Merchant Navy class locomotive.
The Merchant Navy were the last British designed and built class of steam engine.
When the NRM was being established they wanted to have a steam engine that was section to show the innner working as education tool on how the it work.
So they went to searching for a suitable loco, found the Ellerman Lines which was in scrap yard awaiting it's fate and it now it lives an as museum piece.
The Merchant Navy were the last British designed and built class of steam engine.
When the NRM was being established they wanted to have a steam engine that was section to show the innner working as education tool on how the it work.
So they went to searching for a suitable loco, found the Ellerman Lines which was in scrap yard awaiting it's fate and it now it lives an as museum piece.
I don't know why, but I've always felt that steam locomotives felt like they had a soul. I know it doesn't make sense. But Diesel on up, they always felt too cold and mechanical. Maybe it's because the steam locomotives have a rythmn of their own, therefore it's like breathing when their cylinders are moving. I've never been on one though, but the strange thing is that I used to visit a science and technology museum at a young age where some steam locomotives were on display, and even though they were not meant to move from their place, there was something about them that would always spook me, and partly that was due to the lighting and the sounds they would emit while on display. I saw them as big giant hulking beasts that had lived lives and perhaps even had stories to tell about it.
I have had the privilege of being on a number of steam locomotives here and in the US, and in England and Scotland, and I could not agree more!!!
Awesome! I'd like to change that someday and take a trip on one. The problem is that there aren't very many still operating in my country anymore.
I understand! Even some of the trips I have been on in the US are no more. Southern Railways and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific are two that spring to mind…still some in Colorado and some other Western States are still available.
The best (most expensive!!!) one (in Scotland) is still operating, I believe!
The best (most expensive!!!) one (in Scotland) is still operating, I believe!
I know of one that used to operate along a scenic line, though I'm not sure if that one still operates. I remember seeing advertisements for it advertising trips showing the fall colours. Done for tourism. I assume most are disappearing because it's becoming harder and harder to maintain them and to find people knowledgeable enough about them.
Yep!
I have talked with a number of “tourist line@ Engineers and Firemen (no woman, yet) and they have made similar comments regarding budget and cost of maintenance and upkeep and “next generation” interest.
This place still goes strong, however…
www.irm.org
I have talked with a number of “tourist line@ Engineers and Firemen (no woman, yet) and they have made similar comments regarding budget and cost of maintenance and upkeep and “next generation” interest.
This place still goes strong, however…
Home
The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the United States. Located 35 miles northwest of O'Hare Airport, it offers train rides on steam, diesel, and electric trains. Exhibits include historic trains and family-friendly activities.
www.irm.org
Here we have the Steamranger and the cockle train both steam trains that go along the coast near Victor Harbour and such. Very touristy but they're lovely