Blandford1969

As a reminder the next Kidderminster Railway museum photo fair is this coming Saturday in the old nursery which is behind the museum. Doors open at 10 am. There are around 20 dealers covering a wide range of topics, plus of course the Kidderminster Railway Museum archive is available. Such an amazing range of subjects from locomotives, stations, rolling stock, in colour as well as black and white. Hope to see some of you on Saturday.

Not sure if this is a help or not. You asked about the splasher tops. I was looking at some images of Lord Nelsons earlier and noticed that it looks like all of the splashers are green, see what you think.

Its not something that is ever going to happen. If you were, which will never happen you would loose number 2 siding. The one thing about the platform at Highley is it was originally longer, However due to subsidence was cut back, you can just see the remains at the Hampton end of the station. Better when you look down from where you stop with the loco.

The answer is normally into once detrained the now empty train is depending on the circumstances and direction of travel either driven or revered int the middle road. The fun for the signalman is working out what order to do it in. Trains can pass at the platforms at Kidderminster, normally in the loop at Kidder (currently not possible as the double slip is not currently signed for any passenger moves) Bewdley, Arley, Hampton and Bridgnorth.

No is the simple answer. The normal timetables are not written for crossings at Highley. If a train has to unload and move to the middle road for another to pass its probably A a gala and B either a planned move or a signalman who has not read the timetable properly and about to have a big 'Please explain'

The next Kidderminster railway museum photo fair is being held on Saturday 8th July. Lots of dealers including 'The 813 fund - currently raising money for the machining of the new dragbox which is being arranged at the moment, The Barry Coach fund, Jermey Suter, The Kidderminster Railway Archive, Duncan Chandler and lots of others. From stations, locos, equipment in colour and black and white there is something for everyone. Doors open at 10 and being where it is now it does not get so hot. Hope to see some of you there.

The signal lamps are all electric. Most of the loco ones are LED in the main, although we still do have some paraffin ones

Is there any news on the FS OO diamond crossing please?

I don't want a formal diagnosis knowing that in some areas I would be thought a lot less of. It just helps with being able to understand my challenges and also better understand ideas on how to mitigate them.

Fingers crossed first announcement soon, and no I've got no idea what it is either.

Whilst new work is ok the juggle of kids activities, my wife's disabilities, the occasional railway turn and juggling cooking cleaning, gardening etc means that I still just don't have the energy to do anything. I look at the stuff on the workbench but then just move some bits around. Added to this my wife was in hospital for just over 3 weeks which added in even more with taking the kids to and from school. I have finally worked out in my early 50s worked out I probably have ADHD which may explain why I start so many things, but struggle to finish things. I have had some good days though. With my wife back I was able to do my driving turn on Saturday and with plodding up Eardington in pilot valve by the top at very slow speed did have the nice bit of being buzzed by the Lancaster at fairly low level (nice)

It is still brought up now and then for a period of time we could keep 3 Panniers in traffic as that third boiler was being done up. A bit like the other 15xxs that were cut up, Before my time but there was not the money to save them all and they were run into and beyond the ground.

There were not that many which went there which is why you did not see many photos. In terms of selection the criteria tended to be what was in the best condition and needed the least amount of work, certainly in the 70s. By the 80s they were all in need of much more. Had it been as you say the BR standards would have gone first but as we know this was not the case. The following Panniers came from Barry Scrapyard 3738 ,9629 , 4612 , 9681,9682.

I think you mean year with the other incidents they have had.

Back in the mid 90s we had a Driver who was an amazing painter who did all the lining and crests by hand. We used to make fun of 'Roy's gone for a slash in the tender again' . None of us really I think understood what was going on . He cared for his ill mum and by the time she passed and he was tested it was too late. He was taken too early, however we all at the time learned the message about PSA testing. In some places there are organised events such as. In my home town our local Lions group runs an amazing session with probably 40 nurses all taking blood samples. You get a result within a short period and it tells you your score and when you should next get a test or if you need to see a Doctor immediately. They have saved goodness how many lives. It really is so easy, quick and could save your life. Many of us just wish Roy had a test and was still around as he was an amazing mate.

Numbers were fantastic . Time keeping was sadly not helped by lineside fires and also a potential attempted suicide.

Thanks, I just need to finish labelling the 2200 new prints then and get them filed and ready. Hopefully my wife will not be unwell and I will be able to attend unlike January.

Does anyone know the date for the July photo fair?

What a corker of a shot at Kineton

By way of an update it turns out the solution comes from the Great Western itself from 1921/ I wonder why they did not go ahead and just make the changes. This was released today as an update. The modification will prevent the door handle from remaining in the vertical position and therefore stop the door from being closed but unsecured. In 1921, the Great Western introduced a ‘semi-slam’ lock for trials, in which the tongue of the lock was modified to strike the internal spring before the handle was in the vertical position. To open the door, pressure had to be maintained to turn the handle to the vertical position. This is similar to how a ‘slam’ lock (or ‘double acting’ lock) works, but it differs in as much the door cannot be slammed to close it because the ‘semi-slam’ requires the handle to be turned against the internal spring pressure, to the vertical position. The solution requires a new lock tongue to be manufactured and a minor modification to the lock case, but importantly retains the existing lock bodies, handles and springs and retains the present striking plates and springs in the door post. From a heritage viewpoint, it maintains the pedigree and appearance of these historically accurate vehicles whilst greatly reducing the risk of accident from a door inadvertently left unsecured. This solution should be relatively easy and cheap to implement. The alternatives of modifying the doors to use ‘slam’ locks or fitting new locks similar to those proposed by the Talyllyn Railway, would require modification to all doors and posts which would be very costly and take a considerable period of time to implement. Detailed costings are now underway, and plans must be drawn up to replace 140+ lock tongues. Operational staff will need training and familiarisation before the vehicles are re-introduced to traffic. However, it is hoped that, with a lot of determined effort, this could be completed by the commencement of the 2024 operating season.

Its a funny thing a bit like valve gear, on all engines its in mid gear. I suppose it sticks out to me as the air valve spends so little time in that applying position during any turn with that type of valve.

Admittedly it looks like you its long enough to bash the cab side and not go round. What is odd is that they believe the brake is in the running position (which of course if it were a combined brake it would be, but its the valve with separate air and steam valves)

mm, would that be the brake valve which is in an application position, neither running to the far left or fully applied to the right.

Just don't expect a full solution quickly. Replacement locks are £340 each (from memory) that's a lot of money to change most of the coaches.

Coming back to the original thread. An internal meeting has identified a solution to the issue with the GW coaches with the snap locks (if I can call them that) Please do not expect them back in service though for some time. With only 2 or 3 trains at most its easier to use Mk1 sets they need far less work to maintain and it allows the other sets time for work on them.