DaveF

Northern Germany for a change this morning. The location is Süderbraup which is on the line from Kiel to Flensburg. They were taken in August 1992 while driving back to Esbjerg in Denmark to catch the ferry to North Shields. I'd had a holiday in Switzerland and Germany, including the Harzquerbahn. Süderbraup 212 006 12th Aug 92 C17806 Süderbraup 628 204 12th Aug 92 C17809 Süderbraup Class 628 204 12th Aug 92 C17810 Süderbraup 928 204 Jübeck to Flensburg 12th Aug 92 C17813 Süderbraup 218186 Hamburg to Fredericia (in Denmark) 12th Aug 92 C17814 David

Round here some have signs, some don't. I just look at the lines and Give Way, many do not. To be honest this junction is a lot better than a number of others in the town. I sometimes think Northumberland makes up its own rules about roads. David

Herewith 2 photos at street level courtesy of Google Earth. I was on the left of this road. Note, the Google car was going in the opposte direction, so the photo is looking back on the right hand side, so you can just see one red light. From the left hand side it is harder to see. This is the view along the main road. You can argue I should have been able to see the red light but on my dash cam it comes properly into view as I reach the junction. Note there isn't even a Give Way sign. David

Now for today. I went in to town to get my haircut and was able to park in my usual place on the road. The haircut didn't take long, the bad bit was the journey home as mentioned earlier. I also rang Coop funerals, have organised what I want and paid for it (ouch!). It is simply a burial in a plot I already "own" in the local cemetery, Mum and Dad are already buried in it. When I bought it about twenty years ago for Mum and Dad (so it was in my name when we came to bury them to make it easier) the council had a "buy 2 graves and get 1 free offer" so I will fit in there as well, the exisitng headstone will just need another line adding. I have received the documents by e mail, in due course I will receive a paper copy along with some documents for me to complete concerning who is my solicitor, exact details of any service I want, where the deeds for the grave are to be found, what goes on the headstone and so on. They will also let my solicitors know that I have a pre paid funeral. It was really very easy. I've spent the rest of the day putting more things away now I can reach into cupboards and so on which means fewer things lying around. Some modelling was also done. David

It's a Give Way junction, apart from the lights visibility is quite good. I am going to think what I might do. Looking at my footage I think one (possibly both) lights are slightly out of alignment which hampers visibility. Next time I pass I will have a good look at it. David

Three photos atUlgham Grange crossing is in Northumberland, between Morpeth and Alnmouth. I've rarely been there as it is very difficult to park. The other two are from Ulgham Lane where I quite often go though it is now more overgrown than when these photos were taken. Ulgham Grange crossing Class 37 down l e April 82 C5633 Ulgham Grange crossing Class 253 43075 down July 83 C6100 Ulgham Grange crossing 20218 and ano down cement wagons July 83 C6101 Ulgham Lane crossing 37107 up coal from Butterewell 30th July 85 C6998 Ulgham Lane crossing 143001 Alnmouth to Newcastle 21st June 86 C7586 David

On Sunday I saw a small tortoiseshell flying around my garden, it landed on several flowers before moving next door. I often see them from late March onwards on fine days. David

Many thanks, I've added the details to the captions. It is always good to know the details of the workings. David

A short time ago I had a very unpleasant experience while returning home from town. I came to a road junction where the side street I was on meets the main road, less than a car's length along the main road is a light controlled crossing. Coming up to the junction you can't see the lights, you have to be just starting to move forwards to really see the light. The light changed to red just as I pulled out, fortunately I was able to stop just on the line. The couple who had just started crossing the road were understandably not amused. When I've been on the main road I've often noticed people pulling out having to stop very sharply, now I know why. I'll go a different way in future. I have checked my dashcam footage, you really cannot see the light until you start to pull out. David

I was up early so today's washing is done, Morrisons have delivered the groceries, a few small jobs have been done. Now I need to think of something to fill the day - perhaps the barbers, try to finish sorting out my funeral plan, work on the model or just relax. It's dull again, the forecast is for bits of rain now and then. When I got up everywhere was white with frost, that went as the cloud rolled in. David

The WCML around Elvanfoot, between Beattock Summit and Crawford in the days of Class 50s. Many thanks to hexagon for identifying two of the workings (see his post below). I've added the details to the captions. Bodsbury Aug 73 J3342 Bodsbury Aug 73 J3343 Elvanfoot Class 50s 445 and 419 down Aug 73 J3344 1S53 0815 Birmingham to Glasgow Central/Edinburgh Elvanfoot Class 50s 415 and 409 up Aug 73 J3345 1M30 1140 Glasgow Central to Euston Elvanfoot River Clyde bridge 2 Class 50s down Aug 73 J3346 David

To be honest I always have problems deciding on my favourite pieces at the moment they are probably: First is usually Schubert's Trout Quintet this year at No. 181 Then Satie Trois Gymnopodies this year at No. 148 Third comes Beethoven's Für Elise this year at No. 142 I also like almost anything by Shostakovich, the Strauss family and many many more. I tend not to like most film music though. David

Best wishes to Dave Hunt for his operation, I hope all goes well. The forecast was about right for once, it is still raining and misty as well as cold, staying at 6°C. During the afternoon I could hear a low frequency rumble, I eventually realised it was a ship's engines in the harbour. The day has so far passed pleasantly, the house is nice and clean. I have spent some time putting things away now I can move about almost properly so can get things in and out of cupboards in the kitchen. I also went through a pile of papers which had accumulated on my desk, most ended up in the bin. I have found a couple of things which I will deal with tomorrow, both simple - at least I hope so. I finished reading a crime novel which I feel ended less than well with one of the main characters being taken to hospital badly injured after a car crash on the last couple of pages. I suspect it is the author's way of getting rid of a character she is not going to need in the next book in her series. Much of the day has been spent with one ear listening to the radio to hear the final part of Classic FM's top 300. I think I must like very different "classical" music from many other people. The evening will simply be music and book. So far today I've managed not to fall asleep. David

Cambridge in black and white around 1947/8 this evening. Cambridge B1 down pass Kings X to Cambridge c1948 JVol7244 Cambridge B1 fireman 1948 JVol1231 Cambridge B2 61671 Royal Sovereign and B2 61617 Ford Castle 1947 JVol1425 Cambridge Fowler 4MTT Cambridge to Bletchely c1948 JVol1196 Cambridge J17 1947 JVol1434 Cambridge LNER B1 1114 and E4 2-4-0 1948 JVol1195 David

A dull wet start to the day, 6°C and it might get up to 7°C by evening. The rain should stop at teatime to be replaced by fog. I will probably stay at home today. My cleaner has just arrived, I've already done my jobs. Soon the washing machine will need to be set to dry things, at least it works quietly. Then I hope it will turn out to be a quiet day doing enjoyable things. I hope to sort out my plan for the garden which means doing some sketches. I must also sort out what I will need to have someone to do for me while I can't do heavy jobs, fortunately I know someone who does fences and gardens so will ring him one evening later in the week. Last year I had some membrane put under some of the gravel area by the greenhouse, sadly it is not as permeable as I hoped so at least part of it will have to be removed as the water runs off it flooding the greenhouse more than usual. Hopefully more model making will take place as well as finishing another book. David

Grantham, an assortment taken over the years. Grantham Class 47 1764 Newcastle to Kings X Feb 72 C843 Taken while waiting to catch a train to Retford, then to Sheffield and on to Manchester. Grantham Class 55 9015 08.00 Edinburgh to Kings X May 72 J2928 Grantham Class 47 down freightliner Jan 74 C1465 Grantham 254007 Kings X to Edinburgh going away Feb 79 C4307 Grantham 47014 Manchester to Parkeston Quay June 80 C5066 More likely to be 47004, with thanks to Andrew (brushman47544) David

Many thanks Jim for reminding me they went to Carnforth not Morecambe. I did read the link I put to Six Bells but obviously was not awake enough this morning to correct the captions, now done. One day I will get a whole post done with no self made errors - usually they are typos and I find them and correct them before pressing Submit but not always... David

Church was fuller than usual this morning, by filling the chalices to the brim we had just enough wine to go round at communion. Afterwards I stayed for coffee and was able to talk to a friend about her husband who has dementia and is becoming a problem, he has started to wander off if a house door is left unlocked and gets lost. He was an accountant and a very clever man. Today he was very confused because the clocks had changed and he couldn't understand what had happened. When she comes to church a relative now sits with him at home, they used to come together, he was treasurer for many years. By the time I got home I was tired yet again, it is very annoying to get tired so easily at the moment. I had a pleasant easy to cook lunch and once again had a nap. Since I woke I've had a long chat with my 94 year old aunt on the phone and then found a video on You Tube a friend wanted to watch, it is simply some video from 1989 of a drive through town in a car filmed by the front seat passenger. It is surprising how much it has changed over the years. I sent him an e mail with the link to it. Next will be tea then some TV. I may watch "Mammals" with the commentary by David Attenborough. Each time I see him on TV I remember Mum telling me about him, she knew him and Richard when they were in their teens. David

Some photos taken at Skipton on 17th March 1968 when steam specials were running. The two trains were from Stockport to Carnforth via Skipton with an engine change at Skipton (and other places). They were organised by Williams Deacon's Bank club. Details are available on the Six Bells Junction site at: https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/680317wd.html Dad and I, along with the other photographers, were not trespassing. The railway police on duty spoke to the signalman who said that no other trains were due while the specials were at Skipton so we were all invited to go onto the track to take photos and watch. As I often say it was different in those days. Skipton Sta North Junction Class 5s 44899 and 45290 Special Stockport to Carnforth March 68 J1224 Skipton 4472 Flying Scotsman special to Carnforth March 67 J1227 Skipton 4472 Flying Scotsman special to Carnforth March 67 J1229 Skipton Class 5s 45447 and 45110 special No2 Stockport to Carnforth March 68 J1231 Skipton Class 5s 45447 and 45110 special No2 Stockport to Carnforth March 68 J1232 David

The KWVR website page about the 2-6-2T 41241 states that "When the engine arrived on the Worth Valley it was painted maroon and, along with USA Tank No. 30072, double-headed the “Re-opening Special” on 29th June 1968. Resplendent in its distinctive red livery, 41241 wrote itself into Worth Valley folklore on the Re-opening Special. Although coming to the end of steam on the national network, it was forbidden to operate ex-BR locomotives in BR livery. The choice of livery decided upon was the non-authentic, but appropriate crimson, reflecting its LMS lineage." Link: https://kwvr.co.uk/41241-lms-ivatt-class-2mt-2-6-2t/ David

I think by 1973 the opposition had largely been dropped by BR but I suspect that locos would only be repainted when needed. I remember that in 1972 Bill McAlpine's preserved 03. D2381 was in BR livery when it was at Market Overton. David

A good night's sleep has been had for the first time in ages so I woke feeling a lot better and more alert. Perhaps changing the clocks does me good? I am now doing the usal Sunday e mails and will shortly start on the phone calls then I'll be off to church for the Easter Sunday service - I have to remember to take the sheet with the final prayer on as it is my turn today as well as serving. As it is the last day of the month I will do my accounts later in the day, hopefully they will balance first time. Then I will hope to simply enjoy the rest of the day. I am reassured that others are experiencing the slow periods on RMWeb, especially this thread as well as me. I thought it was something I was doing. David

The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway at Haverthwaite with photos from 1973 and 1975. Haverthwaite Fowler 2 Fluff Feb 73 C1194 Haverthwaite Class 03 ex D2117 Feb 73 C1196 Haverthwaite Fairburn 4MTT 2073 Aug 75 J4610 Haverthwaite Fairburn 4MTT as CR 2085 Aug 75 J4618 Haverthwaite Fairburn 4MTT as CR 2085 Aug 75 J4620 David

I realised that as it is the Saturday Park Run at the beach today there would be no point going there for a walk so I went to the Quayside instead where I had an enjoyable walk watching a few cars drive by and a cormorant trying to catch a fish. On the way home I called at a corner shop for a newspaper and found that since I was last there in February the shop has been refitted so the till is now by the door not at the back which was a shock. Naturally all the stock was in new places to but I eventually found what I wanted. It might have been quicker to have made the slight detour to the Tesco Extra. As I felt tired I just had coffee and looked old photos until lunchtime. After lunch I decided to have rest and lay down for a while. When I came to I looked at the clock and noticed it said 3.30, I'd gone up to my bedroom just after 1. After a few moments I remembered that I was being organised about the clock change this morning and that I had pressed the button on the alarm clock to chnage it from GMT to BST, it was really only 2.30 so I was able to watch both boat races. I've also managed to change the car clock, once I'd found the right menu it was only two button presses to select BST. I'll live with it being about two minutes fast. I've now changed the rest of the clocks as well and will have an early night tonight to make sure I get up in time for church tomorrow. It's been sunny and quite mild all day which has been very pleasant though there is still nearly an inch of water on the greenhouse floor. About every two years I have a "well man" check provided by my surgery, so far the results have shown things work correctly or at least are not getting any worse. David

A mixed bag for tea time, all beginning with W. Warrington Bank Quay 20093 and 20183 up steel 19th April 86 C7443 Warrington Bank Quay 87024 l e 19th April 86 C7444 Watford Lodge 25 down breakdown train to Lichfield July 75 J4506 Wellingborough Class 45 Sheffield to St Pancras 9th Aug 77 C3439 Wellingborough 45106 down 9th Aug 77 C3440 David