Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Jun 23, 7:05*pm, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Got this email from FGW CS:

Dear Sir or Madam:

Due to the theft of signalling cable at West Drayton, an extremely
limited train service is able to operate between London Paddington and
Reading.

Network Rail?s Engineering Team are working as hard as possible to
resolve this issue, but due to the amount of cable removed, disruption
is likely to continue until 2200 this evening.

If you are planning on travelling today, we strongly advise that you
check www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk for further information.

Whilst we will make every effort to operate the advertised train
service, we do strongly recommend that you leave extra time for your
journey.

We apologise for any potential disruption to your journey.

First Great Western
www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Jun 23, 7:45*pm, CJB wrote:
On Jun 23, 7:05*pm, SB wrote:

Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Got this email from FGW CS:

Dear Sir or Madam:

Due to the theft of signalling cable at West Drayton, an extremely
limited train service is able to operate between London Paddington and
Reading.

Network Rail?s Engineering Team are working as hard as possible to
resolve this issue, but due to the amount of cable removed, disruption
is likely to continue until 2200 this evening.

If you are planning on travelling today, we strongly advise that you
checkwww.firstgreatwestern.co.ukfor further information.

Whilst we will make every effort to operate the advertised train
service, we do strongly recommend that you leave extra time for your
journey.

We apologise for any potential disruption to your journey.

First Great Westernwww.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

As an aside there are quite a few scrap metal yards bordering the
railway and canal in the West Drayton / Iver area. Frequently there is
a pall of acrid black smoke permeating the air from there which drfits
right over to Heathrow and Harlington and Southall. This black smoke
stinks of burnt plastic obviously from burning cables. At the weekends
there are no Council inspectors around, so this largely goes
unreported. But it is highly illegal as is the theft of the cable in
the first place. CJB.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On 23 June, 19:45, CJB wrote:
On Jun 23, 7:05*pm, SB wrote:

Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Got this email from FGW CS:

Dear Sir or Madam:

Due to the theft of signalling cable at West Drayton, an extremely
limited train service is able to operate between London Paddington and
Reading.

Network Rail?s Engineering Team are working as hard as possible to
resolve this issue, but due to the amount of cable removed, disruption
is likely to continue until 2200 this evening.

If you are planning on travelling today, we strongly advise that you
checkwww.firstgreatwestern.co.ukfor further information.

Whilst we will make every effort to operate the advertised train
service, we do strongly recommend that you leave extra time for your
journey.

We apologise for any potential disruption to your journey.

First Great Westernwww.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

This seems to have occurred in daylight and involved a substantial
length of 48 core signalling cable. The area is dotted with scrapyards
and infested with parasitic pikeys.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Jun 23, 9:41*pm, "
wrote:
On 23 June, 19:45, CJB wrote:





On Jun 23, 7:05*pm, SB wrote:

Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley..
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Got this email from FGW CS:

Dear Sir or Madam:

Due to the theft of signalling cable at West Drayton, an extremely
limited train service is able to operate between London Paddington and
Reading.

Network Rail?s Engineering Team are working as hard as possible to
resolve this issue, but due to the amount of cable removed, disruption
is likely to continue until 2200 this evening.

If you are planning on travelling today, we strongly advise that you
checkwww.firstgreatwestern.co.ukforfurther information.

Whilst we will make every effort to operate the advertised train
service, we do strongly recommend that you leave extra time for your
journey.

We apologise for any potential disruption to your journey.

First Great Westernwww.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

This seems to have occurred in daylight and involved a substantial
length of 48 core signalling cable. The area is dotted with scrapyards
and infested with parasitic pikeys.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10398387.stm

Says 300 ft of cabling.

CJB.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On 23/06/10 19:05, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Rgds

Denis McMahon

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

Denis McMahon wrote:


And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Rgds

Denis McMahon

Yes, that annoys me too - what's wrong with 'criminals', 'thieves' or
'anti-social greedy selfish *******s who don't give a toss about
inconveniencing the public'?

Mind you, the latter brings them uncomfortably close to respected
pillars of society like bankers, but there you go, perhaps we need to
differentiate between thieves who look like us and thieves who are a bit
dodgy and foreign, eh?

Anyway, here's hoping the Police nick them before they're all sacked to
pay for the sins of the City, otherwise FGW will be back working on the
Time Interval system before long.

Tom

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:40:01 +0100, Tom Barry
wrote:

Denis McMahon wrote:


And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?


Yes, that annoys me too - what's wrong with 'criminals', 'thieves' or
'anti-social greedy selfish *******s who don't give a toss about
inconveniencing the public'?

The reason they are called pikeys is that pikemen were the original
cannon-fodder endowed with allegedly less brain than Paddington, a
collective form of village idiot. Such people (of whatever racial or
national origin) tend not to think of themselves never mind others so
occasionally put their axes through live high-voltage cables with
predictable consequences. The real criminals and selfish greedy
*******s are the dodgy scrap dealers who pay them silly prices and
make their own fat profit.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

"CJB" wrote in message
...
On Jun 23, 9:41 pm, "
wrote:
On 23 June, 19:45, CJB wrote:





On Jun 23, 7:05 pm, SB wrote:

Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Is there not a way that a spare core or two of the cable could carry a nice
deterrent voltage to stop this?

(probably banned cos of elf n safety!)

Kev

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

In message
"Kev Lawrence" wrote:


"CJB" wrote in message
...
On Jun 23, 9:41 pm, "
wrote:
On 23 June, 19:45, CJB wrote:





On Jun 23, 7:05 pm, SB wrote:

Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Is there not a way that a spare core or two of the cable could carry a nice
deterrent voltage to stop this?


Wouldn't stop them trying. There was a case recently of someone electrocuted
in a sub-station trying to steal the main feeder!

Many years ago, when I lived in Nairobi, thieves stole a great chunk (about a
mile) of the main umpteen KV feeder between the town and the airport!

--
Graeme Wall

This address not read, substitute trains for rail
Transport Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail
Photo galleries at http://graeme-wall.fotopic.net/

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:43:08 +0100 someone who may be "Kev Lawrence"
wrote this:-

Is there not a way that a spare core or two of the cable could carry a nice
deterrent voltage to stop this?

If they steal the wrong cable they have to contend with the
signalling supply, up to 650V.

A core of the cable could carry a higher voltage, if the insulation
of all cores is suitable for the higher voltage and this is
maintained throughout the system. However, what would happen to
signalling components if exposed to a higher voltage? Vital
signalling equipment needs to be treated with care if the potential
for a crash is to remain as low as reasonably practical.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000...#pt3-pb3-l1g54

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

In article , Denis McMahon
scribeth thus
On 23/06/10 19:05, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Rgds

Denis McMahon

Ask anyone who has to clear up from these like BT, Arquiva the
transmission sites contractor, Any UK power distribution company, anyone
who works on church roof's they'll tell you that in no uncertain terms.!

Don't bother about a high voltage deterrent, that doesn't stop them, and
if one of them gets fried they'll just leave him and go and do it again
with someone else.....
--
Tony Sayer

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

tony sayer wrote:

In article , Denis McMahon
scribeth thus
On 23/06/10 19:05, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Ask anyone who has to clear up from these like BT, Arquiva the
transmission sites contractor, Any UK power distribution company, anyone
who works on church roof's they'll tell you that in no uncertain terms.!

Well if you ask me (since the lead on one of my Churches was nicked some
time back), then all I'd say is that someone nicked it. I can't see why
you'd anticipate some prejudiced speculation about their identity.


--
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p9632824.html
(33 008 at Salisbury, 14 May 1985)

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Jun 24, 12:40*am, Tom Barry wrote:
Denis McMahon wrote:

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Rgds

Denis McMahon

Yes, that annoys me too - what's wrong with 'criminals', 'thieves' or
'anti-social greedy selfish *******s who don't give a toss about
inconveniencing the public'?

Mind you, the latter brings them uncomfortably close to respected
pillars of society like bankers, but there you go, perhaps we need to
differentiate between thieves who look like us and thieves who are a bit
dodgy and foreign, eh?

Anyway, here's hoping the Police nick them before they're all sacked to
pay for the sins of the City, otherwise FGW will be back working on the
Time Interval system before long.

Tom

The use of cross-linked polymer insulation would put paid to this
practice - it's expensive, but I guess economies of scale would kick
in if it were used for signalling.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

Kev Lawrence wrote:
"CJB" wrote in message
...
On Jun 23, 9:41 pm, "
wrote:
On 23 June, 19:45, CJB wrote:





On Jun 23, 7:05 pm, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Is there not a way that a spare core or two of the cable could carry a nice
deterrent voltage to stop this?

(probably banned cos of elf n safety!)

Kev


A better way might be to have one core with an 'active' TDR ping.

Time Domain Reflectometry sends a pulse down a wire, and recieves a
reflection from any defect, be it conductor or insulator.

This way ('cos of speed of light..) you can tell instantly exactly here
a cable is being damaged, and signal control center could arrange for
police to arrive on site..

It wouldn't work just for theft, but for any location, say where water
was getting into insulators.

Jim Chisholm

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

In article , Chris Tolley
scribeth thus
tony sayer wrote:

In article , Denis McMahon
scribeth thus
On 23/06/10 19:05, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Ask anyone who has to clear up from these like BT, Arquiva the
transmission sites contractor, Any UK power distribution company, anyone
who works on church roof's they'll tell you that in no uncertain terms.!

Well if you ask me (since the lead on one of my Churches was nicked some
time back), then all I'd say is that someone nicked it. I can't see why
you'd anticipate some prejudiced speculation about their identity.



Your too forgiving Chris. Perhaps if you worked for the organisations
mentioned you'd se it differently;!..

Mind you if you want to be smacked on both cheeks then don't let me stop
U....
--
Tony Sayer

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

In article , J. Chisholm
scribeth thus
Kev Lawrence wrote:
"CJB" wrote in message
...
On Jun 23, 9:41 pm, "
wrote:
On 23 June, 19:45, CJB wrote:





On Jun 23, 7:05 pm, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Is there not a way that a spare core or two of the cable could carry a nice
deterrent voltage to stop this?

(probably banned cos of elf n safety!)

Kev


A better way might be to have one core with an 'active' TDR ping.

Time Domain Reflectometry sends a pulse down a wire, and recieves a
reflection from any defect, be it conductor or insulator.

This way ('cos of speed of light..) you can tell instantly exactly here
a cable is being damaged, and signal control center could arrange for
police to arrive on site..

Err .. right.. Ever tried to get old bill to turn up with any urgency in
recent times?...

It wouldn't work just for theft, but for any location, say where water
was getting into insulators.

It wouldn't necessarily work for that either..

Think about it..

Jim Chisholm

--
Tony Sayer

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

tony sayer wrote:

In article , Chris Tolley
scribeth thus
tony sayer wrote:

In article , Denis McMahon
scribeth thus
On 23/06/10 19:05, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Ask anyone who has to clear up from these like BT, Arquiva the
transmission sites contractor, Any UK power distribution company, anyone
who works on church roof's they'll tell you that in no uncertain terms.!

Well if you ask me (since the lead on one of my Churches was nicked some
time back), then all I'd say is that someone nicked it. I can't see why
you'd anticipate some prejudiced speculation about their identity.

Your too forgiving Chris. Perhaps if you worked for the organisations
mentioned you'd se it differently;!..

I don't understand the comment. It doesn't have anything to do with
forgiveness. You've got to know who it is before you can consider the
forgiveness aspect. My previous comment is only indicating a belief that
it's silly to just pick some random target out of the air to attack when
something happens.

Mind you if you want to be smacked on both cheeks then don't let me stop
U....

Well, what happened was we replaced the lead, and it was promptly nicked
again. Then we got involved with a long debate about whether we had to
replace it with lead or could use some other material (Church has listed
building status). The debate rumbles on. There isn't really time or
energy to waste worrying over who did it, or whether the second theft
was connected to the first. Too many other things to do.


--
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p9632899.html
(33 119 at Eastleigh, 15 May 1985)

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On 24/06/2010 10:56, Geoffrey wrote:
On Jun 24, 12:40 am, Tom wrote:
Denis McMahon wrote:

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Rgds

Denis McMahon

Yes, that annoys me too - what's wrong with 'criminals', 'thieves' or
'anti-social greedy selfish *******s who don't give a toss about
inconveniencing the public'?

Mind you, the latter brings them uncomfortably close to respected
pillars of society like bankers, but there you go, perhaps we need to
differentiate between thieves who look like us and thieves who are a bit
dodgy and foreign, eh?

Anyway, here's hoping the Police nick them before they're all sacked to
pay for the sins of the City, otherwise FGW will be back working on the
Time Interval system before long.

The use of cross-linked polymer insulation would put paid to this
practice - it's expensive, but I guess economies of scale would kick
in if it were used for signalling.

I don't understand.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On 24 June, 08:23, Graeme wrote:

Wouldn't stop them trying. *There was a case recently of someone electrocuted
in a sub-station trying to steal the main feeder!

Indeed, whilst not sure whats in the sub stations worth recovering - I
assume it's copper? - a quick look at many sub stations in 3rd rail
territory (there are so many) reveals palisade fencing and now even
Gatso style cameras.

I don't think I will be giving away state secrets to advise that these
cameras are very real and monitored very well indeed. This additional
security over the last few years certainly seems to be more related to
copper fairies than to stupid yoofs having a lark about.


Richard

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On 24 June, 11:38, Chris Tolley (ukonline
really) wrote:
tony sayer wrote:
In article , Chris Tolley
scribeth thus
tony sayer wrote:

In article , Denis McMahon
scribeth thus
On 23/06/10 19:05, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Ask anyone who has to clear up from these like BT, Arquiva the
transmission sites contractor, Any UK power distribution company, anyone
who works on church roof's they'll tell you that in no uncertain terms.!

Well if you ask me (since the lead on one of my Churches was nicked some
time back), then all I'd say is that someone nicked it. I can't see why
you'd anticipate some prejudiced speculation about their identity.

Your too forgiving Chris. Perhaps if you worked for the organisations
mentioned you'd se it differently;!..

I don't understand the comment. It doesn't have anything to do with
forgiveness. You've got to know who it is before you can consider the
forgiveness aspect. My previous comment is only indicating a belief that
it's silly to just pick some random target out of the air to attack when
something happens.

Exactly. That's the sort of thing foreigners do. Probly.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

In article
s.com, Fat richard scribeth thus
On 24 June, 08:23, Graeme wrote:

Wouldn't stop them trying. *There was a case recently of someone electrocuted
in a sub-station trying to steal the main feeder!

Indeed, whilst not sure whats in the sub stations worth recovering - I
assume it's copper? - a quick look at many sub stations in 3rd rail
territory (there are so many) reveals palisade fencing and now even
Gatso style cameras.


Yes its copper. At several telecoms sites up and down the UK they've now
converted the lightning protection systems to Aluminium which of course
doesn't fetch the same price as Copper, so doesn't get nicked as much if
at all!....

I don't think I will be giving away state secrets to advise that these
cameras are very real and monitored very well indeed. This additional
security over the last few years certainly seems to be more related to
copper fairies than to stupid yoofs having a lark about.

Indeed...


Richard

--
Tony Sayer

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

In article , Chris Tolley
scribeth thus
tony sayer wrote:

In article , Chris Tolley
scribeth thus
tony sayer wrote:

In article , Denis McMahon
scribeth thus
On 23/06/10 19:05, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Ask anyone who has to clear up from these like BT, Arquiva the
transmission sites contractor, Any UK power distribution company, anyone
who works on church roof's they'll tell you that in no uncertain terms.!

Well if you ask me (since the lead on one of my Churches was nicked some
time back), then all I'd say is that someone nicked it. I can't see why
you'd anticipate some prejudiced speculation about their identity.

Your too forgiving Chris. Perhaps if you worked for the organisations
mentioned you'd se it differently;!..

I don't understand the comment. It doesn't have anything to do with
forgiveness. You've got to know who it is before you can consider the
forgiveness aspect. My previous comment is only indicating a belief that
it's silly to just pick some random target out of the air to attack when
something happens.

You seem to me to be a bit on the naive side Chris. These aren't people
who might just be "tempted" this is a known organised deliberate theft
plain and simple.


Mind you if you want to be smacked on both cheeks then don't let me stop
U....

Well, what happened was we replaced the lead, and it was promptly nicked
again. Then we got involved with a long debate about whether we had to
replace it with lead or could use some other material (Church has listed
building status). The debate rumbles on. There isn't really time or
energy to waste worrying over who did it, or whether the second theft
was connected to the first. Too many other things to do.


Well if someone doesn't do something it will happen time and time again
and again. And your church will become too expensive to insure if it
isn't already!.

And I don't suppose all those who couldn't travel will mind either;!..

I near that Stainless steel is getting to be the material of choice.

Just needs the wallies at the council to wake up to the real world...


--
Tony Sayer

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On 23 June, 19:45, CJB wrote:
On Jun 23, 7:05*pm, SB wrote:

Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Got this email from FGW CS:


Due to the theft of signalling cable at West Drayton, an extremely
limited train service is able to operate between London Paddington and
Reading.

Network Rail?s Engineering Team are working as hard as possible to
resolve this issue, but due to the amount of cable removed, disruption
is likely to continue until 2200 this evening.

Does this area use Solid State Interlocking? If so, they should just
need one twisted pair to control all the locations, it shouldn't take
long to lay a temporary one, there is no risk of dangerous mis-
connections with SSI, either it will work correctly or not at all. If
signalling power cables have been cut, again temporary power can be
laid on from the nearest building, or a mobile generator, using
standard construction site electrics, which conveniently deliver power
at the 110v used at signalling locations, just by modifying
transformers to disconnect the centre-point earth (not doing so would
run the risk of falsely energising apparatus if there was an earth
fault).

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On 24 June, 07:43, "Kev Lawrence"
wrote:
"CJB" wrote in message

...
On Jun 23, 9:41 pm, "

wrote:
On 23 June, 19:45, CJB wrote:

On Jun 23, 7:05 pm, SB wrote:

Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

Is there not a way that a spare core or two of the cable could carry a nice
deterrent voltage to stop this?

(probably banned cos of elf n safety!)

Kev

It is banned, in fact it's downright illegal, it's called "setting a
man-trap". But you could put the functional 650v supply in the same
cable.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

tony sayer wrote:

In article , Chris Tolley
scribeth thus
tony sayer wrote:

In article , Chris Tolley
scribeth thus
tony sayer wrote:

In article , Denis McMahon
scribeth thus
On 23/06/10 19:05, SB wrote:
Trains cancelled to Worcester. Trains cancelled to Wales and West
Country. Trains cancelled to Oxford and Bourne End and also to Henley.
All other trains subject to huge delays. Reason = 'signalling
problems' in the West Drayton area from last night = 'vandalism' in
the Iver area = Pikeys cut the signal cables to burn off the plastic
and sell the copper. SB

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Ask anyone who has to clear up from these like BT, Arquiva the
transmission sites contractor, Any UK power distribution company, anyone
who works on church roof's they'll tell you that in no uncertain terms.!

Well if you ask me (since the lead on one of my Churches was nicked some
time back), then all I'd say is that someone nicked it. I can't see why
you'd anticipate some prejudiced speculation about their identity.

Your too forgiving Chris. Perhaps if you worked for the organisations
mentioned you'd se it differently;!..

I don't understand the comment. It doesn't have anything to do with
forgiveness. You've got to know who it is before you can consider the
forgiveness aspect. My previous comment is only indicating a belief that
it's silly to just pick some random target out of the air to attack when
something happens.

You seem to me to be a bit on the naive side Chris. These aren't people
who might just be "tempted" this is a known organised deliberate theft
plain and simple.

Well, of course it is organised. The lead is too far off the ground to
reach without some planning ahead. But I think that the only people who
are ruled out as potential suspects are those who are too infirm or too
scared to climb a ladder.

Mind you if you want to be smacked on both cheeks then don't let me stop
U....

Well, what happened was we replaced the lead, and it was promptly nicked
again. Then we got involved with a long debate about whether we had to
replace it with lead or could use some other material (Church has listed
building status). The debate rumbles on. There isn't really time or
energy to waste worrying over who did it, or whether the second theft
was connected to the first. Too many other things to do.


Well if someone doesn't do something it will happen time and time again
and again. And your church will become too expensive to insure if it
isn't already!.

The incidence of lead thefts in the area fell dramatically with the
crash in metal prices during the recession. we're more exercised by
graffiti at present.

--
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p9632858.html
(33 056 and 33 034 at Reading, Jul 1985)

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

In message
Chris Tolley (ukonline really) wrote:

[snip]

Well, what happened was we replaced the lead, and it was promptly nicked
again. Then we got involved with a long debate about whether we had to
replace it with lead or could use some other material (Church has listed
building status). The debate rumbles on. There isn't really time or
energy to waste worrying over who did it, or whether the second theft
was connected to the first. Too many other things to do.


Well if someone doesn't do something it will happen time and time again
and again. And your church will become too expensive to insure if it
isn't already!.

The incidence of lead thefts in the area fell dramatically with the
crash in metal prices during the recession. we're more exercised by
graffiti at present.


The Barron-Knights song The Chapel*Lead Was Missing would seem appropriate.

I'll get my cassock...

--
Graeme Wall

This address not read, substitute trains for rail
Transport Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail
Photo galleries at http://graeme-wall.fotopic.net/

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

The message
from Graeme contains these words:

The Barron-Knights song The Chapel*Lead Was Missing would seem appropriate.

I'll get my cassock...

Nah! You're not surplice to requirements - yet.

--
Dave,
Frodsham
http://dave-jackson.fotopic.net

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:14:01 +0100 someone who may be tony sayer
wrote this:-

This way ('cos of speed of light..) you can tell instantly exactly here
a cable is being damaged, and signal control center could arrange for
police to arrive on site..

Err .. right.. Ever tried to get old bill to turn up with any urgency in
recent times?...

Telling them that there is someone with a camera seems to work well.

The other one, possibly just a rural joke, is to tell them that they
need not bother any more, as one has now shot the intruders they
didn't have anyone available to deal with.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000...#pt3-pb3-l1g54

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Jun 25, 9:46*am, David Hansen
wrote:

Telling them that there is someone with a camera seems to work well.

The other one, possibly just a rural joke, is to tell them that they
need not bother any more, as one has now shot the intruders they
didn't have anyone available to deal with.


My uncle had a break in at his electrical goods shop a few years back,
and a number of things stolen. Discovered and reported during a
Saturday night, minutes after the theft. Initially the police didn't
even want to take a report over the phone and suggested he called back
during office hours on Monday and they _might_ send someone out. He
then said, truthfully, "I think they've taken my gun". The officers
in the two cars that appeared on the scene 10 minutes later were less
than impressed to find out it was an non-operational air rifle he'd
been planning to repair in the workshop.

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:24:42 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

On Jun 25, 9:46*am, David Hansen
wrote:

Telling them that there is someone with a camera seems to work well.

The other one, possibly just a rural joke, is to tell them that they
need not bother any more, as one has now shot the intruders they
didn't have anyone available to deal with.


My uncle had a break in at his electrical goods shop a few years back,
and a number of things stolen. Discovered and reported during a
Saturday night, minutes after the theft. Initially the police didn't
even want to take a report over the phone and suggested he called back
during office hours on Monday and they _might_ send someone out. He
then said, truthfully, "I think they've taken my gun". The officers
in the two cars that appeared on the scene 10 minutes later were less
than impressed to find out it was an non-operational air rifle he'd
been planning to repair in the workshop.

How "unimpressed" would they have been if the scrote pointed the gun
at them when they stopped him/her down the road later on ?

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

In message
Ian Jelf wrote:

In message , David Jackson
writes
The message
from Graeme contains these words:

The Barron-Knights song The Chapel*Lead Was Missing would seem
appropriate.

I'll get my cassock...

Nah! You're not surplice to requirements - yet.

I suppose it was incumbent on someone to start this sort of thread?

Let's pray it doesn't get out of hand.

--
Graeme Wall

This address not read, substitute trains for rail
Transport Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail
Photo galleries at http://graeme-wall.fotopic.net/

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

Ian Jelf wrote in article

David Hansen writes

The other one, possibly just a rural joke, is to tell them that they
need not bother any more, as one has now shot the intruders they
didn't have anyone available to deal with.

I suppose that *is* an urban myth? I was told that it happened near

Cheltenham.......

It's a American legend as well.

--
Mike D

Massive Disruption at Paddington
 

On 24 June, 03:50, Charles Ellson wrote:
On Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:40:01 +0100, Tom Barry
wrote:

Denis McMahon wrote:

And you know it was "Pikeys" (whatever they are) how exactly?

Yes, that annoys me too - what's wrong with 'criminals', 'thieves' or
'anti-social greedy selfish *******s who don't give a toss about
inconveniencing the public'?

The reason they are called pikeys is that pikemen were the original
cannon-fodder endowed with allegedly less brain than Paddington, a
collective form of village idiot. Such people (of whatever racial or
national origin) tend not to think of themselves never mind others so
occasionally put their axes through live high-voltage cables with
predictable consequences. The real criminals and selfish greedy
*******s are the dodgy scrap dealers who pay them silly prices and
make their own fat profit.

After we caught some pikeys stealing Marston panels at the back of St
Philips Marsh 3 years ago, as BTP officers, (who were on the scene
within 5 minutes) took the miscreant I had hold of away one of the
staff nearby made a comment about pikey parasites. One of the officers
with a smile said that we were no longer allowed to call them that. We
are however allowed to call them, 1. Caravan Utilising Nomadic
Travellers, which can be shortened to the initials, or 2. Stills,
because they are still pikeys. The simple fact is that while it is
rare to find gypsies falling foul of the law, travellers, or pikeys,
make their living by stealing and preying on the vulnerable, indeed
they often drive gypsies away from sites and it's a great shame that
gypsies suffer from being confused with the traveller population.
Travellers do have some quaint little traditions. If they burgle a
house it's considered polite to leave a fresh human turd on the dining
table. This practice started to wain as more DNA samples were
obtained. Now they will urinate all over the bed as DNA is harder to
extract. Also worth checking the base of your gateposts. Small
symbols with shapes contained therein are sometimes put just above
ground level to inform other pikeys if the house is worth burgling,
has easy access, old people or dogs therein. A gypsy will be proud of
his family name and ancestry, a pikey will have about 15 aliases. It
took the work of a few specialist intelligence officers in the UK to
track their movements and their phone numbers were always kept handy
by us if we happened across some in the course of their activities.
The best one for me was an LIO in Essex with whose help I was able to
ascertain that the man I had in the cells in Oxford and had given me
three names and dates of birth was in fact wanted in Yorkshire for
attempted murder and rape under two more aliases. Nice character, he
had just forced an old boy to pay thousands to repair two roof slates.
We got him as he marched the old boy into his bank thanks to an alert
neighbour.
The pikey mentality is simple, and this comes from interviewing them
over the years, they see themselves as the predators, and the rest of
us are the prey. If you have it and they want it, in their eyes it
belongs to them. Try to stop them and you will suffer, or your family
will suffer, such as the farmer trying to prevent hare coursers
wrecking his crops. The barn gets burnt down and he gets told it's the
house next.
Round them all up with their caravans, and create an artificial reef
with them somewhere.