Earles Sidings to Drax Power Station

[@davidsharp3110]

Being a US Citizen, I admit to being a snob and preferring USA rail videos. Then I found a video from Don Coffey and well, now I'm hooked. They are fun to watch, very calming for the soul and I get to see Great Britain trackside. Well shot with wonderful captions. Thank you Don!

[@doncoffey5820]

I’m rather flattered by that David, thank you and of course, the revenue goes to charity. We will visit Florida in May.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Best rail channel on KZbin in my opinion. Im in the UK and don’t get chance to travel by train really so it’s a pleasure watching.

[@doncoffey5820]

That’s very flattering thank you.

[@ianmosely3441]

Fantastic. Very informative too. The river Trent. My first home I purchased in 1958 was at Number 1 Trent Street.

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Ian. I was born in 1958 by coincidence!

[@jan-akemagnusson4559]

I love the sound from that loco ! Very nice film! I have seen Many ! "trainfilms" from all over the world, but I must say that yours are, without any doubts, the very best! Hope you will keep on filming. Thank you from a Swedish entusiast!

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Jan and yes, many more videos to come.

[@julianburgess6947]

This was much more interesting than I thought it would be, learnt a lot too. Thanks

[@doncoffey5820]

You’ll find by watching more of the videos they cover more subjects. Glad you enjoyed it Julian.

[@001desertrat3]

Greetings from Nevada , U.S.A. . First , a very Big THANK YOU to all involved in bringing this Great Video to us . I'm 74 years old and have spent most of my life working in all aspects of the Mining Industry ( Yes , I've worn many many different hats ) ; and I would love to visit the U.K. ( not going to happen ) ; if for no other reason than to visit my Ancestral Homeland which is the northern end of the Moors at Dartmoor , Devon , Circa : 10 th Century A.D. ( Father's side of the family ) , and a lot of places in the Southern U.K. carry our Family Name . --- Again , a Big THANK YOU for allowing me to see parts of your beautiful U.K. that I would never otherwise get to see . --- < Doc , Miner for over 50 years > .

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks for the kind words, I’ll consider that an accolade. I’m glad it gives you an insight into the country and the railway. I try not just to fill it with purest train info but history and geography and just stuff that I think is interesting too so hopefully anyone can settle into it. I’m glad you have.

[@craigymac5386]

Great video, it's sad to see the places that were once rail connected and the industry that has disappeared. Also the amount of lorries you see on the roads. So much for the environment.

[@doncoffey5820]

Aye, progress the ogress as they say. Still, some of it remains.

[@stephenrice4554]

Marvellous, information packed , scenery loaded , interesting building highlighting train ride . A real pleasure on a rainy afternoon. 👍🇬🇧

[@doncoffey5820]

Many thanks Stephen. Yes, I’m part way through building an ark here, July has been appalling weather wise.

[@stephenrice4554]

@@doncoffey5820 dreadful , there'll be lifebelts on the platforms before long 🛟

[@Moofers]

Just like to let you know these cabride videos are helping me out a ton on recreating the south yorkshire railway in Train Sim World 4. Great watch too, very informative.

[@doncoffey5820]

We go around the Dore Single in the next video if that helps.

[@tonyhancock8479]

The first station you pass through is not Edale. Which is in the other direction towards Manchester, It is Hope.

[@doncoffey5820]

Some sort of brain malfunction took place Tony 🙄

[@matzkoooo]

as a german this is super interesting! thanks a lot! and those loco sounds are really familiar, the classs 66(77) runs here too where i live! :-)

[@doncoffey5820]

Thank you for following. When I was in the motor industry I spent a lot of time in Germany and thoroughly enjoyed it. I used to travel by train quite a lot with my German boss and while he wanted to work I just wanted to look out of the windows. More 66 sounds coming soon.

[@rydermike33]

Very many thanks Don for another terrific cab ride and great captioning. Fascinating stuff.

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you like them Mike.

[@datalasse]

Great video with alot of information!

[@Biggles-gm6tm]

Absolutely fascinating. I have no idea how I ended up here but I am a wiser man on both railway infrastructure and power stations. Many thanks.

[@doncoffey5820]

There you go! There’s all sorts to learn in the other videos too 😉👍

[@GooseWaffe]

Love the video. The captions are really well timed, very well informed and quite entertaining. Honestly great videos to put on when I need to chill. Thanks for takin the time to do this :)

[@doncoffey5820]

My pleasure, much appreciated.

[@Pizzpott]

I'm not kidding here, the sound of this engine when it is idling is remarkably similar (if not the same) as the sound of the 'machine' at the neginning of Pink Floyd's 'Welome to the Machine' from the album Wish You Were Here. It's the same tempo, I'm certain of it...Wow! Great video again Mr. Coffey, I love the long ones. When I had Covid in April last year I was suffering at home , your videos (as well as a lot of other content creators) kept me occupied. Yours in particular, especially the long ones were superbly entertaining and passed the time for me. The long ones were my favourites as the monotonous sound actually hepled me sleep too, much like leaving a vacuum cleaner on can help a baby sleep. I simply could not get the breath to go upstairs so I slept on the setee for six weeks..I remember well the 2 Binliner videos which were brilliantly long.. At thet time I only had SkyQ so could not comment or like, but now I have a PC connected to my TV and I can say thank you.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thank you Jeff. This time last year I was on the verge of packing it in because I was struggling to get new footage and there was a lot of politics floating round which after all my efforts of fundraising just got me down. Then I started to get comments like yours that it was helping people get through covid and the very kind comments on numerous forums. I’m pleased to say that now TfW have authorised the return of their videos and I’m getting help from Metrolink and Freightliner that I’m in a position to publish quite a few more videos so we’re not done yet.

[@rocksreynolds3642]

Thanks for the film, so many familiar locations to me. The train passes behind my office at one point. It was obscured at this point by leylandii but these were cut down as part of the Totley junction improvements and I have a clear view of the line now. This train is known in our area as "squeaky train" because of the chatter from the short wheelbase Presflos as they make the curves around Totley junction.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes those wagons would qualify as Rev Audrey’s “troublesome trucks”. They can gather up and give the loco an almighty shove or they can stretch out and give it a nasty yank! It is very prominent from the cab - an experience for sure. Glad you’ve got a view now although conifers do absorb some noise.

[@angelmessenger8240]

I'd love to ride in these cabs all day. Thank you so much for posting these.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks AM, the stuff I talk about in the videos is the same as I’d be telling you if you came with me in the cab.

[@josesal]

Awesome, love the diesel engine rev sound, thanks for the share!

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, they have some power José!

[@madaxman72]

Fantastic alternative views of my place of work, I have often wondered what it looked like from the train on approach. Shame the video had to end where it did. Great stuff though, thanks.

[@doncoffey5820]

I’ve applied to your HR department for permission to film the loop. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@alanknox6371]

I have enjoyed quite a few of your video's, didn't realise i could comment until seeing this Earles to Drax. I will endeavour to make a point in any more i see> Thanks Don for arranging these.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, it sometimes takes me a little while to respond due to work etc but I do try to reply to all comments. Keep in touch Alex.

[@robertcronshaw3769]

The line between Sheffield and Doncaster bring back so many happy memories from the early 90's when I used to live in Sheffield and spent many a happy day spotting in the area.

[@doncoffey5820]

I bet it was superb Robert.

[@steviez110]

Another excellent job Don thank you

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Steve.

[@jackvieira5157]

Another great video thank you it is awesome greetings from the state off new Jersey

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Jack, much appreciated and I will definitely visit your neck of the woods.

[@boohaka]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks Don.

[@doncoffey5820]

Very welcome Mike.

[@1903bretep]

Thanks Don for another great ride, it would be nice to see the return journey to Hope laden if that video becomes available.

[@doncoffey5820]

We might but there is lots more freight to come 👍

[@Martin_Adams184]

Thank you, Don! An excellent video as usual. It includes several stretches of line unfamiliar to me; and I was especially interested to see the chord at 1.14.00. It took me quite a while to work out what it was, because it is not on Google Maps - the satellite view seems to date from before it was built, some time around 2014, or a couple of years after that? Such fascinating details about operations, railway regulations, history and so forth. A couple of hours well spent. Good health to you!

[@doncoffey5820]

I think it shows up on mine Martin. There must be different versions???

[@martinarrand4336]

The station just after Sheffield was Atrercliffe RD Sheffield Victoria was above and to the right 😊great video bye the way

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, I don’t know where that came from, my bad.

[@andrewphillips9391]

Interesting video. Went to Drax on a railtour a few years back and pretty sure we weren't allowed to take photos inside the site. Went all the way round the loop and through the coal off-loader building

[@doncoffey5820]

We might be doing that again but with permission. They are wary because they get a lot of trouble with so called activists.

[@Pitbull1845]

Great video Don, very informative as usual. Thanks for taking the time to do them.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks as always Pitbull 👍

[@BevMattocks]

Another really interesting video - love the information along the way. Noted the "Troublesome Trucks" comment just past Dore junction about "bossing" the loco about.

[@doncoffey5820]

I was thinking the Reverend Awdry,s books must be reference books 😉😀

[@YeomansFamily]

Another great video Don. But at 33:43 it’s not Sheffield Victoria station but Attercliffe Road station. The line which Sheffield Victoria was on is over the tunnel we go through at 33:22.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, I was reading about Victoria and it stuck for some reason. I can’t edit it now but thanks.

[@geoffreymoore1510]

Thanks again, Don for a great video. I passed on a link to all your stuff to a young Indian rail fan friend of mine I met through one of the train groups. Will go check out the Drax website.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Geoffrey. More freight coming soon.

[@anmolmehta7116]

Great video Don. Thanks for sharing. The more you show us, the more knowledge we obtain from your videos.😃

[@doncoffey5820]

I’m passing you out as a driver soon Anmol. Hope you’ve been paying attention!

[@kenunderwood8621]

Hi Don! Great video bro! Can we please have the Derby videos back online. I especially like the one where you start from Chaddesden Curve and pick up the crew in Derby Station. :)

[@doncoffey5820]

Hi Ken. Yes is the short answer but I want to rework some of those early videos. I can improve the colour and rid out a few mistakes that I made. Bear with me Ken. I could do with a production team.

[@SeamusKeating]

Fantastic work. Really well done

[@doncoffey5820]

Much appreciated Seamus.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I once had a thought: can a train enter West Yorkshire and leave West Yorkshire without passing through or within sight of a West Yorkshire station and without reversing? It can. This train does it!

[@doncoffey5820]

I never noticed like I suspect many others. Nice factoid Nigel 👍

[@edmeko3262]

Don Coffey you are so good with what you do here. I have you with coffee often. QUESTION: Have you ever eaten at the DINER that sits atop the tunnel at 28:23.? that DINER has trains running underneath it and it might be a real toot.

[@doncoffey5820]

I didn’t know it was there but I may well next time I’m at Sheffield 👍

[@Deltic1951]

What a brilliant and informative video! Thank you so much, Don.

[@doncoffey5820]

Very welcome Graham - thanks.

[@gnasherianuk]

Hi Ray and Ken, so you 2 be on tv in the coming future lol😂 not like you to have something g that isn't nice and nasty 😅 hope all well with you and your best regards .duffy

[@doncoffey5820]

Hmm, I’ll have to think about that one 😉

[@jix177]

Great video, I really like the notes and explanations. Thanks for sharing.

[@doncoffey5820]

I try to vary the content so you build up a varied knowledge by watching more of the videos.

[@Kev5565]

Nice, I go over that bridge at 58:09 regularly being only a mile away from home and wondered what it looked like from bellow. It would be nice to see the Doncaster avoiding line, there's a footpath on the old embankment and bridge parallel then the line follows Sprotbrough road to Bentley junction I think. I used to work at BREL Doncaster Plant for 13 years from 1982 until being made redundant, a shame Crimpsal end was flattened which leaves Wabtec for the remainder and I don't know what happened to the bit in between which was the national stores when I left. Anyway enough rambling on, thanks for another great video.

[@doncoffey5820]

It’s a long way down from that bridge Kev, they’re not usually so high. We might get the avoiding line one day if we’re lucky. Take care.

[@joehedley6964]

just to add abit of trivia i worked at selby in 70s at the time it was largest field in britain and produced well over 1million tones a year and as usual another brilliantly informative video

[@doncoffey5820]

It was a vast coalfield Joe. It’s a pity I didn’t witness it in its heyday.

[@markscully2342]

I like to follow along on google maps (or whatever mapping site you prefer)and try to spot places I recognise from driving over and under these routes!

[@doncoffey5820]

A track atlas (Platform 5) is a good resource for doing that Mark.

[@pamt7740]

That was really interesting. I have driven in most of the areas you passed through. I had no idea Eggborough had closed!!! I drove past that regularly to see my son in North Yorkshire. I prefer the scenic routes to motorways. (Now I know where the lines I crossed over at Askern lead to lol). Did the return trip get photographed? That would be interesting. Really sad to see Doncaster works like that. Since the centre has been changed so much I don't go anymore. The one way system just baffles me so I stay away. Sometimes 'improvements' are not really improving at all!

[@doncoffey5820]

I know what you mean but I think it’s human nature to oppose change. The return trip didn’t get filmed because at the time the driver had the same GoPro overheating problems I had in the early days but he’s currently running round with an 8 and a new 9 of mine and he’s got some cracking footage for us. None out there though. I take it you’ve seen the Hull line videos that are not far away?

[@wirksworthsrailway]

Thank you Don, another tour de force. Or at least Tour de South Yorkshire!

[@doncoffey5820]

Your favourite spot on the footbridge at Disley Midland tonight 😉👍

[@TheDutchman92000]

Many thanks for a very informative video.

[@doncoffey5820]

My pleasure William.

[@12crepello]

I'm going to be very pedantic here but actually the longest railway tunnel in the UK is the Northern Line from East Finchley to Morden. I only say that because it caught me out on a railway quiz night some years ago!!

[@doncoffey5820]

I’m not sure that’s right. The longest to my knowledge is Severn and I suspect that one you are talking about is technically London Underground. Could be wrong, it wouldn’t be the first time. Long tunnels will transpire from HS2.

[@franklinbrooks9506]

Hello, Don! Would you believe I have now viewed this recording TWICE end to end? Personally, I enjoy the freight train videos much more than the passenger/commuter trips. Just something about the reduced speeds, slower acceleration, and not stopping at every station, I guess. I’m going to look up the one with the nearly 2000T mass now!

[@doncoffey5820]

I’ve got a lot, and I mean a lot more of videos like that to come. Keep an eye on the Facebook Group or the community page here for more news on them.

[@grahamsteele3645]

Thanks Don, love these, may I ask one thing, any chance of a 5 sec clip of the loco and ditto of the cab interior before you begin please, Graham Sydney Australia.

[@doncoffey5820]

It’s something I can’t do anything about Graham. Some operators will not approve me showing the cab interior for security reasons. Many videos show a like for like photo on the header but it depends if I’m there to film it. In many cases somebody supporting the channel sends it to me so in that case I can’t. I agree it would be helpful though.

[@davidjagger3475]

Nice video - brings back many memories as I lived very near to Drax, Eggborough, Whitley Bridge and Hensall. Not being critical but Knottingley is not a suburb or part of Wakefield (which is many miles west of Knottingley).

[@doncoffey5820]

Hi David. Glad it brought back memories - we might be doing the return journey of that. I believe Knottingley is politically a suburb of Wakefield. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knottingley

[@claudiobernardelli8855]

la ripresa è molto suggestiva !! e molto Bella! Claudio

[@doncoffey5820]

Sì, è un bel treno. Presto in arrivo altre merci.

[@seanfagan6022]

Who changes Points, Signals, Lights, and where from .? Is there a central area for the entire country ?.. Are the Points and Lights changed remotely Or by Cables? How do the Points operator know exactly where each train is at a given time.. In modern times there are multiple Electronic devices to keep track of trains BUT how did they keep up with the fleet of trains ?? It must be a very big job making the videos and then adding so much intriguing information which is the icing on the cake. There are so many details that one can lose out on seeing things of interest. Yes I know, One can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people most of the time BUT NEVER all of the people All of the time.. Thanks for all the hours of enjoyment while watching the Videos. Cheers, Sean.

[@doncoffey5820]

Hi Sean. Thanks for the kind words. The country will eventually be signalled via eight control centres but there are still a good number of local signal boxes open at the moment. The trains all carry head codes which identify the train and the routes so they can move them round the country accordingly.

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

At 33:42 site of Victoria Station should read Attercliffe Station. We're on the wrong line for the old Vic. (Apologies Don)

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks, I do know about it and there is a correction in the description 👍

[@admiralcraddock464]

During the early seventies I served part of my apprenticeship in Doncaster works, mainly in the Crimpsall shop. Amazing to be in there and hear a siren then look up to see a loco suspended on two overhead cranes floating over my head. Another i remember was seeing tyres fitted to the wheel sets. The tyre was heated in a pit then the wheel was lowered into it. When it had cooled the Gibson retaining ring was fitted aided by a fitter who wore wooden clogs kicking it into place. That foot bridge at1:00:00 was the entrance to the works from the other side of the station. On it was a timekeeper`s office and if you were more than 15 mins late you weren`t allowed in until lunchtime so you lost half a day`s wages. Conversely, you wre`nt allowed out during work time unless you had a ticket from your dept foreman. Finishing time was like a football match turning out. The work`s hooter would sounds and hundreds of men would run out of the workshops, if you stood still you were in danger of being trampled under foot!

[@doncoffey5820]

Like I said on the video, what wouldn’t most enthusiasts give to have a wander in there. I’m a mechanic by trade so I’m instinctively interested in such things. Thanks for the comments.

[@jameswingrove7421]

Great video. The place on the left next to Tinsley viaduct, is a place I once worked at, formerly Firth Rixson forgings. I machined parts for the aerospace industry there. Fun fact, the huge building that went up fairly recently has the third largest press of it’s kind in the world (look at 36:50 in the video), and it got mothballed after wasting £80 million or thereabouts. That was a past life, I now work at Doncaster Woodyard/UpDecoy as a shunter for DB Cargo. Hopefully one day, making it to be a driver, much like my old man. (He’s at TPE).

[@doncoffey5820]

Nice one James. I often take a 185 off the Sheffield guys and take it to the shed so hopefully see you one day.

[@HighlandMike325]

The first station is Hope Station not Edale, Don! Edale doesn't have a footbridge, you have to walk down under a roadbridge to cross platforms. Second station shown which is uncaptioned is Bamford, between Hope and Hathersage.

[@doncoffey5820]

It was a brain fart Mike. There is an amendment in the video description.

[@eastmidlandstrainspotter2014]

Great video I love class 66

[@fabriciovalente1705]

Cool! Cheers from Brazil mate

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks for watching Fabricio.

[@stevenjohnson2113]

Surely the site of Sheffield Victoria was actually Attercliffe Road.

[@doncoffey5820]

I can’t account for that error Steven, sometimes I get caught up in a subject during research then something sticks in my mind. I’ll put a correction in the description.

[@jon99t]

thanks Don for another good blog

[@doncoffey5820]

Cheers Jon.

[@michaelritchie5303]

I'm currently 1 hour and 20 minutes into this journey, following along on Google Earth. Just north of Norton and Walden Stubbs, I noticed an impossibly straight line on Google earth heading northeast. "An old defunct railway line?, I thought to myself" 10 seconds later my suspicions are confirmed by Don's commentary. This is why I love these videos.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thank you Michael. As well as a look into my industry I try to add a wide range of topics that might appeal to a wider audience and we are making money for charity as we go. Take care.

[@brettjones5041]

great trip for me mate .

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks as always Brett 👍

[@TheNorfolkThunderbolt]

Ooh! Looking forward to this one!

[@davidmiller6728]

very good video but that isn't the site of Sheffield Victoria Station which was on the Great Central line crossing over. The site was Attercliffe Road Station

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, correct. I believe there is a correction in the video description 👍

[@billsmith3195]

That was great. Thank you.

[@doncoffey5820]

Most welcome Bill.

[@drstrangelove4998]

A fab video, brilliant info along the way. Yeah, we have two centuries at least of coal next door, yet DRAX now takes bio-mass woodchips shipped half way around the world from California, and I thought we needed more trees, 🤦‍♂️

[@doncoffey5820]

Well we do but when you take into account that managed forests absorb huge amounts of CO2 prior to maturity, the whole process is carbon negative. Using local coal is not even close.

[@christianwall7181]

Thank you for another great video Don. I only discovered your channel during Lockdown, but I do wish I had found it earlier. As I have commented before, the effort you put in to make them very informative concerning operational matters and to highlight interesting bits of history and infrastructure is phenomenal. I do wonder how you received so little appreciation in the past - maybe the algorithms worked against you as it is baffling otherwise.

[@doncoffey5820]

That’s very kind Christian, thanks.

[@MrStabby19812]

Laughing at the dog peering down from the foot bridge

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, he’s got nearly all the 66s now 😉😂

[@nickthomson9320]

Hi there another great vid, is there anywhere i can learn about what the different aspect of signals mean.. Thanks

[@doncoffey5820]

Have a look through this Nick. www.jonroma.net/media/rail/opdocs/world/uk/RS521%20Iss%205.pdf

[@robertdamp5604]

The signlling aspect of the railway network I find to be a very thought out system , yet I guess in some cases it is difficult to see some off the lights well in time to act .

[@doncoffey5820]

The videos don’t do justice to real life. I can’t see the signals very well in the videos but I can in real life.

[@rickmeyrick4357]

Great stuff Don, a bit of a circuitous route but i'm sure that's just planning and route availability,Mk2's @Knotty were ace, could just see a rake of those through middle road @Donny ton up dragged by a Deltic, just like when i were a lad ?

[@doncoffey5820]

Going back a bit Rick 😉. They use routes like that to clear the main line and for route retention - during disruption they can be diverted.

[@Cletusongs]

Bit late to the comments so this might have been mentioned already, but I would think the two HS1 tunnel each side of Stratford International would be the longest?

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, I think I mentioned that HS2 tunnels will be longer.

[@4424ms]

At 23 minutes approxiximately a comment says idle speed changes with demand .... With an alternator the rotation speed is constant but the pitch (loudness) changes depending on the current (load) imposed at any one time by increased/decreased demand. Uphill, downhill or accelerating/decelerating.

[@doncoffey5820]

I think I’ve replied elsewhere but the idle speed varies in relation to compressor demand.

[@jayblake7005]

Super . That 66 has some grunt

[@doncoffey5820]

It does Jay.

[@undertheradar001]

Your class 66 videos are excellent!! My favourite class was the 37. Would there be any chance in future of seeing you drive a 37? There are so many workings inside these units like the old steam boiler which piped steam to the carriages of a passenger train; using the same heating system as the old steam engines used. I believe there are still around 300 of these power-houses still in service?

[@doncoffey5820]

The short answer is no, unless a friendly operator invites us. It all has to be organised and official Andrew but keep your fingers crossed.

[@MargrietSteinmetz]

Hallo from holland. I am very mocht enjoying this video and also many others like these. But i have a question. Is the station you mentioned in this video , some minutes after passing Sheffield , Attercliffe Road station ? I thought Sheffield Victoria was more to left on the line to Stocksbridge. Thanks sincerely , Hans Schenk

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, it is Hans. It was an error on my part because the map I was studying was labelled in an unclear way. There is a correction in the video description. Take care and thanks for commenting 👍

[@leathandrubb]

I LIVE IN ASKERN AND USED TO TRAIN SPOT AT SHAFTHOLME. I ALSO LIVE VERY NEAR MOSS CROSSING.

[@doncoffey5820]

You might like the Keyworker Express video which skirts Pontefract and there are some Hull line videos not too far away.

[@markisam6356]

On the short stretch of line from Denaby level crossing to Conisbrough Station there is an old house on the left right next to the tracks and a bridge just before the station these are known locally as Kilner House and Kilner bridge and are connected to the Kilner Glass factory which once stood where the new housing estate is being built this was a site that used to belong to Jeremy Clarkson's family and can be seen being investigated by him on the BBC show Who do you think you are?

[@doncoffey5820]

That’s really interesting Mark. I don’t think I’m covering that route again which is a pity or I’d put it in 👍

[@Synthematix]

I thought Drax was the villain in Moonraker lol

[@doncoffey5820]

Haha, several have said that and in fact it’s a sleepy little village in Yorkshire!!

[@m.moolhuysen5456]

Why does the LED junction indicator at 1:51:30 have such a peculiar light points pattern? From top left to lower right it 's a block of 3x3 points, followed by 4 points in a ├ shape, then another block of 3x3 points and a block of 6x3 points.

[@doncoffey5820]

It’s a good question but I simply don’t know. I wonder if it modular and they can make variations to it?

[@4424ms]

I accept that there maybe another condition with virtually no load when the engine (prime mover) goes into an idling mode.

[@doncoffey5820]

The reference I was making was to do with the compressor. When the train requires air, the computer ups the idle to drive the compressor. It’s not to do with the alternator 👍

[@Lennon6412]

Any chance you could do Sheffield to Lincoln or vice versa?

[@doncoffey5820]

Can’t promise anything until covid is well out of the way.

[@stevenaddie8317]

Good video don

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Steven.

[@rocketdyneF1]

Why are there signals between Knottingley and Drax that are unable to show double amber aspect?

[@doncoffey5820]

Whether they use three or four aspect signalling is down to line speed and train frequency. In that case, it simply doesn’t warrant four aspects.

[@bfapple]

33:42 Definitely not Victoria - isn’t this the former Attercliffe?

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, it was an error. There is an amendment in the video description.

[@gazzasb1]

Sadly the cooling towers at Eggborough are now all gone !

[@x91w]

Nice video. Pity it doesn't have the entry into Drax and the "automated" unloading of the biomas

[@doncoffey5820]

Hi Gerald, yes the footage did continue inside but we couldn’t identify the right people to ask permission so thought it prudent to leave it out. Our train just went under the first loading hopper for its flyash so you wouldn’t have seen much. Unlike the loading of the binliner I wasn’t actually there to film any external shots and with coronavirus that isn’t likely to change.

[@geoffhurrell8478]

Don, with regard to ‘Failed To Call’ - am I correct in believing that modern multiple units have computer displays that remind the driver of stopping points and timings? If so, does the driver have to programme the information in or does it come from a source external to the train?

[@doncoffey5820]

Depends on the unit. The 185s I drive knows the stops as soon as I enter the head code but we’re trained to ignore them in case they’re not always accurate. The newer trains are far more high tech and give timings as well as stops. The clever thing with both types is, if Control alter the schedule, the train automatically changes the destination blinds and the internal screens.

[@markylootube]

Do you wear Ear Protection to drive this loco or did I have turned up too much

[@doncoffey5820]

They can be uncomfortably load inside. One end is louder than the other too.

[@crusherbarny]

Does drax have its oen signal box?

[@doncoffey5820]

Kind of Ginge. It has a control room for movement inside the site then it hands trains back to Network Rail.

[@laszlofyre845]

'Edale station' is not Edale. IIRC it's Hope. Been 30 years since I worked over there, almost, but Edale it ain't; that's back in the other direction towards Cowburn Tunnel. Come on Don- can't let you sign it off!!

[@doncoffey5820]

I know, I know. Brain fart of some description.

[@rogerdorrington]

When learning a new route how many times on average does a driver need to travel it under supervision before 'passing out'? Watched this 4 times and miles from knowing it - even without all the Rule Book demands.

[@doncoffey5820]

Haha, good question Roger. The train companies risk assess each route and then decide how many trips are required. If a route has one or more “complex areas” with lots of possible routes and signals they up the quantity. This route is made up of several sub routes which our driver will have learned over the years. At Transpennine, I think we get 14 return trips from Piccadilly to York.

[@davidslack4334]

Excellent video, but I think you need to check a few facts on the benefits of biofuel wooden pellets and the carbon footprint associated with its procurement. You may be surprised!! It is not what it is proclaimed to be I'm afraid!

[@doncoffey5820]

It isn’t David, that was never in question. It is the whole process including the cultivation of young trees that makes it carbon negative. Renewable sources would be better but we can’t manage without Drax at the moment.

[@martynbreckenridge596]

What happens to the video at 52:47?

[@doncoffey5820]

I stop the footage to give time to see something at times Martyn.

[@alanmarsdenful]

The first station is Hope station not Edale as shown. Also the sight of Sheffield Victoria Station is not where mentioned in video. Not being critical, just for info. Great vid though

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Alan. I know about it but can’t edit it. There is an addendum in the video description 👍

[@sapper82]

An excellent video, but if you really believe that the biomass burning at Drax really is eco-friendly, then I've a\ battleship you might want to buy.

[@doncoffey5820]

How much do you want for it?

[@memofrf]

Our infrastructure

[@kevindobson8899]

the station was hope not edale

[@doncoffey5820]

I know but I can’t edit it now. I’m thoroughly shamed!!!

[@laszlofyre845]

Also, dear Viewers,- be aware that the biomass for Drax is imported. How many carbon miles for that? And note too that all the rampant tree growth these days (especially on railway embankments!!) unless used for something as it grows and is harvested, will by the very nature of things likely end up as coal millennia from now. so much for 'not renewable'! My arse!!!

[@doncoffey5820]

Non now😉. The large coal seams that are big enough to warrant mining come from forests and not embankments. The biomass for sure travels many miles but all that is taken into account. The fact is that the process when taken as a whole is carbon negative.