BS: Off on my travels again

Subject: BS: Off on my travels again
From: GUEST,Sapper on the TRU, Birmingham
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 05:44 AM

Doing Track recording this week, so ought to be an easier week of it.
Recording the Ironbridge Power Station branch, then to Shrewsbury, Aberystwyth and back to Machynlleth for the night.
Doing up to Pwllheli then back to Shrewsbury tomorrow.

Hope the hotels are batter than last week!!

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 06:46 AM

Hotels? I thought you slept in bunk beds with curtains and had a daily rashin of gruel, water and rum.

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: GUEST,Sapper stuck at Shrewsbury for 2h
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 07:45 AM

Chance would be nice to have a rum ration Gnu!
Got a long stay here now as someone forgot to arrange a shunter to conduct us up the Ironbridge branch so we had to miss it out.

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: GUEST,Sapper on TRU Failed at Fairbourne
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 07:27 AM

After a pleasant run up to Pwllheli we've now come to a grinding halt a mile or so south of Fairbourne.
The unit lost an engine on the way down and the one surviving engine is not quite man enough to get us up the hill.

Oh well. At least the weather is nice. Pity we're a bit far from the beach to go for a swim whilst waiting for assistance.
Buggers up the planned early finish though.

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 09:36 AM

What the hell job do you have??

And hotels can't be batter... not unless you mince them up really really fine, add eggs and milk and beat til your arm goes numb.


LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: sapper82
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 02:03 PM

Sounds interesting Liz, hotel pancakes!!
As you are no doubt perfectly aware, I meant BETTER!!
My job btw, is on the Notwork Fail Track Recording and Inspection vehicles. This takes me all round the rail network!
This week I'm supposed to be working the Track Recording Unit, a self contained two car train based on the venerable Class 150 DMU.
That train is, however, stabled up in Machynlleth in some disgrace as one of the engines dropped dead on us this morning as we were en route to Pwllheli and, on the way back, the surviving engine did not have sufficient power to get us over the back just south of Fairbourne, upon which we ground to an ignoble stand.
Looks as if we'll have a stand down day in Shrewsbury tomorrow, certainly no chance of doing anything before early afternoon!!

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: gnu
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 03:43 PM

Inspecting rails and beds and overheads. Better than the last job, eh Sapper?

(Sapper.... the second most dangerous job in the world.)

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: sapper82
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:01 PM

Several jobs ago that was!!
Actually, the most dangerous job I've ever done was job before last, Teaching Maths & Science!
As a point of interest, a couple of the test vehicles I work on, MENTOR and the TRU are on this page.
Click here

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: PoppaGator
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:22 PM

I first thought that "Track recording" had something to do with putting music on a CD or tape or something. But it's something more esoteric, innit? Plus, if this thread were about music, it would be up there above the line...

As a dumb American with limited knowledge of rail technology, I really don't know what the hell you're talking about. The only educated guess I can make with a degree of certainty: All those unpronounceable place names must indicate that you're traveling through Wales ~ am I right?

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:26 PM

Do you ever go out with Iris?
G.

Subject: RE: BS: Off on my travels again
From: sapper82
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:41 PM

Correct Pop, did the line through mid-Wales to Aberwystwith yesterday and up to Pwllheli today when the unit dropped dead on us.
Ought to be doing the Heart of Wales line to Swansea tomorrow but that will probably be scrubbed.

Giok, have only been on IRIS in the yard at Derby, havn't worked it yet. Doubt if I will as it's due for withdrawl soon.