EddieB

Could be, if all that jolting caused their trousers to fall down!

I fear this question may get drowned in this thread, but what were the modifications made to the 4-compartment brake 3rds and 8-compartment full 3rds for push-pull working? For the brake 3rds, most obviously there was an enlargement of the end windows, and fitting extra windows at the end of each side and, internally, the provision of a driving position. I guess there was also some linkage between the driving position and the locomotive. What else?

Converted 4-compartment 86147, paired with 8-compartment full third 82329, formed one of the push-pull N7-hauled vacuum sets on the Saffron Walden branch, for the brief period between the G5s and the railbuses.

Yes, I took my daughters there last year and the year before. Last year was "interesting" as we went on the Monday after the heavy snow fell the previous Saturday - there was still a lot of snow about, which probably kept visitor numbers down. I think it was around minus ten (we were prepared), which made the ride in the open carriages quite entertaining. It is good for children at Christmas, but be warned that the gifts from Santa (custom teddy bears, if that isn't spoiling the treat) are the same every year. Cambridge because it's returning there after yet another failure in service? Actually it should be Audley End/Saffron Walden, Audley End/Bartlow or Audley End/Haverhill (I'll need to check whether the blinds were swopped round when the railbus reversed at Bartlow).

Under a field gun on a farm in South Africa: "Survivors will be prosecuted".

Honestly, on a railway forum, why hasn't this been posted before?

Threads are great for discussion, but for a searchable resource I'd recommend the Vintage Carriage Trust website. (Please send any new sightings there). http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=8501 The cross-framed van formerly at Flockton does remind me of some Great Eastern vans, but what one would be doing there is a mystery.

So, how long will you have to wait for Heljan to bring out Wickham Central Railway of Peru railcar twins, as trialled on the Buntingford branch?

Waldeisenbahn Muskau: http://www.waldeisenbahn.de/de/eisenbahn/fahrzeuge/dampfloks

After those last posts, perhaps time for something "on topic". Maybe not quite the variety in an Essex/London border garden, but enough to notice a few trends. There has been a severe decline in the house sparrow population, and they are occasional visitors only (but showing a slight increase). Likewise starling numbers fell, but seem to be recovering. Overall numbers are slightly down. Goldfinches are getting through the content of a nijer seed feeder about every two days (Paul is right about the level of scatter). GS Woodies seem to prefer peanut hanger to fat-filled coconut. Chaffinches seem to have increased, greenfinches visit occasionally. Numbers of tits, dunnocks and thrushes fairly consistent. Biggest decline seems to be with bullfinches. Never high numbers, but used to be a pest at blossom time. Haven't seen one for over three years locally.

It wouldn't be that difficult to rebrand one of the many A4 models as LNER 4463 (later 18) or BR 60018. Noting that the name was "SPARROW HAWK" (two words).

Well, it seems that one of the missing birds has turned up: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-15742121

Can I post a REAL one? Why do local councils issue gardening and recycling advice that says the best time to prune trees is autumn and winter - exactly the same time that those councils stop their green waste collections?

I'm guessing Wendover, which does have some "double" name boards; clearly something on the Marylebone signalling route.

Thrumpton [Crossing] signal box (panel as depicted here http://www.signalbox...der-in-1964.php).

I think I might have preferred to take my chances with the Hungarian dog! Incidentally, going back to Brigg, the platforms look quite low, like the surface "tube" lines, but without the juice rails - is that actually the case, or are they normal height?

Life ain't fair. It isn't unknown for some men to have a fetish for women's shoes (fnarr, fnarr), but whoever heard of a woman with a fetish for real locomotives or model trains? Just goes to prove that the dice are loaded....

Curious. It's working again now - I think it must have been taken downteporarily.

"Sorry but this video is no longer available".

Isn't that Bill Bailey (fresh from Kraftwerk tributes, no doubt) in the yellow hi-viz?

You've got it. He started his career with the Great Eastern, his father John having been stationmaster at Diss (and who was the brother of my great-great-grandfather, the first of three generations who careers began on the Great Eastern). The modern Mid-Suffolk preservation society recently modified a carriage into a replica of Gillingwater's inspection saloon. Charles Szlumper, of that (slightly more) famous railway family served as resident engineer on the "Middy", but I'm afraid "szlumped" was a red herring. Well done, Paul - over to you.

At the risk of introducing a herring of the red variety, this one has really szlumped. Any more attempts before I call time?

There is no such thing as a safe mine. Despite all the precautions that are taken, those who work in such places do so with the unspoken fear that some day something like this will happen. It's one of the reasons that mining communities are strong and close-knit. My thoughts and prayers are with not just the families, but also their fellow workers, friends and rest of the community.

Except when the timing belt breaks!

Sorry to disagree with all the recommendations, but I wouldn't touch Panasonic with a barge pole. Had one of their "time slip" DVD-RAM recorders. Just over two years on, it failed with a blown component (memory fails which one). Although the part was a few pounds, cost of repair was roughly the same as a new unit. Soon as we took it into the shop to ask about repair, the technician told us exactly what the problem was before he examined it - such was the frequency of this failure. By coincidence some friends had also bought the same model, and had encountered exactly the same problem after about the same length of time. Panasonic of course denied any obsolescence. Experience probably differs for other models, which may be more reliable, but having been burned once I'd never buy another Panasonic.