Old Gringo

Hi dh (David?), I've also spent years collecting books and over the last five or so attempted to put some of them and associated printed items into a computer spreadsheet. Whilst engaged in this, I've also tried to sort by category and have begun to use George Ottley's classifications suggested in the 'Bibliography of Railway History', the first volume of which was published in 1965. The general area classification runs from A (General History) through to T (General Directories, Atlases, Gazeteers, Timetables, etc.). "George Ottley's Bibliography was conceived within the book-stacks of the British Library, where he spent most of his working life". The Bibliography now runs to three volumes (1966, 1988 & 1999), covering almost 20,000 British railway publications and is the best reference work of its kind.. The Railway & Canal Historical Society have continued to add to the Bibliography with annual supplements. For my own collection, I've considered adding a couple more classification areas for Worldwide railways and Childrens books, but Ottley's system caters for almost every area encountered in the railway spectrum. IMO, it's well worth a look at. All the very best, John.

Last week's post (666) was all about chasing the specials on the 4th August 1968 and ended with the sentence, "How very lucky we've all been over those last fifty years" and lately I'm always turning up reasons to believe that statement. However, fifty years ago it really was a different planet. "It's All Over Now" was a hit for the Rolling Stones in July 1964 (two months before the last of the magnificent Stanier Pacifics were withdrawn) and now that August 11th has passed the steamy nostalgia trip really is all over now for at least another ten years! Using similar riffs, the Stones March 1965 hit was, "The Last Time" and 50 years ago, it certainly appeared that August 11th would be the last time we would be lucky enough to see a steam locomotive in action on the main lines of British railways [1]. It's just as well that there were plenty of pop-tastic tunes in the Sixties, and how apt was Jimmy Ruffin's October 1966 hit, "What becomes of the broken hearted?" for all enthusiasts of the steam locomotive in August 1968? The Epilogue - 1T57 and afterwards As usual it seems I'm late with a report of what I vaguely remember from August 11th 1968. My notebook says that we went to Manchester Victoria, but also that they were charging more than the price of a pint for a platform ticket. So, we went around the north side of the station and stood behind rows of barriers and railings to watch 45110 arrive with 1T57 and the engine change-over for free. I managed two snaps of '5110 arriving at Victoria and another shot including hundreds of round-heads bobbing about as 'Oliver Cromwell' approached in the distance. It was just like visiting a rock concert today, when you buy the cheaper tickets! However, before the departure, it seems that we went out to Kearsley and my last shot of a British Rail steam engine in action was taken on the bank near the power station. Edit: Apologies for the quality of the 127 snaps. Afterwards, we had a disconsolate walk around the deserted Patricroft shed; still full of lots of dead engines. Then on the way home, we made a last journey across that creepy foot-bridge over the mucky waters of the River Mersey, to wander around the lifeless shell of Heaton Mersey shed. Only four dead locomotives remained there; 44903, 45253, 45282 and 48117 and I took this final photograph of 45282 through one of the broken office windows. And that was definitely it for me . . . . . . . at least for a couple of years! Postscript: On the weekend of August 4th, 2018, I found a copy of one of Edward Beal's Railway Modelling Series, a 1947 [?] paperback entitled, "Before You Begin" and whilst looking for another modelling book on my over-filled shelves, I turned up this text [2]: Journey's End? "So, we come to the end of our journey together. "This is a sad time for many railway enthusiasts, who see today the final stage in the extinction of the individuality and character of our railways; a process which began with the 'Grouping' in 1923 . . . . . It will indeed be a sad day for many . . . but the modeller can help to keep alive the great traditions of the past . . . . as a reminder of the days when every railway had a 'personality' of its own. "I write at a time of drab austerity, when all the forces of the world seem to be combined to crush out man's individuality. Never was the recreation of a creative, imaginative hobby more needed. In industry, 'craftsmanship for craftsmanship's sake' is all but dead, but we model makers can be among the select few to keep that great tradition alive. "And so our journey ends; and I can only hope that it may have proved enjoyable to you." Although written in 1948, the text applies almost exactly to the situation twenty years later in 1968 and IMHO some of the sentiments are still close to the mark in 2018. I've really enjoyed being part of this topic's journey since January. Thanks again to Trevor for beginning the story with his stunning photographs and to all the others who have kept it rolling, especially Jamie and Chris. So, Journey's End, or just the start of some new chapters? I think my therapy is all over now too. Keep on Steaming, All the very best, John. Notes: [1] Excepting 'Flying Scotsman', which was exempted from the 'steam ban'. [2] An edited transcript of page 298 from "A book of Model Railways" by P.R. Wickham, published by Percival Marshall & Co. in January 1949.

Thanks are due to Jamie for reminding me about these books. With all the excitement of August 4th and the Finale, I nearly forgot to draft a more pertinent reply! I too enjoy the last chapter of Oswald Nock's, 'Steam Railways in Retrospect', with the 1964 run of 'Duchess of Rutland'. An engine which coincidentally nearly took my head off on 10th August 1964, whilst on a similar duty, when we were travelling back from Carlisle on a special day out spotting trip. I had my head out and this huge front end came racing towards me, but you had to get the number, didn't you? 'The Mohawk that Refused to Abdicate" is a magic book: Brilliant writing from David Morgan, (who was at the time of publishing (1975) the Editor of 'Trains' magazine for Kalmbach, Milwaukee) 304 pages, plus hundreds of Philip Hastings photographs, with surely the most shiny metallic red and silver dust-jacket ever produced [1]. You don't have to be a steam-nut, like me, Paul, or Jamie to enjoy Morgan's lyrical style of writing and Hastings' superb photographs, just an enthusiast of the railways. Here's part of the text that produced the title of the book (from page 180 onwards and dated September 1955) and I hope it's not breaking copyright rules too much to quote it almost in full. "Then . . well, right in the middle of all this to be exact, tension - intangible, unseen, quite real - began to build in the tower [2]. The dispatcher had temporarily lost track of Extra 3005 East and was attempting to pin down its location . . . . . . The conversation, gave no direct hint of what was to come. As a result neither Hastings nor I noticed a faint smudge of smoke building on the horizon to the west. A distant whistling was adjudged to be yet another first class schedule, and we were scanning the timecard to identify it when another, nearer blast propelled us to trackside at the double". "Why it's the extra! Can't be - he might just have - it is and he's rolling!" "Rolling is mild language for what he was doing [3]. Extra 3005 East, now no less than 98 cars between tender and caboose, was bearing down on Shelby with all the implications of destiny of the Book of Revelations, gaining momentum with each revolution of those four pairs of 69 inch driving wheels, making the legal mile a minute with ease and perhaps a notch or two better. The elephant-eared aristocrat of Alco [4] rammed across the diamond crossing with smoke going high, the Baker gear up in near center, and the crew enjoying the breeze". "Out of her dusty wake came her train - rattling, rocking, rolling and riding [5] towards Cleveland at such a pace that, as Hastings recalls it, 'one felt called upon to wonder at what moment the whole shebang would take either to the air, or the adjacent countryside'. . . . . . . . . . " "Wonderful! Too often steam departs from us in the form of a fan trip that suffers a breakdown - or in a line of dead power nursed to the junkers by a Geep [6] - or as a local freight locomotive, wheezing out of town without ceremony or drama. How much better to wind it up like the 3005, taking a quiet Ohio town apart, pinning its ears back and performing like Alco said her 4410 cylinder horsepower should perform." This text overlays part of the sky of a double-page spread (p182/183) which has a photograph taken level with the rail head of the giant 4-8-2, #3005 powering across the diamond crossing, smoke going high in the sky and cars disappearing into a cloud of dust in the horizon. Magnificent, now that's something I'd really like to have seen! Then there's the chapter beginning page 276, "The 2-10-0s that thought they could - and did!" September 14, 1956. All too much to read before lunch! I cannot recommend this book enough and another associated favourite, containing Four Decades of Railroad Writing by David Morgan is, 'Confessions of a Train-Watcher', again published by Kalmbach, in 1997, edited by George Drury and which was compiled after Morgan's death. You can never have too many books, no matter what the shelves tell you! Happy reading. All the very best, John. [1] Another couple of hours have just been spent enjoying this book! What contrasts were available to the train-watchers in the States during the 1940s and early Fifties: from the Union Pacific's 'Big-Boys' to late Victorian 4-4-0s (Aka, the classic 'American'). Maybe my favourite photograph though is the double page spread (82/83), where an old 2-6-0 is in silhouette crossing a long truss girder bridge over a wide still river, set against a bleak industrial landscape. The magic of black & white photography at its best. [2] tower = U.S. equivalent of signal cabin. At Shelby, Ohio, the tower controlled the flat crossing of the New York Central's double-track main by the Baltimore & Ohio's Willard branch. [3] No. 3005s Engineer, John Hitchko, who retired in 1970 after 47 years service on N.Y.C. [4] 3005 was an L-3a New York Central 4-8-2, (a wheel arrangement dubbed 'Mohawks' on the N.Y.C.) equipped 'with elephant ears (AKA smoke deflectors) and built by Alco at Shenectady, New York in late 1940. [5] Not in any way like the chorus of Morningtown Ride by the Seekers released in November 1966! [6] A Geep is a type of American diesel locomotive.

Well, now the dust has settled, I've finally found time to put in a late report of my events concerning August 4th, 1968 and 2018. Apologies in advance for the 'quality' of the snaps! You've all probably heard the saying, "Cheshire born and Cheshire bred, strong inth' arm and thick inth' 'ed". Well it still seems to apply to yours truly, as towards the end of last week, I spent three consecutive days at Kidderminster, assisting with shifting lots of stuff and culminating with stewarding duties on the Severn Valley Railway's 1T57 special. This train ran on the hot and sticky Saturday evening behind Ivatt, Class 4MT 2-6-0, No. 43106, (which had arrived on the Valley on August 2nd, 1968). It seems to me that the eighteen entries I've made onto this topic have all been leading up to this one; The Finale - August 4th 1968. A dictionary definition of the word Finale is "the final scene in a show and the last and often most spectacular item in a public performance". I like to think that the last seven months of following the demise of the steam locomotive right to the End [1] was leading up to this August Finale, when six specials were time-tabled to run on Sunday, August 4th, Sixty-eight. The six trains were listed as follows [2]: 1L50 R.C.T.S. Special, hauled by 48476 + 73069, 70013 'Oliver Cromwell', 45407 + 73069. 1T80 G.C. Enterprises (for the 'Bahamas' Society) hauled by 45156 ('Ayrshire Yeomanry'). 1T85 'British Rail' Official Trip, hauled by 45305 throughout. 1Z74 L.C.G.B Special, hauled by 70013 + 44781, 48773 + 44781, 45390 + 45025. 1Z78 S.L.S. Special Number One, hauled by 44871 + 44894 throughout. 1Z79 S.L.S. Special Number Two, hauled by 44874 + 45017 throughout. On the way home quite late on Friday night (2nd August 1968), we chose to skip Saturday's events and instead to follow some of these special excursions planned for the Sunday (4th August), which was classed as the last day of working steam locomotives on the British mainland railway network [3]. I believe that Frank worked out the schedule and also borrowed his Dad's motor for the day. The Race to watch the last gasps! After picking up Peter and myself from Stockport (Edgeley) station, we began our last 'chase' . . . . . . . first beside the lineside at Droylsden, Station Junction where we spotted 1Z78, S.L.S. Number One at 11:45am. Then a trek northwards and a bit of fell running . . . . . . gave us time to catch 1Z78 again near Todmorden passing at 14:15, before de-camping quickly, to the top of 'Copy Pit' to catch 1Z79, S.L.S. Number Two at 15:00. [4] Forty-five minutes later, we caught 1Z79 again at Darwen, before moving on to Daisy Hill station, . . . to catch 1T85, with 45305 on the Official 'British Rail' special at 16:50. And from Daisy Hill we moved on to Astley, to catch 1Z79 for a third time at 18:10. Unlike today when, with G.P.S., satellite and mobile 'phone communications, we would have known which trains were running late and where we might have been able to make better connections, after six hours chasing and six hits, we thought it best to head back to Stockport station, where several trains were due to terminate their steam haulage. We netted 1Z79 for a fourth time at Stockport around 19:30 and I called it day after 1T80, the G.C. Enterprises ('Bahamas') special arrived at 21:15. Not a bad Finale and only a week to go before the final End Game with 1T57 'The Fifteen Guinea Special'. Almost the average man's weekly wages, for a trip behind the last serviceable main-line steam locomotives, with some cooked grub and salad butties, a glass of wine and a commemorative scroll that you could write your own name on afterwards! How I wish I could have afforded it, but . . . . 'Yesterday has gone' [5] and so have over 18,000 of our earth days since Sixty-eight, so, no time for regrets. Three days ago at Kidderminster, I met quite a few of the people from the day of the Finale in 1968. This also included several of the MNA squad, who were engaged again in the cleaning of a Black Five (45110), as they did all those years ago before the day of the specials. I spoke briefly to Ian Krause and passed on Trevor's best wishes. In return Ian asked me to pass on greetings and thanks for all the pictures Trevor produced for the 'North East Focus' event of 1998 held in the NRM. However my highlight for August 4th 2018 happened after rubbish clearing and box-shifting duties on the 1T57 train on Saturday night; I managed to catch five minutes with my head out of the window of the coach right behind the tender of 43106. And riding down the Severn Valley at 22:30, under a clear sky on a warm night behind a steam engine - you just can't beat it, can you? How very lucky we've all been over those last fifty years. Maybe some more steamy tales in a few days. All the very best, John. Notes: [1] The word End can be used as a noun, a verb or an adjective; the definition as a verb meaning 'to destroy' is telling, but the noun brings a lump to the throat, 'the point at which something stops happening, or ceases to exist'. [2] the plus sign between locomotives indicates that the train was double-headed. [3] IIRC, there were still a few steam locomotives operating in Northern Ireland, besides the previously mentioned three narrow-gauge engines on the Vale of Rheidol branch-line. [4] Somewhere here (like Trevor the day before) I must have dropped my trusty Kodak 127 camera, as all subsequent negatives have a creeping tree-like infusion from the bottom right corner. However, I've since seen lots of far better photographs to help remember the day by! [5] The debut record by the group Cupid's Inspiration, which was released 19th June 1968 and reached number 4 around late July/early August and the demise of the steam engine in regular service.

Morning Steve, You know I think you're right. It was the last frame on the film and I've always believed that I took it from the train leaving 10F, but . . . it might just as easily have been 10D at 17:20 and it does look more like Lostock Hall. It was definitely the last shot I took of a 'working' shed on August 2nd, honest! All the best, John.

Nearly there, the Very End is in a week. Still not got me in shot Trevor! Days I'll Remember . . all my life, part three: My last shed bash! Having arrived at Carnforth at just gone 5am, a brisk walk in the cold morning brought us to the shed in around five minutes [1]. However, as the sun rose on August 2nd 1968, I decided to try and get a photograph from the higher ground rising to the west side of the shed and this was the less than perfect result around 5.45am: We stared down upon a motley collection of engines, including several that were already, or would be preserved: Numbers, 42073, 42085, 45025, 45231, 46441, 61306 and 70013. , many of which have appeared before. In total 21 Stanier Class 5, 4-6-0s were present, ten of which were still serviceable. The last Standard 5MT, 4-6-0, 73069, and four Standard 4MT, 4-6-0s, withdrawn 75009 and 75019, 75027, 75048, which all appeared in good condition. A visiting Stanier 8F, 48665 (10F) was also in steam, but classmate number 48124 was dead along with eleven condemned Stanier Fives, seven life-expired Standard Class 9F, 2-10-0s and 75020. IIRC, there weren't many other crazy kids around before 7am and the few staff we encountered didn't care about us, as long as we kept out of the way. Trevor photographed Class 4MT, 75048 on a short freight at ....... and here it is ready for the road about to go off shed to pick up the wagons. After 9am, we made our way back to the station to catch the 09:35 back to Preston. Trevor must have been on that platform too and caught a later train south. Arriving at Preston at 10:45, I spotted the overnight pilot, 44806, before we boarded the 11:05 for Rose Grove due in at Noon. On the way to Rose Grove, I noted 48723 shunting in the Ribble Sidings and we passed 48400 working a freight at Cherry Tree. 8F, 48393 was also shunting at Accrington and 48278 was working another freight towards Preston, somewhere near Hapton. Exactly two hours were spent at 10F, mainly wandering around the shed I suppose and dodging the children playing in the pools of water beside the dead engines. There were three serviceable Stanier Fives, 45096, 45407 and 45447 and three condemned members. Nineteen Stanier Eights completed the roster, seven of which were already condemned. I climbed part way up the coaling tower to survey the depressing scene and photographs have appeared in several books from that very same spot. The 14:00 service off Rose Grove had us back on the platforms at Preston for 14:55, easily in time for the 15:13 to Lostock Hall arriving at 15:30. A walk of just a few yards brought me to my last cinder pathway alongside the shed coded 10D, which was filled with just thirty-eight steam locomotives. For 110 minutes, we wandered around between the last ten Stanier Eights, twenty-six Stanier Fives and two condemned Ivatt Flying Piggies that were displayed amongst the piles of ash and clinker of a dying empire [2]. Trevor's photographs tell the story better than any words. So, that was it - the last shed bash and at 17:20 I was heading back to Preston. Twenty minutes later, we were travelling south, bound for 'Cottonopolis' Victoria and probably my last steam locomotive working in regular traffic was Stanier Eight, number 48727, which was noted as 'on a Northbound freight at Preston'. And this was my last photograph of a 'working' steam shed (edited - see steve4rosegrove's comment in post 622) - probably taken from the 17:20 departure from Lostock Hall and where I ran out of film! Next time we'll chase a few of the August 4th Specials. All the very best, John. Notes: [1] Anybody remember '(Walk me out in the) Morning Dew' by the Grateful Dead, a tune from 1967. Edit: and another version by Tim Rose!! [2] Ivatt Class 4MT, 2-6-0, No. 43106 had already departed for the Severn Valley Railway. Postscript: As another little piece of history very quickly fell into place, here's another odd statistic: apparently there were 46,736 visitors to the 125 locomotive sheds on the London Midland Region during 1949. I wonder what the figure was for the last London Midland Region sheds during the last 32 weeks of 1968? Source; page 33 of 'Railways' magazine No. 119 / 1950.

Thanks Trevor and Chris for more excellent pictures from 50 years ago and thanks to all for reading this stuff, as I complete my therapy course. Extra thanks are due also to Jamie for reminding me about those two books and I'll draft a more pertinent reply later. In short, you don't have to be a steam-nut, like me, Paul, or Jamie to enjoy those chapters, just a railway enthusiast. Days I'll Remember . . all my life, part two: On the road again [1]. IMHO, Preston station, with its overall roof that's still intact in 2018, is a 'proper' RAILWAY station. When a steam special arrives in the Twenty-first century, for just a few seconds, you could almost be back in those Swinging Sixties [2]. Although the East Lancashire lines have been replaced with a large strip of tarmacadam and concrete plus a lot more contraction has taken place, you can still enjoy a hot mug of tea and a sticky bun not far from today's version of prototype railway operations. Back on August 1st 1968, the cafeteria on the down island platform at Preston was our prime objective. We arrived at 21:30 (on the 19:30 train from Manchester Victoria), intending to spend the night soaking up and inhaling the atmosphere of the working steam railway for one more time in the last 'cathedral of steam': before setting off for three final walks on the dusty cinder paths of those all important engine sheds (10A, 10D and 10F). On our way up to Preston, Stanier 8F, 48773 (10F) was spotted on a duty at Bolton station looking remarkably clean, having just had the attention of members of the MNA. The first engine noted upon arrival at Preston was the station pilot, Stanier Class 5, 44806, which would also have benefited from a rub down with a few oily rags. Next, at 22:15, another respectably turned out Stanier 5, number 45110 arrived on a parcels duty from Colne. [3] As the clock approached Wilson Pickett's favourite time [4], whether the crew of pilot locomotive recognised us from a couple of weeks before, or we were just lucky boys yet again, around midnight we climbed aboard Stanier Class 5, number 44806 and spent the next few hours 'assisting' with the station pilot duties. In the periods when we were waiting for the next move, I managed to produce a pencil sketch looking along the boiler from the driver's seat. I'm certain that I intended one day (when I had acquired more of the necessary skills) to attempt a painting of this scene, but . . . [5]. Our train onwards to Carnforth was due out at 03:50, so sometime around 3:30am, we bade our farewell to the kind crew of 44806 and climbed down from the comfortable warm cab onto the deserted platform. A brisk walk around the station, taking in some deep breaths of the sharp early morning air, before boarding our northbound service. Arriving in Carnforth at 05.05, with the streaks of dawn light creeping across a cold clear sky, we made our way from the set of 'Brief Encounter' for the start of our very own last steamy affair [6]. More sniffy exploits and pieces of grit tomorrow! Keep steaming, John. Notes: [1] 'On the Road Again' was the first release by the U.S. Group, Canned Heat on 24th July 1968 and will make number 8 during its 15 weeks in the pop-chart. [2] Not 'Back in the USSR' the Beatles tune that was on the flip side of a Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers hit in August 1966, when we were watching A4 Pacifics between Glasgow and Aberdeen. [3] Both 48773 and 45110 and some members of the MNA should be at Kidderminster station on Saturday 4th August 2018. [4] 'In the Midnight Hour', Pickett's first U.K. release in September 1965. [5] . . I never have tried to capture this memory in paint, I wonder why not, perhaps it might spoil this special memory of those few unforgettable hours? [6] Some scenes of this classic film, (written and produced by Noel Coward; directed by David Lean and starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson) were shot on Carnforth station in 1945.

Thanks Trevor and Chris for yesterday's pictures of 50 years ago. No time for those Summertime Blues . . . All of a sudden, here we are again, fast approaching the first week of August. Back in 1968, Trevor was on his travels once again, which have given us so many super photographs in this topic and (for those of us old enough) brought so many happy memories from 50 years ago back into sharp focus. Often we are faced at this time of the year with hot, damp and humid weather and even the music can sometimes take a turn for the worse! And so it was in 1968, as from July 24th, 'I Pretend' by the genial comedian and crooner, Des O'Connor was at Number One in the Hit Parade [1]. Plus, more bad news on the way, because during this first week of August, Fifty Years ago, the time had finally arrived when there would be no more regular steam-powered services on British railways after August 4th [2]. Although, this had been publicised for quite some time and in May had even become a reality for those of us living in leafy Cheshire, we just didn't imagine that the Absolute End would arrive so very soon afterwards. What were we going to do, after all our 'iron dinosaurs' had been so rapidly exterminated by the march of technological and economic progress? I had already begun waking up to several other pursuits (like pop music, girls, . . . motor-bikes and fizzy pop), but a final send-off was required for my life-long passionate affair with the steam-powered railway! Almost one year before, in the summertime of 1967, the Kinks had released the melancholy, yet superbly appropriate record, 'Terry meets Julie', which had rapidly climbed up to Number 2 in the Charts around late June. This record became the anthem for the end of steam on the Southern Region. Who does not bring to mind a filthy Bulleid Pacific at the head of Bournemouth-bound express, every time that they hear those 16 perfect notes at the start of 'Waterloo Sunset'? [3] . . . but, Days I'll Remember . . all my life: Part one. Just over twelve months later, the Kinks released 'Days'; a song which has the line, "I'm thinking of the days; . . . those endless days . . . you gave me" [4]. Mmm, remember or imagine those days? Endless days (that I had) spent sitting by the lineside, or sometimes upon those four-wheeled barrows that were on every station platform; endless hours waiting for a semaphore signal arm to suddenly jerk up, or drop into position, signifying that something was 'pegged' [5]. Next, there was the impatient, nervous wait until you either heard just a muffled rumble, or were alerted to an escalating, deep-throated, roaring attack, as a steam engine in full cry announced its impending arrival into your landscape. Many times you would listen to the approach of a locomotive, before catching even a glimpse of its plume of exhaust. If it was a regular duty, like the Manchester to Birmingham evening express parcels, you could often tell whether it was on time, or a couple of minutes late, by the urgency of the 'stack-talk'. However, if it was a goods train you might begin to consider how heavily it was loaded as it plodded steadily and inexorably towards you. Some enthusiasts could recognise the patterns of those exhaust sounds and be able to identify the type of engine, even before it burst into view - disturbing any birds along the lineside that had been enjoying the evening sunshine. But from that moment, it was a test of your eyesight and your identification skills, before that all important number was discernable and could be noted down for posterity. Occasionally you would be treated to a shrill blast on a high-pitched whistle, or perhaps a wailing wooo-hooo, or maybe a deep-toned 'Stanier' hooter! Soon there would be the moment when the ground shook, whilst your ears rang to the cacophony of high pressure steam and thrusting side-rods, as the living fire-eating monster passed close by, breathing searing heat laced with hot oil with each pulsating blast of power. Was that a smile and a wave as the 'royalty of the rail' sped by on their magic steel footplate? Several hundred tons of heavy metal either raced past, or clattered slowly by before you were engulfed in that most exquisite, comforting, swirling blanket of warm, damp and spicy, steam and smoke. As the train receded into the distance, the steam gently melted away, leaving just a gritty haze and the taste of sulphur on the breeze, followed by the birds twittering again as quiet was restored now that the fire-eating dragon had passed. With a satisfying zing and clatter, the signal arm would return to danger and then silence again - until the next time, during those endless days. That's how my fascination with the steam railway had begun all those years ago, fuelled with writings by the inimitable Cuthbert Hamilton Ellis [6] and Canon Roger Lloyd, Norman McKillop and Oswald Nock; So often captured in many of the photographs of Henry Casserley and Eric Treacy, Pat Whitehouse and Colin Gifford. As my enthusiasm for the transport system based upon the steel wheel on the steel rail had grown, successive British Governments from 1958 onwards had branded the railways as an 'old-fashioned' technology, using the steam engine as one of their key indices to thrash against the out-dated (Victorian-inspired) transport brand. Of course, having apparently 'never had it so good' [7] the general public believed this glossy clap-trap. And one of the results was that there would be no more regular steam operations after August 3rd 1968 [2]. On the way home from Preston on July 18th (post 570), we had discussed what we'd try to do on week commencing the 30th July. A plan was hatched to visit those last three operational sheds and I'll be joining Trevor on Thursday and Friday as we began watching the last gasps of the steam railway, before following the August 4th Specials. Happy Days, All the very best, John. PS: For those interested there will be a celebration of the 'End of Steam' / 4th August taking place on the Severn Valley Railway - see links in posts 544 and 569. Apologies for the Excessive Notes accompanying this over melodramatic post! Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran (first released in 1959) was re-released on 24th April 1968. [1] Luckily 'I Pretend' was soon replaced by the throbbing repetitive ditty, 'Mony, Mony', by Tommy James and the Shondells, released 5th June 1968 and No.1 for the first two weeks of August, before being burned away by the mesmerizing 'Fire' from the craziest of them all, Arthur Brown! [2] Excepting the Specials (4th & 11th) and the Vale of Rheidol services. [3] July 9th 1967, when the last steam-hauled express left Waterloo behind a filthy Bulleid Pacific. [4] released on 17th July 1968 and without doubt, although Arthur B's 'Fi-re' and Tommy's 'Mony' were noisier and made the top of the charts, 'Days' was my anthem for The End. [5] Signals were also known by spotters as pegs. As the lever was pulled in the signal cabin they would move from the danger position to the clear or off position, usually with a clatter. Therefore, a train was 'pegged' and eyes would be fixed on the spot where you might first glimpse the approaching train. [6] "Surely it was always summer when . . ." are the opening words from C.H.E's 'The Trains We Loved', 1947, reprinted many times and which ends with the words, "Those were the days . . . when the steam locomotive, unchallenged, bestrode the world . . . like a friendly giant". IMO, every railway enthusiast should have a copy for those days when the world is turned upside down! [7] A comment referring to the working classes made by P.M. Harold MacMillan in November 1957.

Hi Trevor, Above the shot of 45212 with a group of spotters sitting beside a horrid diesel, you asked, "Are you there, John?" (which for a minute sounded almost like it could have been where Department S got the strap-line for their catchy tune, "Is Vic there?", in the charts in 1981). But, unfortunately that's not us! You're looking for two tall skinny youths, nearly always on the move and one of them with long, near shoulder-length, hair. I think I might have lost my favourite grease-top cap by then, but was probably still wearing that corduroy jacket - see my avatar taken at Speke Junction in April 1968. I'm still wondering why we didn't go up to Carnforth on the Thursday rather than Rose Grove, as it wouldn't have cost a lot more, even though I was always short of cash. More in a couple of weeks time. All the very best, John.

Yes Jamie (post 562) "Who would have thought that . . you would have been able to see three of the original line up of the Stones perform Jumpin' Jack Flash in Manchester 50 years later?" Don't you wish we had put a bet on it? And Trevor (post 563), I must have been stood just a few feet away when you pressed the shutter on the photograph of 48340. However, back then we did try to avoid spoiling photographs. (There were quite a few other dishevelled train-chasers wandering around Preston besides me). I too hope that our paths cross again during this summer and maybe I can thank you personally for starting this topic and posting your super photographs, which bring back so many happy memories. Chard asked (post 567) about events over the August weekends and I posted a link to those planned for the Severn Valley on August 4th, in my 30th June entry (post 544). However, I see that Steve4rosegrove has also given the link to the planned activities in post 569 above. Please note that "Transition", a New Book by Colin Gifford will also be launched at Kidderminster Railway Museum on August 4th - and I'm also hoping to be on the 'Valley' with some of my old pals from 1968. [1] Sad Sights in the early morning at Rose Grove (10F) shed. Fifty years on and I now wonder what we did in the early hours of Thursday 18th July? Possibly we were hoping for a 'Black Magic Woman' to spirit us away to/from Rose Grove, or perhaps an 'Angel of the Morning' to appear and cook up a bacon butty when we arrived there! [2]. However, I think we must have tramped around the shed pretty smartly and I recorded 10 serviceable Fives, including 45156 (Ayrshire Yeomanry) plus only one withdrawn example, 45382. 10F m.p.d. also had 23 Eights present on that morning, five of which were condemned and I can't imagine a sadder sight greeting us than finding 48115, less connecting rods in the early morning light [3]. After watching some freight activities, we caught the train back to Preston and spent some time noting the traffic passing through the station. Trevor watched 44758 (10A) head south in post 564 and we saw it too, along with 45212 (10D), 45231 (10A), 45318, 44809 (10A) and 48723 (10F). Eventually, we decided to call it a day and headed home, noting 44971 (10D) and 45073 (10D) working between Preston and Chorley. On the way home, we no doubt discussed what we were going to do on week commencing 30th July, the last week of operational steam and you'll all be happy to know that there's only a few pages left in my notebook now! More great pictures from Trevor no doubt, before a couple more memories from me on August 1st. All the very best, John. [1] I also understand that the Great Central have some events planned for August 11th, but have yet to ascertain the exact details. [2] Black Magic Woman was a 10th April release by Fleetwood Mac and had long since faded from the charts, but Angel of the Morning, by P.P. Arnold, was a 10th July release already getting noticed by the Pop-pickers on Radio One. [3] 48115 was the engine we rode upon from Godley Junction to Heaton Mersey, on 4th May - post 526.

Thanks Trevor, Jamie and all those who have 'clicked' approvals of my last twelve 'therapy notes'! But, isn't it great to have some of Trevor's superb professional photographs and erudite memories back on the topic, rather than having to read some of that tripe I've been churning out? Mind you, thanks also to Larry for reminding me about all the liveries of the Sixties' omnibuses. Besides the Salford Corporation route No.64 (decked in Dark green with Cream stripes, I think?) taking us out to Eccles and Patricroft, I might have used a Stockport Corporation (Vermillion with Pale cream upper deck, highlighted with a red stripe), or a North Western (mainly pillar box Red with Cream stripe) to travel into Manchester, rather than walk to my local station and catch a train - which back then would have passed by the derelict engine-shed at Stockport Edgeley. After a shed had closed in this last 32 weeks between January 1968 and The End, I rarely went back again. Although I passed through Stockport on several occasions after 4th May and began at least one aborted cycle ride with Peter [2], I avoided revisiting the Stockport sheds. However, Bolton and Newton Heath sheds were the exceptions and according to my notes, I made a visit to these sheds on the day after the official closure date of 30th June 1968. Newton Heath was eerily quiet with a mix of thirty-three dead Stanier Fives and Eights and solitary 9F, 92054. But 45206 and 45330 would be re-steamed and go on to see further service at Carnforth. At Bolton, several engines were also destined for more service and even 'stardom' (Nos. 44781, 44871, 44888 and 45260), although all noted as 'out of steam' among the rows of dead and condemned locomotives. In total, twenty-four, all Stanier-designed engines were present in Bolton on Monday 1st July. So, to continue with my therapy: What was in the charts as July 1968 began and where were we forced to go now to see a working steam engine? Answers: With the "Baby Come Back" [2] ringing in our ears, now that the sights, sounds and smell of steam had been expunged from Manchester, we would have to go to some of the same places as RMweb's ace-photographer, Trevor and Preston was our nearest point of what remained of the steam railway of 1968. 'Schools out for Summer' and two days in July spent crunching on the last cinder paths! After school broke-up for the summer, I 'assisted' my Uncle (Bernard) for a week as a labourer, with a shop-fitting contract that he had in a posh china shop in Wilmslow! I remember that I was rather taken with one of the young assistants [3], but she was way out of a 'school-boy's league'! Anyway, the job provided some much-needed funds for another steam-sniffing session and which brings my story to the same time and same place as Trevor: Fifty years ago this very day - Peter and I set off for Preston! My notes aren't as comprehensive as they could be, but, I'm fairly sure that we travelled up around lunchtime on the 17th and I have as in steam and working around Preston the following locomotives; 44894 (10A), 45110, 45318, 48340, 48665, 48723 (10F) and 48765 (10D), a few of which Trevor has already recorded in post 556. In the early evening, we went out to Lostock Hall shed (10D). I suppose it would be around 7.30-ish and I recorded 22 Fives (3 dead), 8 Eights (5 dead) and the three Ivatt, 2-6-0s [4], before we set off back to the town for our fish 'n' chips! Later, we went back onto the station, where we spent the night dodging some of the night staff and talking to the crew of the night pilot, 45212. Not wishing to overstay our welcome with the crew of 45212, we caught a train for Rose Grove in the early hours of Thursday 18th. More next time. All the very best, John. [1] . . where we turned around near Cheadle CLC station in a terrific thunderstorm! [2] Released on May 1st, The Equals chart-topper would hit No. 1 on July 3rd, pushing off the Stones 'Jumpin Jack Flash' and holding on for 3 weeks of July 1968. [3] who had a hair-do like that of Sandie Shaw (sang Puppet on a String - The Eurovision Winner in 1967). [4] 43019 and 43027 withdrawn, 43106 stored pending preservation.

The London & North Western Railway Society 6th Annual Open Meeting to be held at Kidderminster Railway Museum, DY10 1QX, on Saturday 21st July 2018. Opening times: 10.30am – 5.00pm Open to Members and the Public All are welcome – Admission Free. Gauge 1 model railway track in the SVR station concourse with live-steam running and displays of LNWR models. (This track will also operate on Sunday 22nd July). Two Gauge 0 layouts upstairs in Kidderminster Railway Museum, along with Displays of Models, Photographs, Drawings, Plans, Original documents, Artefacts & Memorabilia including: L&NWR Society Exhibition Stand, Norman Lee. L&NWR Society Archives, David J. Patrick. L&NWR Society Publications Sales Stand, Tim Birch. Gauge 1 models, donated by Philip A. Millard, Simon Weston. Gauge 0 models, John Boyle. The Coal Tank No.1054 Restoration and the Bahamas Locomotive Society, Pete Skellon. New Build Projects, The George the Fifth Group. The Picnic Saloon Trust, Tony Lyster and Mike Williams. Welsh Railways Research Circle, Chris James. Stevenson Models, Paul Barker. Talks on: The L&NWRS Photo Collection by Norman Lee, Photographic Officer; Researching the L&NWR by Harry Jack; The George the Fifth New Build Project Report by Paul Hibberd & Tom Mainprize; Progress with the Picnic Saloon by Tony Lyster and Mike Williams; Living with the Coal Tank No.1054 by Pete Skellon. Important note: the library at KRM has room for a maximum audience of 24 people. Anyone wishing to reserve a place for any of the talks should contact Ted Talbot upon arrival. Come and meet other people interested in the Premier Line. Non-members very welcome. . Please see L&NWRS Webb site for any changes and the latest information. Posted on behalf of the London & North Western Railway Society.

It must have been around the seventh post that I made in this topic when I realised I was fast approaching my post number 1000 on RMweb and this had me thinking it would be a good idea to make it in a topic that I've really enjoyed contributing to [1]. To digress from the topic for a moment: Whilst I've been cobbling together my posts for this topic I have been forced to look again into my two battered notebooks from the Sixties, rummage through a box of old and tatty photographs and flick through the 640 pages of the 'Guinness Book of British Hit Singles' on several occasions [2]. This process has been fraught with danger as the notebooks were on a rather inaccessible shelf, which decided a couple of weeks ago to relieve itself of its contents, (as I was attempting to return the notebooks and other assorted detritus to said shelf). However, as with all minor catastrophes, there was another [beneficial] result. A bound copy of 'Railways' magazine flew past me and fell open at a page describing a Tour of Wales, made by the legendary T.R. Perkins, in 1900 - just fifty years before I was born [3]. But, what's so special about that I hear you ask? Well, here we are enjoying (I hope) and celebrating another rather unusual 50 year anniversary, which appears to mean quite a lot to a number of railway enthusiasts; now grey-haired, bleary eyed, train-spotters, often found waving mobile phones in front of some 'old friends' from the past (43106, 45110, 48773, 70013, to number just afew). I've found that as I'm writing this stuff, sometimes it seems just a couple of years ago, not half a flippin' century. Describing how the places appeared, what was there and sometimes how we felt has been written about so many times before and also by much better scribes than yours truly that I began to question why I was doing it? Some kind of therapy, perhaps? However, the 50-year anniversary of the last summer of British railways steam operations also falls in the year of the centenary of the end of the First World War, which was known in my childhood as 'The Great War' (1914-1918). And for the first time in the last fifty years, I've begun to reconsider the events of 1968 in a totally different context. Whatever must some of those old soldiers, who would be close to my age back then, have thought of that crazy year of 1968; with lots of scruffy kids running around chasing filthy steam engines and a bearded bloke appearing on that new-fangled 'colour' telly - dancing around on stage with a ring of flames burning on top of his head and shouting "Fi-ya"? [4] What were those railwaymen thinking too, watching their jobs disappearing as fast the engines themselves? Ah well, enough 'junior' philosophy by yet another recycled teenager! Let's get back to those all important steam trains in my post number 1000! Just another June day in Lancashire My previous note (Post 535 / personal post number 999 - Probably should have called the emergency services right then!) was all about two lads and pretty girl in a mini-skirt on a Wednesday afternoon's shed bash to Codes 9D, 9K and 10F (Newton Heath, Bolton and Rose Grove, near Burnley). Ten days later, on Saturday 15th June, Pete, Frank, Rob and myself undertook another excursion to some of the last sheds with steam. However, this time we began West of Manchester at Patricroft (coded 9H). No details of how we got there remain, but I suspect that Patricroft may have been a Salford Corporation No. 64 bus from Deansgate. The Pre-Grouping line which used the marketing slogan 'The Premier Line' was the London & North Western Railway. This famous company began with the amalgamation of The Liverpool & Manchester Railway, with the London & Birmingham and The Grand Junction railways (plus others) and Patricroft, near Eccles, was its major shed on the West side of the City of Manchester. Longsight, coded 9A, was the other important ex-LNWR shed hereabouts, situated on the south side of 'Cottonopolis' and given over to diesel and electric locomotives in 1965. Situated amidst a triangle of lines alongside the original Liverpool & Manchester route, Patricroft was an unusual shed, because it had been constructed in two parts, set at a right angle to each other. The first section (Old shed) of 8 roads was built in 1884/1885 and faced roughly South. The later 10 road shed (guess what - New shed) was built in 1904/1905 and faced East. Patricroft was Coded 26F for a long time, a sub-shed of the (ex-L & Y's) giant Newton Heath shed group. However in 1963 it was recoded 9H, which was often seen daubed energetically onto the smokeboxes of their engines, where the missing cast-iron shedplate used to be bolted on. In the 'Old shed' at Patricroft we found fifteen engines: Two serviceable Stanier Fives (both ex-Edge Hill, closed in May), four serviceable Standard Fives, eight Stanier Eights (of which only two were condemned) and one dead 9F 2-10-0, No. 92218, originally from Speke shed. Although the 'New shed' held more locomotives, (24 in total), only three appeared road-worthy, 45055 (ex-Speke) and two Caprotti-fitted Standard Fives, 73133, 73134. All the rest were condemned; one Stanier Five, nine Stanier Eights and eleven B.R. Standard Fives, including number 73000 itself. Back to Manchester Victoria and again on this trip, smartly off to Bolton. A quick jog from the station to the shed, revealed 24 serviceable locomotives at 9K (14 Fives and 10 Eights) and ten more withdrawn engines in the yard. Several 'old friends' from Stockport' finished up here and had already ended up with rods removed in the yard. Somebody climbed the coaling plant and took a shot of me waving my arms about, which I used as my original avatar when I first joined RMweb back in November 2010. Insert photo here, when I can find it! Back on Trinity Street station and we had a change of plan; instead of travelling to Rosy Grove (10F) up near Burnley, we headed for Preston and Lostock Hall (10D) shed. This ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway shed, situated south of Preston, was right alongside Lostock Hall station, so another "less than 5 minutes walking time" in Aidan Fuller's 'Basher's Bible'! Surprisingly, it was my first visit to this shed and thirty-one steam locomotives were present on that hazy Saturday afternoon in June. Seventeen Fives (4 dead), Eleven eights (3 dead) and then a bonus, three Flying Piggies were still there! These were the last of Ivatt's delightful 4MT 2-6-0s; 43106 was stored inside the shed (see Trevor's sketch earlier in the topic) and withdrawn examples, 43019 and 43027, both lying forlorn and rusty in the yard. Luckily 43106 was saved and is still with us in 2018. This engine is rostered to be working on the Severn Valley Railway during the weekend of the August 4th celebration See this link for more details: http://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=132 Back to Manchester Victoria in 1968, where we spent the late evening watching four more live Fives bustling around the station in the fading light, before returning home. What is it that is so special about the steam locomotive? Why were we so obsessed back then and why still 50 years later? More in a couple of weeks (if you can stand anymore), as we draw closer to the end of the 'steam age' in regular service on British Railways. Notes: [1] My only excursion into social media and most of the time I lurk and read rather than interject. [2] 15th Golden edition of 2002: Has anything really happened musically since then? Teehee! [3] Thomas Richard Perkins (1872-1952), the only railway enthusiast to travel over all the passenger carrying lines in the British Isles. p157 Guinness Railway Book, 1989. Although I often wonder how far Henry Casserley (1903 -1991) travelled? However, several lines that Perkins travelled over had been closed by the time H.C.C. began and nowadays it would be impossible to repeat both Perkins, or Casserley's trips, without a time machine like the Tardis! [4] Released on 26th June 1968, "Fire" by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown would reach Number One the week after the 'Fifteen Guinea Trip' in the second week of August. Of course to some of a certain age the word "Fi-ya" will immediately bring into sharp focus the German Gunnery Commander from the film "Sink the Bismarck" (1958). More medicine please nurse. Only a few weeks to go now before it's all over in 1968. More Steamy snippets in July. All the very best, John. Postscript added on 1st July: I knew there was a reason that I wanted to post this on the 30th (but, of course I forgot to write it anywhere!). The three 9 coded sheds, Newton Heath (9D), Patricroft (9H) and Bolton (9K) all closed officially to steam operations on 30th June 1968.

IMO, this topic needs a bump? And following on from post 533, (the mini-essay about the last weekend of steam at Stockport in May), sincere apologies, as I'm ten days late with this update from Fifty years ago! All of those who have followed the '50 years ago' topic from the beginning were spoiled rotten by all those super photographs posted right back in January. Thanks again to Trevor for starting the story off, which has certainly allowed some of us to wallow in the nostalgia, memories and the music of that time. It looks like there were at least a dozen (or more) 'RMweb regulars' besides Trevor and myself, who were wandering around those dusty platforms and gritty engine sheds. And I'm sure I must have walked in the footsteps of many of you including Paul, Chris, Jamie, Jonny, Jim, Apollo and of course, Trevor, to name those that I know now were in the same place on either the same day, or just before or after! So, to answer the question asked at the end of my last diatribe - "Where were we all going to have to go now for the next steamy fix?" - here's another bundle of my memories from that crazy summer of 1968. A June day out - Young Girl, Would you like to see steam? At the Number One spot for four weeks from 22nd May 1968 was the sugary up-tempo ballad, "Young Girl" [1]. And, I am sorry to report, but with the closure of Stockport's sheds, this young lad's thoughts had been finally influenced by all that mushy pop music and them shorter and shorter skirts! Quite what attracted Miss X to me I've no idea, especially as it was her sister that I had been sketching at the local Art class on Friday nights! [2] However, by Whitsuntide, when my pal Rob suggested that we should go and have a look at a few of the last sheds still operating with steam . . . well I thought, "X, dearest, how would you like to see a steam engine up close and dirty?" By June, there were only six sheds left operating steam locomotives: Newton Heath (9D) to the East of Manchester, Patricroft (9H) on the West side of the city, Bolton (9K), Rose Grove (10F) up near Burnley, Lostock Hall (10D) just South of Preston and Carnforth (10A) gateway to the Lake District. The Rolling Stones had released 'Jumpin' Jack Flash on the 29th of May and it really was only going to be "a gas, gas, gas", [3] because looking at our limited finances at the beginning of the week (and planning a not too exhausting day for a first time shed-basher), we decided to visit just three sheds on Wednesday 5th June 1968. The day began with an EMU ride to Manchester Piccadilly, which whined past the now empty shed at Stockport Edgeley and the sad line of remaining dead engines awaiting towing to the breakers' yards. A quick step across the city centre to Victoria station and then, it was an eight minute DMU trip up to Dean Lane, arriving at 11:58am. Aidan Fuller's 'Basher's Bible' [4] says, "A broad path leads to the shed from the west side of Dean Lane - Walking time less than five minutes". At the huge Newton Heath shed the first cop for a new recruit to the art of bunking sheds dressed in mini-skirt and sling-back shoes was one of Sir William's "Madchen fur Alles", Black Five No. 44910. And the question on all your lips reading this, "Are sling-backs really the best shoes for walking on ash ballast?" Also present on that dull Wednesday lunch-time, at what was once the 'top shed' of the pre-Group Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, were twelve more mechanically sound Fives and eleven serviceable Eights, plus one visiting B.R. Standard Five, 73069 from Patricroft shed. In the yard, four withdrawn Stanier Fives had been joined by one life-expired B.R. 9F, 2-10-0, 92054. Just over half an hour after our arrival at the shed that spawned the most famous football club on the planet, we were on our way back to Manchester Victoria station, where we had ten minutes to spare before catching the 13:10 DMU bound for (sunny) Bolton, arriving 13:26. The shed visit here was completed in 75 minutes, which included over half an hour's brisk walking in the afternoon sunshine to and from the delightfully named Back Crescent Road! Bolton shed had eleven serviceable Fives, including some of those with starring roles to come in two months' time, numbers 44781, 44871 and 45110; plus seven serviceable Eights, along with another dozen withdrawn Stanier-designed engines. The 14:45 departure from Bolton Trinity Street brought us into Rose Grove at 15:38, on this now hot and dusty afternoon! "Turn right outside the station and first left into Lower Rose Grove Lane - less than five minutes", phew! Here the magnificent seven working Stanier Fives present included Lostock Hall's 45305 and amongst the nineteen serviceable Eights was 48666, which appears in many of Rose Grove photographs. Two of Carnforth's B.R. Standard Fours were here too, numbers 75019 and 75027. Surprisingly, according to my notes, there were only two withdrawn Stanier Eights in the yard. And 48 minutes after our arrival at the improbably named Rose Grove, we set off to retrace our trains homeward bound via Bolton and Manchester. What a day, but unfortunately it didn't have an ending like 'Casablanca'. I may have needed more than the Equals 1st May release to convince Miss. X to carry on with the start of a beautiful friendship! [5] However, I had been bitten by the steam bug again and the chase was still on, but, what was I going to do with that motorbike I'd acquired, that needed the lights rewiring before I could use it? More next time on the 'trail of tears'. Notes: [1] Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, released 17th April and played ad nauseam until it charted! [2] Fully clothed - well Sixties style: those boots were made for ridin' pillion on motor-bikes! [3] as it would hit number one during the third week of June. [4] The British Locomotive Shed Directory, Aidan Fuller, 12th Edition 1963, Ian Allan Limited. [5] 'Baby Come Back' will make Number One for the Equals on 3rd. July, replacing 'Jumping Jack Flash' by the Stones. Keep on steaming, John.

Following on from post 526, and the last weekend of steam at Stockport: The Final Run of The Belfast Boat Express behind steam in May 1968! The previous notes about Saturday May 4th 1968, left Peter and myself hot-footing it across the city centre of Manchester, headed for the ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway's Victoria station, hoping to ride behind steam for the last time on the Belfast Boat Express. First a little background as to why we were so determined to ride on this train. Following July 9th 1967 and 'Waterloo Sunset' [1], the end of steam on the Southern region, it was a lot more difficult to find passenger trains hauled by steam locomotives, let alone those classed as express duties. North of Crewe and in the West Riding, a few excursion trains and extras might still turn up behind a steam locomotive and for a brief period the last ex-LMS 'Jubilee' 4-6-0s were noted on holiday specials. After the last engine sheds were closed to steam on the North Eastern region, between September and November 1967, it became increasingly rare to find a steam-powered passenger train. However, there were still a few exceptions and the Belfast Boat Express, running between Manchester Victoria (depart, 20:55) and Heysham, was the only one that I could reach easily and within my limited budget! So it was that Frank, Peter, myself and many other enthusiasts travelled on this train as many times as we could, as it became famous for some spirited running with a few enthusiastic crews [2]. From my notes it appears that the first time I rode on the B.B.E. was on the 11th November 1967, with Carnforth shed's Stanier Five, No. 45390. But, on that occasion, because of the connections necessary to get back home before midnight, I only managed the first 11 miles as far as Bolton Trinity Street. That trip was enough to persuade me to travel again two weeks later (on 25th November) and on that run I made it as far as Preston behind another Carnforth Five, No. 44894. Around that time, we met some of the lads who formed 20:55 club: a gang of regular enthusiasts who had travelled and recorded many journeys on the Saturday train of this last steam-powered express turn. Five months later and the down Saturday night train from Manchester was believed to be the last steam duty and Frank asked me to paint a small headboard to commemorate the fact. We 'found' a couple of brackets and bolted them to a section of solid board, to which I attached a smooth piece of hardboard sign-written with "4th May 1968, End of Steam, Belfast Boat Express, Manchester to Heysham". This was to sit on the re-positioned smokebox bracket, whilst the curved red and white headboard was mounted above the handrail. On the 4th, Frank had taken charge of 'our board' (at Godley) and it was already in position on the smokebox of No. 45342, by the time Peter and myself arrived at Victoria, about 20:45! I got to see it briefly and Vernon Sidlow took the photograph below. However, before departure, an altercation took place and then the sign had to be retrieved from the ballast, to travel in our compartment as far as Preston [3]. Apparently this wasn't going to be the last steam turn, our information had been wrong and it would be the Sunday evening's train! Several of my friends and members of the 2055 Club (who, along with the MNA, were partly responsible for the finish of the last engine), carried on to Heysham and slept in coaches / vans, so that they could ride on the last up train on Sunday, powered by 45025. And that was it for regular 'express' steam, excepting for the plethora of specials later in the year. Now, where were we going to have to travel to for the next steamy fix? You'll all be pleased to know that I only have three more trips left before the August Farewell tours. But, surely, there's a lot more with stories of the last thirteen weeks? All the very best, John. Notes: [1] Waterloo Sunset, released 11th May 1967, the haunting melody by the Kinks that reflected so many enthusiast's feelings of the mid-Summer demise of steam operations on the Southern Region. 'Sunset' only made No. 2, held off the No. One spot between 8th June and 19th July, by Procol Harum's, 'Whiter Shade of Pale'. [2] Loads varied between 7 or 8 coaches and a van, around 250 - 280 tons. [3] And I still have it, although slightly dented! Morning edit: For those interested in more about the last run of the Belfast Boat Express and the last months of steam operations, two 'bookazines' were published to celebrate the 40 year anniversary of the 'End of Steam' in 1968. They turn up regularly on the second hand stalls of the heritage railways. 'Steam -The Grand Finale', by Alan Castle, July 2008, published by Heritage Railway Magazine & Mortons Media, ISBN 978-1-906167-10-3. There is a feature on pages 32 to 39 all about the Belfast Boat Express. 'FIRE', edited by Howard Johnston & Danny Hopkins, published in 2008, by Steam Railway & Bauer Publishing, ISBN 978-1906312-04-6.

As Paul says in post 529: Page 97, Foxline Publications, 'Scenes from The Past' series Part 39, 'Heaton Mersey-9F'. - there is a photograph by Peter Hutchinson of No. 48115 shrouded in steam on the turntable at Godley Junction, complete with smokebox decorations. Postscript to Stockport on May 4th and May 5th: Extra reading and proper pictures too! What that caption doesn't say is that my pal Frank was taking a picture of Driver Thorley and another enthusiast leaning on either end of the 8Fs buffer beam. Whilst watching in the foreground were L-R; the young fireman, my school-mate, Ambrose, yours truly (with trademark 1968 jacket and grease-top hat) and my pal, Peter, who in a short while would be clinging to the other side of the tender as we careered towards Stockport on that grey day in May! On the opposite page are pictures of the 9F and the threesome, but with a misprint, the 8F noted as 48359 was definitely 48356, which is confirmed on the previous page (and by my own notes). Here are some more references for anyone interested in Steam around Stockport with 'proper' in focus photographs of the final days of steam: Scenes from the past: No. 1, The Railways around Stockport, Gregory Fox, 1986, Foxline Publishing, ISBN 1-870119-00-2. Scenes from the past: No.13, Stockport Tiviot Dale, Gregory Fox, 1991, Foxline Publishing, ISBN 1-870119-17-7. Scenes from the past: No. 35, Stockport Edgeley Motive Power Depot, Michael Stokes, 1999, Foxline Publishing, ISBN 1-870119-61-4. Scenes from the past: No. 39, Heaton Mersey Motive Power Depot, Michael Stokes, 2000, Foxline Publishing, ISBN 1-870119-64-9. Scenes from the past: No. 40/1, Railway Memories of Manchester and Stockport, Raymond Keeley, 2000, Foxline Publishing, ISBN 1-870119-65-7. Stockport in the Days of Steam, Paul Shackcloth, 2002, Steam Image, ISBN 0-9543128-0-5. All the very best, John.

Following on from post 525: Last Rites at Stockport on May 4th and May 5th - part two: Bruised and dirty! For this last day of steam action at Stockport, my mate Frank had borrowed his Dad's motor and upon arrival at Heaton Mersey shed alongside the mucky river that spawned the worldwide phenomenon [1], we soon learned that the last working off the shed was a trip freight to Godley Junction around mid-afternoon. After trudging around the shed and taking another couple of fuzzy pictures of filthy engines, Frank decided we should set off for a spot near Woodley Junction to 'Lineside' this final freight working on the short stretch 1 in 61 gradient. Eventually, we climbed over a fence near Woodley and struggled through some briar patch to find a spot to take a picture of Class 8F, No. 48115, complete with smoke-box wreath working hard upgrade towards Woodley Junction. Then back to the motor to arrive at Godley Junction sidings not long after the 8F had deposited its train. IIRC, the duty was supposed to include working another train back to Heaton Mersey, however, as the engine was being turned a fault developed. Driver Thorley, who we'd met down at the shed earlier in the day, declared that one of the injectors was inoperable and so the engine was failed, to return light back to shed asap. Somehow, Peter and myself found ourselves on the footplate as two passengers back to Stockport with Mr. Thorley and his young fireman (who was probably only a couple of years older than ourselves). And so it was that we rode on the last 8F from Godley Junction to Heaton Mersey shed, on a grey late afternoon, exposed to the everyday conditions of freight work in the age of steam. It's around six miles; from Godley down past Hyde, followed by a short rise to Woodley Junction, then a long downhill section through Brinnington, past the (closed) Tiviot Dale station and then diving into the series of tunnels and sandstone cuttings before passing under Wellington Road and beneath the towering LNWR viaduct to reach the desolate wasteland of Heaton Mersey sidings. Although not really any great distance, it was possibly the most hair-raising experience I've ever had on rails. [2] This was not the glamour inspired by Sir Ralph's cab at KX just five years before. Here, we were exposed to the hard and dirty work of the steam railway; graft at its cutting edge, clinging on grimly whilst the tired 8F bucked, swayed and jolted over every rail-joint between Godley Junction and Stockport. Driver Thorley pushed that heaving, clanking lump [3] homewards and looking back 50 years later, only now do I wonder what to? Was this his and the young fireman's last trip? What did Monday, May 6th 1968 hold for them both? Of course, we were completely oblivious to those questions and after thanking them profusely for our fantastic footplate ride, climbed down from the cab, dirty, bruised and well pleased. We were dropped near to the coaling stage at the shed, just out of sight of the 'Bobby' in Heaton Mersey West signal-box, which controlled the entrance to the shed-yard, although he may well have seen us. How many footplatemen wore a maroon jacket similar to Brian Jones of the Stones, whilst at work? We assumed 'our' engine would be withdrawn later that evening. But, it must have been just a simple repair required, as No. 48115 would turn up later at Rose Grove and still be fizzing around for a few more weeks. According to records I've seen since, Stanier 8F, 48720 was the last to leave Heaton Mersey shed under its own power on the Sunday morning. RIP Heaton Mersey shed, January 1889 - 6 May 1968. For Peter and me, it was a hasty trot back up the hill to Stockport Edgeley station to catch the next train to Manchester Piccadilly and then a dash across the City centre to Victoria Station for (what we assumed was to be) the last time the Belfast Boat Express would be hauled by a steam locomotive. More next time, perhaps, on how the evening turned out. All the best, John Notes: [1] The Mersey Beat! (mentioned by Fat Controller in post 518). [2} Although descending Beattock Bank, in the ducket of the parcels section of a coach right behind the tender of a Black Five, pushing a long way over 90mph on a special in August 1966, came extremely close! [3] Built at Crewe in April 1939.

As 'promised' in post 475, some notes about the last weekend of steam at Stockport sheds. Just lately it seems, I'm always a day late and this time is no different. Yesterday, there was a celebration on Stockport Edgeley station of 175 years of the railway opening and 50 years since the end of steam. Unfortunately, I missed it, but I was there fifty years ago, honest! Last Rites at Stockport on May 4th and May 5th - part one: Until the first weekend of May 1968, it had still been that 'wonderful world of steam' in parts of the North West of England, where a plume of smoke and a rousing exhaust could be seen and heard between places like Stockport and Speke and Bolton and Barrow (and many other alliterations may well be just as pertinent to this melancholy occasion). Earlier Trevor mentioned Herman's Hermits debut and only number one chart topper, "Something Good" from September 1964, however on May 4th 1968, the Rolling Stones hit of July 1965 was more appropriate, as it really was going to be "The Last Time". Sometimes I wonder just how many times between 1963 and 1968, I had walked down that crunchy cinder path, from the 'hole in the wall' off Booth Street? Normally in '67 and '68, after reaching the bottom of the path, I would lean my bicycle against the solid sleeper built fence, which separated the siding along the west side of the shed from Edgeley Park, the home of Stockport County Football Club. But on the last Saturday, I travelled by train to Stockport to meet up with my railway enthusiast school-pals and as the EMU passed the shed, I considered the fact that this probably would be the last time that I could inhale the smell of hot oil and steam, with a dash of added sulphur and a sprinkling of that fine ash and dust blowing in the wind, whilst only a few yards away, the crowd roared epithets at the local football team? (Although by 1968, County had begun playing on Friday nights). Anyway, there was certainly not much to shout about on the railway side of the fence on this particular Saturday, as it was effectively the last working day of steam operations at Stockport and also the last weekend for steam at the Liverpool sheds of Edge Hill (8A) and Speke Junction (8C). On shed at Edgeley (9B) were Seven 'live' Stanier Fives and one visiting Eight, 48546 (9F) all bound for further service at Bolton, Newton Heath and Rose Grove sheds. Around the back on the scrap roads were another seven Fives and three Eights. Three of Edgeley's allocation had already left and 48170 was lurking somewhere near Stockport. That particular engine would return later to be bag-piped off-shed by fireman, Tommy Baker, on the Sunday morning. RIP Edgeley 24 May 1883 - 6 May 1968. I took a few photographs (including the two attached above),however as not much was happening, we all set off for the other Stockport shed, Heaton Mersey (9F). The trek down the hill into the valley ended on Gorsey Bank Road, from where one walked over the creaky foot-bridge spanning the swirling, foamy brown waters of the River Mersey to access H. M. (9F) shed. Amongst the dirty collection of eight serviceable Stanier Class 8F, 2-8-0s and 19 derelict examples (plus 10 withdrawn Black Fives), there was a solitary B.R. Standard 9F, 2-10-0, No. 92118, from Carnforth (10A) shed. This engine left heading North-west in a threesome, coupled up to 48319 and 48356, which were later discovered at Bolton (9K) and Newton Heath (9D) respectively. One of the withdrawn Class Eights was still branded in chalk 'The Mighty Quinn', Manfred Mann's number one from February! Fifty years later and I wonder, was it a really good engine (because "You'll not see nothin' like the Mighty Quinn!"), or was it due to the reputation of one of the shed staff, perhaps? More later of the last weekend of steam at Stockport . . . . All the very best, John.

Following on from post 516 by Larry (Coachman) hanging out of one of Sir William Stanier's finest: Yesterday [1], I was standing beside one of my favourite engines, the 'Flying Piggy' No. 43106, at Kidderminster - sniffing steam in the sunshine along with my friend, Trevor B, (a railway modeller and volunteer at the Museum and also born during WW2). Trevor was a fireman at Stafford Road shed, Wolverhampton from 1957 until 1964 and still loves to tell of "doing the ton on a Castle hauling a six coach special and blowing the whistle to his girlfriend, as they flashed by the platform of her local country station!" However Larry says, "By the end of 1964, I had given up looking at BR and so the end of steam was only occasionally witnessed along with the camera-swingers who, to me, had simply joined a craze." From Cuddly toy to King's Cross From my perspective and in complete contrast; by the end of 1964, I was completely hooked on the steam locomotive and as I've said previously, skool and proper education took a back seat as the freedoms allowed by the 'Sixties' were exploited to the full. Of course, my obsession was assisted by an energetic School Railway Society, run by Mr. Clarke (who arranged trips and shed visits and even convinced the school to build a model railway! [2]). Then there was my Dad, (despatch-rider with 46145 and steam nut, cabinet maker and carpenter with a short fuse!) who was instrumental in starting this addiction with all things railway, by hoisting me into the cab of a 'Royal Scot' at a tender age, whilst clutching my 'Robertson's brand' cuddly toy! [3] Employed on long-distance lorry work in the early-60s, occasionally Dad would take me with him to strange places hard to find on the map and just once to the Smoke in early June 1963, where I finished up in the cab of 'Sir Ralph Wedgewood' around midnight, at the bufferstops of KX [4]. Later in 1963 and the late summer of 1964, we did some shed-bashing around the West Midlands in the inevitable Ford 103E Popular! And so, around two decades after the end of steam, this once upon a time bike-riding, camera-swinger was still obsessed with the steam-powered railway and had been lucky enough to be able to buy a couple of rakes of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway coaches painted by Larry. Although, they were in LMS pre-1928 livery, not the 'dumbed-down' liveries following the economic crises of the 1920s and 'hungry Thirties'. So perhaps the crazy addiction has proved profitable in different ways for many of us! Back to the Spring of 1968 and . . . . Was it really Half a Century ago since Louis Armstrong sang, "And I think to myself, it's a Wonderful World" as Napalm was dropped onto the jungles in Vietnam?! [single released 7th February and hit the Number One Spot, on 24th April - to be replaced only two weeks later by Gary (pick it, lick it, roll it, flick it - no, no, no!) Puckett and the Union Gap with the sugarry 'Young Girl', which stayed at Number One for four weeks in the Spring of 1968. I'd better get on and type up some notes on the last day of steam operations at Stockport, which took place exactly 50 years ago today! All the best, John. Notes: [1] Yesterday - Beatles tune which made highest Chart position of number 8, by Matt Monro, released on Trafalgar Day, 21 October 1965, and also made number 36 with Marianne Faithful's November release. [2] I'm around a decade younger than both Trevor and Larry and therefore lucky to have been able to take full advantage of the more settled period following WW2 and Korea, plus all the radical reforms regarding social and educational issues introduced by the post-war governments. [3] Starts with Go and ends with og. Edit: 46145 was a Royal Scot Class named "The Duke of Wellington's Regiment". [4] The week before steam was banned from Kings Cross. We 'cabbed' four different engines that night between 10pm and 01:00; 60046, 61250, 60124 and 60006 - all for the cost of a few Senior Service (other brands of fags were of course available and just as easily stuck to your lip!).

Hi pH, thanks for reminding me about Phil Mathison's book, 'Shed Bashing with the Beatles' first published in 2006. Always a handy reference to those steamy days, but lacking detail from the very last year of steam ops., as Phil was concentrating on O-Level studies and his guitar. Whereas, I have to admit it - I just wasted my life 'sniffing steam', when I too should have been studying French, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Geology, History and Mathematics! Plus it probably wouldn't have hurt to have applied myself properly to Art, rather than spending time sketching steam engines! But, Pop music, and the products of Crewe, Darlington, Derby, Doncaster, Eastleigh, Horwich and Swindon by Francis and Sir William, the brothers Worsdell and Sir Vincent, Samuel and Sir Henry, Harry and Sir Nigel, Richard and Oliver, Sir John Audley Frederick and George Jackson Churchward were much more captivating! (Other works and engineers are of course both available and applicable!). Steamy Stories of spotting trips In fact, I was writing short stories of train-spotting trips, interspersed with musical and topical references, from at least ten years prior to the publication of Phil Mathison's super paperback, whilst I was a contributor and later 'editor' (1997-2007) of the Stafford Railway Circle's monthly newsletter, 'Linesider'. One of my first forays was a 30 year anniversary 'celebration' of a seven day Scottish trip in 1966, made with my school-mate, Frank and entitled somewhat unimaginatively, 'Chasing Iron Dinosaurs'. The fact that the piece began with watching England playing football on the telly (with 30 million friends) gives you some idea of this 1996 contribution. I had been inspired to write some of these notes by my (late) friend, Peter Hands and his book, 'Chasing Steam on Shed', a paperback published by Barbryn Press in 1982 ISBN 0-906160-030. Peter and I shared carriage vestibules many times on Past-Time Rail's steam tours, through the 1990s/2000s; swapping spotting stories and football tragedies! Another book that tapped into the culture surrounding the late Sixties and also carrying on into the Seventies is 'Platform Souls', by Nicholas Whittaker, 1996, published by Victor Gollancz. So, as Trevor had taken the trouble to start this topic with some super pictures of those last 32 weeks of the steam-powered railway, I thought I'd chip in with some notes and since I've discovered a box of some old snaps, a few of those too. Hope they bring back happy memories for those of us old enough to remember 1968 and also let the youngsters know what it was like - for this steam-obsessed teenager! All the very best, John. PS: I like that permit, Trevor. I only ever wrote for two passes in August 1964 and the one for Upperby came in the post the day before we set off for Carlisle!

Hi Trevor and the followers of the 50 years since the End of Steam topic. By the 30th April in the Spring of 1968, my two local sheds, Stockport (Edgeley) coded 9B and Heaton Mersey, coded 9F had less than a week to go before closure to steam locomotives. As a kid brought up in those far off mucky days and looking now at all these pictures, it's almost like looking at another World. A landscape where the age of steam met the space age, all set to the soundtrack of the Swinging Sixties! The seven year itch of train-spotting and watching had almost run its course. Together, we had travelled from that 'Wonderful Land' with 'Telstar' and bought a 'Ticket to Ride' to follow our 'Everlasting Love'. But by 1967, 'Hello, Goodbye' the steam railway was ending and just like 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' we chased the 'Fire' and steam to the very end in Sixty-eight. Romantic melodrama, maybe, but 50 years on and I'm still fascinated with the damned things! Back then, we were part of a generation of school-boys intoxicated by the smell of hot oil, sulphur and steam and had been following the friendly 'iron horse' whenever we could. Some of those who had been watching the steam railway slide to this sad demise - from eleven-year old to reckless teenager - had been as adept at bunking off school as we were at bunking sheds! Spurred on by that music, which just got better and better, as the girl's skirts got shorter . . . . the bike wheels were spinning again as there was only a few days left to get my fix, in my second homes - Edgeley and Heaton Mersey sheds. That 'wonderful world' of Stockport in April 1968 As we approach that last curtain call at Stockport, here's a couple of colour photos from earlier in 1968: The first is a colour view of ex-LMS, Jubilee, No. 5596, 'Bahamas' just back from overhaul at Hunslet, Leeds and on display on the morning of 16th March. Trevor's pictures earlier in the topic show the crowds which appeared later in the day to look at Edgeley's 'pet engine' resplendent in its new red paint and the other two visitors, Britannia 70013 and Scotsman, 4472. A couple of weeks later and I made my weekly pilgrimage on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April. On the Saturday around lunchtime, my last picture was of Stanier Class Five, 45269 over the ashpit, by the mechanised coaling belt and with a string of 16 tonners in position on the right to take away the ash. Whilst on the Sunday morning, armed with a fresh colour film, I took this photograph of Edgeley's Standby engine - another Stanier Five, 45312 in almost the same place, but luckily the ash wagons had been moved. Four weeks later, as Louis Armstrong's 'Wonderful World' hit Number One - and all would be dead. All the very best, John.

Congratulations Tabitha and James. What a fantastic layout and in such a short time! An inspiration to all of us. All the very best, John.

Hi Trevor, I wish I had made a few shed sketches like yours of Lostock Hall shed all those years ago - a very good idea. And, yes I saw the earlier post of 44806. How good that it survived and I had the chance to relive the experience, on a cold and wet day a couple of years ago, at Llangollen! Springtime in Speke! Now, another turn up for the books, I knew I had a box of old photos somewhere, shot on a Brownie 127 during the last days. Nowhere near the quality of the super photographs appearing on this topic, but records nevertheless that somebody besides me might get something from. Three from Speke Junction were worth scanning and I've attached them below: The first was shot from half-way up the coaling-plant on our 9th April visit, 45292 heads west across the north side of the Speke triangle. Then a view from the coaling-plant, with the ex-LNWR combined coal-stage and water tank in the foreground, 9th April 1968. The Garston Dock to Liverpool curve runs from roughly centre of the picture towards the right, passing the neck of the shed roads. The boarded crossing, where we experienced the epic struggle of 44906 in foggy February was to the right of centre behind the plume of steam from the Class 5MT. Looks like they could do with some more water in that tank! Finally, a Class 9F, 92094 stands beneath the coaling tower at Speke Junction shed on 17th April 1968. Edit: I'm fairly sure that the engine behind the 9F might be the Britannia, 70024, 'Vulcan', which is the engine that I'm sitting in the cab of in my avatar on that sunny April day back in 1968. I'll see if I can get my missus to scan a few more - as I've not looked in this box for several decades. Apologies for the quality. All the very best, John.

Thanks again John for the information, reference the origin of the term Civil Engineer. For some unknown reason, I had not considered that the Civils' membership was made up of an amalgam of all types until the creation of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1847. It has been suggested by Tom Rolt that George Stephenson regarded the 'Civils' as the 'establishment' ('London Engineers' still in the age of the horse and the canals) and was more than happy to be asked to be the first President of the 'Mechanicals' at their initial meeting in Birmingham. Appropriately, his son, Robert was elected president after his father's death in 1848 [1]. Thanks also to dh, for the interesting information about the Stephensons' factories in Newcastle and the infrastructure considerations of over-bridges, intersections and under-bridges. Returning to some of the host of questions about infrastructure; AFIAK exactly how the dimensions were arrived at, for the British/English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish structure and loading gauges, has yet to be researched satisfactorily. But, as I have suggested previously (post 39), it appears to have originated in the offices of George Stephenson & Co. with the structure drawings for the Liverpool & Manchester, Grand Junction and London & Birmingham Railways [2]. Although by no means followed by all the engineers of the early railways, the majority seem to have produced structures delivering a loading gauge of around 13 feet by 9 feet. There is an RMWeb topic looking into the British loading gauges and RMweb member, SED Freightman has posted 18 diagrams from the Railway Year Book of 1921. Between these and another list of dimensions from the Railway year Book of 1911, many of the possible permutations of the Pre-Grouping companies can be accessed. Member, Jim C has also provided a link to a website that he is creating with some of this information: Link: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/133280-pre-grouping-loading-gauge-diagrams-wanted/?p=3129159 This information (and the correct structure gauge applied to the section of line which is chosen to model) is perhaps of more interest to the historical railway modeller. However, pre-Grouping infrastructure is the foundation beneath over 90% of the current railway network and discovering these details can be difficult. IMO, Jim's research will prove very useful to future modellers looking for prototype accuracy. In this topic's OP, dh also asked about Best Practice. The following information is from Volume 2, of the 8 volume set entitled: 'Modern Railway Working' [3]. The text on page 168, beneath the chapter heading Design of Structures, begins with a nine point checklist of design considerations. The diagram on page 169 shows the English Structure and Loading Gauge with a table of extra dimensions. The Set of books was published as a 'Practical Treatise by Engineering and Administrative Experts', with just about every subject you need to organise your railway company (from organisational departmental diagrams to traffic control, etc., etc.) and the diagram could be considered 'best practice' for the Pre-Group companies. The diagram generally agrees with No.2 in the Railway Year Book of 1921 [4]. Were these dimensions recommended before WW1, by the Railway Clearing House or Board of Trade? The Board of Trade's responsibilities for railways were transferred to the new Ministry of Transport, created soon after WW1 and whilst the railways were still under State control. Was the diagram followed by all subsequent railway construction up to Nationalisation? Always more questions than answers. All the best, John. References: [1.] The Mechanicals; Progress of a Profession, by L.T.C. Rolt, 1967, published by Heinemann, p15. [2.] Parliamentary Acts passed in 1826, 1833 and 1833, respectively. [3.] Modern Railway Working, edited by John Macauley, assisted by Cyril Hall. Eight volumes published between 1912 & 1914 by Gresham Publishing Company, London. This set of books cover the total process of running the 'modern' railway at its zenith. Volume 2 (186p) sets out the departments and then the planning, design, construction and works required - much in the same way as Mills, Railway Construction, Longmans 1898. Volume 3 (194p) follows with details of bridges, tunnels and permanent way installation, with many line drawings. Ottley 3738. [4.] The Railway Year Book, (1898 - 1932, 35 volumes) Railway Publishing Co., Fleet Street, London / Ottley 7948.

Hi Jim, Try these pages from the 1911 editon: I hope you can see them okay, shot on a mobile in the kitchen! All the very best, John. PS: No idea why it's put the last page there, modern technology baffles and infuriates me in equal measures! Edit: From SED's reply (post 9), it seems that we need to know whether the tables were in the 1913 or 1914 editions for possibly the most comprehensive listing?