4,000 tonne stone train.

[pre65]

Freightliner operated a trial 4000 tonne stone train from Tunstead to Wembley, powered by a single class 70, 70017, with 39 loaded wagons.
66620 was tucked in , dead, for insurance.
Running through the night as Network Rail wouldn't allow a day time move, the train is seen here passing slowly through Northwich , as it turns off the Mid Cheshire Line on to the single track, freight only Middlewich / Sandbach line. at 23.20.
16th March 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0UWuPbcLpw

AND

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPj8vVrkxAA

[Beeyar Wunby]

Well that's a start.

When they start running 20,000 tonne trains like the Yanks I'll be impressed.

Cheers, John

[tonyharker]

Some of those American trains have 2, 3, 4 ,5 , and even 6 locomotives and are up to 3 miles long. Watching the trains going over the BNSF Mississippi bridge at Ft Madison on Virtual railfan here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iqX8uiqz5A .

[aussiesteve]

Yes, and the Yank motorists are NOT impressed by them monsters that block level crossings for an eternity.
Big is not always better.
Here we used to operate single engine loads over the Blue Mountains.
Every blink of the eye, a train would zoom past.
Being able to fit amongst the plethora of interurbans and not delay nada.
Fit into any siding to permit crosses and run-throughs.
Ran like clockwork.
But, then we got the corporate disease, big and fewer is better.
Bring back them good ole days.
Steve.

[Beeyar Wunby]

Originally Posted by aussiesteve

Yes, and the Yank motorists are NOT impressed by them monsters that block level crossings for an eternity.
Big is not always better.

Absolutely Steve, I was just waving my machismo stick.

Very big trains may be OK in big open countries, but it just wouldn't work here on our crowded isle. I see drivers and pedestrians getting irate when they have to wait for 20 wagon intermodals trundling over crossings at a sedate 30 mph. If we ran 200 vehicle consisits they'd probably attack them.

As you say, we don't need them thar big trains here!

[aussiesteve]

Crowded Isle ?
When ever I watch that tv series Escape to the Country, it don't look all that crowded.
Green pastures, rock walls, narrow country lanes.
Moors going on for ever with high security prisons sprinkled around.
OK, it might be crowded in them prisons.
Was it Dart Moor where Ronnie Barker escaped from but was most eager to get back into.
Porridge was a bonzer tv show.
The BNSF coalie that I drove along the Marshall Sub during me 2000 Yankeeland visit had around 200 hoppers.
Two monster GEs up front and one shoving down the rear as a radio controlled DPU.
Max train speed was 40 MPH.
So, I would imagine some motorists being annoyed at level crossings.
But, being mostly in the middle of nowhere, very few motorists.
I did espy them motorists darting through the Garretson level crossing one day.
Lights and bells going as a train was shunting in the yard.
I guess that I can constumble their angst, them lights and bells going for a considerable period.
I guess that we could always go back to the BEGINNING.
When a bloke on horseback had to trot ahead of a train waving a red flag.
No monstrous trains as long as last week back then.
Steve.

[boilersuit]

Originally Posted by aussiesteve

Was it Dart Moor where Ronnie Barker escaped from but was most eager to get back into.
Porridge was a bonzer tv show.

Hi Steve
Ronnie Barker was banged up in Slade Prison – a fictional location near London. Scenes were shot at HMP Maidstone (in Kent) and HMP Chelmsford (Essex). I don't think Dartmoor featured at all.

[pre65]

I'm not nit picking, but ()

A) Porridge was set in HMP Slade, a fictional prison in Cumbria.

B) The main gate of "Slade Prison" was filmed at The Gate House, St Albans, Hertfordshire. This was was originally built as the town jail, back in the Victorian era. It was being used as a council works depot at the time Porridge was filmed.

C) The "association area", walkways and cell exteriors were filmed using a set built in a large metal tank at Elstree Studios. The tank had previously been used mainly for filming underwater scenes for British films.

Exterior scenes were filmed at various psychiatric hospitals in and around London.

D) Yes to Chelmsford and Maidstone prisons.

[boilersuit]

Well I'm blowed! The things you learn (and unlearn). Thanks Phil.

[aussiesteve]

We have our version of Slade Prison here in town.
Thankfully, I have only been through the stone Gate house once.
And that was to play footy in the prison sports field.
An exhibition game not long after we formed the Bathurst Aussie Rules footy team.
Was that a big mistake.
The inmates, and they were the less violent ones, pounded us into the ground, Literally.
Reminds me of the Porridge footy game between the inmates and guards.
A shame that Gobber (forget his real name) passed away suddenly during the series.
Steve.