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Difference between revisions of "Rail travel in the United Kingdom"
Revision as of 22:34, 15 March 2013
This article is a travel topic
With around 34,000km (21,000 miles) of lines, the National Rail passenger network of the United Kingdom is one of the densest and most used railway networks in the world; it is certainly not a niche market method of transport.
The official map can be found here: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3828.aspx
The UK gave birth to the railway, with the first passenger services (between Stockton and Darlington in north-east England) and first steam locomotives developed there from the 1820s. This means the network is the oldest in the world. Most was constructed in the 19th century in massive civil engineering projects, many of which are now iconic (such as the Forth Bridge) and noted for their elegance as well as being major feats of engineering. Although some parts are relatively Victorian and can be inefficient, there has been significant investment in recent years.
Train travel is very popular in Britain - most services are now very busy; passenger numbers have been rising steadily, with passenger usage now as great as it was sixty years ago. There are nearly 1.5 billion (1,500 million) passenger journeys made each year, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GBR_rail_passenegers_by_year.gif) compared with the 35 million of the United States which has a population five times the greater.
It is one of the fastest, most comfortable, convenient and enjoyable ways to explore Britain and by far the best way to travel inter-city. From High Speed 1, which connects London to Kent and mainland Europe, to preserved railways operating historic steam trains through idyllic countryside, to modern inter-city services and the breathtakingly scenic lines of Scotland, the train can be an enthralling and affordable way to see all that the UK has to offer.
Brtish television is replete (almost nightly) with TV programmes either celebrating, denigrating, or analysing the railway network of today.
All infrastructure (e.g. track, bridges, stations etc.) is owned by the state while trains are operated by private companies (usually multinational transport companies) which bid for particular franchises. The system is tightly controlled by the national and devolved governments in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff which heavily subsidise it. Despite a highly controversial and damaging privatisation in the mid 1990s which resulted in the running of the system being split up into dozens of different organsations, the network provides seamless journeys even if travelling on various company's trains - tickets can be purchased from any station in Great Britain to any other, irrespective of train company. The National Rail website provides timetables and a journey planner at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/.
The award-winning National Railway Museum [1] at York tells the story of Britain's railways and how they changed society from the 19th century to today, with many historic and record-setting locomotives, rolling stock and other exhibits. Admission is free.
This guide does not cover rail travel in Northern Ireland, which operates its own state-owned system called Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) which is separate and even uses a different track gauge (the Irish gauge). NIR is owned and controlled by the government of the Northern Irish Executive in Belfast. It is well-integrated with local and provincial bus services operated by Translink [2] and trains in the Republic of Ireland operated by Iarnród Éireann [3]. For more details on rail travel in Northern Ireland, see Rail travel in Ireland.
The ownership and structure is complex, but you won't notice when making a journey, although it may be discussed in the media (complaints about the service feature often in the news). The track, stations and infrastructure (except for preserved railways) are owned and maintained by Network Rail, a "not for dividend" company limited by guarantee and owned by the government. Basically this means the infrastructure is all state-owned.
Trains to be run are specified by the government and operated by commercial train companies, known as Train operating companies (TOCs). These lease or own rolling stock to run the passenger services demanded in their franchise contracts. Companies compete to win franchises for a certain number of years. Their continued permission to operate, or ability to win extensions or future franchises, depends on factors including value-for-money, performance and customer satisfaction. Government officials and transport ministers play a heavy role in the process.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) represents all the passenger train companies, and markets them collectively as National Rail. National Rail has inherited the iconic white-on-red "double-arrow" logo (see illustration) first used by British Rail, the former state-owned railway operator which was privatised in the 1990s (although the infrastructure was re-nationalised in the early 2000s). The iconic logo is used extensively to signify a railway station and on road signs, maps, tickets and other places.
Passenger Rail Companies
Some train operating companies cover a particular geographical region, while others operate inter-city lines which pass through various regions. As of May 2012, the National Rail [4] network of passenger operating companies consists of the following companies. All are private commercial organisations (mostly subsidiaries of global transport companies like FirstGroup, Stagecoach, Arriva and Virgin), except for East Coast which is state-owned but operated commercially.
Historical Background
The world's first public railway opened between Stockton and Darlington in north-east England in 1825, marking the start of a railway-building boom. Most railways in Britain were built by private companies in search of profit; dozens of small companies ran local lines, merged and took over each other, as others entered the market. By the mid-19th century, these had grown into a national railway network. In the 1920s, the government decreed they all merge into the four large companies that are best known today: the Southern Railway, London and North-Eastern Railway (LNER), London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) and Great Western. What followed was a "golden age" of speed records, iconic locomotives such as Flying Scotsman and images of the train as an elegant yet everyday form of travel (you'll see modern train company names harking back to this golden age). Following World War 2, in which most of the infrastructure was worn down on war duties, damaged or destroyed by bombing raids, the government nationalised all railways in 1948. The resulting state-owned British Rail ran trains for nearly fifty years, during a time of change when steam was replaced by diesel and electric, large numbers of unprofitable lines were closed in the "Beeching Axe" as the age of the car arrived, line speeds increased, and the now-iconic double-arrow logo came to symbolise the railway network and the presence of a station.
British Rail's (and now National Rail's) double-arrow logo and associated typeface of the 1960s are recognised as design classics of the period (unlike almost anything else British Rail did) but are only one of many achievements of design and engineering accomplished by railway companies in Britain. In the 19th century, majestic stations such as London St. Pancras, Kings Cross, Paddington and Liverpool Street were erected by railway companies. These "rail cathedrals" symbolised the success of the companies who built them and the places their lines ran through (e.g. the Midland bricks of which St. Pancras is constructed). Iconic bridges and viaducts of the Victorian era such as the Forth Bridge have come to symbolise the regions they run through. In the 1920s and 30s, streamlined locomotives such as Mallard became symbols of modernity which now symbolise the zenith of UK rail travel, while railway travel posters between the 1930s and 1950s pioneered a style of art which showcased Britain at its most attractive.
Despite the lows of the Beeching era in the 1960s, British Rail rebounded in the 1970s and '80s as it fought back against the new motorways. The state-owned corporation developed a new unified brand for its long distance express services known as Inter-City, and this, along with electrification of the two main line routes from London to Scotland and new, high technology rolling stock saw a boom in patronage that in turn safeguarded the loss making regional routes and remaining branch lines from closure. However, decline and neglect were still very evident throughout the system as it suffered from a lack of investment from government. With the political climate of the time favouring private operation of public services, it was inevitable that the network would be moved from state control to the private sector.Following a badly-conceived privatisation in the mid 1990s, the network was fragmented with different companies running track, rolling stock, and dozens of small companies operating trains but with heavy government intervention, subsidy and control of the system.
Most Scenic Routes
Many lines cut through spectacular British countryside and run along dramatic coasts, particularly in Scotland, Wales and the north and south-west of England. In many places, elegant Victorian viaducts and bridges add to (rather than detract from) the beauty of the natural landscape. Of the many such scenic routes, here are a few that are part of the National Rail network and provide a transport service to the communities along the route, as well as attracting tourists. Preserved and heritage railways operate others (usually by steam train) in gorgeous countryside (see section below on preserved railways).
Most of the services on these routes are run by modern diesel multiple units or HSTs, however, regular steam and heritage diesel hauled charters run across the network for which tickets can be purchased from the operator. Please note "regular" train tickets are not valid on these services and tickets normally have to be booked in advance. Occasionally tickets maybe available on the day but this should not be relied on. Try [36] for more information on steam tours or [37] for heritage diesel tours (includes some that are part steam hauled).
An achievement of British Rail which is still in place today is that you can purchase a through-ticket from any station in Great Britain to any other station, including whatever changes of train, train companies or even London Underground connections are needed. It must be noted however that whilst individual companies may offer very cheap tickets for their own services, a through ticket (using different companies' trains) may often be very expensive - for the same journey. The British often travel with several tickets (using different companies) to avoid the high "one ticket" fare.
In the United Kingdom (and elsewhere in Europe) a 200 mile, even a 100 mile, journey is considered "long distance." In the United Kingdom these long distance trains run at some of the highest frequencies in the world. For example, trains between Manchester and London run at least twice an hour. In the South East of England (South of London in particular) many routes (for example London to Brighton) run at frequencies close to those of subways in major cities elsewhere in the world. In other areas even many of the smallest towns have a frequency of long distance rail service which surprises many visitors from North America. Anything less than an hourly service during the day is regarded as low frequency.
The days of "checked baggage" (that is, suitcases and such like) which is still common in North America, are long gone in the United Kingdom. Neither has baggage (and parcels) been sent apart from the passenger since the 1970s.
Most inter-city services travel at 200km/h (125mph), even on non-electrified lines. Britain was the first country to introduce high-speed diesel services in the 1970s (using InterCity 125 trains that, refurbished, are still a mainstay of some routes today). Unlike some countries, high-speed services do not cost more than others, except for the trains running on the new High Speed 1 from London St. Pancras to stations in Kent. Here you pay higher fares than slower services that don't use the high-speed line and there are no cheaper Advance or Off-Peak tickets. Away from the inter-city lines, speeds are up to 160km/h (100mph) on main lines and less on more minor routes.
On non-inter-city services (especially in South-East England), you may hear the term fast, as in the following announcement: "Calling at Sevenoaks, Petts Wood, Bromley South, then fast to London Victoria". This does not refer to speed - it means non-stop. So the train in the above announcement would miss out the many stations between Bromley South and London Victoria. A "fast" service is non-stop, while "semi-fast" means calling at only certain stations.
Classes of Travel
Two classes operate: standard class and 1st class. Commuter trains and some local services offer standard class only. Unlike in the rest of Europe 1st class travel is not considered by ordinary (non-business) users as a "treat" worth taking, as it is usually incredibly expensive. Certain companies, however, offer a special deal where at certain (off-peak) times First class travel is available for a small supplement.
In both 1st and standard class, most trains also provide:
Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking is illegal on board trains in Great Britain (and in fact in any enclosed public place as part of the British smoking ban laws) and trains are fitted with smoke alarms, including in toilets. If you are seen smoking, train staff will arrange for the railway police - the British Transport Police - to be waiting at the next station and you will be arrested and taken away. Note that smoking is also illegal on station platforms, although at smaller or rural stations it is generally ignored if you smoke in the open air as far as possible from the main waiting area.
Alcohol in open containers (i.e. opened cans or bottles, not stowed out of sight) is not permitted on any station, but it is onboard trains. Be careful, as although this rule is only enforced at major stations, you will have the drink confiscated and you are liable to a hefty fine. However, in Scotland on trains operated by ScotRail from 20th July 2012, it is illegal to be in possession of alcohol or consume alcohol after 9pm or in the morning (before 10am). This ruling does not apply to the Caledonian Sleeper Service. It is also illegal to travel on a train while drunk. This is part of a Scottish Government crackdown on alcohol-fueled anti-social behaviour [38]. Passengers seen with alcohol during these times or who appear to be drunk at any time are liable to be arrested by British Transport Police officers at the next station.
Rural Services
On some rural, local services (particularly in Wales, Scotland and the south-west of England), some smaller stations are request ("flag stop") stations (this will normally be indicated on the schedule as well as announced on the public-address system). If boarding at a request stop, the train will slow down and sound its horn - if you wish to board the train then raise your arm so that the driver can see you. If you wish to alight at a request stop, you should notify the conductor as to which station you wish to get off at and he will signal the driver to stop.
Regional, Local and Commuter Lines
A vast network of lines provide services between towns and cities of regional importance (e.g. Liverpool - Manchester), local services (e.g. Settle - Carlisle) and commuter services around many major cities (the network is particularly dense around London, Manchester, Leeds/Bradford, Glasgow, Birmingham and Liverpool). Most towns and all cities of interest or importance can be reached by rail, or by rail and a connecting bus link (e.g. a bus service connects Leuchars Station with St Andrews). It's worth trying the journey planner on the National Rail website [39]] to see if a place you're interested in is served (see section on Planning your Trip below).
Inter-City Lines
The inter-city network developed out of six historic mainlines. Line speed is up to 200km/h (125mph), but is 225km/h (140mph) for High Speed 1, 175km/h (110mph) for the Midland Main Line and 160km/h (100mph) for the Great Eastern line. All inter-city lines connect to London at one end, except for the Cross-Country Route. There are numerous stations in London, with each mainline terminating there calling at a different station (e.g. Paddington, King's Cross, St. Pancras, Euston, etc.)
Sleeper trains
There are three scheduled sleeper trains in Britain that operate every night (except Saturday) in each direction. Travelling more slowly than their equivalent day time trains, they offer a comfortable means of overnight travel. All feature a lounge car that is open to passengers booked in berths (although on busy nights ScotRail sometimes restrict access to the lounge car to first-class passengers only). A buffet service of food and drinks is available in the lounge car, offering affordable snacks and beverages in retro surroundings reminiscent of 1970s British Rail.
London to Scotland
ScotRail [40] operate two Caledonian Sleeper routes, with each train dividing/joining en route to serve multiple destinations in Scotland.
Reservations on ScotRail sleepers are compulsory, and supplements may be payable on top of the basic fare to reserve a berth. Reclining seats don't require a supplement, nor do special advance-purchase tickets known as Bargain Berths, priced at £19, £29, £39 or £49 depending on destination and availability. They are only available from ScotRail's website [41] and sell out fast (book well in advance for these).
Caledonian Sleepers offer three kinds of accommodation:
London to Penzance
First Great Western [42] operate the The Night Riviera, which travels along a single route from London Paddington to Plymouth, Devon and Penzance, Cornwall, calling at numerous intermediate stations. Reservations on First Great Western sleepers are mandatory, and supplements are payable on top of the basic fare to reserve a berth. The Night Riviera offers three kinds of accommodation:
Planning your trip
The National Rail timetable is still published in printed paper form (and is also available free on line in pdf format: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3828.aspx) along with the most accurate and detailed maps. In printed format this timetable is some four inches in thickness amounting to many thousands of pages.
The best source of information is the National Rail website at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/. It has a very useful journey planner, gives live updates for all stations, has station information and plans, ticket information, as well as a useful Cheapest Fare Finder. Most of these services are also available by telephone from the National Rail Enquiries phone service on +44 845 748 4950. The National Rail website gives prices but does not sell tickets (however it will link to a choice of several websites which do). Among the train operators' websites, a useful one for planning travel and buying tickets is:
Various independent train booking websites also exist, but often charge unavoidable additional fees (e.g. for booking, using a debit card, using a credit card, receiving tickets by post or collecting them at the station).
Buying Tickets
A feature of the network is that you can purchase a through-ticket from any one station to any other in Great Britain, regardless of which or how many train companies you will need to travel on. NOTE: Some tickets are only valid for travel with a particular train operator, if this is the case it will expicitly state this on the ticket. You buy tickets at station ticket offices or ticket machines (bear in mind that smaller stations may have no ticket office and very minor ones will not have a machine). Alternatively, more and more travellers buy from one of the train company's websites, all of which have a journey planner and sell tickets for all services, not just their own. If you buy on a website such as thetrainline.com or East Coast's website or one of the other companies listed in the Passenger Rail Companies section above, you can have tickets sent to you by mail (if you live in the UK) or you can pick them up at any station you specify that has an automated ticket machine. If you are collecting tickets from a machine, you need the bank card used to purchase them plus the confirmation number. If you have forgotten the number, it is usually included with the confirmation e-mail. Some websites (such as those linked to above) also allow you to print the ticket at home on your printer on regular paper.
A ticket does not guarantee a seat unless you also have a seat reservation. Depending on ticket type and train company, this may come automatically with the ticket or you may be asked if you wish to reserve a seat - ask if you are unsure. Some trains (mostly local and commuter services) do not permit seat reservations. If you have no seat reservation, you may have to stand if the train is busy.
Ticket types
Tickets come in three types. You can usually book up to three months in advance and the further in advance you book, the less expensive tickets are. You can choose between flexibility (generally move expensive) and value (less or no flexibility), similar to an airline.
Off-peak times are usually any time after 9.30am and all weekends and public holidays, although some companies around London also have a weekday afternoon peak (16:30-18:30). Services are much more expensive outside these off-peak times. There can be exceptions for when Off-Peak tickets aren't valid, which vary by train company - if so these will usually be explained by posters at the station or the train company's website. If you are in any doubt about the validity of an Off-Peak ticket, ask a member of staff at the station or a ticket office before getting on a train, as ticket inspectors on board the train can be unforgiving. In increasing order of cost, tickets are classed as:
Advance tickets are only sold as single (one-way) tickets. To make a return journey, simply purchase two singles. Off-Peak and Anytime tickets are available as single or return. With the exception of some suburban and commuter trains, the cheapest fares are almost always Advance tickets. These are released for sale in limited numbers approximately 12 weeks in advance, and can only be used on the train specified on the reservation. If you travel on any other train or the wrong train, you will be charged an expensive full-price ticket or a penalty fare. If you cannot pay it straight away you will be thrown off at the next station. To check how far ahead 'Advance' tickets are available, visit National Rail's "Booking Horizons" page [47]. If you have not booked in advance, short-distance travel is still affordable if you buy on the day of travel, but if you try to buy longer-distance tickets on the day (e.g. London-Scotland) make sure your budget is prepared for truly eye-popping fares.
When purchasing a less restricted off-peak or anytime ticket, note that return fares are normally only a small amount more than a single (one-way ticket).
Discounts are available for:
The most widely used system of discounts on National Rail are Railcards. These provide a discount of 1/3 off nearly any off-peak ticket (although a minimum fare is charged for short journeys below a certain ticket price). Railcards can be purchased from any station ticket office (after completing a form and providing of proof of eligibility and a photograph) or online from http://www.railcard.co.uk/. Although these are primarily intended for British citizens, the discounts offered makes them useful for visitors to Britain who plan to travel a lot by train.
Season tickets
Rail passes
There are two principal types of rail pass available to visitors to the UK which permit inclusive rail travel throughout the UK. Supplements are normally payable for Eurostar (international) and sleeper trains.
Ranger & Rover tickets
A relic of the nationalised British Rail era, Ranger and Rover tickets are tickets that permit unlimited travel with relatively few restrictions over a defined geographical area for a period of anything from one to fourteen days. There are numerous regions available, with a full list of tickets (with their terms and conditions) on National Rail's page [53]. These tickets include Rovers for almost every region of the UK, but notable tickets include:
Ticket add-ons
Using the train
The National Rail [54] website along with overall detailed maps, has an information page for every railway station in Britain (however minor), with details of access , facilities, ticket office opening hours and recommended connection times. Also Wikipedia has detailed information regarding every British station. The 'live' Departures & Arrivals screen for every station can also be viewed online, with up-to-the-minute train running information.
At the station
If you are unfamiliar with your journey, arrive at the station with time to spare. Stations in Britain are often architecturally significant, so if you are early, take the time to look around. Most stations have electronic departure screens listing trains in order of departure, platform, any delay, stations called at and the train operating company. At small or rural stations without electronic displays, signs will indicate which platform to wait on for trains to your destination. Platforms may not be announced until a few minutes before the train is due to depart, and can sometimes change if the train is delayed. Listen for audio announcements. Many stations now use automated subway-style ticket barriers - you insert your ticket which opens the barrier, and your ticket is returned. Platform staff are always in attendance with these barriers and can also advise where to stand if you are travelling with a bicycle.
British trains do not have publicly announced numbers; they are identified at each station by their departure time (using the 24-hour clock) and destination (eg. "The 14:15 to Manchester Piccadilly"). Only a few carry names, such as "The Flying Scotsman" between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh and "The Northern Lights" between London Kings Cross and Aberdeen.
Boarding the train
If you have a seat reservation, watch the outside of the train as it arrives for your coach number (some major stations will have signs on the platform telling you where to wait). Coach A may be at the front or back of the train (depending on direction it's travelling in), and some letters may not be included. Most trains have power-operated doors, however you must press a button to open it, and they close automatically when the train leaves. If the weather is cold and you are the last person to board, it is polite to press the 'close door' button to prevent cold weather coming in. On older trains with manual doors (particularly sleeper carriages and InterCity 125 trains), you open the door from the outside by pulling the handle downwards and pulling the door open. Close the door behind you and make sure it shuts properly (the handle will return to a horizontal position). When getting off, slide down the window and open the door with the external handle (having no internal handle is a safety feature aimed to prevent doors being opened with the train moving).
Finding your Seat
Seat reservations are marked either with paper tags on the headrest or an electronic display above the window, as well as on your reservation ticket. Usually not all seats are reserved unless the train is very busy - if a seat has no tag, it is unreserved and any ticket-holder can sit there. However, remember that unless you also have a seat reservation, your ticket does not guarantee you a seat. The reservation tag or display at each seat will specify the stations between which the seat is reserved (e.g. "DUNDEE - YORK"). If you do not have a reservation and all the seats appear to be reserved, look for one where the reservation starts at a station the train has not reached yet (and be prepared to move seats when it reaches there), or where the reservation ends at a station already called at.
Keep your ticket and any reservation, pass and/or railcard with you when you move about the train (e.g. to go to the toilet or buffet car), as you may be asked to show it by the train guard or ticket inspector. It is also likely that you will need it to exit the platform at your destination station, because subway-style ticket barriers are in use at many stations. If you cannot find your ticket at one of these, you will be in big trouble and liable to a hefty penalty plus the cost of a new full ticket. So don't throw away your ticket!
Station stops are normally announced over the public address system or on scrolling electronic displays in the carriage.
Travelling with Luggage
Different trains vary in how much luggage space they provide. Nearly all trains (including all inter-city ones) have overhead racks suitable for small items like a small rucksack, briefcase, laptop bag, or other small luggage. Inter-city and regional trains have luggage racks suitable for larger suitcases. However, these luggage racks fill up quickly and on long-distance services there is usually not enough space for everyone, so board the train as early as you can to get a space. If you cannot get a space in the racks, and re-arranging the items there doesn't help, you may have to squeeze your luggage into any space you can find. This may be in the vestibule space and the ends of each carriage. Train staff do not tolerate luggage blocking aisles and doorways (this is dangerous in an emergency) and in extreme cases if it is an obstruction it may simply be dumped on the platform at the next stop. Theft of unattended luggage can be an issue so keep a close eye on yours.
There are approximately 2,600 railway stations throughout the UK, excluding urban rapid transit systems like the London Underground, Glasgow Subway, Tyne and Wear Metro and the Docklands Light Railway. All stations belong to the state-owned Network Rail, who also manage day-to-day operation of the major stations (which comprises almost all of the central London terminals and those in major cities - such as Birmingham New Street or Edinburgh Waverley). Others are leased to the train operating company running most of the services there, who are responsible for the operation, upkeep and staffing of the station. Stations vary in their facilities (see information on the National Rail website) but you are likely to have difficulty finding a rubbish bin/trash can at major stations due to the risk of terrorism.
Most stations are located in the centre of their respective town or city, or within walking distance. However, a station ending in Parkway (e.g. Bristol Parkway, East Midlands Parkway) means it is located far from the city/town centre, often in a distant suburb or even in the middle of nowhere. Usually there is a large car park so commuters can drive to it and then take the train to the city centre. Do not get off at a Parkway station if your destination is the city centre - for example, you would get off at Bristol Temple Meads and not Bristol Parkway - although it must be noted that Bristol Parkway is unusual as it does in fact have a rail connection to the city centre station in Bristol. An exception is if you are connecting to a bus service to an onward destination. For example, shuttle buses run from Luton Airport Parkway to Luton Airport. Another common idosyncracy is that some towns have two separate stations on completely unconnected routes - a trait of the network's early development when feuding rival companies competed to build duplicate routes, and something the Beeching reforms of the 1960s often didn't (or couldn't) resolve - the best example of this being London's massive St. Pancras and King's Cross stations which were built side-by-side by two competing Victorian railway companies literally trying to out-do each other.
Major stations of London
When making a journey that involves a connection between London stations, a through ticket will normally allow connecting travel on London Underground services. In the 19th century it was made illegal to build railway termini too close to the centre of London as it was thought this would put historic buildings at risk. As a result, most were built in a ring which at that time was just outside the centre, but following London's expansion in the 19th and 20th century, is very much within it. Bold type indicates a terminus station; most London stations are termini as only a few lines cross the capital.
Major regional stations
Outside London, National Rail [55] list the following as major connecting stations, where passengers most often need to change trains on multi-leg journeys.
Trains and Rolling Stock
Most trains are modern, comfortable and accessible to people with disabilities. Following major investment in the past ten years, all are fairly new or have been comprehensively refurbished within that time. You won't see many traditional locomotives pulling passenger trains (unless you travel on one of the sleeper trains), as most services are now operated by multiple-units, or else the locomotive(s) is permanently integrated into a specially-designed train such as InterCity 125 or InterCity 225. With about one-third of track electrified, diesel trains are common (including on inter-city services) but the same top speeds are usually achieved regardless of power source. British trains have a class number but most refer to them by the name (e.g. "I was on one of those Pendolinos today"). This section gives an orientation to the trains you're most likely to need to use and what you can expect. There are more classes which are less common, particularly of electric multiple-unit trains on local and regional services.
Inter-city services
Inter-city trains in the UK usually travel at 125mph and tend to have the most facilities, including wireless internet access, and often a buffet or even on-board shop. Some inter-city services (e.g. between cities in Scotland) use Turbostar trains which are described in the regional section below.
InterCity 125
Also often known as "HST", InterCity 125 are found frequently all over Great Britain on many train companies' long-distance and inter-city services, from northern Scotland to London and the far south-west of England, including East Coast services that go north of Edinburgh and most inter-city Great Western services, among others. One of British Rail's few major successes, they introduced 125mph (200km/h) diesel service in the late 1970s and set speed records for a diesel train. All are still in service today, primarily due to the excellent design. While you need to open the doors using a handle (there is no handle inside so to get off you slide down the window and reach out), all have been comprehensively renovated in the last few years and are basically all-new inside. They have more luggage storage than most, with a large rack and toilet at each end of the 8 or 9 carriages. All have a quiet coach and most also have plug-points for recharging laptops/mobile phones and a useful buffet car serving hot and cold food and beverages.
InterCity 225Leeds or Edinburgh, you will likely be on one of these electric trains introduced in 1990. They were designed for 140mph (225km/h) but the signalling was never completed so are limited to the line's speed limit of 125mph. All InterCity 225 have recently been comprehensively refurbished and have power-operated doors, a buffet car with hot and cold food and drinks, plug-points and comfortable seats (many of which have large tables good for families or groups). Coach B is the Quiet Coach. There are big luggage racks similar to InterCity 125, but they still fill up quickly so board as early as you can.
Voyager and Super Voyager
Regional, local and commuter services
These are the electric version of the Turbostar, and are similar inside. They were introduced in the past ten years to replace hoardes of elderly units in the south and south-east of England. Class 357, 375, 376 and 377 Electrostar trains operate regional and commuter services there and like Turbostar can reach 100mph (160km/h) but with faster acceleration (being electric). As with them, there is usually a trolley service but luggage space is not as much as an inter-city train.
Sprinter and SuperSprinter
These classes form a family of diesel multiple-units introduced in the 1980s (the Express Sprinter is the final development of this family). Class 150 Sprinter trains are used for local services or rural lines, with Classes 153 to 156 SuperSprinter being more sophisticated, comfortable and suitable for longer routes (e.g. the scenic West Highland Line) and all reach 75mph (120km/h). They do not usually have air conditioning, but this is not a problem for much of the year in Britain anyway and they are designed for shorter-distance services.
These electric multiple-unit trains (classes 356, 465 and 466) were introduced in the early 1990s. Class 365 Networker operates services up to 100mph in the east of England (for First Capital Connect), with comfortable surroundings, air conditioning, etc. New upholstery has been installed recently. The others are used on local and commuter lines south of London and can reach 75mph (120km/h) using the third-rail, with higher-density seating and resilient floors rather than carpets. You may also find the diesel versions, Class 165 and 166 Network Turbo, on services running west of London.
Until recently, all rolling stock was built in the UK, but recently Siemens (of Germany) have been building large numbers of new trains which are then shipped across. Legions of various classes of Siemens Desiro are now used throughout the country on electrified lines (mostly in the Midlands around Birmingham and the south of England such as services to Hampshire), reaching up to 100mph (160km/h), and a slightly different-looking diesel variant is used on TransPennine Express services. They all tend to have very fast acceleration (you really will need to hold on tight if you're standing), plus air conditioning, carpets and electronic information systems.
The Class 142, 143 and 144 Pacer were designed in the 1980s to provide an economical alternative to locomotive-hauled trains on lightly-used and rural lines at up to 75mph (120km/h), rather than closing entire unprofitable lines. You'll see them often on local services, particularly in the north of England, and they may remind you of a bus. This is because much of the bodyshell uses bus components to save money and development time. Most Pacers have recently been refurbished and are much more comfortable inside than before, although more basic than others as they are designed for short-distance services.
Heritage and Steam Railways
Following the large-scale line closures and withdrawal of steam locomotives in the 1960s, enthusiasts began to band together to re-open lines as tourist attractions, using surplus or historic steam locomotives and vintage rolling stock. You can visit literally dozens of these, all over Great Britain, and they are popular for a day out. Some run full-size trains, others (such as the Ffestiniog Railway in Gwynedd, Wales) use a narrow gauge, while others (such as the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in Kent) are complete miniature systems with tiny steam locomotives. The most up-to-date list is on the Wikipedia article [56]. While most operate steam trains, some also use heritage diesel locomotives or diesel railcars. Of the many such heritage lines, prominent ones include:
International connections
London St. Pancras is the terminus for Eurostar high-speed trains to Lille, Brussels, Paris and seasonal French destinations such as Avignon (Summer Service) and the Alps (Winter Service). Connections to many major European cities can be made in Lille, Brussels, Paris, and through tickets are available from Eurostar [57], RailEurope [58] and staffed ticket offices to European destinations.
Airports with railway stations
Most airports without integrated rail services offer a bus connection to the nearest station.
Seaports with railway stations
Through tickets are available from any UK railway station to any station in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. In the west of Scotland, rail and ferry timetables are often integrated, and through tickets are available. For details of routes and fares, contact SailRail [59] or National Rail [60].
Stay safe
The railway network has a low crime rate, but you do have to use common sense. The most common incident is theft of unsupervised luggage. If travelling with bags, keep them within sight, especially during station stops if your bags are in racks near the doors of the carriage. The UK (except Northern Ireland) operates a railway police called the British Transport Police (BTP), and you may see signs for them at major stations. They are responsible for the policing of trains, stations and railway property. In an emergency all emergency services including the BTP can be contacted by dialing 999 or 112 from any telephone or mobile phone (these work even if you have no calling credit or the keypad is locked). If you wish to contact the British Transport Police themselves and it is not an immediate emergency, dial 0845 440 5040.
Due to the UK's history of terrorist incidents, unattended luggage is treated by the authorities as a potential explosive device and may be destroyed by controlled explosion. You may hear announcements asking people not to leave bags unattended. Unattended bags can and do lead to closure of entire stations (particularly in London) while a bomb squad investigates and carries out a controlled explosion. Posters often ask passengers to keep a sharp eye for and report any unattended bags straightaway.
Safety of rail travel in Britain is high with a low rate of accidents. After privatisation in the 1990s, the accident rate increased for some years. Inquiries found this was due to cost-cutting and profiteering by the private owners of the infrastructure and their subcontractors and this was one factor leading to the re-nationalisation of infrastructure in the 2000s. Since then, safety has improved massively and there have been very few major accidents in recent years. All trains display safety information posters on board, telling you what to do in the event of an emergency. The simplest advice is that unless your personal safety is threatened, you are always safer on the train than if you try to leave it.
In the event of an emergency
Should there be an emergency, such as fire or accident to the train...
If an evacuation of a train is ordered by train crew, instructions will be given. Most carriages have specific windows that can be broken or pushed open for emergency escape.
A conductor or guard is present on most trains. If they have not made themselves visible during the journey, they can usually be found in the cab at the rear of the train. Communication panels are normally located throughout the train. Emergency brakes are also available, but a heavy penalty can be fined against someone who unnecessarily stops the train. Be aware, many communication panels are also emergency brakes. Unless someone's safety is threatened by the movement of the train, contact the guard or driver and wait for assistance or the next station stop.


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eCommerce Optimization Guide
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Last updated on March 11th, 2014
Please join the conversation! We like long and thoughtful communication.
Abrupt comments and gibberish will not be approved. Please, only use your real name, not your business name or keywords. We rarely allow links in your comment.
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Moderators: Three Stars, dagny, pfim, netwolf
penny lane wrote:where was talbot in the 10 and 11 play off years ? hmmm
cbuspensfan wrote:are people really complaining about the pens skaters on that? pretty harmless shot, no excuse by fleury
brwi wrote:penny lane wrote:where was talbot in the 10 and 11 play off years ? hmmm
He didn't direct any pucks towards a guy like MAF who was so overwhelmingly generous.
pens_srq wrote:Flyers are in MAF's head. Please Please yank him before it's too late.
Firebird wrote:Where are the perennial Fleury defenders?
It'sagreatdayforhockey! wrote:How can you still be smiling after letting that in? I wish someone would smack that grin off of his face. Pathetic.


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|Click to return to
Baseball-Cards.com Vintage cards: baseball,football,basketball & non-sport
1962 Topps #312 Warren Spahn In-Action [#b] (Braves) Baseball cardPrice = $ 17.95
'Spahn Shows No-Hit Form' - Great card with 3 stop-action photos of Spahn !
Select a different Sport or Vintage Baseball Cards set Enter words,partial words,partial words with wildcards (*) or a phrase in quotes.
1959 Topps Yankees displays vintage 1959 Topps Yankees cards.
Bowman Mantle displays all Bowman Mickey Mantle cards, old and recent.
Clicking banner escorts you to our online store in San Diego.
Topps,Donruss,Upper Deck-clicking escorts you there San Diego.
Below are some tidbits on baseball and sportscard collecting.
Visit our web site for more info on vintage and current
baseball, football, basketball, hockey, sports and
non-sport cards and card collecting.
Like all collectibles, some sports cards increase in value and a few can become very valuable. Determining a card's value is based on a number of factors including the popularity of the player, the card's scarcity, it's condition, and demand among collectors. A card can be scarce but if there's no demand for it, it's value may not be to great.
Q: What are some of the ways to collect cards ? There are several different ways to collect cards. For example, you can try to collect all the cards in a given set. Or you can focus on cards of your favorite team or even just your favorite player.
Some people only collect Rookie cards while others only collect cards of Hall-of-Famers. Because of the high cost of vintage sports cards today a growingly popular way to collect sportscards is "Type Collecting".
"Type Collecting" is collecting just one of each "type" (or different issue) made. To keep costs down, on some of the scarcer more expensive issues you can simply add a less expensive "common" to your collection. While on more common or recent issues you can select your favorite player or a card from your favorite team.
No matter how you collect - the key is to have fun !
1967 Topps WHO AM I ?NM/MINT to MINT COMPLETE 1976 Crane Potato Chip Football Discs Set.
It's easy to see why the 1967 Topps "Who Am I? set is a favorite of both sports and non- sport collectors. The set's 44 cards feature mostly important figures from world history but what makes this set even more popular was the inclusion of 4 of baseball's most popular players: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Sandy Koufax !!!
The players picture on the front is covered with a scratch-off disguise with silly, exaggerated features like hair, moustaches, hats, noses... and clues to help kids identify the famous person pictured. The backs contained additional clues and instructions to "Scratch off disguise on front to discover Who I Am. Use a coin or fingernail."
Cards with their scratch-off coating intact are worth many, many times cards with the coatings removed. For example, NM/MINT Babe Ruth with the coating is in the $200-$400 range while a NM/MINT Ruth with the coating removed is closer to $25.
Click for complete
1967 Topps Who Am I? checklist and prices
1960 Nu-Card Baseball Hi-LitesThis 72-card set of oversized (3-1/4" x 5-3/8") cards Issued by Nu-Card, Inc., featured baseball highlights (hi-lites). Printed in red and black, the card fronts resemble a newspaper's front page headline story with photo. The cards showcase some of the baseball's most interesting highlights in it's first 100 years of baseball.
Card #'s 1-18 can also be found in just black printing and blank-backed.
Click for complete
1960 Nu-Card Baseball Hi-Lites checklist and prices
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"Film is finally come to an end," said Strand theater operator Eric Saitz.
This weekend will be 'the' last weekend for watching a movie on film in Sturgis and by the end of April, quite likely anywhere in the country.
"Film is finally come to an end," said Strand theater operator Eric Saitz.
This weekend will be 'the' last weekend for watching a movie on film in Sturgis and by the end of April, quite likely anywhere in the country.
This is due to the fact that the film industry plans to phase out film entirely this spring.
"It's a big deal," said Saitz. "We really have no choice. If we want to keep our doors open at the Strand, we have to make the jump. There will likely be a thousand theaters that will not be around anymore because they simply cannot afford to make the change to digital. I can't tell you how many ways we looked at coming up with a way to make the shift. If we didn't find a way, we would have been gone, too."
Saitz, 45, a Bronson native, is the third-generation family member to play a role in the Strand.
His grandparents, Otto and Hilda Saitz, took over the theater in 1940 then it passed down to his parents, Jerry and Vennetta Saitz, who remain current owners and Eric acts as manager/operator.
"I've always been around film. I am so used to the sound the film makes as it runs through the projector, that I am actually recording it so I have it so I can listen to it and remember what it sounded like."
The new digital system is set to arrive this weekend and plans are to be tutored minimally while instruments are installed at a fast enough pace to allow the Strand to re-open its doors on Good Friday on the new digital format.
"It will still be shot through a projector and we are proud that we will be able to keep our ticket prices the same as well as offer 3-D movies, which will have a small, additional fee added to the ticket price."
The Strand upgraded the sound system, too.
"People are really going to love it," Saitz said.
"That, coupled with the image being so clear, will enhance the whole theater-going experience," he said. "You could be sad about it, but you have to embrace technology. You have to move ahead. If you don't, you shouldn't be in business. I know that ultimately it's for the better. In the long run, I think it's going to be a good thing."


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|Click to return to
Baseball-Cards.com Old football card auctions and values
1970 O-Pee-Chee/OPC #261 Curt Motton (Orioles) Baseball cardPrice = $ 1.95
EX/MT+ to EX/EX+
Select a different Sport or Vintage Baseball Cards set Enter words,partial words,partial words with wildcards (*) or a phrase in quotes.
1959 Topps Yankees displays vintage 1959 Topps Yankees cards.
Bowman Mantle displays all Bowman Mickey Mantle cards, old and recent.
Escorts your cards to San Francisco,Los Angeles,San Diego ...
Topps,Donruss,Upper Deck-clicking escorts you there San Diego.
Below are some tidbits on baseball and sportscard collecting.
Visit our web site for more info on vintage and current
baseball, football, basketball, hockey, sports and
non-sport cards and card collecting.
(part 1)
Baseball card production was virtually halted in the early 1940's due to paper shortages created by World War II. The "Modern Era" of baseball cards began in 1948 when Bowman Gum Inc. offered one card and one piece of gum in a pack for a penny.
The first important football set was the Mayo set featuring college players in 1984. Other than the 1935 National Chicle set no other key football set was issued until 1948 when noth Bowman and Leaf produced sets.
1959 Fleer Ted WilliamsTed Williams was one of the greatest hitters ever to play the game ! The 'Splendid Splinter' played from 1939-1942 and 1946-1960 all with the Boston Red Sox. He missed 1943 thru 1945 due to military duty when he was a pilot during the wars. For his career he hit .344 with 521 home runs. Ted Williams was one of the biggest stars baseball has ever seen, and his baseball cards remain very popular and valuable.
Ted's rookie card was in 1950 Bowman and he was exclusive with Bowman from 1950 thru 1954. In 1954 he also allowed Topps to make his cards which they did from 1954 thru 1958.
In 1959 Fleer signed Ted Williams away from Topps and assumed the star Ted Williams would be retiring, put out an entire 80-card set of cards highlighting Ted Williams and illustrating his life both in and out of baseball. Williams decided late in the fall to resign for another year perhaps damaging the sets impact. Today these cards remain extremely popular with most of the cards in teh set still quite affordable.
There is one very rare card in this set, #68 picturing Ted with Bucky Harris.
UNFORTUNATELY Topps had Bucky Harris under exclusive contract and
Fleer had to quickly halt production of this card making it a significant
SHORT PRINT. Only a few made it out to the public. This card is quite rare,
hardly ever seen and a plain old simple checklist making it the perfect
candidate for counterfeiting.
Other interesting cards are those that picture Ted with Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Sam Snead and Jim Thorpe. In addition, cards of Ted fishing or with his airplane are also very popular.
Click for complete
1959 Fleer Ted Williams baseball cards Checklist and Prices
1971 O-Pee-Chee BaseballAlso referred to as OPC or Topps Canada, most vintage OPC sets were near replicas of the Topps cards from that year. Exactly same in design they usually only differed with the addition of French to the backs and some fronts.
To the benefit of collector's OPC made several changes in their 1971 set. The most obvious and useful was a complete redesign of the card backs and the addition of another player photo ! Additionly, over 20 cards were changed including the inclusion of what could be considered the first "Traded" cards. Another difference: Topps cards #202 and #289 were changed to allow the addition of 2 more Expos to the set.
The 1971 OPC set is legendary for its short print run, estimated at perhaps just 5% of Topps' Production. This issue is considered quite elusive, even in Canada.
TOP ROOKIE: Steve Garvey
TOP STARS: Nolan Ryan, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Pete Rose, Ted Williams, Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, Don Baylor/Dusty Baker RC & MORE !!!
Click for complete
1971 OPC/O-Pee-Chee Baseball checklist and prices
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Dolly Couture specializes in cocktail-length, short wedding dresses reminiscent of the 1950s and Early 60s. Since 2007, Dolly Thicke's designs have celebrated unique brides with a nod to the Mid-Century, Mad Men era. Acclaimed by Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine and on My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, Dolly has outfitted Dancing with the Stars, GCB, Hart of Dixie, among red carpet appearances and so many others. Dolly Couture dresses are a must-have for the vintage-inspired bride. These full-skirted petticoat wedding gowns offer all the drama of a full-length gown...with ten times the fun. Dolly Couture makes customizing your unique wedding dress fun and easy. Contact your friendly sales-rep today.
Join us on FACEBOOK to see hundreds of real Dolly Couture brides at their own weddings. Happy clients are Dolly Couture's greatest virtue.


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Friday, November 02, 2012 - Wank Party 2012 #11, Part 2 RAW - WANK PARTY
Introducing a BRAND NEW WEBSITE SWNude.com
We are proudly introducing a brand new Nude Submission Wrestling website SWNude.com
A membership website for fans of nude submission wrestling.
We will be posting a wrestling match each Friday there, anouncing it here in the WH Newsletter. So there will be always a new content available to the SWNude.com website members for weekends ;-). At present there is 30+ nude wrestling matches on the SWNude.com website and there will be always a new one each Friday while our production is at present shooting at least two completely new nude wrestling matches in a month.
The website is now acessible through both www.SWNude.com and www.SubmissionWrestlingNude.com domain links.
Please, feel free to take a FREE TOUR of our new website HERE.
ONLY NOW YOU CAN GET SWNUDE.com FOR A SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE!
Lukas Nypl vs Paco Mlaticka
For a really good wrestling match what better than two best friends. That is what we have with Paco and Lukas. They have a great time, but give no quarter to each other in the battle for supremacy, including grabbing each other`s balls. Two great bodies and handsome guys, naked and grappling with each other, it is hard to think of anything better to see.
Open Lukas Nypl vs Paco Mlaticka at SWNude.com


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The future of the JD Forum 07/31/18Thank you all for your participation on the JD Forums. We have enjoyed answering your questions, providing project advice and technical assistance on this forum for a number of years. We believe that there are now better ways to provide this service for our customers and the community. With that in mind, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Jamestown Distributors Forum. Our JD Tech Team is committed to being your trusted technical resource, and we encourage you to reach out via email, phone, social, product reviews, and to post questions using the Q & A 'Ask A Question' function on all product pages. Additional information can also be found on product page Technical Data Sheets (including detailed usage instructions and application data). Thank You Jamestown Distributors
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In football, there's no grief remotely comparable to that endured by a Browns fan.
Last month, Washington State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon bought himself a peck of trouble after tweeting that Arizona is "a racist wasteland" when his beloved Seattle Seahawks lost a game to the Arizona Cardinals.
As is the way these days, Fitzgibbon's thoughtless insult was immediately followed by a soggy, half-hearted apology.
Please. This guy don't know from pain.
You want suffering and frustration? Is wallowing in unmitigated misery your idea of a productive afternoon? Then you, my friend, need to exchange that crummy regift you received on Christmas for an orange-and-brown toboggan hat and a dog mask.
In football, there's no grief remotely comparable to that endured by a Browns fan.
Like a bad romance, you hang on like the generations before you in the hope that it'll get better, even though you know you'd be happier if you just simply turned the channel.
A team that should have been 8-8 found new ways to lose that confounded even the best mathletes at NASA's Glenn Research Center.
What does it say when people in Northeast Ohio are looking forward to the barren bleakness of February, simply because no games can be played and therefore no more pain can be inflicted?
Well, that's not entirely true. When Browns fans aren't tearing out their hair, screaming epithets that would embarrass the dead, they are spending the off-season rehashing what should have been.
The list of players Browns scouts have touted (Mike Junkin) and passed on (Adrian Peterson, Tom Brady, et. al) is legendary to the point where you wonder whether a conspiracy isn't afoot.
I feel for my colleague Steve Doerschuk, who must trudge to team headquarters in Berea and come away with something new to write every day, yet does so, and brilliantly. His dispatches are a master class in creativity and forbearance.
Being a Browns fan is a lot like watching "Scandal," in that it's a saga filled with nonstop angst, cruel twists of fate and stuff that sometimes doesn't even make sense.
Rob Chudzinski's one-and-done stint as head coach is merely the latest episode of a costume drama in which some people are masquerading as pass receivers and tacklers.
Some observers undoubtedly will make comparisons with the recent season to "The Walking Dead" — except that the zombies have an actual game plan, namely, to defeat and eat their opponents.
Each and every game is a teaching moment. For instance, you learn how to deal with adversity. When others text, tweet or call you to poke fun, no snappy comeback is possible. It's a pop in the mouth you simply must take.
All that said — well, whined — they're still my guys because love has nothing to do with logic.
In 2012, the Seahawks reached the NFC Division Playoffs, a step from the Super Bowl. Fitzgibbon likely attended that game. The Browns have not come within a whiff of a playoff game since 2002, back when Fitzgibbon, 27, was bothering the homecoming queen in study hall.
Come back, sonny, when you have something to cry about.
Reach Charita at firstname.lastname@example.com or 330-580-8313.
On Twitter: @cgoshayREP


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Tuesday, June 28, 2011 - Fanda Modry's Czech Up
Fanda Modry's Czech Up
Fanda Modry's Czech Up also features Dr Artur Lafek and Sister Ivan Mukovsky. Fanda attends the clinic to have an injury to his hand inspected but Artur decides a full Czech Up is needed, so Fanda strips off and puts on a surgical gown, assisted by Ivan. Fanda then climbs on to the inspection chair to have his chest and back tested by Artur. Then as Artur takes his blood pressure Ivan is soothing Fanda, by stroking his abs, and very soon he starts to kiss Fanda and play with his dick. Artur sits and watches, stroking his dick at the same time. It is not long before Fanda and Artur are rock hard. Ivan goes down on Fanda's dick while Artur strokes his and licks Fanda's foot, before rubbing his dick all over it. Then he moves over and gives Fanda a taste of cock too, which he laps up. Ivan sees that and wants some of Artur's dick to, as it looks so good throbbing in Fanda's mouth, so he sucks it as well. Artur, though, has other ideas and soon sits on the chair himself and invites Fanda to sit on his ...
... more about Fanda Modry's Czech Up further in this newsletter
Our Coming Soon Set Preview
Marcel Juras is a real hunk. We actually first did a shoot with him in 2007. When he had been released from the Foreign Legion, and also had just left the Czech military, after breaking his arm in a parachute jump. We did an excellent erotic video with him, and thought he was an ideal candidate for another shoot with a Helping Hand. So we invited him back and he was keen to oblige. This shoot starts with Marcel, smiling as ever, stripping down and putting on wrestling togs, and then doing some stretching exercises. This gives us a great opportunity to see his package scrunched up in the shorts. Then he does a series of press ups, very well I might add, before stripping off again. Marcel then relaxs and starts to rub his body for us. He does look very good indeed, with some stubbly chest hair. The helping hand arrives and begins to oil Marcel's body and plays with his dick. In fact he fairly quickly gets Marcel in to a full erection. The dick looks so good as it is flicked against his stomach. There is soon some precum oozing from his dick, and the HH delights in showing us. Then his attention turns to Marcel's hairy ass. With his legs up the hole is exposed for some hot action. Fingers start to explore the hole, dipping inside, first one and then two fingers. Then it is on to vibrators, the orange one slides in very easily, and quite deep before the black one is brought into use. In it goes, and Marcel can certainly feel his tight hole being stretched. But as it comes out and the hands spread the hole so that it opens Marcel is back to giving us his winning smile. The HH then decides to push things a little further and two vibrators go into Marcel's ass at the same time, so that the hole is really nicely stretched. Finally the time comes for the pop shot and Marcel shoots a very good load, with a vibrator deep in his ass. Well it certainly turned out to be a wonderful scene. I hope we can do some more work with Marcel soon.
Latest Updates Trailer
William Higgins Atelier Backstage Vlog
You can also watch my Vlog for this Newsletter by clicking the video above or over at the Blog:
It's extremely hot in Prague. The guys are still on location at the Nude Beach shooting our next Wank Party. They couldn't have picked a better day. I didn't get to go because I wouldn't have been able to put out the Newsletter. They left at 10:00 this morning. The cast was great. I'm sure they're having a great time. Miro just Skyped me during a break on location. I'm really looking forward to watching the rushes on this one. You'll love the cast. (Update: As I write these words, at 18:45, Miro Skypes me from the location saying they are now on the pop-shots).
Franky's two best (str8) friends came down from Germany to visit him over the weekend. He wanted to take them to some str8 entertainment. Unfortunately, they chose and old disco that is notorious for violence. It is also rumored to be the hangout for Albanian drug gangs. If they'd asked ANYONE, they've had been advised not to go within a mile of the place. Unfortunately, it is located less than a mile from our studios at the other side of the Charles Bridge. They went there. Someone hit Franky from behind and kicked most of his front teeth out while he was on the floor. At least one of his friends was also beaten, and Miro said he had a heel imprint in the middle of his forehead. Franky has gone back to Germany for emergency dental work. We hope he'll be back with us soon. But repairing that damage will take a long time. Of course, we have socialized medicine in this country (I know very bad) and Franky could have walked into any hospital in Prague, showed his German insurance card and have been treated for free. We all wish him well and hope he'll be back with the team soon.
Oh, coming soon we have the Interview that we did with the Richter twins on the set of Twins in Lust. I've been wanting to release that for quite awhile, I'm sure that it will be very popular with their fans.
Tonight we have a soft duo that we filmed at the nude beach, where we filmed today's Wank Party. This involves two really great models. We happen to have a body worship on the schedule with one of them later this week.
Rado Zuzka is aged 30 and lives in Melnik, and Olda Stocek is from Marianske Lazne and is aged 21. Two great looking guys, so we decided to take them out on location and shoot them noth together for a session stills shoot. It was a lovely sunny day, and the location by a lake was the perfect place for two such hunky guys to strip down and show us what they look like naked. There are some wonderful stills in this shoot, that show both Rado and Olda off very well indeed. Rado has done some further shoots for us, and will do a body worship this week. We are working on getting Olda to go further. In the meantime I will look forward to seeing the erotic video shoot, with both guys, very soon.
Sascha Borodin, the cute 18 year old Russian, is in two sets tonight. Sascha is also included in the Wank Party today. We filmed this solo at a tiny defunct disco. He's such a cute guy. I've received many compliments about him. And I was most happy to see him in the Green Room this morning waiting to go to the Wank Party Shoot.
Sascha Borodin is 18 years old and comes, originally, from Russia. He is now in Prague studying Travel Management. He enjoys snowboarding, tennis and fitness. Sascha is such a good looking guy, and with a nice fit body too. He looks great in his shorts and tee-shirt as this video starts, and he soon loses the shirt to show off his chest. Then he begins to drop the shorts, turning around as he does so, and we see his cute little ass. He spreads the cheeks so that we get a good look at his hole, which opens very nicely as he spreads. When he turns around again we see that his dick is rock hard and is pointing skywards, with a very nice upward turn to it as well. Then he shucks the shorts and is standing there in all his naked glory, wanking on his dick. Next he lays down and a helping hand arrives to caress his body and play with his dick, wanking on it and feeling his balls. Then, with the dick stiff as a board, the hands migrate to Sascha's sweeet little pucker, and a finger slides in and out, changing fingers and then introducing a vibrator which slides in very nicely indeed. Finally the hands wank on Sascha's dick till he blows a very nice load, which Sascha smears over his body as it lands. I really enjoyed this video, and Sascha has gone on to do some full contact work since this was shot. He is a very good model indeed
Sascha and Ivan do a duo, as I've said many times before, it's much easier to persuade Russians to do stuff with other guys than it is to talk Ukrainians in to guy/guy sex.
Sascha Borodin is a very cute looking guy who had done a few shoots, including a Wank Party, which gave him enough of an insight into male-male action that he agreed to go all the way for the very first time. We paired him with Ivan Cakovsky, the ever reliable top, who just loves performing. The guys start off by kissing a while before Sascha's jeans are shucked down a llittle to allow Ivan to suck his dick, which he does and quite soon Sascha is hard as a rock. Ivan really knows how to suck on the cock and balls, and gives Sascha a very good blow job, removing the jeans completely in the process. Then Ivan gets up on his knees and Sascha returns the favor, sucking on Ivan's already hard dick. He does very well at it too. After he has sucked Ivan a while they move into position for a 69, with Ivan on top. He then pulls Sascha's ass in the air so he can access his hole, for some rimming and fingering. When Ivan feels that the hole is sufficiently open they change position and Ivan slides his dick into Sascha's waiting hole, and starts to fuck him, nice and deep. Sascha, for his part, takes it very well even though he is feeling every stroke. Ivan then moves Sascha into a spoon position and slides it in again, and this position allows him to go even deeper. A further change sees Sascha sitting on Ivan's rampant dick, and riding up and down on it, with his own dick bouncing as he goes. One final position, with Ivan able to get his dick really deep, is enough for Ivan to be ready to cum and he spurts a hot load over Sascha's chest, swiftly followed by Sascha's own load. This is a very good scene, with Sascha showing us that he can be a very good bottom, and Ivan, as always, vindicating our choice of him as a top. A very good match up indeed.
Finally tonight we feature a really nice CzechUp with Artur, Fanda, and Igor.
Fanda Modry's Czech Up also features Dr Artur Lafek and Sister Ivan Mukovsky. Fanda attends the clinic to have an injury to his hand inspected but Artur decides a full Czech Up is needed, so Fanda strips off and puts on a surgical gown, assisted by Ivan. Fanda then climbs on to the inspection chair to have his chest and back tested by Artur. Then as Artur takes his blood pressure Ivan is soothing Fanda, by stroking his abs, and very soon he starts to kiss Fanda and play with his dick. Artur sits and watches, stroking his dick at the same time. It is not long before Fanda and Artur are rock hard. Ivan goes down on Fanda's dick while Artur strokes his and licks Fanda's foot, before rubbing his dick all over it. Then he moves over and gives Fanda a taste of cock too, which he laps up. Ivan sees that and wants some of Artur's dick to, as it looks so good throbbing in Fanda's mouth, so he sucks it as well. Artur, though, has other ideas and soon sits on the chair himself and invites Fanda to sit on his rock hard dick, which he does very well. So well in fact that he is soon bouncing up and down on it while sucking on Ivan. A change of position allows Artur to continue fucking and Ivan goes down and sucks on Fanda at the same time. A further change has Fanda on his back with Artur's dick pumping in and out of his ass as Ivan fucks his face. All too soon Ivan is ready and the pop shots begin with him squirting over Fanda's face, and Fanda then sucking him clean. Artur pulls out and shoots all over Fanda's balls, followed quickly by Fanda letting go his load too. This is a very good Czech Up, and a very good initiation for Fanda.
Please write me with your impressions of the new site. If you have problems, let us know about them also and we'll fix them ASAP.
Just a little reminder that the Latest Updates page which appears when you access the site shows the latest sets to come online. However that doesn`t include the castings. For the latest castings to come online you can click CASTINGS at the top of the page.
MESSAGE ABOUT LINKS TO THE OLD WH WEBSITE - WILLIAMHIGGINS.com ARCHIVES:
Please be aware that the link www.williamhiggins.com takes you to this brand new website now. If you bookmarked our old website in the past and you want to keep the bookmark as a shortest way to access the old WH website you need to change the link in the bookmark to:
You do not need to remember this link, you can conveniently get to the old WH Website - WilliamHiggins.com Archives anytime you need through the "WH 2001-2010" in the top menu of the new WilliamHiggins.com website.
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Please remember that most of the videos available on BurnDVD are easily able to be downloaded with a single link, but some of the very large files, such as the newsletter DVDs have to be split into three separate links, as detailed below.
The videos with very large file sizes are now split into more than one part, using a program called HJSplit. If you wish to buy one of these larger videos to Burn to DVD, you will receive a link for file and then it is a simple process to join the downloaded files together to make the .iso file for Burning to DVD.
You can see all the available videos at www.burndvd.tv
Before downloading any videos to burn to DVD I advise you to read the BURNDVD Manual, which explains how you can burn the file to DVD. The file is an ISO file which contains all the required DVD files. The process for burning to DVD is fully explained.
The BurnDVD manual is easy to follow, with a step by step guide. Burning a DVD is easy to do, though it is helpful if you have previously burned DVDs or CDs.
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A 40-year-old Burr Oak man died late Sunday in a one-car crash.
A 40-year-old Burr Oak man died from injuries he received Sunday night in a one-car crash.
St. Joseph County Sheriff's deputies said Charles Thomas O'Brien III of Findley Road was declared dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred just before 9 p.m.
Deputies said O'Brien was driving north in the 61000 block of Farrand Road when his vehicle left the road, struck an embankment, rolled over and struck a tree. The vehicle then burst into flames.
The crash remains under investigation.
Assisting deputies were, Colon Fire Department, Michigan Sate Police, LifeCare Ambulance, St. Joseph County Victim Services and Bowers Towing.


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We provide endless possibilities for you including yarn, knitting gifts, needles, kits, sale yarn, free knitting patterns, and more!Jimmy Beans Wool is Your Local Yarn Store... Online!


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|Episode Description
|Tuesday, Feb 5, 2013 - 9:30 AM
"Dinos A to Z, Part 3, Classification/Dinos A to Z, Part 4, A To Z Picnic"
The Pteranodon family rides the Dinosaur Train - now with extra cars attached -- as it continues picking up more dinosaurs that are in the `Dinosaurs A to Z' song. The Pteranodon family reunites with some dinosaurs they've met before, and are introduced to species they've never met! The Pteranodon kids also learn about classification, and Don leads the way organizing the dinosaurs on the Train by their species, features, and size. The Pteranodon family is on the Dinosaur Train, now very crowded with all 26 dinosaurs mentioned in the `Dinosaurs A to Z' song. D
Mountain Time
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The just completed General Conference broadcast of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is for the whole world.
This weekend, a handful of local Saints (name for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and a couple of visitors watched the 183rd Annual General Conference at the local branch building here in Pratt. With the advent of technology, many local members now watch the proceedings via the Internet or satellite television.
The conference is broadcast from Salt Lake City twice a year and provides instruction and encouragement for members of the church, not to mention adding light into the lives of listeners, in an ever darkening world.
For me, conference provides a reminder of the direction in which my life should be headed and especially brings to mind areas in which I need to make a course correction. It also brings a sense of peace to those who listen. That's something we can use more of in the world today.
The unique thing about general conference is that its message is for everyone, not just member of the church. Leadership of the church, including prophets, apostles and seers, are not assigned talks, but rely upon inspiration from the Holy Spirit, often combined with fasting and prayer, to determine their topics.
Speakers at conference come from countries throughout the world. Whether someone is listening in Mhangura, Zimbabwe (population 6,500) or Pratt, Kansas, the message is the same. As the world lowers its standards on what is acceptable, the message of the church remains constant in teaching simple truths for those who have ears to hear. At the root of all these talks is the love of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and teachings about how we can become more like him.
It's up to us how we apply this instruction in our lives.
To learn more, visit www.lds.org, where you can hear the most recent General Conference broadcast at any time.


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|Click to return to
Baseball-Cards.com Sportscards auctions with old non-sport and supplies
1963 Topps #576 Johnny Temple SCARCE HIGH SERIES (Houston Colt 45s/Astros) Baseball cardPrice = $ 27.95
Select a different Sport or Vintage Baseball Cards set Enter words,partial words,partial words with wildcards (*) or a phrase in quotes.
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Topps cards, supplies here in San Diego,New York City,Las Vegas.
Below are some tidbits on baseball and sportscard collecting.
Visit our web site for more info on vintage and current
baseball, football, basketball, hockey, sports and
non-sport cards and card collecting.
(part 1)
Baseball card production was virtually halted in the early 1940's due to paper shortages created by World War II. The "Modern Era" of baseball cards began in 1948 when Bowman Gum Inc. offered one card and one piece of gum in a pack for a penny.
The first important football set was the Mayo set featuring college players in 1984. Other than the 1935 National Chicle set no other key football set was issued until 1948 when noth Bowman and Leaf produced sets.
HARTLAND STATUESHartland produced it's first baseball statues back in the early 60's. Sports Collectibles Digest stated that the 1960's Mickey Mantle Hartland is the single most popular plastic sports statue ever produced ! In 1988 Hartland created their 25th Anniversary Editions which, except for some very minor details, were identical to the original.
Hartland partnered with America's leading hobby-periodical publisher, Krause Publications, to create the SCD Authentic series offering the original 18 as you've never seen them with each statue dramatically different from prior releases. They are amazingly beautiful and exquisitely detailed in their road uniforms with painted pinstripes and wood grained bats making them a unique collectible opportunity for both veteran collectors and Hartland newcomers alike.
Limited to only 2,500 pieces each, these statues are BRAND NEW, MINT and in THEIR ORIGINAL BOXES !!!
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Hartland Baseball Statues & Figurines checklist and prices
1963 Fleer BaseballIn an attempt by Fleer to circumvent Topps exclusive rights to baseball cards, Fleer issued their 1963 baseball cards with cookies instead of gum. It is commonly thought that the 1963 Fleer baseball card issue was intended to be a much larger set issued in multiple series but Topps sued Fleer after their first series was released stopping further production. Due to Topps deep pockets Fleer soon pulled the set from the market and cancelled their plans for the remaining series leaving this very, very popular set at just 66 cards plus one unnumbered checklist.
But what a 66 cards !!! The 1963 Fleer Cards are attractive and feature an extremely high percentage of stars. Some of the top stars in the 1963 Fleer baseball card set are Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, Carl Yastrzemski, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Don Drysdale and Warren Spahn.. The set also included 2 very scare Short Prints, Joe Adcock and an unnumbered checklist.
The most interesting card in this set is the Maury Wills Rookie card. Even though Wills started his major league career with the Dodgers way back in 1959 quickly becoming a superstar, his 1963 Fleer card is considered his rookie card ! How is this possible ? Well, back in 1959, 1960 and 1961, Topps did not consider Wills worthy enough to have a baseball card.
As hobby lore has it: Needless to say, Wills was very upset at this slight from Topps. After Wills won the 1962 N.L. MVP award, Topps quickly came a courting but Wills answered with a large "NO". From 1961 thru 1966, Wills prevented Topps from making any of his baseball cards. Wills and Topps finally made up making his 1967 Topps high number short print his first Topps card and also his most expensive card. Adding interest to the Wills baseball card story, Post Cereal released a Maury Wills card in their 1962 set making that the earliest Maury Wills rookie card. Wills was also pictured on a special 1960 Topps card featuring the 1959 World Series. The card features Luis Aparicio stealing 2nd base with Wills pictured trying to make the tag.
Much of the above is true but Wills has said there was no "fued" with Topps and that he simply had signed exclusive agreements with Fleer.
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1963 Fleer baseball cards Checklist and Prices
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