Topic: Drax Trip.. (Read 2154 times)

ClarCE · « **on:** 13 April 2007, 09:14:01 »

So come on then, how was it - pics?!

DaveL · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 April 2007, 09:20:34 »

Probably still trying to get over the night before.....

8-)
DaveL

Admin · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 April 2007, 10:13:09 »

First things first.

A BIG thank you to Mike for sorting this out for us. Top man!

It was very good and throughly enjoyable.
We got the very unofficial tour which included seeing parts of the plant that the public would never normally get near.

The sheer size of everything there is breathtaking!

It was also good to see some of the guys from here again. The hotel car park resembled TheBoy's road at the time of the last cambelt party!

Matchless · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 April 2007, 12:16:43 »

The very un-official tour!! led by an ex station operator who knew the plant inside out, it was amusing to see the Offical Guides discomfort at some of the places we were taken to, though im not sure that they even realised that we walked along under the main Live Steam pipes

I have been inside smaller coal-fired power stations before so knew what I was supposed to be looking at but the place is so big that you lose any idea of scale. For example, in a smaller station you might look from a walkway in a turbine hall and see the whole of the steam path through HP, IP and LP turbines and the generator mounted on the end of the turbines so it all makes some sort of sense, but in Drax its so big that you cant get an overall view, we walked along one of the turbo generator units and you cant see one end from the other.

A swap meet was held in the carpark and Jamie was doing much business with his Tech 2.
After the visit we returned to the Travel Inn for drinkies and a meal, I and 2 other cars returned south last night but the rest seemed to be quite comfortable in the bar so we may have to wait for their reports.

I just have to fix the chronic misfire that developed as I pulled off the M62 into the Travel Inn, it cleared after the visit and was fine all the way home until I pulled off the M1 at Nottingham

Many thanks to MikeD for arranging this trip.

miked · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 April 2007, 13:52:43 »

Yes, pleased you all had a good time, it was a really good trip and it was nice to put faces to names.

Gordon, the ex Unit 6 operator was great. All I asked him for was a chance to get out on the turbine hall roof to see some of the views. We ended up with this bizarre group of 20 or so people, young kids etc, minimal PPE, clambering about scaffolding and gantries in amongst live steam pipes etc with some bemused looks from the various fitters and scaffolders that we passed.

The other tour guides were very uncomfortable with most of the places he took us, I think one of them refused to let us in one of the boiler house lifts because there was too much graffiti!

It's not normal to be allowed to wonder around the control room like we were allowed, he just said have a walk around, talk to the operators, ask them any questions etc.

The meal was better than I expected, just as I'm leaving the company so I don't have to be away from home anymore, they improve their food

Just one final note, I mixed the grape and the grain and I have a headache. Been out on plant again today and the hot noisy environment has not helped. Going to drive home and go to bed!

Cheers to all, really enjoyed it.

Craig_R · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 April 2007, 14:02:42 »

Sounds Like Everyone had a great time.

Gutted I was not able to make it because of work but to get to go where you did sound fantastic I bet you saw some stuff you dont get to see every day.

Dont forget to post the Photo for us unluck people who could not make it

Craig

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 April 2007, 14:16:15 »

Great day Mike and good to meet yet more members.....I hope the scottish contingent managed to get home sfaely.

TheBoy · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 April 2007, 14:34:45 »

Thoroughly enjoyable day, big thanks to Miked for arranging. The scale of the place is unbelievable. Absolutely astounishing.

We went back to hotel, had a better than expected meal, and insisted on keeping the bar staff up until midnight, when we got kicked out, and went back to Hotel21's room for a nightcap. Mixing Stella and Scotland's finest always give me headaches, so I just settled for a small one. I have got a bit of a taste for some of the malts now, all MikeDundee's fault

A rather naff fried breakfast cure all the tiredness and headaches.

As said, a thoroughly enjoyable day

Sorry, I didn't take piccies, don't think anyone else did. The bird at Drax told me no cameras when I asked her. Maybe I should have asked the ex-opertaor who took us round

Elite Pete · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 April 2007, 15:38:32 »

I didnt get to see the power station as unlike some I had to work yesterday but I did meet up with everyone after for a drink or two

. It was nice to see everyone again and I met Hotel21, his son and MikeD for the first time

.

Looks like I will have to wait until the Lakes trip to have another beer now.

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 April 2007, 16:14:42 »

But Pete, you were officialy up around the lakes last night to.....

Elite Pete · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 April 2007, 16:19:29 »

Quote

But Pete, you were officialy up around the lakes last night to.....

In two places at once

bob.dent · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 April 2007, 16:25:37 »

Quote

I didnt get to see the power station as unlike some I had to work yesterday but I did meet up with everyone after for a drink or two . It was nice to see everyone again and I met Hotel21, his son and MikeD for the first time .

Looks like I will have to wait until the Lakes trip to have another beer now.

Pete......since when have you needed an excuse to have a beer!!

Hopefully me and Supermop are going to try and make it to the lakes, then we really will have some headaches!!

Elite Pete · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 April 2007, 16:27:34 »

Quote

Quote
I didnt get to see the power station as unlike some I had to work yesterday but I did meet up with everyone after for a drink or two . It was nice to see everyone again and I met Hotel21, his son and MikeD for the first time .

Looks like I will have to wait until the Lakes trip to have another beer now.

Pete......since when have you needed an excuse to have a beer!!

Hopefully me and Supermop are going to try and make it to the lakes, then we really will have some headaches!!

I said last night what are we going to do about the BBQ if Bobs not coming

bob.dent · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 April 2007, 16:33:01 »

Quote

Quote
Quote
I didnt get to see the power station as unlike some I had to work yesterday but I did meet up with everyone after for a drink or two . It was nice to see everyone again and I met Hotel21, his son and MikeD for the first time .

Looks like I will have to wait until the Lakes trip to have another beer now.

Pete......since when have you needed an excuse to have a beer!!

Hopefully me and Supermop are going to try and make it to the lakes, then we really will have some headaches!!

I said last night what are we going to do about the BBQ if Bobs not coming

Worry not my friends...........we will do our utmost to make it and of course the BBQ will be coming

Pleased to hear everyone enjoyed the Drax meet, I'm gutted that we couldn't make it

JohnM · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 April 2007, 18:12:49 »

Many thanks from us too Mike,
Well four lots! - Ranging from a BIG THANKYOU to a TAA - which is really very good (no grunts!)

Sorry I didn't stop for bit, thought we should head back in the end. Traffic alright too, had a good trip back.

hotel21 · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 April 2007, 18:28:28 »

Just like to add our thanks as well. I have seen and worked with big chunks of engineering over the years so had some expectations of the scale but when you actually see it in the flesh, it brings it to larger than life, as it were!! I know H21 jnr certainly recognised that you do get bigger things than bike engines...

We got home about 5 pm, after leaving at 11ish and stopping for fuel. The trip odo reads 537 miles for the round trip and averaged 29.9 mpg. Couldn't get it to burst the 30 so had a wee blat on home back roads just to ensure the cobwebs were blown out.

Had to divert around a crash on the A68 shortly after crossing the border back to Scotland. A few assorted cars on verges, in ditches with loads of Police and a handfull of ambulances in attendance. Once back on the main road, there were three different patrol cars giving it loud and large southbound towards locus so could well be nasty...

On the up side, it missed us....

Good to put people and faces to the keyboards and nom de plumes at last and looking forward to meeting up with others in the Lake District. Should be 'entertaining!.

B

miked · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 April 2007, 21:04:00 »

Thoroughly good effort from the pair of you, glad you enjoyed it.

Sounds like I bailed a bit early but I had to be back at the station at 8:00am.

Whats this lake district thing about??? We might bring our little 2.0l out and about for something like that.

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #17 on:** 13 April 2007, 21:09:31 »

It only took me an hour to get home.....

miked · « **Reply #18 on:** 13 April 2007, 21:09:47 »

By the way, the wife did the 97 miles back to Stone (including the road works at the junction between the M18 and the M1) in and hour and a half :-? Said it went really well compared to her 1.4 Rover 25, next one will have to be a V6 me thinks

TheBoy · « **Reply #19 on:** 13 April 2007, 21:17:56 »

Quote

next one will have to be a V6 me thinks

You know it makes sense

(esp now your mileage will drop with working nearer home)

miked · « **Reply #20 on:** 13 April 2007, 22:24:32 »

I'll get settled in, then the Rover can go, the wife can have the 2.0l and I'll be on the prowl

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