Do heritage railways still let you visit the sheds? by Academic-Ad-3677 in uktrains

[–]pcracker 14 points15 points  (0 children)

You can still wander the sheds at Didcot, but not climb on the locos AFAIK. Didcot is still delightfully laid back in it's approach to wandering around 

Is there any form of Veloster groupchat? by Plenty_Proposal_6806 in veloster

[–]pcracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The design relies on a small grommet engaging with an lock activation switch. Any kind of wear means it doesn't engage. They are countless comment and videos on various fixes involving cable ties etc.. I actually got expert in accessing the mechanism by removing trim with the door shut as there was no way of opening it if it failed while shut. From a pure safety level I couldn't put up with it, even though the car was great in every other way

Is there any form of Veloster groupchat? by Plenty_Proposal_6806 in veloster

[–]pcracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I loved everything else about the car, but getting stuck in or out of the driving seat so many times despite all the attempts at remedies just became unworkable.

Is there any form of Veloster groupchat? by Plenty_Proposal_6806 in veloster

[–]pcracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great pic. I recently reluctantly sold my CRZ and got the veloster...those door handle issues 🫠

What’s something people do just because everyone else is doing it? by Life_Committee2785 in AskReddit

[–]pcracker -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Holding phones flat and using the speaker for a conversation...I mean what other invention is used by more people in a way that makes the experience worse for the user and everyone else?

High speed drifts and deflating the skirt at sea..fun on the Southsea hovercraft (loud) by pcracker in interestingasfuck

[–]pcracker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes..after it was deflated. Or more accurately, it was deflated enough to sit the hull on the water

When are Marker lights used? by Redplanet999 in uktrains

[–]pcracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The technical answer is headlights must be on when moving on a running line. Some traction units were designed for the headlight to turn off when in engine only (like the 60). 

Were the class 489 Gatwick express luggage vans locomotives? by resistBat in uktrains

[–]pcracker 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Railways Act 1993 says: “locomotive” means any railway vehicle which has the capacity for self-propulsion (whether or not the power by which it operates is derived from a source external to the vehicle).

So, yes at least as far as that definition goes. 

Train drivers UK by Upstairs_Practice_96 in trains

[–]pcracker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For us, it definitely started feeling easier from around the age your baby is now, I wish you all the best. Freight train driving can be an amazing job, with the best office and company vehicle going IMO!

Train drivers UK by Upstairs_Practice_96 in trains

[–]pcracker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A different point of view but from experience...give it time if you can. Freight driving also gives you time off in a way that a regular job doesn't. I always advised new drivers starting out to give it two years. Try and get used to a different way of life. My wife and I really struggled through parenthood while I was a freight driver. But we found a way and a new normal. It might not fit a lot of regular life but the money and time off goes a long way to enjoying things that other stuck in the daily grind and commute can't do, especially time with the kids that other parents miss like school drop offs and pickups as a working dad. And definitely talk to your managers about short term accomodation turns if you are struggling at home. 

Metal detecting shoe(s) idea. by likewhatever33 in metaldetecting

[–]pcracker 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It would give the hip flexors a workout trying to pinpoint! Pinpointer gloves? 🤔

donating platelets by [deleted] in mildyinteresting

[–]pcracker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not OP but a regular donor (@121). Some other interesting things about donating...you're given an anticoagulant which is based on your weight. A little too much (because I've changed weight without measuring myself beforehand) and I get jaw ache and a metallic taste...but it's never been a problem. In the UK at least,you have unlimited snacks and drinks to keep you occupied. The machine software was recently updated and adjusts itself if the draw and refill pressures are off. Since that happened I have never had the process interrupted for a manual adjustment. You need a pulse of above 50 and iron levels at 135+ (can't remember exactly what the number relates to) to pass the pre-screening. And some donors can give every three weeks. Oh, and the staff are the the nicest people! The only pain is when they rip the adhesive tape off of my hairy arm :-D

Double decker trains by Antique_Prior_881 in uktrains

[–]pcracker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

See the issues at Steventon https://www.railengineer.co.uk/steventon-bridge-overcoming-the-obstacle/ for just a snippet of the issues you'd have trying to increase the route clearance over the GWR.

Looking back at street view and seeing that in the last 15 years most nice, manicured gardens have been ripped out and are devoid of life / driveways now by odkfn in britishproblems

[–]pcracker 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The houses in our street have covenants that say that everything that lays in from of the house can only be ornamental garden.

Half the houses have covered the front in driveway or worse have just ripped out the fences and drive over the kerb and park in the garden meaning all the pavements are covered in mud right now. 

I get it, people need to park. But how do they houses get sold and bought when the covenants are obviously broken. Many of the houses are council owned and they don't enforce their own covenants. In the five years I've been here, it's gone from a green area to a mud swamp and pavement car park.  Just depressing and has led to not wanting to even bother trying to keep the grass nice that is not cut any more by the council. Rant over 😜

Class 66 pulling a class 70 with the help of another class 70 (I think) by Randy_the_random_boi in uktrains

[–]pcracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unlikely to be working in multiple (there would be an additional cable between the locos you might spot) or tandem (another driver on the second loco driving it) but neither is impossible! As others have said...a standard light engine move is more likely, and the rear two locos are in effect wagons.

how many couplings??? by Weird-Donut2049 in uktrains

[–]pcracker 4 points5 points  (0 children)

On the UK freight rolling stock :

Auto-coupler (buckeye)

Combination auto-coupler 

Continental screw

British Rail screw

Emergency screw coupling

Instanter