Tehran Metro!

 One of the most Interesting?

There are many great sites to see, if one ever gets to visit Iran, ancient, historical, but the Metro system in the capital is a joy to see and travel on!

Most of the line dates from the end of the Shah in 1979 and was encouraged by the Soviet Union, but Iran has gone on to do their own work and improved the lines into the city with connection to mainline rail?

One does not think that the recent bombings by both the U.S. and Israel targeted any of the structure and that they system is providing air raid cover for civilians!

Most of the stock is modern, compared to other underground systems around the world and they are well maintained and safe, signaling has been improved over the years and comfort designed for large numbers of passengers?

Railways Infrustructure!

Investment well overdue?

Britain is seeing a revolution in its railways from newlines to stations and ticketing, but the older stock is still a problem to shift on as new trains are being introduced? Line re-building and repair is taking up valuable time and cutting in to shedual but it is hoped that there will be enough equipment purchased to cover the long term investments being now in place?

London despite much new ideas, Cross rail and extensions, new stock and planning, still is suffering from lack of investment! Brexit is not helping the economic climate and there is a lack of initiative by the London Mayors to ask for the money!

The other cities in the U.K. are pressing on with trams as the future, we can be critical that they should not have stopped but the new lines are far more versatile than what was in place before? The introduction of electric vehicles will be an ever needed factor in our future transport needs, cutting carbon emissions from fossil fuels now in the advent of the end of the Diesel engine!

What is happening to our Railways?

Commonality of Stock?

The British government claims that by 2020 all old stock and the Diesel fleet will be gone forever, but is this the whole truth or just a claim? One does fear that our railway stock will become so similar as our aviation has in recent years, that all will be so boring and there will be a loss of interest to filming the same trains?

Much is promised as each year their continues to be a hike in the fares, Wi-Fi on all trains, new track and signalling, new card reading machines and improvements of various types? One has to wonder will some of these rail companies end up like Carillion and bankrupt the nation of many promised projects?

Electric battery powered trains will be one future, if they work and so we will have to wait and see? The other interesting thing is that some companies are introducing locomotive hauled trains again, they claim for training purposes but perhaps not all the new stock is really working as well as hoped!

All new British Trains?

The Price Hike!

It is claimed by the various private companies, that it is their hope by 2020 to have a modern fleet of all new trains across the mainland U.K? Meanwhile they also say that the last batch of Class 66 locomotives with many newer types will mean the mass selling off of all other existing classes either to preservation or overseas buyers?

This perhaps explains the price hike in fairs for 2018, but it also means that regional governments such as Scotland and Wales may have their last opportunity to expand or re-build lines before Brexit?

London and the south-east will benefit from Cross-rail and the extension of the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham, which in long overdue.

The government wants to build a high speed line from London to Pembroke dock, by passing Swansea, this will be via Carmarthen for freight? Meanwhile the proposed electrification may reach Cardiff, after it was cancelled?

All of this could just be another clever way of covering up raising the prices each year?

Coaching Stock. Part-Three.

Engineering to Specialist Stock.

Generally when everyday coaching stock comes to the end of its life, it is either sold on or scrapped. But some coaching stock is kept for a new lease of life in the engineering side of the railways, while others become track recording and various measurement vehicles.

This type of stock in Great Britain is generally painted yellow, while in other countries they will have their own schemes. Some older locomotives are also kept in a pool known as Departmental for special duties and for back up, if new trains have power failures.

Many of these trains also work on behalf of the military, with unlisted movements at night and other government work. 

They also operate on lines that are no longer listed on maps, but if you are in the know or are good at hunching then you might be able to film one?

Coaching Stock. Part-One.

British Rail. Mark.1. Stock.

There is a lot more to trains than that of locomotives it is the coaching stock that is the passenger bit, that we travel to enjoy or commute to work. Prior to privatisation the four big railway companies in the United Kingdom, LMS, LNER, GWR and Southern Railways had each designed their own carriages.

But in 1951 the BR Mark one was introduced, being built at Doncaster up to 1963 and it has remain in use to this day being the most successful ever built. Mark 1 coaches remain in service as part of the Royal train as well as Departmental duties and are part of nearly every preservation railway. 

The Mark 1 was also supplied to Northern-Ireland railways and exported to the Republic of Ireland from the early 1960's.

Alstom Pendolino.

Class 390 West coast tilting line units.

This class of DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) has become well known with Virgin trains on the English west coast runs from London, through Carlisle. Initially built between 2001-05, most have now gone upgrading and coach extensions. There are now eleven different types of rolling stock within the Pendolino system.

Initially the Pendolino units operated as eight cars, but since 2004-5 they run as nine cars. Between 2010-12 a further 62 vehicles were built creating 35 sets eleven car sets and 21 9-car sets.

Speeds are tops 125mph, bogie's are Italian Fiat-SIG and all are air conditioned. In the event of breakdown the Class 57/3 locomotives can take control. Most of the train coaches were built at Alstom, Birmingham, but two types by Alstom Savigliano.

There has been only one accident with the class since it was introduced and that was at Lambrigg in 2007.