Mizter T wrote:
On Nov 26, 6:33*pm, "Paul Scott"
wrote:

"Roland Perry" wrote:
I'm not sure all the tunnels are in place, but the parts which had to be
built contemporaneously with other works are there.

They were completed during 2004/5 or so, probably during the Thameslink
blockade? *Anyone know for sure?

I read an online version of some civil engineering magazine a while back
that had reports/pics of the completed job. * I'm pretty sure that the GN
end incline might also visible from passing trains, *it's pretty obvious on
Google's aerial view anyway, which dates back to the time when MML were
using the interim station.

Yes, it's all there, ready and waiting. Also visible briefly after
emerging from the covered bridge when arriving into St P by Eurostar
or indeed on an SE Highspeed train.


But they cannot possibly exist, because Roland Perry couldn't find any
evidence of them in a Google search . ;-)

"Ian Bidwell" wrote:

That would require to TOCs talking to one another and probably major
timetable alterations. In any case does the Greater Anglia franchise have
running powers to Kings Lynn outside peak times?


Running powers? Weren't they effectively abolished on 1/1/1948?

On Nov 26, 5:49*pm, Roland Perry wrote:

Yes - it's a totally non-conflicting junction - from the north end of
the SPILL platforms you can actually see the track-less GN connection
tunnels snake off into the distance, all ready and waiting. (A quick
search failed to find a photo, but it's all there.)

I'm not sure all the tunnels are in place, but the parts which had to be
built contemporaneously with other works are there.


I have assumed from at least some historical posts you must have
arrived at EMT SPIHL and used FCC SPILL ?

If you look hard enough, especially if there is a northbound 377 in
the SPILL platforms uisng its headlight beams, you can clearly see the
tunnels.

--
Nick

On Nov 26, 7:54*pm, D7666 wrote:

On Nov 26, 5:49*pm, Roland Perry wrote:

Yes - it's a totally non-conflicting junction - from the north end of
the SPILL platforms you can actually see the track-less GN connection
tunnels snake off into the distance, all ready and waiting. (A quick
search failed to find a photo, but it's all there.)
I'm not sure all the tunnels are in place, but the parts which had to be
built contemporaneously with other works are there.

I have assumed from at least some historical posts you must have
arrived at EMT SPIHL and used FCC SPILL ?

If you look hard enough, especially if there is a northbound 377 in
the SPILL platforms uisng its headlight beams, you can clearly see the
tunnels.

Whilst I've been there plenty lately I haven't mosied up to the north
end of the SPILL platforms for quite a while, but the tunnels
certainly used to be lit up - perhaps the off switch has been
depressed in an effort to reduce the electricity bill?

On Nov 26, 7:52*pm, Bruce wrote:

"Ian Bidwell" wrote:

That would require to TOCs talking to one another and probably major
timetable alterations. In any case does the Greater Anglia franchise have
running powers to Kings Lynn outside peak times?

Running powers? *Weren't they effectively abolished on 1/1/1948?

I'm sure there's some sort of pedantic argument about Chiltern running
on the LU Met line, and indeed LU District line trains running on
Network Rail up from Richmond - that said I'm sure there'd be some
counter-pedantry which would state that these agreements don't quite
amount to "running powers" as such... cue debate about what is meant
by the phrase 'running powers'...

(It's ok, you can leave, I'm quite happy having a conversation with
myself in the corner... ;-)

On Nov 26, 8:01*pm, Mizter T wrote:
On Nov 26, 7:54*pm, D7666 wrote:

On Nov 26, 5:49*pm, Roland Perry wrote:

Yes - it's a totally non-conflicting junction - from the north end of
the SPILL platforms you can actually see the track-less GN connection
tunnels snake off into the distance, all ready and waiting. (A quick
search failed to find a photo, but it's all there.)
I'm not sure all the tunnels are in place, but the parts which had to be
built contemporaneously with other works are there.

I have assumed from at least some historical posts you must have
arrived at EMT SPIHL and used FCC SPILL ?

If you look hard enough, especially if there is a northbound 377 in
the SPILL platforms uisng its headlight beams, you can clearly see the
tunnels.

Whilst I've been there plenty lately I haven't mosied up to the north
end of the SPILL platforms for quite a while, but the tunnels
certainly used to be lit up - perhaps the off switch has been
depressed in an effort to reduce the electricity bill?

I must re-look - I use the place often enough but due to where NB 8car
trains stop I always join the back end.

IIRC the tunnel lighting is on there but also IIRC they don't help you
see much from the platform only from a passing train. Its 377s
headlight you need to see into the tunnel from SPILL platform.

Way back when they were building the box a had a site visit there not
as a crank but for (at the time) work purposes while trains ran, it
was interesting to see the work site from behind the hoardings masking
the view from the running lines, and the very very different
impression of stages of construction compared from the public view.

IMHO its a great pity some of the TLP sites eg Blackfriars do not have
public viewing windows to see whats going on. Indeed it seems less and
less construction sites feature this these days, it used to be quite
common.

--
Nick

On Nov 26, 8:15*pm, Mizter T wrote:

I'm sure there's some sort of pedantic argument about Chiltern running
on the LU Met line, and indeed LU District line trains running on
Network Rail up from Richmond - that said I'm sure there'd be some
counter-pedantry which would state that these agreements don't quite
amount to "running powers" as such... cue debate about what is meant
by the phrase 'running powers'...

(It's ok, you can leave, I'm quite happy having a conversation with
myself in the corner... ;-)


LOL

I suppose you could counter argue that since no TOC owns any
infrastructure ** all TOC have running power over NR ? And its another
term thats used for e.g. NXEA (exWAGN WA) to reach KIngs Lynn ?




** IOW *** ? which is hardly typical !

*** I bet theres at least one more someone is bound to write about ..
cue.............

--
Nick

"Mizter T" wrote in message
...

On Nov 26, 7:52 pm, Bruce wrote:

"Ian Bidwell" wrote:

That would require to TOCs talking to one another and probably major
timetable alterations. In any case does the Greater Anglia franchise
have
running powers to Kings Lynn outside peak times?

Running powers? Weren't they effectively abolished on 1/1/1948?

I'm sure there's some sort of pedantic argument about Chiltern running
on the LU Met line, and indeed LU District line trains running on
Network Rail up from Richmond - that said I'm sure there'd be some
counter-pedantry which would state that these agreements don't quite
amount to "running powers" as such... cue debate about what is meant
by the phrase 'running powers'...

I'd have thought the current track access procedures and contracts are the
modern equivalent of 'running powers'.

The thing about Ian's point above is that franchised areas of responsibility
are regularly changing, with services passed between TOCs routinely,
normally instigated by DfT. I'd also suggest the idea that TOCs don't talk
to one another about timetable matters doesn't stand up if one looks at some
of the wide range of track access related correspondence on the ORR website.

Paul S

"D7666" wrote in message
...
On Nov 26, 6:33 pm, "Paul Scott"
wrote:

They were completed during 2004/5 or so, probably during the Thameslink
blockade? Anyone know for sure?

They were.

Sorry, should have said know for sure exactly when it occurred during that
period, ie before, during or just after the blockade. I did a bit more
digging and it might have been towards the earliest part of the timeframe,
but it's not really important.

Paul

Mizter T wrote:
On Nov 26, 7:52*pm, Bruce wrote:
Running powers? *Weren't they effectively abolished on 1/1/1948?

I'm sure there's some sort of pedantic argument about Chiltern running
on the LU Met line, and indeed LU District line trains running on
Network Rail up from Richmond - that said I'm sure there'd be some
counter-pedantry which would state that these agreements don't quite
amount to "running powers" as such... cue debate about what is meant
by the phrase 'running powers'...

(It's ok, you can leave, I'm quite happy having a conversation with
myself in the corner... ;-)


You're right about LU and Chiltern running over LU and NR tracks.
After 1948 there were also arrangements for locomotives from BR and
various dock and other industrial systems to run on each others'
tracks. But the more general arrangements of running powers where a
train from one of the "Big Four" (GWR, LMS, SR, LNER) could run on
some tracks of one or other of the other companies' lines became
redundant on Nationalisation in 1948.

I tried to cover myself for the inevitable exceptions by stating
"effectively abolished" rather than "abolished" or "totally abolished"
but I hadn't counted on your 'helpful' intervention ... ;-)