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Ey up! Great soiree last evening. Lots of family and friends ...too much talking undertaken. Pimms (8 jugs) were drank, 6 bottles of proseco and lots of food were drunk and eaten. This morning Dr Eldest Hernbert is off back to person Chester and my sister is off to Pickering to stay with a relative. Then her indoors and myself can have the rest of the day as quiet time. Thanks for all the best wishes hopefully today will be a good one for all ERs. Baz

I was short of time the other day, and so only the one train ran. That means yet more photos of 60003 and the Scotch goods this morning. Today however, golf club politics get put to one side, and I am determined just to go and play with trains, so later you may see something different,

A few more shots of 2884 class 3864 rounding the curve.

Some photos of the Ffestiniog Railway for this morning. Porthmadog Fairlie Merddyn Emrys 6th Aug 79 C4681.jpg Porthmadog Alco Mountaineer Portmadog to Tan y Grisiau 6th Aug 79 C4688.jpg Penrhyndeudraeth Linda and Blanche Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog 19th April 86 C7477 Tan y Bwlch Earl of Merioneth Aug 72 J3037 Tan y Grisiau Earl of Merioneth Porthmadog to tan y Grisiau 6th Aug 79 C4697.jpg Tan y Grisiau Merddyn Emrys Tan y Grisiau to Porthmadog 6th Aug 79 C4701.jpg David

Morning! The view from my, current, bedroom window: Trouble is, I should be asleep

They're all odd-shaped samples.

What an unusual hobby! Do you have a collection of odd shaped samples?

This afternoon we travel westwards along the Grantham to Nottingham line, with a short detour along the line from Bottesford to Newark to see the works near Cotham. Sewstern Lane crossing 20070 and 20073 Derby to Skegness July 83 J7999.jpg For some reason this level crossing is shown as Sewerston Lane in the ER Sectional Appendix, Sewstern Lane is correct (it is also shown as Sewstern Lane on Google Earth). Normanton Crossing 20090 and ano up freight Dec 80 J7293.jpg Cotham Marl and gypsum quarry sidings standard gauge and narrow gauge May 76 J5255 nr Bottesford.jpg Elton and Orston station looking east 10th June 95 C20285.jpg A Class 158 heading towards Grantham is in the distance. Radcliffe on Trent 47155 Parkeston Quay to Manchester Feb 78 C3682.jpg David

Had an interesting correspondence with Oxford Rail. I asked if they had any plans to do a Dean Goods with a roundtopped firebox, and they sent me these CADs. Only joking It is of course my rebuilt Dean Goods, now in primer. Archer's rivets next.

Good morning all, Overcast here at the moment but there is a hint of brightness in the sky to the east. A fine, warm and bright day is forecast. A bit more done in the shed yesterday. I've added a couple more shelf brackets for the O gauge plank and cut some ply and will hopefully finish the boards tomorrow. Then all I have to do is see if my plan works. There is no guarantee of success and I haven't (yet) got a Plan B. Later this morning we're off to the South Coast to visit my old mate and we're looking forward to a great day. Have a good one, I.H. Aventgottaclue.

Morning all from the sunny south. Apparently we are due for some form of heatwave next week. Much faffing about got accomplished yesterday and the garden is starting to look less like a jungle after being neglected for 11 weeks. A trip to the market is on the cards this morning then this evening some friends arrive from England. They've had a house in the village for well over 20 years but we will be giving them a meal tonight. In between times I have the lawn to cut and hopefully a little bit of modelling and even a little football to be watched. Chrisf, your mention of the Marine Hall at Fleetwood brings back memories of operating layouts there. A very pleasant little show and it was very nice to sit on the wall at the back with a coffee looking out across the bay the Barrow and the Lake District fells. Jamie

400 mile mountain road drive, couple of hours playing with very active grandsons, a few beers - collapse approaching.

We had a BBQ this evening and IT DIDN'T RAIN!!! I'm contacting the Guinness book of records as this is quite possibly the first time this has ever happened in North Swampshire. I wonder if it's wise living in the same county as a gun-toting hippo? G'night all Dave

So far the anniversary has gone very well. House back to "normal " ..whatever that means. Not much food or drink left. Neighbour brought some home made Samosas. Absolutely super! Talking of which ..time for tea Baz

Good morning one and all, with happy anniversary greetings to Mr and Mrs Baz. Perhaps I can demystify Friday evening's post. I had been told of the event at the Marine Hotel, Fleetwood, some weeks ago but somehow it did not make it into my diary. When I was reminded of it on Friday some instant replanning of the weekend was required. For many years the Marine Hall was the hub of Fylde Folk Festival, created and masterminded by the late Alan Bell. Yesterday's event was a one day revival of the festival to celebrate Alan's life. It comprised three concerts of which I attended two and was a fitting tribute to a well respected man. Fleetwood is about 200 miles from Bedford and just about at the limit of what I am prepared to drive in one day. Fortunately both legs of the journey were accomplished smoothly. I met again several friends of long standing and was recognised as a Strawhead fan by a few more. Strawhead, fyi, were my favourite band of all time and stopped performing about seven years ago. It was a bit spooky, though not entirely unususal, to be recognised after all this time and shows that there is no hiding place! Naturally I bought some CDs, from the back catalogue of Stanley Accrington and the current offering from the Wilson Family, and will need to visit the cash point imminently! Once I have enjoyed a long hot wallow I shall spend today quietly and look at the week ahead tomorrow. Best wishes to all Chris

John, Neil, and other caravan owners. One tool I find handy is the headlamp (elastic mounted like a miner's lamp). At some point during a trip you'll need to go outside in the dark -- for me it was usually the water heater -- and this lamp leaves both hands free and points the light where you are looking, not where SWMBO thinks you are looking. It's also handy working under the layout. Railway club AGM today. We managed to find a new chairman, and the old chairman took his position. On the table of free paper were two copies of Rapido's APT-E book. TheVillage 25th anniversary had a parade followed by speeches and food trucks. The mayor was there and our president delighted in pointing out that with over 1000 people we were big enough to qualify as a small town.

Why don't you unfollow it, then? That way you won't have to worry about it any more.

More Scotch goods tonight, but no more commentary, as I'm not in the mood for it.

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Wouldn't it have been quicker to have just built a new boat? I remember switching over from timber built to 'plastic pig'! Suddenly, I had time to go sailing rather than continually having to paint this or varnish that. I'd still like a gaff rigged cutter as a day boat:

Afternoon All Well I'm back from my brief holiday, without Wi Fi or indeed any other internet access. However, I no longer publicise when I'm going here or anywhere else. So I'm around 14 pages behind, with no prospect of back reading, so I'll ask if some kindly soul might PM me is there's anything really significant which has happened in my absence from ER land. Managed to catch up with an old railway friend, whom I hadn't seen for about 10 years, and who's moved to Devon, (Rick, I think you'll know who I mean) we had a good catch up while our respective spouses, who are also friends did the same, Then, it was a trip backup the A303 on the evening before the solstice, and although the traffic bod on the radio kept saying that the traffic round stonehenge was very heavy, it was largely through traffic, which was just being hindered by the traffic control measures - I didn't see many crowds and also not a lot of vehicles being parked. So then we did our half yearly trip to Hungerford where we stay in a family house for a few nights, and in the antique arcade 30747 saw a rather large ex shop display cupboard, which was labelled Clark's Anchor threads, which dates it to before 1896. 30747 actally collects wooden cotton reels, and their stands and display cabinets. It was huge, and with our luggage and all the rest of it, there was no way that we'd get it home in a Peugeot 207, but 30747 is very resourceful, and one of the dealers in the arcade lives in Carnforth, about 8 miles from us, and as luck would have it, he and his wife were actually on the premises, having arrived from Lancashire to restock their unit - then we found out that the dealer selling the cupboard was the dealer's wife's sister. So after a bit of negotiation, a price was agreed, and a delivery also (for a tenner, as they were coming up again with their van with nothing in it but empty boxes. And we bought it yesterday, and it arrived about three hours ago. On the way back,we were wondering about the best way to pay for it, and when we got home, there was a letter from my pension scheme to say that my pension had been miscalculated from the outset in 2014, and that a lump sum was going to be paid (less tax of course), which would pay for the cupboard about eight times over - might even be some for me to use as modelling and beer tokens. Back tomorrow Regards to All Stewart

Just back from seine's bury's having missed the first train by a couple of seconds. Nothing a pint in a local hostelry couldn't appease (although they've had a near 30% increase since I was last there 2 months ago!). Set me thinking again (yes, extremely dangerous, I know!) Why do trains have to close their doors 30 seconds or (in Virgin's case 2 whole minutes*) before departure time? On the continent, the time published in the public (not the Working) timetables is the door closure time; the train then starts to move some 20 to 30 seconds afterwards! Having spoken with many 'schedulers' in the UK, this concept seems too difficult to grasp over here! I have often thought of discussing this with Trading Standards as, if I arrive at the platform some 29 seconds before the published time, I can watch the train departing without me, thus the TOC is NOT providing the published service! (For the record, I had missed the train anyway having arrived at the station a couple of seconds after the published time!) * OK so Virgin wants to run trains like aircraft but I'm not aware of the need for taxiing time from the station platform to the open line.

The sky over sunny Teignmouth is rather strange at present. It looks like it will chuck it down in the Torquay direction but the opposite looks brighter. I think the Folk music performers may suffer. The Plymouth bagpipes may become the Plymouth waterpipes and the Morris may be puddle dodging. Just hope that their "blacking up" is waterproof. In 2 weeks, 6th July we have the inaugural Teignmouth airshow. For some reason the railway station has announced that the car park will be closed from the 4th-7th. This will in no way help to alleviate parking problems, especially as the equally large car park at the now closed Waitrose will also be closed.

Morning All Still packing rolling stock , Her is her to clean she's walking around aimlessly with a face like a slapped @rse no change there then. I'm off to the daughters later to see Zeus to see the new very big puppy I picked up some baby treats for dogs in Horrorsons this morning he will like me for that, I have been thinking about getting my own dog now I'm free of the other one I'll call it Nucow. Must get on I want to be done before the Grand Prix starts . Z.Oom

Consider it close (ish) protection

People into astronomy and astral photography use head torches but with a red light as it doesn’t impact your eyes’ sensitivity as much as white light, thereby preserving your night vision. I have not owned a dog so I don’t tend to search out dog poo at night and can not vouch for the efficacy of light in the lower range of the spectrum in spotting rover’s rocky refuse. SWMBO is, on the other hand, rather adept at locating such things with her shoes.

I walked past the Anchor Mills on the way to school. It was still producing thread then and big slabs of soap were delivered by horse and cart from the soap works on the other side of the road. All sounds a bit "last century" - oh, wait a minute. The soap works is long gone but the mill building still stands. It seems Jackie Stewart is 80. (Surely that can't be right?) I must get a tartan bunnet to wear in the car.

Afternoon all, Happy anniversary Mr & Mrs Baz. Weather here is reasonable but little G word activity as it's still a bit on the warnm side although the yellow thunder has been retimed to later in the week it would seem. Ah now the door closing time conundrum - it must be great fun closing the doors 30 seconds before departure at stations where the dwell time is , hmm, 30 seconds. (It could be even more fun on the City Loop in Sydney NSW where the dwell time at most stations is 18 seconds - they seemed to manage it quite well when I was over there). Recently one very helpful member of GWR staff at Reading had teh doors re-released for us when we arrived on the platform 90 seconds after booked departure time - the trains left 2 minutes late so it took less than 30 seconds to close the doors. However it's salutary to think back to those places where the barrier giving access to the platform was closed 30 seconds, or even a whole minute, before departure time. Anyway enough of that and back to the sufdoku. Enjoy the rest of your day fols.

Good morning everyone Once again the sun is shining so another day outside in the sunshine is the order of the day. On the agenda is clipping both the front and back box hedges and then feeding them. I will also do a little more weeding and repot a couple of herbs that we purchased during the week. Sheila also wants a couple of house plants repotting, so I may as well do those too, whilst I have the tools out etc. Enjoy the sunshine, back later.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Baz. I woke up about an hour and a half ago and couldn't get back to sleep again so here I am. In all I spent about 110 modelling tokens yesterday but a few of those went on refreshmments. The young man somehow manages to get behind a layout and often operating the controls, yesterday he managed the same both at the model railway club and at the model engineers (Gauge I radio controlled). Arthur Itis has objected to my perambulations this morning so a long hot soak in the bath is in order, be back later.

Afternoon Awl again.. Yes the text I'd typed vanished with an accidental touch of the screen. Reinforcements to the boat fitted, console not fitted as the clamps were in the way. Much mast step / mast and tabernacle measuring, led to a redesign of my plans. The old mast step was removed, a new socket made and fitted. Cheeks were made and fitted to the top or the tabernacle to prevent the mast bending sideways. With the gooseneck high above the deck, I decided stays would be needed to prevent the mast bending forward in that area. I went and studied the mast at that point to find two sheared rivets at that point, someone has remove a bracket for such stays. Research is needed to see if I can find the same make bracketry to reduce holes in the mast. SWMBO took Ben out for his long walk, so I mowed the areas mowed in the last couple of weeks, it needed it. I packed up when they returned..

It's often amusing when one person's junk turns about to be another's gold mine, Phil, I might have mentioned this before, but, with a couple of friends, I used to regularly attend the Gloucester swapmeet (the largest in the land at the time?). It was during my teaching days, and often kids would bring items given to them by their dads/granddads, to be sold on behalf of the school fund. Anything of high value, of course, would not be accepted without the family knowing its value, though some items in that category were still donated. Anyway, on one occasion, I had two donated items I remember. These were a Tri-ang Britannia chassis, minus everything apart from the frames and the driving wheels (not even the rods) and a Hornby-Dublo box for a cement wagon (just the box). The chassis was all right, and the box was what might be described as mint. I put 25p on the chassis. One bloke picked it up and asked 'What's your lowest price?' This would be the early-'80s, so I said 'That's it.' He thought a bit, then another guy came along and said 'I'll have that.' Whereupon a slight 'argument' developed. I thought this was daft, so effectively took it off sale - it eventually went for 50p! I thought the thing was junk, but to some, it was a matter of 'war'! As for the box, one of my friends was into collecting (he had the same box and the cement wagon in his collection), so he took it along to a fellow stall-holder who specialised in Hornby-Dublo. The guy was obviously interested and asked 'How much?' He had on his stand a Wills A3 kit, complete with chassis. It had been started, but appeared to be in good enough order. 'How much for that?', I asked. 'How about a swop?' said he. I couldn't believe it, and, in an instant, the deal was done. I learned later that he thought I was a fool........................... Some fool? Yes, I had to dismantle the Wills kit (dead easy, since it was just glued together) and build it again, also scratch-building a chassis for it. I also bought a K's streamlined non-corridor tender to go behind it (but sold the Wills tender for the same price!), and did all the painting myself. I wrote about the whole thing and it was published in the RM in early 1986. An A3 for a 20+ year old (at the time) piece of cardboard? Do you see why I suggest modellers go to swapmeets? Regards, Tony.

Belated wishes to Mr & Mrs Barry O Morning, more cloud than sun up here with a firm breeze, but not too cold, the greenhouse has automatic vents on the roof which open when it hits a temp of 20 degrees in there, I know if I will need long sleeves or not on their position, today is a short sleeve day hooray, have a good one all.

EveninkAwl, A gentle day that has included lawn mowing and strimming, watching SarfAfrikars failure to contain Pakistan's batsmen, a motor race that could have been enlivened if Bernie Ecclestone had had his way and been allowed to turn on trackside sprinklers, England's Lionesses having to struggle against Cameroon and the return to winning ways of a Scottish catgut-wielder. Meantimes there was a meal of char-grilled Romano peppers, Mexican rice with shallots, onion and broad beans and gridded chicken thighs to cook and deliver to her ladyship. No1 granddaughter is off on a residential trip with her school to the Isle of Wight in the morning so we had to go and give her some pocket money and wish her a happy but safe break. Next week isn't to heavily committed (yet) but there is no day without some planned activity and there will be dummy runs packing for our Isle of Wight sojourn early next month. No doubt a new wardrobe will be required by/for someone but not a wooden one with doors and certainly not for me! Hair is to be coiffured (for her, mine just needs an occasional raking). A significant piece of pig flesh needs cooking ready for someone's (not our) anniversary party next Saturday. I need to collect some wine to take overseas so we can sit out and enjoy the (hopefully mild and dry) evenings. I think I may now be tempted by a little bit of Jock's Falling Down Water whilst attempting to do a jigsaw. Fellow ERs, may your health be improving, your mood be happy and your rest be beneficial.

Good evening everyone It’s been wall to wall sunshine all day and being outside in it has been really quite refreshing, I’ve also had a very productive day as well. The TV aerial joint box was quite corroded and full of spider egg sacks. So it was removed from the aerial and taken to the workshop. There I completely dismantled it and cleaned up and as much corrosion was removed from the terminals as I could. I then re-made the cable termination, however, before reconnecting it up, I applied some conductive grease to each terminal, which I’m hoping will prevent further corrosion. Once everything was reconnected I then put tape around the cover of the box, especially around the cable entry point before refitting it to the aerial. Once I’d put away my ladders, I put my wetsuit out on the washing line to dry, I didn’t see the point of putting it out earlier, as it would have meant dodging it and the washing line with my extension ladders, which would have been quite tricky. As I’d just about got enough time before dinner, I set to dead heading the roses in the back garden. After dinner I did a bit of general tidying. There were quite a few weeds that seem to have appeared as if by magic, so I removed those and then moved to the front garden where I did the same. Once I’d packed up for the day and come inside for a rest and a muggertea, there then followed another spot of eyelid inspection took place. Today there were no pigs reported in the living room, perhaps it’s moved next door! Baz and Mrs O. Happy anniversary Goodnight all

I was sent for my aortic scan to a surgery in Stanford-le-Hope and despite living within ten minutes walk of Basildon hospital I have been sent to Orsett for tests.

Yes, it was, but by that time as J&P Coats according to the Anchor website In 1896 Coats, another local Paisley based family who specialised in sewing threads, joined forces with the Clark family to operate as J&P Coats, thus becoming the biggest thread manufacturer and exporter in the world. As this was showing only as Clarks, this is how we have been able to date it to pre 1896.

DMU departing from St. Ives, Cornwall, on 6th June 1977 Trevor

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2019/06/22/sandys-treatment-day-186/

We decide to have a Thai meal for tea..lovely! BUT as we were about to set off to walk... yep, you guessed it...Blithering flipping rain! Sandy has produced a brilliant cushion for John and Sandy;s neighbours as shown in Johns Blog.. absolutely the "dogs whatists"! Baz

Yes, the mill was always known as Coats by then. Our last house in Paisley was built in 1869 for a member of the Clark family.

Followers of @checkrail Stoke Courtenay layout would have recently seen his coal wagons that use the POWsides transfers. I have a couple of Bachmann 7 planks going spare, the old GW coal wagons, so I've made a start on doing a couple myself. First I removed the transfers from the wagon using a fibreglass pencil before spraying with a Halfords primer. I then sprayed the body in Humbrol satin black No85 and the chassis matt black No33. I shall be ordering transfers for a Bradbury and Measham wagon although I doubt the lettering would have been visible post war. Lets see how well they apply and take it from there. Purists will tell me the wagon is wrong for the liveries but I want a cheap layout wagon in a livery seen in Kingsbridge yard.

True story. Many - many years ago a man saw an advert in the paper for a Rolls Royce, nearly new, price one {old} Penny. He didn't think it was genuine, so didn't do anything for a week. Eventually, curiosity got the better of him and he rang the number in the advert. Clearly, other people had also considered that it couldn't be a genuine offer, as the gentleman who answered told him the car was still for sale and, yes, it was for one Penny. The man said that he would like to buy the car and the sale was agreed, so he went round to the address, still convinced there must be a catch, but for a Penny, not a great loss. When he arrived, there it was, shiny and looking perfect, as a Rolls Royce should be. Having exchanged Keys and a Penny, he couldn't bear it any more and asked why such a wonderful car should be being sold for just one Penny. The gentleman informed him that the car was part of a divorce settlement and the entire proceeds of the sale were ordered to be given to his ex-wife. Regards Julian

The major use for the one I have is picking up dog poo in the dark

Sunset on the longest day.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Had a great day at Ipswich today, spent oodles of modelling tokens, not all of it on myself and not all of it on models. On previous occasions I have spent the initial time there at the transport museum but last year a new event (IPMS show) threw the planned itinery out so this year we took the bus to the various events first leaving the museum to last which worked out far better even though there was an additional mini railway exhibition held in a pub! After chucking out time at the museum we made a visit to the local model railway emporium and disposed of more modelling tokens. Now feeling completely kernackered.

Evening, from the southern reaches of......the UK. Warm here, isn't it! Had a run on the K&ESR today, then a walk along to the end of the whatever it is at Rye Harbour, and now back at friend's campsite on the Isle of Prisons Sheppey. A little oasis of lovelyness in what isn't the most picturesque place. Interesting views across the Swale and Medway though, ships for me to watch. Cooled right off now though, had to come into the 'van for dinner. No idea what tomorrows excitement will be, this had all been planned but the friend that owns the campsite lost his wife in March and he's a bit disorganised currently. Although I haven't seen any schoolfriends for many years, a couple have popped up on faceache recently, and acquaintance with a handful has been renewed. One, Barrie, has become a particle physicist.....he was always one of the more clever lads but wow. Maybe he'll get to be a whole one soon.....

Two views at Low Fell, Gateshead, where my interest in trains was first kindled back in the 1960s: A K1 climbs from Low Fell sidings with a southbound coal train on 4th March 1967 Fifty years later, Flying Scotsman at the same spot on 29th July 2017 The lineside vegetation seems to have increased in inverse proportion to the trackwork going down! Trevor

Yes John, do remember Monitor. Like the idea of 'proof' of a child having fun - but prefer the prints. As grandparents it was great to go on holiday with a pre-school child who was not afraid of climbing or walking 4 miles on a beach but the favourite was hide-and-seek.