DaveF

A fairly busy day for once. It started with a quick trip to some shops after breakfast, Aldi had things I actually needed, then Homebase had some plants I thought would be nice. After that I had a walk along the estuary in the glorious morning sunshine even though the wind was cool. It was about half tide so not much mud to be seen and all the birds were on a patch of shingle where there was once a jetty, back in the days of waggonways. Lastly there was a visit to Lidl, amongst other things I found a power bank at half price which will replace a much older one which no longer holds its charge very well. Then it was time for coffee and sorting out more photos. After lunch I tidied part of the garden and had a close look at the lavender plants which do not look too happy. They have not liked the very wet weather and the winds off the sea. If the bits not showing signs of growth don't do something soon they will be pruned very hard as a measure of last resort. If that doesn't work they wil have to be replaced. I am expecting an Amazon delivery shortly, doubtless it will come while I am eating my tea. It is just a new Echo Dot to replace a very old one which seems to suffer from selective deafness. April blossom by the estuary Estuary at half tide Site of old waggonway pier David

Today's second set were taken around Gonalston crossing which is just east of Lowdham on the Midland Railway line from Nottingham to Newark and Lincoln. Gonalston crossing 25121 up p w Jan 76 J5046 Gonalston crossing Class 47 down oil Jan 76 J5047 Gonalston Crossing Class 120 Lincoln to Crewe Jan 76 C2580 Gonalston Crossing Class 114 Lincoln to Nottingham July 76 C2856 Gonalston Class 120 Crewe to Lincoln Jan 80 C4944 going away David

I only did one year of woodwork and metalwork at grammar school, after that I was told I was doing Latin. To be honest Latin has been useful as a biologist because I can understand how scientific names work! I learnt useful things about working with wood and metal from Mum and Dad and much later for more specialist things from staff at schools where I taught. I was taught to solder by Mum, she knew how as her dad was a plumber and she learnt from him, then Dad added how to use soldering irons to do delicate work in modelmaking. Both of them could use woodworking tools and showed me as the need arose. David

It's one of my photos, it's a delight to see it here. The building is fascinating as bits have been added over the years. Mum used to work for Brush almost 80 years ago, she did a maths degree during the war and then worked for Brush as a steam turbine designer, specifically investigating the issue of metal fatigue which could cause blades to break and wreck the turbine. She said that even back then the buildings were a bit of a mix of old and new with bits added just as they were needed and ad hoc alterations made. David

I don't think names on locomotives matter very much in the great scheme of things, there will always be some people who will disapprove of a name no matter who it is named after. To me it is much better for the names of people in history to be remembered, no matter what they may have done, good or bad. If we try to erase them then there is always a risk that their bad deeds will eventually be forgotten and not used as a warning to us now. I often wonder what will be said about names of (say) politicians from the whole world not just the UK of the late 20th and early 21st century in a hundred years time and what will be said then if locos or building are named after them. David

An extra odd man out now. Somehow yesterday I missed this photo taken at Grantham. It is the same train as one of yesterday's, I wanted to include it as once again it shows the unreliability of colour images in terms of shades of colour as a result of the film ageing and scanning and the software used. Grantham Class 55 08.10 Newcastle to Kings X Sept 71 C726 David

It's time for some more photos taken in Switzerland. So here is another batch at Kleine Scheidegg where trains leave for the Jungfrau. To get to Kleine Scheidegg you travel from Grindlewald or Lauterbrunnen on the train. Kleine Scheidegg Jungfrau Bahn BDeh2/4 12th Aug 91 C16322 Kleine Scheidegg WAB BDeh4/4 12th Aug 91 C16329 Kleine Scheidegg WAB BDeh4/4 Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald 12th Aug 91 C16335 Kleine Scheidegg Jungfrau Bahn BDhe2/4 202 12th Aug 91 C16338 Kleine Scheidegg WAB BDhe4/4 118 12th Aug 91 C16344 Kleine Scheidegg WAB BDhe4/4 12th Aug 91 C16345 David

In theory but not always in reality. I think by 1983 there was a lot more movement of power cars and less emphasis on keeping them in sets with the coaches. David

My window cleaner does all my house for £5! He uses a ladder and is a lot cheaper than those who use the long poles. David

It's been a typical Thursday with a visit to church for the usual service, I did the intercessions for the first time. I have realised that I need to print them off using a larger font so I can actually see the words clearly, fortunately this morning I had almost memorised them. After coffee at church and a good natter I visited the beach where everything looked grey and there was a keen cold wind with rain starting so I didn't stay long. There were a number of sandpipers running around dodging the waves. I could see why they are called clockwork birds as they move so quickly and quite jerkily. Today I was able to go into the greenhouse without getting my feet wet so I brushed most of the mud off the floor. It has rained quite a bit this afternoon so a small amount of water has returned. I am hoping that the forecast of dry weather for the next few days will be correct. I did some more work on a model and since then have been looking at Living North, a local lifestyle magazine. This month's issue has 160 pages for £3-45 which is good value. In other words a calm quite relaxing day. David

This afternoon we travel to Bentley, between Manningtree and Ipswich on the Great Eastern Main line to loo at trains in May and June 1975. At the time Dad sometimes had a few days in Ipswich for his work and used to go out in the evening to take photos. Bentley Class 47 Liverpool St to Yarmouth May 75 J4299 Bentley Class 31 Peterborough to Parkeston Quay June 75 J4374 Bentley Class 47 up June 75 J4375 Bentley Class 47 down June 75 J4378 Bentley Class 47 Norwich to Liverpol St June 75 J4491 David

Changing the subject a bit to speed limits I wonder how many people follow the signs displayed on car screens picked up by the car's built in camera. Near home mine always displays 20 on one piece of road actually limited to 30 as going round a sharp bend the camera picks up the 20 sign from a side road. Then on a stretch of road recently changed from 40 to 30 it displays 40 as it picks up a sign on the exit before mine as I drive round a roundabout. I wonder how many people have been caught speeding as a result of that. I simply don't believe what I see on the in car display most of the time. David

I remember interviews having been on both sides of the table - more often as interviewer along with the Headteacher and sometimes (but not always) school governors. I remember one interview after which I was told I was the best candidate for the job but they already had someone who thought like me on the senior management team so they appointed someone else. Another time the successful candidate for a deputy head post had not taught for about 10 years having worked in the Education Department at County Hall so the governors thought he would have admin experience. Knowing what happened next in both those schools I was pleased I hadn't got the job. I didn't have interviews for my last 3 posts, for the first I was simply asked if I would stop being Head of Science to become overall Curriculum Manager of the school and manage the Learning Mentors, recommend teaching staff numbers, look after some of the finances etc. A few years later I told the Head that I though we needed better provision for very disruptive students, shortly afterwards I was asked to do the job which involved working Mon to Thurs 1.30pm till 7pm and normal hours on Fridays. I also kept my other responsibilities which I did at times to suit me and kept my A level IT teaching. For that I got a good pay rise. When I decided to retire I was quickly asked to work part time as an IT consultant to sort out software problems, write the timetable, and increase the use of IT in admin and lessons etc. I said I'd do it for a year and finished 8 years later. I always found the most useful information when interviewing was listening to and watching candidates as we showed them round the school and had coffee and lunch with them. It was rare that our minds were changed in the "real" interview. As for school governors' involvement there was only one I rated. He was a senior air traffic controller at the local airport, he always knew how truthful a candiate was being. David

Another look at Grantham this morning. GranthamClass 105 Grantham to Skegness and Class 114 to Nottingham Sept 71 J2776 Grantham Class 55 up Sept 71 J2777 08.10 Newcastle to Kings X Grantham Class 114 Nottingham to Skegness May 72 J2926 Grantham Class 55 down Flying Scotsman Jan 77 J5617 Grantham HST up Oct 83 C6289 David

As you may have realised I went to a funeral this morning, one of the readers at church who died quite suddenly about three weeks ago of a stomach cancer she didn't know about. I set off in plenty of time and found nowhere to park near church so used one of the town car parks nearby. The church was very full with extra chairs behind the pews and a choir of about 35 as the local choral group she went to were also there. 2 vicars took the service which lasted about an hour, there were at least another 5 in the congregation. Afterwards the family and close friends went to the crematorium in town, the rest of us migrated to the church hall for snacks. Snacks turned out to be pasties, sausage rolls, pork pies, lots of sandwiches, scones, other savoury things and cream cakes along with unlimited tea and coffee. I left after about an hour and decided to visit Betty who is 100 and lives next to the flat Mum had. We had an enjoyable chat and I got home about 1.30. As I left there was a sudden short lived downpour from a very black cloud. I didn't need any lunch! I shall cook a piece of salmon for tea shortly. The afternoon has been spent quietly catching up on things. My garage rang to say they will refinish the alloy wheel on my car next month so I have got a date and booked a courtesy car for the day, having assured them that I can drive a manual car. David

Now we go back to the East Midlands with photos at Stanton Ironworks, Stanton Gate on the Erewash Valley line and near Sutton Bonnington on the Midland north of Loughborough. Stanton Ironworks Rolls Royce Sentinel 0-6-0 diesel in scrap iron furnace shop April 69 J1626 Stanton Iron Works level crossing Sentinel April 78 J5987 Stanton Gate LMS Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0 down empty coal, in mist April 66 J449 Sutton Bonnington Class 45 up Jan 71 C452 Sutton Bonnington Class Class 45 down empties Jan 71 C453 David

Just a quick check in this morning as for once I have something I really do have to do in about 15 minutes time. I have to wear a suit and black tie. At least it isn't raining though it is still very cloudy. My neighbour mowed her lawn yesterday, she said the only problem was that the mower wheels kept sinking it was so wet. David

Some photos taken at Southside on the ECML in Northumberland. One shows the Whittle colliery exchange sidings . Southside Whittle colliery exchange sidings Aug 80 C5158 The NCB wagons got about a bit, we are nowhere near Lambton. Southside 254003 up Aug 80 C5159 The line to the colliery diverges to the left. Southside Class 254 up April 81 C5328 Southside Class 37 down oil Nov 82 C5877 Southside Class 47 47401 up ballast 24th June 85 C6964 David

Now for a general post. The day has been quiet, or perhaps boring. I went to the garage and filled the car for the first time since early February, in that time I have done 246 miles. Normally I would have done just over 1,000 miles in two months. This time I was able to get at the garage as it was no longer on a single track set of roadworks. However you leave the garage onto a side road which it is just possible to turn into as over half the road width is a big hole with a sort of barrier round it. After that excitement I went to have a walk along the Links, the wind was bitterly cold, I should have worn a winter sweater and a jacket with a fleece zipped into it. The council are working on refurbishing the wooden seating areas on the promenade. When it was done getting on for 20 years ago the council engaged consultants to advise them. The result is that the bonded gravel surface is coming off leaving very uneven bits and the wood has rotted. One might wonder why no one thought that might happen. Back home I spent quite a lot of time looking up information about photos on here and flickr to answer peoples' questions, by then it was time for a cuppa. Later on as I mentioned I'll go to the church AGM. David

In theory I accept that we should eat less meat, though there is an argument as to which livestock cause the most problems. However for conservationists as a group to say we should eat less beef while also stating that in rewilded areas some forms of cattle are useful for maintaining a good diveristy of flora does strike me as odd. I also wonder about the water usage, is the figure given including all the water the animals take in by virtue of their eating plants which have a high water content and the water they drink in some places from natural sources which would otherwise just end up in streams/ rivers. It is rather like "clean water" - the is a huge problem caused by sewage in waterways and the sea from humans but we also have to remember that every living thing produces waste products so there is always a level of contamination, even if you remove anything caused by humans. Even a lovely clear stream has things living in it producing wastes. Sadly the media do not explain any of this so many people now think that if we get rid of farm waste and human waste from waterways the water will be perfectly clean. As a biologist I do wish that things were more fully explained. Yes it is a bit of a rant, there is an urgent need to change how we live but it needs explaining and "selling" much better to us all. David

Around Grantham in black and white about 1950/1. Grantham rear of down pullman c1951 JVol1173 Grantham A4 l e for down Northumbrian c1951 JVol7010 60015 Quicksilver Grantham Barrowby Road A2/2 60504 Mons Meg down ex pass c1950 JVol7366 Grantham Barrowby Road Junction A1 down ex pass c1950 JVol3176 Grantham Barrowby Road Junction A1 up pullman c1950 JVol3168 David

I've had a look and haven't got any more photos of the loco. According to the IRS Industrial Locomotives 1979 Raine & Co Ltd, Delta Iron and Steel Works, Blaydon had 3 0-4-0 dieslel electrics shunters. They are shown as: Brush 339 /Beyer Peacock 7946 of 1961 Brush 340 /Beyer Peacock 7947 of 1961 (dismantled by 1979) Brush 443 /Beyer Peacock 7873 of 1962 There are three photos by Murray Liston on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/188593380@N02/50789261713/in/photolist-2ko92Q5-2ko5f36-2ko9C2x-e8AVSP https://www.flickr.com/photos/188593380@N02/50790116137/in/photolist-2ko92Q5-2ko5f36-2ko9C2x-e8AVSP https://www.flickr.com/photos/188593380@N02/50790001096/in/photolist-2ko92Q5-2ko5f36-2ko9C2x-e8AVSP I hope this is useful. David

Just off the Newcastle to Carlisle line, much of it went foer the garden festival and of course the Metrocentre shops. The cokeowrks closed in 1986, this Wikipedia article gives brief details. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derwenthaugh_Coke_Works#:~:text=The works were closed in,gradually cleared and de-contaminated. David

A cold NE wind this morning, I don't think I'll be doing much outdoors except for a quick walk to stretch my legs. At least there are some breaks in the cloud. The groceries have come, this week's substitute is a wholemeal loaf with sunflower seeds and spelt. I will try it to see what it tastes like. I may do some modelling or photographic things today. This evening is the annual church meeting to elect churchwardens and to hear the PCC report on the year and elect the members. It does not sound exciting, I'm not sure if the day will even be interesting. I've found that yet another level crossing on a road I regularly use will be closed for about 10 days towards the end of the month. I begin to wonder if this is all part of a big scheme to make it impossible to drive anywhere. The bus diversionary routes will add quite a lot of time to journeys. One of the other roads I would have used to avoid it is also having a closure for yet more level crossing work. I just hope that once the trains actually start running, possibly late this year, that it will all have been worth it. Sadly my new local station will be just too far to walk to and I rarely go the places the line will serve, including Newcastle. David

Some photos taken around Derwenthaugh just west of Gateshead to start today. Derwenthaugh 0-4-0Ds in yard of Raine and Co Delta Works Jan 84 C6341 Derwenthaugh 37068 Jan 84 C6344 Derwenthaugh Class 101 Hexham to Newcastle Jan 84 C6345 Derwenthaugh Cobra coal containers Jan 84 C6346 Derwenthaugh coke works 08370 on loan to NCB Jan 84 C6355 David