Gwiwer

And for what it's worth SWT are still recruiting staff. Those staff are likely to be employed only by the new franchisee by the time they start.

Also living in SWT trains land no-one I have spoken to in uniform is prepared to say anything at all about the franchise change. They may well be under instructions to keep quiet. No hint here as to what might eventuate other than the usual requirement that an outgoing franchisee removes their branding (but not the full livery) from everywhere before they leave. So far I haven't seen any de-branded stock or stations. An educated guess would be that the de-branding will comprise of vinyl overlays in plain colour across the brand name applied in the last few days of the franchise. It makes no sense whatsoever to change horses in the midst of the Waterloo fracas but since when did railway and common sense go hand in hand? I would expect a couple of units to be shown with the new lot's vinyls on the first day but not at Waterloo as that will be running at less than half normal capacity. And a full launch once things are running smoothly after the shutdown, which hopefully will be day one. Major failures have become too common of late.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs JD. 52 years is a remarkable innings, scars or no. Drunk in charge of a minor - yes, an offence. Drunk in charge of a miner - perhaps. Drunk in charge of a mine is surely an offence of some sort. A fairly strenuous day here has seen a good deal of setting up in our respective bedrooms / offices. Boxes have been emptied. Furniture has been moved from temporary to permanent positions. In the female suite the finishing touches are being written to a PhD thesis now that it is no longer necessary to hurdle the bed to access the desk. In the male division the library is being re-established, the desk is almost fully functional with computer, printer and plug-ins all proven and working. Most of what remains to be unpacked is labelled "dinner sets" which I suspect are those which would never be used but are kept because one apparently has to. Two applications completed with a view to earning my keep in the near future. Supermarket order placed for delivery tomorrow. It is now officially wine o'clock. G'night All.

From which we also learn that it was unlawful for a lady to consume chocolate on public transport, it remains unlawful to fly kites, to slide in snow or to die in the Houses of Parliament and that it is not unlawful to engage in a variety of interpersonal acts (unless an innocent passer-by is offended) but sex on a motorcycle is forbidden. I'll remember that

It should be possible. The 8Vab unit 8001 was comprised of Vep stock and was intended to run with a 4TC unit in lieu of the usual Rep+TC+TC formation while more units were converted.

'fraid not. Not at this stage. But they are available now and might not be in five years time when I need them so two boxes (four cottages as they are paired) are heading this way for stock held against a future need.

Morning all (he says, scraping under the wire by a few moments!) Condolences to Mike and to Bill. Sorry to read Sammie didn't make it but that was quite a good innings nonetheless. Yes you can be "done" for being drunk in charge of animals, vehicles of any kind and a body of marching men. Presumably the latter includes women by default. A family member also relates a tale of re-enactors being stopped and charged with drunken-ness while marching on the public highway. In this case on the Isle of Wight.

OO scale I'm afraid. Somewhat more affordable than the 12" : 1' scale ones.

Evening all. I am delighted to report that the computer is up and running in the new abode. This will make reading, replying and rating very much easier than it has been on the phone of late. That phone is also now deceased. After exhibiting signs of terminal demise for weeks it finally gave up whilst I was in Cornwall and must be replaced. A flying visit to Cornwall wasn't. The Go When Ready railway provided the slowest high speed train I have encountered in years which left Exeter on time and arrived at Penzance well into the realms of a compensation claim. By contrast the return trip last night was smooth, decidedly fast and until Thatcham was a model run. Arriving at every station stop with several minutes in hand - necessary as it turned out in order to board the Friday night crowds - we were checked at Teignmouth and along the sea wall by a late-running and non-sprinting Sprinter which could be seen on its way towards Langstone Rock as we approached Dawlish. We overtook it at the Warren and were on time from St. Davids. The brakes came on hard at Thatcham and we crept and crawled up to Theale where we overtook a stone train in the loop. The on-board announcement said were were following a stopping train but as we suddenly got a green at Theale and leapt forwards that seemed unlikely and the offender was surely the "quarry lorry". Among other things my first experience of GWR Pullman dining was entirely satisfactory with dinner service being called at Totnes and all takers seated within a few minutes. A busy two and a half days in the Duchy included some photography, some pub meals, a very comfortable B&B (Mike may wish to take note it was Warwick House just two minutes from the Dolphin ) and a selection of excellent local ales quaffed. Musician friend was found performing in a local pub which handily also offered dinner. Very good female friend, impecunious single mother, needed something done with the mud-patch which was her back garden so that the kids had somewhere to play in summer and she didn't have to clean mud off the floors every day; I obliged by purchasing and laying astroturf having first done some ground levelling and stone removal. The message posted to my Facebook was that "I have made a girl very happy". Not in any untoward way, I hasten to add, and I hope that the happiness also extends to her and her neighbour's children. I cannot hope to catch up on events while I have been on limited service. I hope to be able to have more time here from now on. Meanwhile to all good night and sound sleep even if those be some hours away.

Electrification works in progress at and around Didcot. They are also diverting away from the main line through Chippenham for the same reason.

Would be nice to re-create the one-time route 38 Alton - Portsmouth. Southdown's rural rambling into the Downs via Soberton was upgraded and extended to act as the rail replacement when the Meon Valley line closed. It too never did well and was soon cut back to Droxford with a very meagre Alton - Droxford service offered latterly by Alder Valley. Very little evidence of the route survives today and the section north of Droxford is devoid of public transport apart from school runs covering some of the ground. A question arises. Southdown had a large number of dormy sheds around their network including, I believe, at Droxford. One late turn on he 38 ended at Alton however and the first southbound trip started there. So did Southdown also have their own dormy shed in Alton, did that trip come out of Droxford light or did they base a single crew (latterly a DC; in Southdown parlance a driver-conductor) there and space-share with Aldershot & District?

Grooooaaaannnnnnn Inspected the goods first-hand on Thursday. None purchased. An improvement on the long-lasting Hornby offering but I currently have more than I need of those (and no layout to run them on) and there are a few details about the Dapol ones I'm not prepared to part with around £125 for. I'd like a green syp WR one but aside from the renumbering required the lining looks much too thick and I'm not a fan of the interior.

Agree with Jeff here. A 4TC (and of course a 3TC) could work push-pull with a class 74 "large" electro-diesel but could only be hauled by a class 71 electric as though it were loose-coupled stock.

Dropped into the shop on Thursday and despite a hectic level of activity I managed a chat with some of the staff. Wednesday's deliveries were piled high as far as could be seen from the public area. The mail room was its usual quietly efficient self out the back. And the shop floor had a constant stream of visitors most of whom exchanged drinking vouchers for various items off the shelves. I even found myself offering some help to a chap who had very little idea about layouts and trains but was clearly under pressure from a young family member to produce a layout by the weekend!!! Having gone through the basics of DC vs. DCC, scales, power supply etc. I left him in the capable hands of the shop staff to sort out what was needed. He left with a large well-filled bag and a very appreciative vote of thanks to the staff. Including the non-staff but quite helpful grey-bearded chap purchasing some Cornish cottages among other things It's Summer. I dare say a few of us will be heading to Cornwall. Why not pop in? There's even free parking right outside.

Fly ash? I recall from the M5 works that it had to be kept bone dry and was transported in covered wagons because once it got damp all you had was a brick.

Night all.

Plan B. The Go When Ready railway was up to its piskie-led tricks today. Enjoyed a pint with lunch in the Bishop and Bear at Paddington. Set to form my 14.07 was shown due in at 14.01. At 14.03 we were ushered aboard the set intended for the 14.15 Cardiff. This was a 7-car set, reverse-formation and with no coach C. That meant no disabled toilet and no wheelchair space for the gent having booked it. It also meant my reservation didn't exist. A hasty purview of seats I might grab in the melee to get bodies and bags aboard offered the preferred facing-forward window seat which was snatched by dint of throwing my bag at it. The train was full and standing to Truro. We seemed to have problems in the Duchy. Station stops blew out to 6-7 minutes with 12 plus a draw-up required at St. Germans. I've never drawn up in an HST before. Short version: missed last kitchen orders at the Dolphin having checked into the B&B first (which is almost next door) so have decamped to long-time favourite Curry Corner at the top of Chapel Street. It looks a bit naff from outside. It always has done. But the food is very good and the chef / owner is a woman. You don't get too many female Indian chefs The mizzle has cleared. I may yet get some night photography in. Especially if the mermaids are out to play.

My email alert said "Photobucket. Free At Last". For one moment I thought .......

Mike - The Dolphin is Plan A for tonight's dining but sadly I can't loiter long enough to lug luggage for you

Morning all The seaweed-wranglers were awry yesterday as we were assured there was a 90% chance of rain for several hours. Instead we had more of the very humid sunshine that has been with us for some time. Today, however, there is a greyness hanging in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't. No doubt a prelude to my departure for Cornwall at noon. Cornwall is ready to receive me. Host one has bailed due to a family bereavement. Host two has bailed due to some weak excuse or another. Traffic is reported to be at a complete standstill owing to a burst sewer beneath the viaduct in Hayle. Mike will probably assure us worse things happen at sea! Cockwomblery on the domestic (antipodean) front as tenants who signed and paid to rent our house there have failed to move in and are seeking a refund of prepaid rent and deposit. Not on your Nelly. They are only entitled to the rent less our costs under financial "cooling off" provisions. They'll be lucky to see much change and are automatically blacklisted by all agents for being timewasters a right royal PITA. Must chuck the spare socks in the bag and get off my ahhhh ...... behind. Back dreckly. I'll have a pasty for you

Never having been pregnant I couldn't possibly comment. Good Nytol.

Some other destinations, prompted by the shot at Staines West. As the units worked that service they also had WEST DRAYTON AND YIEWSLEY UXBRIDGE (VINE STREET) EALING BROADWAY For trips to the end of the line two displays were available according to (expected) platforming. PADDINGTON (SUBURBAN) PADDINGTON (MAIN) The solitary PADDINGTON came later, probably in the early blue era, and was never accompanied nor replaced by LONDON.

Good Moanday one and all

Evening all 150 boxes down. 100 to go. Progress being made. Some areas of carpet have been rediscovered Pete - as far as I am aware it's a spoof though the dreaded brown slime does turn up in unexpected places. The real reason I had to leave Australia was my public disrespect for Vegemite as I claimed it had no taste and occupied the supermarket shelf space where Marmite should go. "Marmite" is also available there but is not the same product; the name was pinched (or possibly licensed) by Sanitarium who also produce Weetbix when Weetabix are far better. "Real" Marmite can sometimes be found in the familiar round glass jars but called Our Mate. If you visit import stores (often run by Indian families) you will find the genuine article labelled "Marmite" having been exported from the UK to India then on to Australia. Confused yet? Not half as confused as those tourists who believe the advice that one should apply Vegemite behind the ears to ward off Drop-bear attacks. Self-service lanes? I refuse to use them. They are an undisguised way to employ fewer staff, offef a lesser degree of service and make more profit. Checkout work isn't much fun but I prefer dealing with a human who doesn't tell me I have unexpected items in my bagging area every time I breathe. Get well soon to our coffers. If you share it in my direction that must make me the coffee. White. No sugar thanks. And on that note I shall bid you all goodnight.

Evening all. Belated GWR (Greet When Reminded) birthday wishes to Phil and Pete. More boxes emptied. Some stuff destined for charity shops, some for sister, most has been found a home here. Daylight re-appearing in some places from behind the piled boxes yet to be opened. The kitchen being slightly chaotic during unpacking we decamped all of 50 yards to the local, and rather good, Thai restaurant for dinner. Served quickly despite them being busy, delicious and quite ample servings and none too troublesome on the wallet either. Sopa Thai, for anyone venturing past the Hill of Strawberries. Currently enjoying the delights of U2 performing up the road at Twickers. Not at all loud, just distant and enough to hear. We are both fans. Several boxes in my room are marked "train stuff". I wonder what they might contain. G'night all. Sleep well.