APOLLO

King John was a right so and so, !! Henry VIII also, one of England’s most famous monarchs was a foul-tempered, gluttonous, bloodthirsty tyrant who, as well as ordering the executions of two of the women who had the misfortune to marry him, had an estimated 57,000 people executed during his 36-year reign. Any more "Bad 'uns", not neccesarily Kings ? Brit15

To me there was nothing better than a Flying Brit in their final years, Crewe to Carlisle. Who needed film stars with actors like this, and you certainly heard their chime whistles !! Southbound at Springs Branch. Though we had a couple of quite welcome visitors from the far east (!!) at Wigan, a change from mucky old Black 5's and 8's . Final Brit through Wigan (Wallgate). We used to stand on "The Iron Bridge" and spit down the chimneys to try and put the fire out - never worked !! Brit15

Oppenheimer ? Yank Movies ? Load of Tosh. If you want to laugh and cry at the same time watch this. We Brits have style, guts and brains (sometimes) !!!!!! Brit15

Brit15

Just back from a visit to our HUGE recycling plant at Wigan, on the site of the old Wigan Coal & Iron Kirkless works, which warmed the planet a degree or two in it's day !! A very well laid out facility with many clearly marked bays and bins etc. Park and chuck !! I was disposing of most of my VHS & Beta tapes recorded etc over many years. It dawned on me that I've not watched any for years and nearly all of the stuff I recorded (Railway related,, many various films, documentary's etc) are now easy and free to view on Youtube etc, plus my machines are well past it, so time to go - 12 boxes of 15 in each !!! Now where to chuck them ? The helpful guy said boxes and tape covers to the cardboard bay and tapes to the hard plastic bin - so a ten minute debox / sleeve job and a bit done for the "urth" !! It is time plastic was banned for ALL throw away packaging (perhaps except bottles etc). Things like out trains were many store in their boxes etc OK. Anyway, Well done Accurascale. Brit15

Be careful what you wish for. Brit15

The Royal train has an official door opener. Brit15

Problem sorted !!! Brit15

Brit15

So glad I'm nearly 72 and long retired. From leaving school to retirement. 40 odd years in the Gas industry, at the sharp end, all my bosses (good, bad and in between) were qualified and experienced engineers. They were well respected. They earned it. My gangs were a mix, local lads, Irish contractors, We all got on together, got stuck in and got the job done. Superb people all (well, most !!). My office was the great outdoors. When on call (one week in four) home was a dream, I rareley got there. The customer was king, and rightly so. Safety, security of supply and customer care was our mantra. We were very well paid (but we put the hours in). When everyone else were snugged up in bed fast asleep the teams and I were out there in the cold dark and wet keeping you all warm. We survived on tea, fish and chips (and Pies !!). Would I do it all again ? - Hell YES, but not as a young man nowadays. The gas industry today is FUBAR. Gas is demonised and will be gone soon, rightly or wrongly. Our best leader was Sir Denis Rooke, he was an experienced gas engineer who led British Gas at privatisation in 1986 and kept the industry intact (and for a few years onwards) when Maggie Thatcher wanted to dissect it. Of course the dissection eventually took place, and now, far, far worse, the industry is villified and in decline. Well done Greeta & Co. How dare you !!!!!!!! Brit15

Best thing in Whitby !! Brit15

My Rover V8 drifts to the left when approaching a petrol station !!!!! Brit15

The old Tyneside Electric trains were well known (and often photographed) running with their passenger SLIDING doors wide open. Geordies were made of stern stuff back then !! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47684379182_74a2cf152f_b.jpg Brit15

Wasn't there more than one case many years ago.of Mk1 doors opening on there own on the electrified WCML due to body flexing at high speed, a couple of fatalities occured also. Brit15

There were three banking locations in Wigan, up to the end of steam around 1967 when Springs Branch closed to steam. All locos from Springs Branch or Wigan L&Y Prescott St sheds. WCML North Wigan NW to Srandish Jcn, a few freight trains banked usually by the Wigan NW station pilot, Jinty or Black 5 etc Whelley Loop (Wigan NW Avoiding line) Northbound Bamfurlong to Roundhouse sidings, Whelley, sometimes on up to Standish Jcn. Usually a Black 8 or 5 or a WD 2-8-0. Pemberton Lop Line (L&Y Wigan Wallgate avoiding line Hindley - Pemberton) bankers from Westwood Park west to Orrell on the coal trains bound for Aintree Liverpool. Usually a 4F 0-6-0 Tender loco. This ended around 1964 Brit15

I forgot to mention I do really like your gloomy, rainy dramatic skies, very S&C indeed. Mid 60's was my first trip on the S&C, the 12.0 stopper from Hellifield to Carlisle. The S&C is in seemingly good shape these days, especially the stations. I once modelled Garsdale, the control panel was better than the layout !!!! Brit15

When your train stops at the exact location for a photo out of the window from your seat. Perfect weather also, a rare sunny day "up there" !! Ist Sept 2022, 1450 Carlisle -Leeds. Brit15

DD Guarantee https://www.directdebit.co.uk/direct-debit-guarantee/ And as per Lloyds https://www.lloydsbank.com/current-accounts/help-and-guidance/what-is-a-direct-debit.html#:~:text=Secure - Direct Debit payments are,payments refunded back to you. Pros Quick and easy - Direct Debits automatically take payments from your account. This can save you time and means you don’t have to manually pay your bills each month. Save money - Many utility companies offer a Direct Debit discount. This gives customers a small percentage off their payments when using a Direct Debit. Secure - Direct Debit payments are protected by The Direct Debit Guarantee. This is offered by all banks and means you’ll have any incorrect payments refunded back to you. Cons Charges - If you don't have enough money to cover your Direct Debits, you could be charged by your bank or go into your overdraft. Before this happens, you have until 2:30 pm to pay the money into your account to avoid charges - this is called the ‘retry process’. Lack of control - Because companies will withdraw your Direct Debit payments automatically on the agreed date, whether the money is in your account or not, you could run the risk of becoming overdrawn. Easy to forget - The term ‘out of sight, out of mind’ can often apply to Direct Debits, so you’re more likely to accept whatever is withdrawn from your account without questioning whether you’ve been over-charged. Brit15

What a gem "Bawtry" is, no doubt many years of enjoyable work. I too like the angled buildings. As others say, please show us a little more when you can. Brit15

Ahh, Commentary, like the legendary Eddie Waring, whose famous lines were “Up ‘n’ under”, “Ee’s gone for the early bath”, ”It’s a full coat colder on the East Coast” “You’re looking at one ton of rugby – meat, brawn, muscle, brain – the lot of it” ”It’s a knockout” ”Stop your kidding Australia” “Eeee, he’s a pocket battleship.” “This lad’s a butcher – but I’ve never had any of his meat.” And his classic "As the shadows grow longer" spoken during a floodlit night match !!! Brit15

One for the Ozzies. The other week sat in the living room with my laptop (as now), wife flicking through the chanels on TV, up came a live rugby league match, Wigan V Penrith, who the hell is Penrith I said?, they don't play RL (Thinking Penrith up north in Cumberland). Then it dawned it was the World Cup challenge match !!! Dooooohh - dozy me. Yes Wigan won. Of course years ago I would have been there cheering Wigan on - after all I went to Wembley 8 consecutive years 1998 - 95, and saw Wigan win 8 times on the trot (and then loose against Sheffield just after !!!). We always used the special trains, Wigan NW to Wembley Central, often two or more trains ran, always full, never an ounce of trouble, very happy days. Somehow I have lost interest over the last years, the demise of Central Park (named after The Great Central Railway who sold the land to the club after the planned extension north from Wigan Central was dropped), the soul less new stadium, mates gone over the years etc. I must "try" harder !!! Brit15

We Wiganers are quite friendly. We teach visitors how to communicate at Wigan North Western before you get out of the station !! Brit15

We have our own passports in Wigan !! As to ID, why ? - I know who I am !! (everyone else can sod off !!). Brit15

I always liked the old NE region colours of light blue & white with orange nameboards. Many of there colour light signals with long hoods were distinctive to the region also. I have one of the last NE region timetables with an orange cover, from 1967 if I remember. Not very thick compared to others !! Brit15

There's only one game worth watching. RIP Inga. Brit15