oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Does this help?
Prototype Tim Mills' Photos
- Thread starter oldravendale
- Start date
simond
Western Thunderer
Yes, it looks like the train is actually entering a loop, and there’s another track to the right.
according to the oracle that is Google AI, the GW installed their mileposts on the down side, (refers to SRS, whom I believe) and they measured from the Eastern boundary of Padd.
so we have a pair of goods loops in WR territory with a further line (siding?) on the down side, and the trap on the up line ends in a stub rather than the ballast. And it’s 72.5 or 172.5 miles from PDN.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Your 172.5 milepost is here just north of Shrewsbury.
Otherwise 72 miles puts you near Tackley on the line from Oxford to Anyho Junction which is just double track.
Otherwise 72 miles puts you near Tackley on the line from Oxford to Anyho Junction which is just double track.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
.Mike Walker
Western Thunderer
Google AI is wrong, GWR mileposts were/are on the Up side not Down. I agree with Yorkshire Dave, it's approaching Shrewsbury, They call it Coton Hill.
simond
Western Thunderer
That’s interesting, Mike. Had it not referenced the SRS, I’d have been far more suspicious. And, without checking, I’d have guessed Up side.
AI Overview
The Great Western Railway generally placed their mileposts on the Down side of the tracks (the side of the line carrying trains travelling away from London Paddington). However, there were occasional exceptions; for example, some sections had their posts specifically relocated to the Up side during track renewals in the mid-20th century. [1, 2, 3, 4]
I didn’t check the reference (lesson learned) because I can’t see where the up/down distinction is made on the link provided
So not only does AI publish unverified data, but it gives a credible source with no obvious link. It’s worse than I feared.
Attachments
AJC
Western Thunderer
So not only does AI publish unverified data, but it gives a credible source with no obvious link. It’s worse than I feared.
Yes, that's the intention - it's a feature of Large Language Models, not a bug (as intended, anyway, as used is another matter). All GenAi is hallucination in that it puts words together in ways it 'thinks' fits language use patterns without any recourse to fact. That's why its of next to no use for any form of historical enquiry - such as where the GWR put its mile posts. It's very good at 'inventing' credible looking sources; this is the bane of the teacher and editor's life. 'AI' can provide tools that do exciting things, which do help historical research, but only in specific and limited areas.
Anyway, to return to the photo - behind the raft of vans, there's something obviously 'special' some sort of Weltrol or something - @oldravendale, is there any chance of a blow up?
Adam
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
A sort of interim thanks to everyone for building such a complete background to this picture. I'll come back to that when I've analysed all the additional data - and I have some info which I believe confirms Dave @Yorkshire Dave 's proposal of the location.
However, in the meantime, here's the immediate response to Adam @AJC 's comment. I'm really uncertain how much it may help. The original slide is badly faded and the original scan is very blue and covered in dirt and hairs. However I've gone back to that and clipped a section to which I've applied an "Auto Levels" correction with no attempt to either correct the colour further or to clean up the dirt. Here it is:
Brian
However, in the meantime, here's the immediate response to Adam @AJC 's comment. I'm really uncertain how much it may help. The original slide is badly faded and the original scan is very blue and covered in dirt and hairs. However I've gone back to that and clipped a section to which I've applied an "Auto Levels" correction with no attempt to either correct the colour further or to clean up the dirt. Here it is:
Brian
AJC
Western Thunderer
Thanks Brian - a Flatrol with a fairly substantial structure on it and brake wheels at each end. One of these, perhaps?
Adam
BR Flatrol EG DB900043 Diag 2/527
The unique Flatrol EG which was RIV equipped for the ferries. Why it was painted grey I cannot explain, perhaps being equipped with through Westinghouse brake pipe but not vacuum brake it was considered to be unfitted?
paulbartlett.zenfolio.com
Adam
simond
Western Thunderer
AJC
Western Thunderer
Adam,
I liked your post, but I don’t like the Info therein. I rather fancied that if it gave a link, the link gave the data that the AI quoted. How foolish of me.
Back to the matter in hand, I agree with your Weltrol diagnosis, on the other hand
cheers
Simon
Simon,
Part of the appeal of it is this beguiling quality: it tells you what you want to hear. And that's lovely, but misleading. I like Weltrols, and I think you can get that particular type as a 3D print. Tempting.
Adam