My Train Journey This Morning

[gricerboy]

Actually, I think you'll find that it isn't.

No need for that. That's just churlish at the best of times but I'm certainly not taking it from some Johnny Come Lately with a post count of 11.

[Mich the Tester]

When will the Dutch railways discover the miracle of train heating?

Brrrr...cold.

[gricerboy]

Absolute disaster on Platform 1 of WSM station this morning. As the result of a slightly longer than usual queue at the Wild Bean Cafe,
I didn't have time to remove my banana suit before heading for the train and had to make a mad dash for coach D desparately clutching my Fairtrade Roobois tea. Owing to the strictures of the lower portion of the banana suit, I looked like a horse doing the dressage in my cross platform migration, much to the amusement of my fellow commuters. Then, once on board, I realised that my Sou'wester had fallen off whilst traversing the platform and I had to do the whole dressage routine in reverse in order to retrieve it, once again provoking much mirth among my fellow passengers. I will have the last laugh. You mark my words, I will.

[minestrone]

WTF is a banana suit?

[MrMark]

This is a great thread, very entertaining. Thank you Gricerboy.

[gricerboy]

WTF is a banana suit?

A banana suit is a waterproof, semi dirigible item of apparel designed specifically for the recumbent bicycle. Owing to a closer juxtapositioning of the crural appendages during the act of peddling a recumbent compared to the act of peddling an upright, the suit is more constrictive in its lower reaches hence having a debilitating effect on the act of perambulation.

Hope this helps.

[minestrone]

A banana suit is a waterproof, semi dirigible item of apparel designed specifically for the recumbent bicycle. Owing to a closer juxtapositioning of the crural appendages during the act of peddling a recumbent compared to the act of peddling an upright, the suit is more constrictive in its lower reaches hence having a debilitating effect on the act of perambulation.

Hope this helps.

Does it look like this...

[gricerboy]

Does it look like this...

Not exactly. There are some differences; the suit extends all the way to the crural appendages and there is not integral head covering. I use a separate sou'wester to this effect.

[gricerboy]

I'm not entirely sure why, maybe it's the madness setting in, but earlier today I had a thought:
I'm aware that first generation DMUs were a lot more flexible in their formations; with any number of different combinations of various trailers and driving vehicles and unit lengths; when compared to current DMUs in service, which nowadays are fitted with complex computer wizardry that means the train goes and sulks in a corner if you try and add or take away carriages.

So I was just thinking, was it/is it possible to strengthen a first generation DMU, like a class 101 or 108, with the likes of a mark 1 carriage acting as a trailer? Say adding a TSO, or maybe if there was a need for catering facilities, a full kitchen or mini buffet: Would this work? Or would there be issues with the gangway connections, or power for the lighting, etc, with a standard carriage in the formation?

Any answers anyone?

[Mich the Tester]

10 minutes delay, old fashioned 'koploper' intercity; cold, but fit milfs next to me and opposite me warmed the cockles of my heart.