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On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
13:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
14:12 Newbury to Bedwyn
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
14:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
15:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
15:28 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
15:50 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
16:15 Newbury to Bedwyn
16:23 Westbury to Swindon
16:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
12:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
13:46 Bristol Temple Meads to Warminster
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
20:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
21:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
Delayed
09:10 Penzance to London Paddington
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:20 Penzance to London Paddington
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
13:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern
14:03 London Paddington to Penzance
14:15 Penzance to London Paddington
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance
15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
16:03 London Paddington to Penzance
16:15 Penzance to London Paddington
19:04 London Paddington to Penzance
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Author Topic: OTD - 1st February (2003) - Space Shuttle Columbia breaks up killing 7  (Read 1862 times)
grahame
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« on: January 31, 2022, 23:00:01 »

From Space.com

Quote
The Columbia disaster occurred On Feb. 1, 2003, when NASA’s space shuttle Columbia broke up as it returned to Earth, killing the seven astronauts on board. NASA suspended space shuttle flights for more than two years as it investigated the cause of the Columbia disaster.

An investigation board determined that a large piece of foam fell from the shuttle's external tank and breached the spacecraft wing. This problem with foam had been known for years, and NASA came under intense scrutiny in Congress and in the media for allowing the situation to continue.

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster

Not a railway story, but a common transport thread that moving around has its risks (and for the writer of "On this day" things that go wrong are remembered by their day and month and provide easy material on otherwise quiet days).

But in history there's always been a common thread where problems are known and issues observed, but minimal attention is paid to them and lessons are not learned until there's a really spectacular accident.   Take a look (on rail) at absolute block working, at gas heating lighting in carriages, at continuous brakes, at single in tokens and interlocking, at signals passed at danger and you'll find repetition.  And so you see that Columbia was lost to a known problem.

Whilst there are still repeats to this day, I celebrate the RAIB (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) - Rail Accident Investigation Branch - who help keep them to a minimum.  I really don't want too many more "easy" days where there's a big accident to report.


Edit - correction to use of gas in trains
« Last Edit: February 04, 2022, 07:10:55 by grahame » Logged

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broadgage
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« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2022, 06:41:13 »

Pedant alert, gas was not used regularly for heating of railway carriages. Heating was generally steam from a steam locomotive, or an early diesel locomotive fitted with an oil burning steam heat boiler.
Waste heat from the engines is sometimes used on DMUs (Diesel Multiple Unit). Ye olde Hampshire units had engine derived heat in the coach with the engine and electric heat in the other vehicles.

Electric heat is now the norm.

Gas WAS used for lighting on trains, and was rather a fire risk under normal conditions and a very severe fire risk in case of accident.
In an accident it was almost inevitable that the gas pipes would be broken and the gas ignited, resulting in a general conflagration. Many victims who survived collision or derailment, burnt to death before they could be rescued. In one particularly horrific accident, many troops burnt to death in a train fire. It was reported that many men trapped in the burning wreckage begged for their officers to shoot them. Quintinshill I believe, during the first war, the death toll was over 200 but was never accurately established as the regimental records were destroyed in the fire.

Gas lighting did not cause the accident, it was caused by human error on the part of the signalmen. Gas lighting did however substantially increase the death toll.
That particular disaster lead to calls for electric lighting to be a requirement on all trains, and this was eventually achieved.

At least three different gas lighting systems were used, "oil gas" produced by the patented process of a Mr Pintsch, acetylene, and propane. All contained in metal tanks or cylinders stored under the coach.
A few very early systems used town gas contained in a canvas bag on the roof ! VERY early underground trains used this. Steam locomotive, in a tunnel, and flammable gas stored in bag on the roof, what could possibly go wrong.

I traveled on a train with working gas lights in about 1966. Gas lighting was IIRC (if I recall/remember/read correctly) meant to be banned by then, but BR (British Rail(ways)) still had a few gas lit coaches that were restricted to daylight use only. The train was late and darkness fell and the guard lit the gas lights !

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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
grahame
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« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2022, 07:14:42 »

Pedant alert, gas was not used regularly for heating of railway carriages.

[snip]

Gas WAS used for lighting on trains, and was rather a fire risk under normal conditions and a very severe fire risk in case of accident.


Many thanks for that correction and all the extra data - much appreciated.  I have gone back to the original article and amended it to give the right information, as these "on this day" articles just might end up being highlighted again on this day in later years too and become "reference material", a book, or a video game!
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broadgage
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« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2022, 14:53:55 »

This vintage film about Australian railways features a mobile mother and baby clinic on the train.
Gas lights may be seen about 18 minutes in. Not lit, but perhaps still in working order.

And a bit O/T but vintage technology, the parcels being conveyed on the train included a Tilley paraffin clothes iron, just before the view of the gas lights.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
broadgage
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« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2022, 10:15:28 »

The link in the above post seems to have vanished.

Here is a new link to the vintage film about Australian railways.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usi4LM_iVuw
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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