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The entrance gate at Springs Branch has three different signs, one for each of the companies that now use the site. They all have different definitions of the work carried out there:- Northern Rail- Wigan TMD. DB- Wigan T& RS Depot. Network Rail- Seasonal Depot Wigan. I wonder if there are any other sites with similar titles.

It looks like a side tipping wagon. They were built at Heywood and used on stone traffic around Montrose, TOPS code PTA.

Where can you buy a decent strap for a sundial these days?

When a blind man cries. Deep Purple

Loving you Sunday morning, Scorpions

C4251 looks like 31418. It was only ETH fitted 31 without headcode boxes in the original batch.

They`re coal hoppers, alumina hoppers were similar body style, but were fully enclosed.

Fully fitted freight trains and parcel trains were allowed to run with the brake van as other than the last vehicle. When traffic needed to be added it could be coupled behind the brake van, providing all vehicles were fitted. A portion needing to be detached would be shunted by the train loco at the same time. When the train was fully coupled up the Guard, or even the shunter, would carry out a brake continuity test before the train departed.

Man on the silver mountain, Rainbow

J2762, nameplate looks long enough to be D9004 Queens own Highlander.

At Manchester Victoria, which was the former headquarters of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the Up Fast and Up Slow lines from the eastern approaches become the Down Fast and Down Slow heading west. The zero milepost being in the centre of the platforms. So Up trains from Liverpool become Down trains to Leeds and vice versa.

Makes a change from a hot dog

According to the1976-1977 WTT, suburban services from Kings Cross had letter codes for " Local passenger trains within the Kings Cross Division". B = Between Kings Cross and Hitchin/Royston/Huntingdon and Peterborough. C = Between Finsbury Park and Moorgate. H = Gordon Hill/Hertford J = Hertford/Gordon Hill to Moorgate K = Welwyn Garden City to Moorgate R = Hauled ECS Ferme Parkto Bounds Green/Hornsey CS V = Kings Cross to Welwyn Garden City. So 2V05 is correct, the codes were used in sequence throughout the day, so would have been used for more than one train. Unfortunately, this only identifies the route rather than the individual service.

BRM May 2015

It could be argued that Railtours are better equipped than a normal service train. As mentioned previously, there is usually a diesel loco on the rear which could be used to push the train clear of the mainline, obviously depending on the location of the failure. Heritage locos, both steam and diesel never leave home without a support crew. Any minor faults could be rectified by them, again to clear the mainline, or to a point where a more comprehensive examination or repair could be undertaken. A normal service train that fails en route would be down to the Driver, whilst liaising with Control to try and rectify or isolate the fault in order to get the train moving again. If that is not possible and the train is a total failure, then assistance would be required. These days the train behind may have different couplers, so woludn`t be able to push the failure out of the way, leading to massive delays, probably far worse than a Railtour failure.

Fulham FC used regular train services, albeit First Class. They`re probably some of the only people who can afford it. When I saw them they weregetting off a Virgin service from London Euston at Wigan NW.It was friday afternoon, a local coach company were waiting to take the team to a hotel. Fulham were playing Bolton Wanderers the following day.

Sleeping on the job, Gillan

Dover Priory is about 868ft between the tunnels. That`s less than twelve feet in OO. I have just realised , I made an error in my original measurement. I measured from Priory Tunnel to the Folkestone Road bridge. I should nave measured beyond there to Harbour Tunnel, which is more like 1075ft, which is just over fourteen feet in OO.

There are several locations along the North London line that have bridges at either end. Using Highbury and Islington station as a scenic break at one end to Highbury Grove bridge at the other, would include Canonbury Junction. From Highbury Grove to Canonbury Station. Mildmay Park station, Dalston Western Junction. Dalston Eastern and coal yard and Graham Road goods yard, which has the Liverpool St to Cambridge main line passing over at its eastern end.

D1041 Western Prince appeared at the Workington Open Day 10th September 1983. It was hauled north behind the train loco of the morning Walton Old Junction to Workington freight on the 8th. I passed it at Winwick Junction, whilst on 7T95 0700 Bickershaw to Fiddlers Ferry MGR. I think the freight headcode was 7P60 IIRC.

I`ve just read the article in the Doncaster Free Press. The accompanying photo shows the loco ex-works in Railfreight red stripe. However, it may have been the first one painted in the new triple grey livery, for the relaunch of Railfreight.

Definitely approaching Wigan North Western. Wigan No2 and Westwood power station in the background.

New York groove, Ace Frehley

Country girl, Black Sabbath

Holding out for a hero, Bonnie Tyler