Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00

[5BarVT]

And I can confirm that after my one and only pub crawl (drinking said cider) while I was waiting on Partick station for the train home the signal went:

2 reds

2 yellows

4 yellows

2 greens.

x-)

Paul.

[Nick C]

13 hours ago, 5BarVT said:

And I can confirm that after my one and only pub crawl (drinking said cider) while I was waiting on Partick station for the train home the signal went:

2 reds

2 yellows

4 yellows

2 greens.

x-)

Paul.

It's when you see all of those at once that you know you've been drinking proper cider...

[Graham T]

Scrumpy from Hereford.  Proper rough cider that.  And utterly lethal!

[Mallard60022]

12 minutes ago, Graham T said:

Scrumpy from Hereford.  Proper rough cider that.  And utterly lethal!

Yup, any Cider that comes out of a Pump thingy, Bottle or Tin, is shite compared to proper job Barrell with Tap. 

Cloudy, smells of Cats' hedges and tasting somewhat of old Leather Boots stuff.  Anyone drinking that regularly will become addicted and eventually suffer from Vascular Dementia. I haven't had decent stuff like that for decades. Sad.

P

[Nick C]

44 minutes ago, Mallard60022 said:

Yup, any Cider that comes out of a Pump thingy, Bottle or Tin, is shite compared to proper job Barrell with Tap. 

Cloudy, smells of Cats' hedges and tasting somewhat of old Leather Boots stuff.  Anyone drinking that regularly will become addicted and eventually suffer from Vascular Dementia. I haven't had decent stuff like that for decades. Sad.

P

The kind of stuff that, if the landlord doesn't know you, he'll only sell you by the half - and it's not labelled with it's strength, becuase no-one's bothered to measure it. 

 

Used to be a pub in Southampton that sold scrumpy out of a plastic barrel on the bar - the same place had labels rebranding some of the well-known lagers, such as "finest Australian cat's piss"

[St Enodoc]

23 minutes ago, Nick C said:

rebranding some of the well-known lagers, such as "finest Australian cat's piss"

Plenty of scope there.

[St Enodoc]

My Sussex sojourn ended yesterday and, following an uneventful trip by South Eastern 375 (again), Bakerloo Line 72 stock, Chiltern 168 and West Midlands 323, I'm now at my cousin's home on the fringes of the Black Country.

 

We went to his local MG Owners' Club meeting last night, where I attempted to stir the pot by revealing that I used to be a member of the MG Car Club (think People's Front of Judea and Judean Peoples' Front). Regrettably the venue only had fizzy beer, so I settled for a pint of John Smith's Smooth, which I reckon was the least worst option.

 

I also learned that the entrance and exit to and from an MGB is more challenging than it was 40 years ago...

[Tim Dubya]

1 hour ago, Mallard60022 said:

drinking that regularly will become addicted and eventually suffer from Vascular Dementia

 

I wouldn't know, what are the symptoms? 😷

[Mallard60022]

 

1 minute ago, Tim Dubya said:

I wouldn't know, what are the symptoms? 😷

Look back at most of my carp on here and there's your answer!

P

 

[Mallard60022]

49 minutes ago, Nick C said:

The kind of stuff that, if the landlord doesn't know you, he'll only sell you by the half - and it's not labelled with it's strength, becuase no-one's bothered to measure it. 

 

Used to be a pub in Southampton that sold scrumpy out of a plastic barrel on the bar - the same place had labels rebranding some of the well-known lagers, such as "finest Australian cat's piss"

Just over the Footbridge over the Goods Yard at Devonport Kings Road, and 200 yards from my old School, was The Waterloo. It was a real old Spit and Sawdust sort of place. 10d a Pint Scrumpy; 11d a Pint 'Heavy'. NEVER mix the two...ever! (1966). The most I ever had in there was just 6 Pints of Scrumps. I thought the 3.5 mile walk home would  be fine and I wouldn't feel bad! I can't remember the walk, but it did happen. It's the only time I've actually been conscious enough to experience the spinning Room syndrome, however I was not 'ill' and next morning I was absolutely fine. 60 years later the affects are not obvious, probably because after the usual Student Stupidity and occasional Adult over indulgence, I've never really drunk large quantities of Beer (can't because of Barley in it) or Cider (can't get/find decent Cider in the east Midlands) at all.  

I do envy those that can drink such lovely Real Ales. Enjoy.

Phil

[Clive Mortimore]

1 hour ago, Mallard60022 said:

Just over the Footbridge over the Goods Yard at Devonport Kings Road, and 200 yards from my old School, was The Waterloo. It was a real old Spit and Sawdust sort of place. 10d a Pint Scrumpy; 11d a Pint 'Heavy'. NEVER mix the two...ever! (1966). The most I ever had in there was just 6 Pints of Scrumps. I thought the 3.5 mile walk home would  be fine and I wouldn't feel bad! I can't remember the walk, but it did happen. It's the only time I've actually been conscious enough to experience the spinning Room syndrome, however I was not 'ill' and next morning I was absolutely fine. 60 years later the affects are not obvious, probably because after the usual Student Stupidity and occasional Adult over indulgence, I've never really drunk large quantities of Beer (can't because of Barley in it) or Cider (can't get/find decent Cider in the east Midlands) at all.  

I do envy those that can drink such lovely Real Ales. Enjoy.

Phil

Stop going on about cider, haven't you seen there is going to be a new pannier tank, time to get excited.

[TrevorP1]

4 hours ago, Nick C said:

The kind of stuff that, if the landlord doesn't know you, he'll only sell you by the half - and it's not labelled with it's strength, becuase no-one's bothered to measure it. 

 

Used to be a pub in Southampton that sold scrumpy out of a plastic barrel on the bar - the same place had labels rebranding some of the well-known lagers, such as "finest Australian cat's piss"

 

Way, way back in the day when I were but a nipper, Dad frequented The Blacksmiths Arms at the bottom of Shirley (Southampton not Birmingham). There was a chap who everybody knew as 'Cider Sid'. Even at my tender age I could tell he was well pickled - and that was before he went in the pub! His face was the colour of an LMS Duchess and his complexion like the surface of the moon. Occasionally I understood the odd word he spoke. I found him quite scary!

[acg5324]

6 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

My Sussex sojourn ended yesterday and, following an uneventful trip by South Eastern 375 (again), Bakerloo Line 72 stock, Chiltern 168 and West Midlands 323, I'm now at my cousin's home on the fringes of the Black Country.

 

We went to his local MG Owners' Club meeting last night, where I attempted to stir the pot by revealing that I used to be a member of the MG Car Club (think People's Front of Judea and Judean Peoples' Front). Regrettably the venue only had fizzy beer, so I settled for a pint of John Smith's Smooth, which I reckon was the least worst option.

 

I also learned that the entrance and exit to and from an MGB is more challenging than it was 40 years ago...

Splitters!

[Nick C]

2 hours ago, TrevorP1 said:

 

Way, way back in the day when I were but a nipper, Dad frequented The Blacksmiths Arms at the bottom of Shirley (Southampton not Birmingham). There was a chap who everybody knew as 'Cider Sid'. Even at my tender age I could tell he was well pickled - and that was before he went in the pub! His face was the colour of an LMS Duchess and his complexion like the surface of the moon. Occasionally I understood the odd word he spoke. I found him quite scary!

Blacksmith's is long gone, I'm afraid - and looking on https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/, as are quite a few I remember from my student days (which weren't that long ago - early 2000s!) - including the delightfully named pair "The Honest Lawyer" and "The Bent Brief" - which were on the same road, one junction apart... The tiny one-room "Guide Dog" is still there though.

 

I was referring earlier to the "South Western Arms" by St Denys station, I suspect it's changed a lot since then though!

 

5 hours ago, Mallard60022 said:

...or Cider (can't get/find decent Cider in the east Midlands) at all.  

If you're happy with bottled stuff, there's several now do mail order.

[1466]

35 minutes ago, Nick C said:

Blacksmith's is long gone, I'm afraid - and looking on https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/, as are quite a few I remember from my student days (which weren't that long ago - early 2000s!) - including the delightfully named pair "The Honest Lawyer" and "The Bent Brief" - which were on the same road, one junction apart... The tiny one-room "Guide Dog" is still there though.

 

I was referring earlier to the "South Western Arms" by St Denys station, I suspect it's changed a lot since then though!

 

If you're happy with bottled stuff, there's several now do mail order.

Years ago on a cold Friday night, I I entered The Windmill pub  alongside the Common in Mitcham . I ordered 2 whiskys . “ Don’t sell spirits here , Sir, got a beer and wine licence only “. I was astonished as I’d never encountered this before and ordered 2 pints instead . I was with a mate .

More recently, I’ve been back and was pleased that they now sell spirits .

[BWsTrains]

Hi John,

 

Come Home!

We're missing some real railway stuff on here, you've gone and unleashed a maelstrom of pent up beer-talk and much else on your travels. 😈

 

PS glad to see all going well despite best efforts of ASLEF / weather etc. in Blighty.

[St Enodoc]

50 minutes ago, BWsTrains said:

Hi John,

 

Come Home!

We're missing some real railway stuff on here, you've gone and unleashed a maelstrom of pent up beer-talk and much else on your travels. 😈

 

PS glad to see all going well despite best efforts of ASLEF / weather etc. in Blighty.

Tomorrow is the half-way mark of my trip...

[Chamby]

8 hours ago, Clive Mortimore said:

8 hours ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Stop going on about cider, haven't you seen there is going to be a new pannier tank, time to get excited.

57xx, not to be confused with the Rattler that comes in pints…

[Clive Mortimore]

25 minutes ago, Chamby said:

57xx, not to be confused with the Rattler that comes in pints…

I thought this was a model railway forum not a self help group for people with urinary tract problems.

[KeithMacdonald]

46 minutes ago, Chamby said:

57xx, not to be confused with the Rattler that comes in pints…

 

Just recently, #1 Daughter flew a mercy mission to Cornwall (via Healeys) and brought home 2x12 cases.

Most welcome.

Otherwise we're reduced to it appearing occasionally as a guest in the local supermarket.

[St Enodoc]

On Friday, we took a pleasant drive through Cannock Chase to the National Memorial Arboretum memorial, which was a fascinating and moving place. Impossible to visit it all in one short trip but I did, of course, pay my respects at the railway industry memorial.

 

 

Later, my cousin kindly drove me, through the rush hour traffic and associated roadworks, to the hotel where I was to stay for the Warley show. An excellent dinner, arranged by @gr.king, where I joined @LNER4479, @jwealleans and @Barry O, was a good start to what turned out to be an excellent weekend.

 

More on that to follow.

[KeithMacdonald]

On 23/11/2023 at 23:48, Clive Mortimore said:

I thought this was a model railway forum not a self help group for people with urinary tract problems.

 

Some say there are many similarities.

[St Enodoc]

 

 

Warley stand D42 in action.

 

The idea was that Barry would demonstrate weathering while I described the context of the wagons that he had covered in white dust for me, using a sort of storyboard of plans, sketches and photos of the Mid-Cornwall Lines.

 

That went very well and attracted a lot of interest from visitors.

 

It was also a pleasure to meet, in some cases for the first time and in others after many years, many friends, colleagues and fellow RMwebbers (those categories are not mutually exclusive by the way).

 

@Chamby started the ball rolling by very kindly presenting me with a bottle of Proper Job, which he had brought all the way from Cornwall. Thanks, Phil, and I can confirm that it tasted excellent after our own journey to Leeds on Sunday.

 

From this parish I also enjoyed chatting with @Clive Mortimore, @roundhouse, @The Fatadder, @The Stationmaster, @5BarVT, @figworthy, @Nick Lawson, @46256, @Old Gringo, @LNER4479, @jwealleans, @gr.king, @TEAMYAKIMA, @CF MRC and @Phil Parker during the show. Thanks, chaps, and apologies to any others that I might have missed while I was taking a break or at lunch.

 

For myself, I stocked up on some bits and pieces that are either hard to obtain in, or prohibitively expensive to import to, Australia. Most significantly, before I started my trip I'd been looking for a second-hand Hornby Grange but thought I'd wait to see whether I could get one while I was here. Well, I spotted one on Saturday and after sleeping on it I wandered over to the trader's stand on Sunday to buy it. As I was doing so, another loco from another trader's stand jumped up and said "Buy me!", so now I have two to squeeze into my luggage.

 

Finally, I must thank my old friend and colleague David Burton of Brassmasters, who asked whether I'd be interested in a couple of wagons from a late friend's collection. Indeed I was , so he presented me with two lovely GWR loco coal wagons in BR livery, which will remind me of Paul every time I run them.

 

There's plenty about the show itself elsewhere so I'll leave it at that other than to thank @Barry O again for inviting me to join him in the demo area this year.

[roundhouse]

It was good to meet you and have a chat.

 

Only two locos???

 

Hope everything fits in your bags.

 

Ian

[46256]

I really enjoyed speaking with Barry and yourself, thank you for a very interesting conversation, not least the reason for your moniker. Please have a safe journey when you return to Australia. The layouts you recommended I inspect, in the Hall, were indeed top notch. 
 

best wishes Brian