Today's Bike Ride

[Wheeze]

I have long thought this to be true. There is a lot of messing around with gears, derailleurs etc currently. It is difficult to separate fad from what is an innovation that might stick but if history is anything to go by, with the possible exception of disk brakes, the last 50 years have seen no great step change and just a series of marginal improvements.

Agree Pete, disc brakes are a revelation. I would add thumbshifters. I used to hate fiddling with tube mounted levers. Also for downhill MTB's, seatpost droppers are a game changer.

[Marco]

The other fascinating thing is that once upon a time a railway connected Grassington (actually Threshfield) from Skipton. The line was closed for passengers quite early but 7 miles and 9 chains of it remain to allow the quarry to send out aggregate by train by the thousands of tonnes pulled by a single GBRf General Motors Class 66 generating 2500HP at the rail. About a mile from the quarry is a train driver controlled level crossing but what actually happens is that the quarry sends a man in a van who opens the gates railside just in time so the train can purr through without stopping. Up to four times a day. The trackbed is maintained by Network Rail and is kept in immaculate condition.

Splendidly ballasted!

Going out riding is so exciting and 34 miles today makes over 700 miles so far this year. Woo hoo.

Whilst I can't compete with my three mile, less than 100 feet of ascent, ride to Lichfield Trent Valley High Level, I can trump you on the ralway content - as this is the photograph I took there at 14:30 today (55009 Alycidon)



Woo hoo from an English Electric two-tone air horn to you Graham

[Graham Breeze]

Whilst I can't compete with my three mile, less than 100 feet of ascent, ride to Lichfield Trent Valley High Level, I can trump you on the ralway content - as this is the photograph I took there at 14:30 today (55009 Alycidon)



Woo hoo from an English Electric two-tone air horn to you Graham

Very good. Ugly brutes but they pulled me between Leeds/ London many times before the arrival of HSTs.

[bigfella]

Very good. Ugly brutes but they pulled me between Leeds/ London many times before the arrival of HSTs.

Great sound as well as loads of character, nothing much of interest in todays bland offerings.

[Marco]

Great sound as well as loads of character, nothing much of interest in todays bland offerings.

I was a little disappointed by the sound. The photo was taken at Lichfield Trent Valley High Level signal box, where the chord from the west coast mainline allows southbound traffic to climb up to the old South Staffordshire line to Burton upon Trent and Derby.

It's a tight bend, and an incline of around 1 in 30, so you would expect some noise - especially as it was pulling a class 57 (the reserve engine in case of failure). Somewhat different to last time I saw one move, screaming down the east coast mainline at 100mph pulling an express train - probably with Graham in 1st class

[Llani Boy]

Had no idea what a "chord" related to in railway terms.

Thanks Marco.

Every day a school day

[Graham Breeze]

...pulling an express train - probably with Graham in 1st class

Well I did travel from Leeds to London return every week for two years and since I wasn't paying...

[Graham Breeze]

Whilst I can't compete with my three mile, less than 100 feet of ascent, ride to Lichfield Trent Valley High Level, I can trump you on the ralway content - as this is the photograph I took there at 14:30 today (55009 Alycidon)



Woo hoo from an English Electric two-tone air horn to you Graham

Railway Herald has a similar photograph this week, explaining why it was there and identifying the 57/0 diesel behind it as 57012 - but perhaps you know all this?

[molehill]

“Railway Herald”? What a sheltered life away from railways I have led, I looked it up to see if it was real.

[Graham Breeze]

“Railway Herald”? What a sheltered life away from railways I have led, I looked it up to see if it was real.

I understand train spotters often do the same over something called The Fellrunner?