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I have taken the Grand Trunk Express from Delhi to Chennai, although sadly, it was the one train in India that I had items stolen while I slept. I so liked the train name, I chose it over the faster Tamil Nadu Express on a similar route. Certainly I enjoyed very many other long rides too, but...

On my recent visit to the Isle of Wight, a large island just off the British mainland, I saw what was said to be the last hovercraft operating a passenger service anywhere in the world. I was quite surprised by this information, as at one time they were seen as a modern mode of travel, here in...

Good to know you recovered well after some weeks. My own vision is fine now, related to a small issue with blood supply to one eye muscle. Probably caused by high blood pressure, or cholesterol restricting the flow, or both. To avoid a recurrence, I am on new medication, which hopefully will...

Glad to know you made a good recovery yourself Jim. Keep up the healthier lifestyle, even if it's not quite so much fun! ;)

I awoke about 6 weeks ago with double vision, and after a hospital visit and MRI scan, I was diagnosed with having suffered a minor stroke, or TIA as it is known. Vision all good now, efforts underway to reduce cholesterol, etc.. Long story short, all okay but instructed not to fly anywhere for...

I was wondering more with reference to the original proposition above, where the lead loco has "failed", possibly with the PTC or the other problems you mentioned, on the main line, and the two locos need to be moved on that main line, to a place they can be "swapped over"? Will a third loco...

Assuming that the leading loco was at fault as above, would they be allowed to move only the two loco's forward, as the same fault would still be present after they were uncoupled from the train coaches? I wonder if a third loco would be needed with correct working equipment to lead in that...

Okay, well I guess something is "unique" or it isn't, so maybe "most unique" is wrong, I will go for unique, as only two of these were built, plus one prototype. Hmm, now as there were two built, maybe I should settle on "unique train service". ;) :D The Stourbridge Town branch line is the...

Pretty much as we anticipated. Very fortunate to be able to remove trains out of the runaway's path, and close the road crossings. Not setting the points correctly to derail the train as it rolled out of the loop was quite a major error, a final fail safe opportunity lost...

Very nice detailed report. You seem to take most things in your stride, a favourable mindset for all travel!

Very nice to see your pics. I use a travel kettle too, very common this side of the pond, mine is 650Watts, and works fine on Amtrak, although, being a universal voltage type, it takes twice as long to boil, stateside!

We don't know if the engine was running. These are diesel engines which drive an electric motor. You can turn the engine off if you wish. The engine needs to be running to hold the brakes on the train. There are hand brakes which can hold a train which is "shut down", a certain number, weight...

Possibly it had been "shut down" awaiting new crew, rather like the tragic event in Canada, the air gradually leaked out, parking brakes not applied, and being a heavy train, once it started moving on its own, the rest is history. Best news is nothing was in it's path 'till it slowed and stopped.

Wow! What a great detailed and immersive trip report, definitely felt I was going along with you. I love New Orleans myself, and nothing better than to arrive and leave by train!

Like yourself, previously, I have often taken my annual leave in January, to get over the exhausting chaos of Xmas. ( No, I wasn't employed as Father Xmas, but I did run a fancy dress hire shop...) :cool: I also wanted to ride routes end to end, rather than stopping off to view places...

I expect they will rely on global warming to mitigate the snow issues. :cool: It seems that the "quick recharge" aspect of the system is the new element. The former Underground train sets look rather smart, not sure which type / age they are... (The GWR is a surface railway.) More info...

The trains, which are former London Underground units, will undertake real-world trials and will charge for just 3 and a half minutes before restarting its journey on the Greenford branch line: Battery trains test...

I seem to have read recently that the Amtrak website is not operating correctly in recent days. I live in the UK, and have not had any problems booking on amtrak.com in the past. Broadly speaking, you can bring your luggage aboard any train, you don't have to use the baggage car facility. There...

As a retired overseas visitor, with mostly no need to be elsewhere, I had several stays in Sacramento. Mostly to break the westward Zephyr journey en route towards Las Vegas. Interesting place, but not a "must see" destination. It is subjective, but where are you going afterwards, do you have...

Do keep in mind, as mentioned above, that you can't make all your rail pass rides over the same "segments"... I loved using the pass, and riding Amtrak for fun, but I am not so sure nowadays. It may be my age, as I find that even my India train trips are not the attraction that they once were...