A milestone in electric railway preservation was achieved yesterday by the Class 507 Preservation Society – the first conversion of a preserved electric multiple unit to battery operation in Britain.

507001 successfully ran under its own power, without a third rail, in tests at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby, paving the way for future operation on a heritage railway. This feat has been made possible thanks to the fitment of batteries inside the train’s driving cars. These batteries can power the train’s traction motors and compressor (which supplies air to the brakes), removing the need for a third rail power supply. This modification means the train can run under its own power on unelectrified railways, including the many heritage lines across the country.

On the afternoon of 1st September, the three-car train completed several test runs on the works’ internal railway lines. Over the course of three hours, it travelled a distance of 2.8 miles at speeds of up to 8 mph, all on a single charge.

Continues

Passed through their yesterday
I am intrigued how much use it will get and how much increased footfall there will be going the opposite way to normal at the station

The stop's already on Google maps, it looks to be about 160 yards from the new entrance. Given that this is Bristol Temple Meads, if we look at walking distances from the locations used to halt many of the shorter trains at the ends of the station platforms, they're about a 400 yard walk from the new location for the number 8 bus - about a 100 yard increase on the previous.

(Streetview of the stop's location is... bleak, but that's because in 2023 it was a building site, hopefully it's now tamed...)

Mark

Do I need to count the fingers?

Buckinghamshire pub's 'beloved' manager stabbed to death in Germany


Image © White Swan, Whitchurch

A pub has paid tribute to its "beloved" manager after she was stabbed to death in Germany.

Rebecca Bullock, 31, was attacked at Rosenheim station shortly before 01:00 local time (00:00 BST) on Sunday. She was taken to hospital but later died.

Bavarian Police said a 27-year-old German man, of no fixed address, was arrested at the scene and later detained in a psychiatric hospital on suspicion of murder.

The White Swan, in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, said: "We are so deeply sorry to say that our beloved Becca passed away over the weekend whilst away on holiday.  Becca was much-loved by all of the team at the White Swan and our amazing locals," its Facebook post read.

The pub closed from Monday after what it described as a "tough few days", but its landlords said it would reopen from 15:00.  They said: "We know this is what Becca would have wanted."

(BBC article continues)

Apparently 175s cannot operate in the dark anymore. You couldn't make it up.

Maybe we chant together for a more reliable and frequent service!

4: must be the Museo delle Ferrovie dello Stato Sardegnavapore at (next door to) Cagliari station. The picture shows a sampler display in the main station. I'm sure Sardinia counts as a semi-detached bit of Italy.

Looking at the route for the No 8,, the Avon Street / Temple Way junction is or was left turn only so has presumably been very recently heavily  remodelled...

No 9 Milazzo Sicily. New station  3 km out of town, replacing one in the centre of town.

2b. Our Great Western Coffee Shop  (where you are reading this) has nothing to sell financially.  A coffee shop is somewhere to sit around and chant with others of similar interests - to share stories and news, exchange views and learn from them in a convivial and friendly environment. 

Looking at the map and putting my brain into gear,  the station-barriers-free route (and ~100 yards shorter) is head down the station ramp to the rather savage T1 stop.