This Day in Alternate History
Our transdimensional scientists have managed to retrieve some publications from various parallel timelines. Unfortunately, the only publication they've managed to find is Modern Railways
1997, Cornwall: Imerys take delivery of the fifth and final GM-built diesel for the 2'6" gauge Cornwall Minerals Railway. These machines now work all china clay traffic between Rocks mill at Goonbarrow and the port of Fowey, including the standard gauge wagons on transporters to Par. Imerys plan to retain two of the Hunslet Bo-Bos dating from the 1960s for shunting at St Blazey and Fowey, but the other two operational machines are to be sold to the Newquay Steam Railway, who will used them both for works trains and for some off-season passenger work.
1977, North America: Following the successful trials over the past three years, Amtrak place an order with English Electric for a further 35 5000hp locomotives, based on the successful British Rail class 87, for use on the North East Corridor between New York and Washington. English Electric beat off strong competion from AESA of Sweden with the Rc3 derivative.
1971, Wessex: A Great Western turbotrain breaks the world rail speed record, reaching 352 mph on the racing stretch between Didcot and Swindon, demonstrating Brunel's foresight in choosing the 7' gauge.
1973, BR Western Region: In a change of livery policy, BR begin outshopping main line pacifics in BR blue, replacing the unlined black used since 1966. First locomotives outshopped in the new colour scheme are Britannias 70012/4 from Swindon and Rebuild Bullieds 34013/5/22 from Eastleigh. Both classes will continue to work the cross-country Reading to Birmingham services until the electrification is completed in 1976. Meanwhile Toton recieves an additional ten air-braked 9Fs to cope with increased East Midlands coal traffic resulting from the current the oil crisis.
1981, BR Midland Region: After closure for conversion work, the Woodhead line reopens under 25kv electrification. The Godley Junction to Warrington electification was switched on at the same date. The first train was a westbound MGR from Barnsley Junction to Fiddler's Ferry power station, hauled by class 88 No 88122. The conversion brings to an end the dual-voltage switchable tracks at Tinsley Yard.
Posted by TimHall at January 12, 2005 10:53 PM | TrackBackLike this particular thread very much. More, if you please... particularly the 1973 entry. This would explain the presence in my vinyl collection of Nigel Fletcher and Rob Woodwards' ground-breaking 1975 collection of recordings:'Standard Blues'!
Posted by: Dave Smith on January 14, 2005 09:31 AMYou left out an entry from 1948. The British Railway Board announced negotiations were in progress with North American diesel locomotive manufacturers American Locomotive and the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors to develop a fleet of standard shunting, mixed traffic, and passenger diesel locomotives. Board members noted the performance of the E-7 series express passenger, the RS-1 series of mixed traffic, and both manufacturers' shunting locomotives.Although the Labour government initially nationalised the railways and the coal fields in order to make use of domestic resources, the recent discovery of oil fields in the North Sea hinted at in captured Nazi records led the board to consider the superior performance of diesel-electric locomotives.
Posted by: Stephen Karlson on January 15, 2005 07:38 PMThere will be more: We'll have the Applachian mountains reverberating to the sounds of EE 16SVT and Maybach MD655s in future issues!
Posted by: Tim Hall on January 16, 2005 05:23 PMFantasy. Those Maybachs were tried and found wanting on Tennessee Pass and in the Sierras.
Posted by: Stephen Karlson on January 18, 2005 04:12 PMI didn't think you'd like that one :)
Posted by: Tim Hall on January 18, 2005 06:29 PMCounterfactuals are more plausible when they have some connection to actual events. The number "66" connotates more than Ray Nitschke's jersey ;)
Posted by: Stephen Karlson on January 20, 2005 02:56 PM