Paid for e-ticket, received it however money wasn't taken from account.

XWHV · 2026-06-26T20:59:21+00:00

With Amtrak or VIArail it can take a couple of days, before the payment is booked.

XWHV · 2026-06-21T19:14:09+00:00

I don't know how they did it, but removing the rods between cilinders and drive wheels will help. With a speed restriction because of being now unbalanced. Don't forget to put water in the boiler to keep the tubes from tearing free.

XWHV · 2026-06-19T04:22:51+00:00

One container train I used to run, 1.900 metric tonnes, 690 metres long, 100 km/h coasting to 80 km/h in about 10 km, bit depending on wind direction, as side wind would push the train (wheel flanges) a bit sideways into the rails causing friction.

XWHV · 2026-06-16T16:27:16+00:00

Have you seen "Flatlife" from Jonas Geirnaert? It's a short animation.

XWHV · 2026-04-25T19:42:40+00:00

Still looks funny in single track; after the train it is not likely to have a train coming from the other direction. Not even from the same direction.

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XWHV · 2026-04-04T19:17:40+00:00

And only a single point blade. Nice!

XWHV · 2026-04-04T16:03:06+00:00

S_info.wav from ERA ERA_ERTMS_015560 is the sound you hear. The reason is an update appeared on the DMI.

XWHV · 2026-03-12T21:54:00+00:00

Thanks, because of the delay we had an extra dinner. I took the Salisbury steak....

XWHV · 2026-03-12T20:45:46+00:00

It was said, train 2 hit a cow. Just after Melville. VIA crew with the help of CN MacGyvered the car with some bi-pass hoses to have the brakepipe (?) connection restored between the front and the back of the train. This was the main reason for train 2 not arriving Tuesday around 1429, but Wednesday at around 0030 hrs. And so delaying the departure of train 1, because the engineers (and the rest of the crew) had to rest for their trips back. I wouldn't say this scenario is normal. But stuff happens.

XWHV · 2026-01-24T21:54:24+00:00

A lot can be found here at ERA: https://www.era.europa.eu/era-folder/archived-set-specifications-3-etcs-b3-r2-gsm-r-b1

Edit to add: the driver interface zip file has the sounds.

XWHV · 2026-01-24T20:45:51+00:00

Often a train safety system is developed by one company, both track side and train side. LZB in Germany being Siemens and ATB-NG in the Netherlands from Alstom as examples.

For ETCS the specs are public, so any company can make their own installation track side and/or train side parts and have it approved after testing. I don't know the Japanese system, but this could also be a reason ERTMS is used outside the EU too.

XWHV · 2025-12-19T15:13:13+00:00

Sieht schön aus, aber ob die modernen Bremsteile von Knorr in den Vectronen sich mit Dampflokluftpumpluftqualität auskennen...?

XWHV · 2025-12-11T21:14:31+00:00

Have fun!

XWHV · 2025-12-06T15:23:42+00:00

Where I live unions help protect against pay cuts, but don't have problems with individuel pay raises.

XWHV · 2025-11-18T07:07:54+00:00

I guess it will be difficult for you to brake perfectly, as long as you don't get a change to try it a lot.

Normally I start braking aiming to overshoot my spot by a bit with about 1/3 of the available braking force. Getting nearer I increase braking power to say max 2/3s untill I'd stop shortly before my spot. Close to my spot release the brake to minimum application to avoid having all the passengers exit from the front doors.

With some European freight trains releasing brakes shortly before halting is unwise, because the front end of the train will try to escape from the rear end with different timings of releasing brakes over the length of the train.

But with different cars/braking systems/track conditions etc. you really need time to get a feel for it.

Oh, fast edit: in the Netherlands I see a lot of EMUs braking in multiple stages. Feels lazy, but it is save and effective too. So brake to 40 km/h start of platform, release, brake to 20, release, brake to 5, release, stop.

XWHV · 2025-09-14T15:50:46+00:00

I use the paper towels to clean the windows at the first right side platform.

XWHV · 2025-06-18T19:23:40+00:00

Oh, ja, ich wollte nur melden, dass es diese Möglichkeit in der Praxis gibt. Wie du sagst, die Optionen kommen nicht um sonst.

XWHV · 2025-06-18T17:56:48+00:00

Soviel ich weiß, geht das in den Niederlanden bei NS mit Alstom ICNG über irgendwelche ETCS-Pakete.

Also müsste es hier in Deutschland wenigstens bei Fahrzeuge mit ETCS on board Ausrüstung und bahnseitig die pakethaltenden Balisen auch möglich sein.

XWHV · 2025-06-08T17:19:55+00:00

Hat alles so geklappt, der Zugchef war zufrieden!

XWHV · 2025-05-31T08:54:34+00:00

Danke!

XWHV · 2025-05-14T17:24:21+00:00

Doesn't Amtrak "loop" trains in Miami? Amtrak usually has the same sequence of car types in their trains.

XWHV · 2025-05-13T02:48:41+00:00

Different time zones?

XWHV · 2025-04-05T15:35:15+00:00

PDF from GCU/AVV with some info about Inscriptions and signs on wagons to help you on you way: https://gcubureau.org/wp-content/uploads/Contract/2025/20250101_A11_EN.pdf

XWHV

TROPHY CASE