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This afternoon's photos are from the Cumbrian Coast line, starting at Grange over Sands and visiting a few locations on the way north towards Carlisle. Grange over Sands 142058 and 156455 from Barrow 11th April 95 C20042.jpg Cark and Cartmel 11th April 95 C20048.jpg Ravenglass 142082 to Barrow 24th Aug 94 C19788.jpg Harrington 24th Aug 94 C19762.jpg Harrington 153330 to Whitehaven 24th Aug 94 C19767.jpg David

As a snotty urchin I was lucky to be a 10 min walk from Wigan North Western, though I could view from mum & dads bedroom window the constant procession of 8F & WD powered coal trains on the L&Y Pemberton loop line hauling Yorkshire coal to Liverpool docks - which seemed to drastically reduce sfter around 1963/4 (line shut 1968). These scenes from the Wigan World website - some excellent local photos. https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?page=2&opt=5&gallery=Wigan+North+West+Station https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?opt=5&offset=0&gallery=Central+Station One of Wigan GC's J10 spent her last years at Springs Branch. This one is the station pilot. J10's were liked by Springs Branch crews so I have read. Who wouldn't be a snotty nosed Wigan spotter in the 60's ? Far better than getting yourself bashed around playing rugby !!!!! Brit15

Greetings one and all Collecting the CD player from Currys should have been so straightforward. I received an e-mail on my phone telling me exactly what to do. What I did not anticipate was that the phone would disappear from my jacket pocket on the short journey to the shop/warehouse/sales point. I wondered what the 'clunk' was. Without my further intervention a salesperson appeared with a parcel, placed it in the boot and retreated to the safety of his workplace, leaving me to tear out my recently trimmed hair in the increasingly frantic search for the phone. A fellow phone user kindly dialled my number, which helped me to discover in just what a silly place it had landed. After working out how to move the driving seat forward and back I was able to retrieve the errant instrument. Farewell, then, to half an hour of my life. The CD player has now played part of a CD and has plenty more to play. Then came the Zoom meeting. Everyone else taking part seems to be able to just click on the invitation and appear in both sound and vision. I got sound but not vision. Instead I read an unhelpful message - "Choose another camera". When you have only the one built into the laptop this is just not an option. The sooner we go back to meeting in a pub the better. Technology 1, Chris nil. I think I may listen to some music today. Best wishes to all Chris

On Monday 20 July Wednesday 22 July we will be starting work to migrate the site database which includes all posts and other content onto a new platform with the aim of giving better performance and less site outages. The work is to copy the existing database (which is large!) and upload it to the new platform. The existing community software (which stays where it is for now) will then point to the new location and if all works then great. If not the settings will revert to pointing to the existing database. To carry out this work it will be necessary to turn the site off so that there are no writes to the database (and hence the possibility of corruption or loss) and this will take place from 08.30 on Monday. It is hoped it may be a few hours but could, of course, be longer. Any updates whilst the site is offline will appear on our Server Update Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/RMweb-Server-Updates-205398459548735 If all goes to plan we will then look to migrate the community software and attachments etc. at a later date. We hope to keep the disruption to a minimum.

Tea time, and the rather formidable front end of 60054 is seen through the arch.

Early golf, so in a rush. One photo to be going on with. I'll count the poll when I get back, but we will get another set up now. Let's move to the classic sleepy bucolic branch line terminus. There were lots of them, and we know about them even if they aren't in our preferred area, so I think we will do them in regions. Today, country branch line termini on the Western and Southern regions of BR. Before BR came into existence counts, of course, its just to give us specific areas.

Another twist to the same loco pose....

I was going to discard this picture as there was to much work involved to remove the door/frame/light switch but then I thought someone might like it as is....

Morning All, It's not raining here today, more's the pity as the G word has been added to this morning's routine orders. As Baz would put it, Pah! I think that some subterfuge and low cunning may be required if any appreciable modelling time is to be had later. We shall see. Chrisf - you aren't alone as almost exactly the same sketch with a mobile phone happened to me a few weeks ago and occupied nearly an hour of my life that I won't get back. I felt like a starboard mammary when I found it too. Stay safe and well people. Dave

Rotherham Masborough Langford Bridge Penzance Manchester Victoria

I believe Roo's aren't poisonous. They'll just kick you to death......

We have compulsorary voting so everyone has the right to whinge about the party in power. - though its not compulsorary to actually enroll to vote when you hit 18. One thing that has always struck me as weird in other countries is holding elections on week days. How are many people able to even take time off to vote, given it seems to take hours at some places if TV news is anything to go by. I guess that adds to the reason why voting isn't compulsorary and why the turn out is often so small. Here all elections are held on Saturday and polling locations are schools or community halls, so people can drop in on the way to or from shopping, kids sport, the beach and so on. It can turn into a bit of a carnival, local community groups run sausage sizzles, face painting etc to raise funds (known as the Democracy Sausage), they know they have a captive target audience and the smell of sausages and onions cooking while standing in a line doing nothing makes it very hard to resist.

Nooooo..... Skippy.....

We’re like Ships in the night! i pulled in just as the nuneaton service left so had to go to rugby and get a train back to nuneaton where I got the same train I would have got back to crewe had I got the local! only a couple of pics from last night and this morning 66787 under the crane in Trafford park, not a good pic as all the light was the other side of the loco and this morning back in nuneaton 70803 and my train home and some videos class 88 heading to daventry class 70 heading to Mountsorrel from Carlisle and the 350 desiro units pulling in to crewe same job again tonight!

Good evening everyone The weather has been pretty awful today, no heavy rain but lots of light showers, so it curtailed the planned bench building. However, I did manage to get the bench partly assembled, in that all the slats are in place, but not yet tightened up. I also need to fit both the stays and rear strap that prevents the slats from opening up! Hopefully, I’ll get it finished tomorrow, but it does look good underneath the workshop window though! In between the showers I continued working on the turntable, I finished making the lead, fitting an 8 pin plug on each end. Luckily I tested it once I’d done and found I’d got 2 wires crossed, this thankfully was easily rectified. I also fitted the socket and wiring in the new control panel. This still hasn’t been painted yet, but I want to mark and drill all the holes for the LEDs and switches etc first. When that’s been done, I’ll get it ready for priming and painting. Goodnight all

From the just released North American Newsletter 127 - also can be found, along with a form to use for applying, on the Rapido website at https://rapidotrains.com/content/rapido-careers

GDB is OK but not posting current. Polybear has mentioned HH.. But if people get worried.. ever thought about using a PM on here to check they are OK? It isn't difficult, No response from Kingzance Trisonic and a couple of others... Baz

The Blackburn with Darwen boundary is about 2 miles away from me..... Family NB have strict instructions to avoid Blackburn unless absolutely desperately necessary .

Thanks for posting those, Mick. I must admit that I am missing my occasional trip over to Carlisle and the S&C.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I had intended to go to Tesco's yesterday once the car had been serviced but the replacement tires were not in stock so the car was left overnight so I will have to wait until this afternoon to do some shopping. Whilst the fridge is nearly empty I'll give it a clean. Bin day today, now they've bin an' gorn, even the lesser spotted glass and bottle wagon. Now to wait for the car to be returned.

Ey up! Ladybugs to me ... After a busy day yesterday even more cleaning to be done today. Pah! Should hear tonight if the League Cricket rules have been amended. If they are sticking with the current ones no way can I umpire on Saturday... Newbryford...hope you don't end up being locked down. As it happens I feel like being inthe "in between" world. Itdoes seem to be having an impact on a couple of friends I know (he has started taking prescribed "calming down" tablets... normally he is so laid back to be horizontal. Time to ...finish mugatea, get ready and get the hoover out! Have as great a day as you can Baz

What was the old one? I am sure that it could be repaired. And what it the new one? I have been interested in vintage audio for a long time. One favorite Sherwood S-7100Athat now needs some attention: The "stack"; the top is a Kenwood KT-7300, below that is a Marantz 2238B, and the bottom is an Onkyo TX-4500MK2 (my usual daily driver): My Pioneer SX-780 temporarily in use after replacing all of the lights (the unit on top is a Tascam 123B cassette deck): A better view of the big Onk: Back then, I think visual appearance was also considered along with audio quality. Some are quite stunning.

They are ladybirds here. And they are venomous.

I know how Baz’s friend feels, for me it’s not fear of the virus itself, it’s more it’s impact on life. As I’ve posted my balance has been off and anxiety does that. Anyway I hope his medication is successful and we all pull through it. Robert

Steady on BoD .. that is the wrong side of the Pennines.. you could catch something worse than the pandemics!! Baz

Morning all. I think we may be about to have a sunny spell after the earlier overcast conditions. I can even see a patch of blue sky. Our food order is probably on its way from the big Waitrose in Southend. It isn’t quite in Shoeburyness but quite close. Aditi delivered her spectacles which have had a temporary arm for a couple of weeks to the opticians. They have been open for repairs but are starting eye tests again under very strict COVID prevention procedures. We aren’t booking them yet though. Aditi said we should wait to see what the gastro and heart consultants both have to say to me in August. I will try and do something today, anything to be honest. I felt a bit ghastly yesterday, nothing specific, just yukky. As usual feeling yukky didn’t stop me eating my dinner. Veggies included the first of our runner beans and another attempt to eat the supply of courgettes. They seem to grow rapidly overnight. Anyway I will find something to do. Perhaps a parcel will arrive. Update. Patch of blue sky has now been obscured by cloud. Tony

Good morning everyone Well the weather is pretty much the same as yesterday, only you can actually see the rain today, it looks like I’m going to get lots done in the workshop today, every cloud and all that! In between showers I’ll attempt to complete the bench, but to be honest, I’m not holding out much hope! Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later.

Thanks for that Mike.i have a very good friend, from childhood who lives at Chaigley. Amongst other things he has a rather nice collection of vintage tractors, and other rather nice vehicles. Good moaning all and sundry. I didn't get time to post much yesterday but did read what was happenning. We ended up having a BBQ with two sets of friends and a very good socially distanced evening was had. Some 40 yr old cognac even got consumed. Today has been decreed a quiet day so I will probably spend the morning getting the recalcitrant hall lights to work. I will also try to work out when some photos were taken. In my scanning I have found a few odd scatterred negative strips and slides. I'm now trying to get them in their proper place from the subject matter. This includes such things as, the season and what anorak's/jackets the kids were wearing. One slide is labelled 1983 by Kodak but the subject matter wasn't built till 1990 (mk 4 DVT''s). That will be interesting to sort out. Regards to all, and Douglas, just remember to use boiling water to make tea, and not the tepid stuff that certain US restaurants serve. Jamie

Wombates aren't t poisonous either...just don't get in the way of their teeth!!! Baz

Well I'm a happy bunny having seen comet Neowise this evening. It is directly visible to the eye, but the view is improved with binoculars. Having gone out about 45 minutes after sunset someone showed up at the end of my street. After a short conversation he indicated that he had seen it last night, higher in the sky that I had thought it would be. Back out later, 90 minutes after sunset, there it was - I spotted it straight away. I've never seen a comet before being disappointed to miss the last visit of Halley's comet.

The irrigating irrigation system is back in business. I have suggested to the owners that they really ought to replace the main circuit breaker with one that also includes ground fault detection. It would greatly reduce the risk of electrocuting someone in the lake.

Let's not do politics. I come here to escape from them

Scrolling through past photos, I found this. Always worth reminding yourself where you've come from. Here was the progress in 2017 and in 2020

Let it cool down after you add the hot water. When I was young I was allowed to pour my tea (no milk added) into a saucer to blow on before drinking. While I don't do that now it is ok if you let it cool a little before drinking (its wonderful for cooling you down!) And please, do not use ice in it! It is a machination of the devil... Baz PS her indoors now takes Yorkshire tea bags with us wherever we go overseas.. but it must be used only with hot water

Afternoon All The car has been awaiting the attention of a brake specialist at a well known national tyre and brake specialist due to squealing, and the handbrake sticking on, but the person doing the work had been put into self isolation due to his partner showing symptoms. He had said that it needed back brake shoes, and possibly front pads. I had taken it there, as my regular garage was too busy to look at it urgently. I had, however, also got the car booked on for a service for today, Well, the car was serviced and MOTd this morning, and as usual, the garage did an exceptional job - I had it booked in for an intermediate service - they offer three levels, basic, intermediate, and full. However, as it only had a basic last year when I bought it, they found that the plugs and air filter needed to be changed, and would work out dearer than the cost of the full service, so they upgraded to a full, but hey, at £204.99 inc parts labour, MOT, and VAT, it is not all that expensive. As part of the major service at the garage, a wheels off inspection of the brakes is included - the mechanic took the wheels off, and found that the back brakes actually had plenty of lining, as did the front brakes, but there was a sticking return spring on the back nearside, freed it off, and tested everything - and at no extra cost. Guess where I won't be going for any more tyres or work to be done?. 30747 has some ideas painting and papering, and I guess it is just better to go along with them that to argue - I won't win anyway - and as the paper has been bought (see above), and a trip to Johnstone's has been undertaken for more gloss paint, being the cream that we use throughout the house, and which was modified for our bedroom, I foresee that we are going to be busy for the next couple of weeks. And of course, generic greetings are, as ever, on offer, together with a reiteration of the wish that some of the missing ERs return to the fold ASAP. Possibly back tomorrow Regards to All Stewart

HH is fine and is posting elsewhere. However GDB has not geen heard of for a while. I believe tyat 81c waw going to ring him if he hasn't surfaced by the weekend. Jamie

This must be fun driving with a headwind:-

The Iron Bridge 9as we called it) over the L&Y at the side of North Western was also a god spot - trying to spit down the loco chimneys "to put the fire out" !! Looking south(ish) from the bridge, Wigan NW to the right Looking 'tuvver way - Sleeper train departing Wallgate station ---- A sleeper train from Wallgate ??????? Taken from the WCML bridge over the L&Y - Wallgate station. Michaels spotting spot far right Another strange train passing under the WCML & passing through Wallgate (2 May 1980) - anyone model things like this ? Incidentally, a fine model of Wigan Wallgate & area is being built by katwigan, a link to his rmweb thread https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/106606-wigan-wallgate/ Ah well, back to "proper" trains on the ECML (yes I am a LNER / GC fan). Brit15

Couldn't find the pfffffttt button so I'll settle on a more grown up yah, boo, sucks. A (possibly temporary) reprieve from the G word as it's started raining. Unfortunately there's the car interior to be derubbished and cleaned and it isn't raining in the garage. Pah again. Dave

I wonder if the government might have greater success if they tell people that they aren’t allowed to wear face masks under any circumstances whatsoever.

Someone should forward this to Dave Jones. He had proved he has the necessary qualifications.

The police have informed me they have recovered my stolen 3 piece suite which is really good of them as it had begun to look a bit tatty.

Evening all, Still no broad gauge engines in the mail/post today. Oh well. A new box of Yorkshire Tea arrived today, 100 bags in total. I‘ve recently begun drinking tea as chocolate milk seems a bit unhealthy. Other than that very little happened today. I’m having loads of trouble setting up my email with the new School, and I’m going there tomorrow to get a schedule change and hopefully sort out some tech issues. Next week I will be picking up a brand new Chromebook, to replace my aging Lenovo Yoga Thinkpad. Tomorrow dad’s brand new Tube Amplifier is arriving, along with some sausages. Our normal amp decided to quit about a month ago, so he decided to by a new one off Amazon. As for the sausages, we ordered some imported “English breakfast sausages”, which you can’t get at the local grocery store. Some prospective Cornish Pasty’s will also be in the package, along with a few sausage rolls, which I haven’t had since I was in Liverpool 8 years ago. As always, stay healthy, Douglas

A quick update on Steeplehouse. All the basic landscape structure is now in place, and I can start with a bit of papier-mache to finish it off and tidy it up, before we start the grassage. Thanks for looking, Al.

As Baz has said you don't drink it boiling, but to get the right glavourbit needs to bd made with boiling water then allowed, to mash/brew/steep or whatever your chosen word is. Whether youbadd milk before or after is to personal taste and then drink it at your preferred temperature. Anyway a good day has been had. I have even used my modelling tools. Not for any reason we can't mention on here but to earn brownie points. My other half sat in her glasses last night and they broke at thd bridge. In between scanning batchescof negs i have been trying to repair them. I used a bit of brass ro, araldite then added a strip of brass held down to the bridge by two 14BA nuts screwed into tapped holes. I will await results once I have filed the excess off the bolts. Whether brownie points will becawarded remains to be seen. Jamie

I quite enjoyed my first very close encounter with a kangaroo. In the form of a kangaroo fillet, very tasty, at an eatery on Darling Harbour, SYD, as my farewell to Aus lunch towards the end of my first session working over there.

The voice of experience(s); the smell of dashed hopes and the bitter taste of disappointment.

Shopping today - just wonder how many people actually realise that there is a virus out there which can kill you or others. Lack of masks, lack of social distancing, you name it.

Another grey day, and another where little was achieved, not that that matters. Double chimney A3s tonight. As one heads South.. Another comes North, 60054 with the 5.35 Newcastle.