EddieB

Something very, very ordinary - 378 221 on a Stratford to Clapham Junction service arriving at Kensington Olympia (Wednesday 5th January). I think it was the first sunshine of the New Year!

Hopefully this topic doesn't duplicate any previous threads in this forum. (I had considered adding to "2021 RHTT Season", but it's neither RHTT nor 2021!). De-icing trains have been a feature on the Southern and London Underground networks for many years - usually through conversion of e.m.u. stock. Last week, I took the opportunity to photograph a de-icing train operated by GB Railfreight out of Tonbridge West Yard. There are several paths for such trains, those that actually run generally being overnight/early morning in the hours of darkness. However there was a run during daylight (or what passes as such this time of the year) on at least a couple of days last week. Similar to an RHTT working, the train consists of two YXA flat wagons with de-icing modules, topped and tailed by locomotives. Unfortunately I missed the working last Wednesday (5th January) when the train was worked in daylight by 69002 and 69003 (which also worked a shorter trip in darkness on Thursday and Saturday mornings). Although the train passed through Clapham Junction and made two visits to London Victoria, the suspension of Southern passenger services and related closure of platform access presented something of a challenge coming from "north of the river". Anyway, plans were laid around a five-minute stop and reversal at Wimbledon. Here then is the 3Y07 08:15 Tonbridge West Yard, made up of 66794 + YXA 99 70 9594 021-6 + YXA 99 70 9549 016-6 + 66720, at Wimbledon on 6th January.

Understandable, especially if no action is taken to address the issues from Abu Dhabi... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59951382

Just a moment I was wondering what Tornado was doing in France!

Andi - nice pics, but do you have dates to go with them?

When the Saffron Walden branch was dieselised, Cambridge-allocated class 03s were out-based to work freight between the main line junction at Audley End and Saffron Walden and trip workings to/from the Acrow factory (just north of Saffron Walden). There was also an occasion that an 03 took a passenger excursion to Bartlow. These were worked without runners, but bearing in mind that this was a single-track branch line operated with tokens, I'm wondering whether track circuiting was ever an issue.

So when did our national side last successfully convert eight penalties from eight, followed by eight from nine? (Only one shown on MoTD - to spare the blushes?)

Thanks, Andy - though aware of the terminology, I hadn’t appreciated that it applies to model railways (albeit with the exception you’ve noted).

On top of everything, if you do invest and end up realising a big profit when items are sold there's the minefield of Capital Gains Tax liability to consider. There are certain categories that are better documented (e.g. works of art, classic cars, ancient firearms) than others, but models as collectables could fall under the general definition of "chattels". Complication can arise as to whether they are treated individual items (profits more likely to fall below the CGT threshold) or regarded as "sets". Definition is a grey area, and you cannot always rely on Hector to be fair...

Only visited once (2002), so no relevant sightings. However, I've seen a report of a trip from August 2016, that notes a newly rebuilt shed housing a class 701/T211 diesel shunter and a railcar in preservation. A search for Korenov/vytopnya suggests that opening was earlier in the same year.

Runners were used within major station limits (e.g. Cambridge, Yarmouth Vauxhall, Newcastle Central), but not when working on dock lines... 03 160 at Ipswich, August 1975. (Don't economise by using a bit of foam to wipe down a film!) 03 175 at Kings Lynn, September 1977.

The strongest market is for the toys that were just out of reach while growing up, that remain desirable years later with the onset of disposable wealth. I'm guessing that most of us here fall within a particular age profile. For us, our childhoods were defined by (among other things) die-cast cars and model railways - never able to amass all that we wanted. As we grew up, some became besotted with (real) sports cars that were too expensive to buy, run (and insure). Yet that desire to own never died. So for "our generation" those things remain highly desirable and collectible. They look like a good investment, while the market remains strong (i.e. there's enough of us mugs competing against one another). But in a few years' time, those with fondest memories will have passed on, the market will be flooded with the proceeds from their estates (except for the mega rarities, which will remain valuable). A slightly older (but overlapping) group were into stamp collecting. As with so many trends (from black tulips onwards) there was a bubble that was fed, grew and finally burst. Again the rarest will always attract values, but the concept once touted as buying for investment has long gone. Suggestions: - Buy because you like something, find it attractive or have always wanted it - for personal satisfaction and enjoyment - not for investment. - For investment consider (if you must) what the next generations are desiring and what they are going to want in years to come (harder because computer games and consoles are unlikely to retain value!). - Remember that the tipsters ("penny" shares, antiques, collectibles) will have already cashed in before the general populace is let in on any secrets.

If you were in Clapton, would you take any photos of them? (...but I did not shoot the deputy).

It was a delivery move for a white and red class 720 EMU, running as 5Q90 10:22 Derby Litchurch Lane to Wembley. The rear loco was 37688, the full consist (including barrier vehicles) being: 37521 + 6376 + 720530 + 6377 6394 6393 + 37688

Activities were curtailed due to having to isolate in the run-up to Christmas, therefore my last photo of 2021 is from 13th December - 59102 passing Dalston Kingsland on the North London line (645X 10:53 Chelmsford Reception - Acton T.C.).

Cui bono?

Red Bull gives you love handles...

Based on current evidence, and assuming it’s omicron, there’s a fair chance he would have tested positive even with the vaccinations - and his mother forced to isolate.

My local surgery appears to operate on a "no questions asked" basis - which means that when arranging an appointment it is with whoever/whatever category you request - appropriate or not. Our friend's practice has a basic set of questions to direct the appointment to the most suitable person. (Patients have been known to give false information to arrange to see a GP, not realising that their responses appear on the notes fed through).

There are two ways to look at this. On the one hand Novax Djokovic has been very naughty, and no exceptions should be countenanced - certainly not based on wealth or celebrity status. On the other, he is reported to have had Coronavirus and most likely (one hopes) has been screened for having the antibodies conferring resistance. He could then open a door to allow all those who can similarly prove such an immune status - after all it should be about protecting the populace rather than just adherence to compulsory vaccination.

Funnily enough, we have a friend staying with us who works in the NHS, and our topic of conversation was about streamlining the inefficiencies within that organisation. The biggest bottleneck is access to GPs - worse all through Covid - and consequent pressure put on other gateway services (A&E, 111). You can’t really blame the public, many of whom only access the health service rarely, not to know that many GP appointments can be better dealt with by a practice nurse or a pharmacist. (Though many would prefer to get a free prescription via a GP than paying over the counter at a pharmacy). There seems to be, as in many other organisations, that management is seen as a function of seniority rather than organisational abilities. Being able to direct patients to the right skill set (bearing in mind that not all GPs are alike, e.g. time management) can improve efficiency and level of care. Simple things, which could make a great deal of difference.

Indeed - I try to be carefully with my phraseology, knowing they are quite different measures and it's easy to be misrepresented. I do find it curious that a figure of 90% seems to cover everything from unvaccinated hospital admissions earlier in 2021 through to the unboosted in ICU in December. When challenged - not for the first time - the response has been that such figures are "anecdotal". Hence my appeal for greater disclosure of true figures - even if such data do not convey the message perhaps as strongly as might be ideal or desirable.

That 90% figure has been around in various forms for a long time, not always holding up to scrutiny: https://fullfact.org/health/dr-hilary-lorraine-kelly-90-percent/ There shouldn't be a reason for the underlying data to be withheld, rather than often reverting to explanations as "anecdotal", when surely it is in everyone's interest to make them available.

We had a staggered school day (secondary) during much of 2021, rearrangement of lessons to minimise movement within the common areas and the return at the start of this term is being staggered over several days so that all returning students take a LFT. (They will still continue to self-test twice-weekly at home). These (along with other measures, such as masks and distancing) are sensible and workable. We know that measures may check and slow down transmission, but ultimately omicron will spread past all but the most draconian defences.

We were notified of the arrangements for the return to school (tomorrow) as early as 9th December, with a reminder on 16th December (students to take LFT on arrival, return staggered by year group, be prepared to revert to on-line lessons if necessary). Schools were and are working with Government guidelines - maybe the media has just woken up and started reporting it as "news".