Letters

In praise of bumpy journeys on ‘Pacers’

by

Sam Hewitt

–

18th February 2019

“I photographed my first one at Whitby in 1986 and have liked them ever since.”
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Was a conflict of interest the reason for British Rails’s early reluctance to adopt diesel traction?

by

Sam Hewitt

–

9th January 2019

I REALLY enjoyed Bob Gwynne’s article in the December 2018 issue on the reluctance of British Railways in the early years after Nationalisation to continue the development of diesel traction pioneered by the private railway companies. One key insight Bob omitted, which is an important factor in BR’s reluctance to abandon steam, was the conflict…
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Station lights on, but no one at home

by

Sam Hewitt

–

12th December 2018

WHILE out and about on my travels, I noticed the station lights were on at Thorne South at midday on a gloriously sunny October 8. Back home, I notified Northern trains via their Facebook page and attached a photograph for their information. They thanked me for notifying them and advised their station team would be…
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Neverers respond to Prince Palatine query

by

Sam Hewitt

–

14th November 2018

KEITH Farr’s letter in the October issue understandably questions the performance of No. 60052 Prince Palatine climbing to Whitrope summit on the Waverley Route. He is quite right to do so as the ‘A3’s’ performance, while very impressive, wasn’t world record-breaking as the photo caption infers.When writing up the caption the assumption was made the train…
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Elephant takes on water at Mexborough…

by

Sam Hewitt

–

10th October 2018

I ENJOYED reading the article about circus trains in the August issue. It reminded me of an unusual day when I was station master at Mexborough in 1956. One Sunday morning I was called out by the station foreman telling me there was an elephant on the platform needing water. One of the circuses was…
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Overcrowding tops list of CrossCountry franchise issues

by

Sam Hewitt

–

19th September 2018

Business group identifies 10 problem areas with franchise I enjoyed the good and wide-ranging feature about the CrossCountry franchise in the August RM, but let’s not force passengers off CrossCountry to solve the fares problem. At Sheffield Chamber of Commerce & Industry we recently submitted our response as the station is CrossCountry’s fifth largest by…
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Boys in blue oversaw escort for a troupe of elephants!

by

Sam Hewitt

–

12th September 2018

READING the feature about circus trains in the August RM reminded me of a time, not long after I’d joined the Birmingham City Police and stationed at Acocks Green in the early-summer of 1967. I booked on for the ‘late shift’ (14.00) one Sunday afternoon, and although allocated a specific beat, the ‘parade’ sergeant instructed…
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Buddleia is a trackside disgrace

by

Sam Hewitt

–

12th September 2018

YOUR comments about the spread of buddleia along the rail network, and the reflection on ‘poor housekeeping’ by Network Rail, leads me to comment on the disgraceful appearance of the railways as they thread their way through the conurbations, in particular. The rail corridors through Glasgow are thick with litter and debris, a lot flung…
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Rest days must be taken by staff to reduce fatigue

by

Sam Hewitt

–

8th August 2018

THE letter from Richard Hurrell in July 2018 issue (p46) raises more than a few questions. Anyone who has read Tom Rolt’s Red for Danger will know rest days were introduced as a result of many accidents over the years where fatigue played a part, with those rest days considered essential to allow staff some…
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How safety has moved on

by

Sam Hewitt

–

11th July 2018

Reading through some back issues of The Railway Magazine I came across the absolutely brilliant (and pre-1974 Health & Safety Act) photograph in April 1964 entitled ‘Relaying at Milford’. Readers will soon spot how many things are going on that would never be allowed today. Mike Bussell Yeovil, Somerset Mr Bussell refers to a photo…
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