Railways around Coventry

Hello, I'm continuing my ventures along the river Tame. Using the Heart of England day ranger ticket. It's all train travelling now, catching glimpses as best I can. That's the best value ticket for me at £24, unlimited travel on that day of purchase. I may venture on foot, maybe around Water Orton as a starter. The Dog pub is still there, so I'll be ok for a bag of crisps. The chippy might still be there in the centre of the village. HS2 construction is quite a blot, as though nothing else matters. It's a pity that idea wasn't in minds when the Great Central railway, running from Sheffield to London was scrapped in the sixties. Shustoke. At that angle, why doesn't the water all come out?

Hello, I'm very sad to report a serious passenger train derailment in the South East. No official details, but track buckling appears on a photograph. I was surprised, possibly shocked that when I looked at the departures from Coventry at midday, most services were running to time. I had hoped that lower speeds would have been in force, but obviously not. I made the conscious decision not to travel today. As temperatures drop, metal contraction will occur, that can further distort shapes. I would have been uncomfortable travelling with such fears.

Hello, Continuously welded rail was introduced in the sixties, but with the provision of spliced expansion joints. They worked well & very reliable. Cost saving measures were subsequently introduced by using higher spec chairs & clamps which are universally used now. Constant high-speed vibrations will find any weak spot, the speed exacerbating the hammerblow effect on the chairs, already under stress from the heat. The shape of the rail distortion highlighted in the photos yesterday, is typical of what engineers call the failed curtain rail effect. Yesterday's derailment in East Sussex, bears all of hallmarks of heat stress. The early signs of heat stress expansion, on rails fixed to wooden sleepers, picture from Network rail. The curtain rail failure is usually progressive. I'm surprised that the earlier trains passing didn't feel a wild swinging snake lurch in Sussex.

Hello BBC News Train crew have reporting logs of incidents. Travelling as I do, I've occasionally reported issues to crew, only to be delighted that it's already logged. I'm suspicious that this is a senior manager issue, only a gut feeling. Let's hope the injured recover including the trauma.