Chubber

In 1959, aged nine-and-three-quarters I used to cycle N. Camp station to look at trains. Harry the signalman [he always seemed to be on day-turn] let me into the box with the tacit permission of the Station Master [Mr Robinson?]. After a while I and spent so long there my Dad came down to check there was no 'funny business' going on. I became useful enough to be given an orange weskit and elementary safety training and I'd wander around doing errands and cabbing the Q1 [30001] that was often around. I came to know the time table, warning bells etc. When in the box I'd pull the gate lock and stand on an upturned 'Lucozade' crate to polish things with 'Duraglit'. I didn't encourage any chums to tag along, it was my 'grown-up' place, and with a bucket of wedges and a long handled hammer I'd potter about replacing split ones which came back to the cabin and the ticket office for firelighting. I don't think I caused anyone to fear for my safety barring the time I fell off the cattle/horse-dock rails onto the track splitting my lip, and it was only my elevation to Farnborough Grammar School, a developing interest in aero-modelling and Army cadets that gradually seduced me away from the railway. [You go to fire guns in the Cadets] I appreciate that nowadays comparatively silent locomotives could be on you before you realised, and that colour light signals don't grind and squeak a warning, I feel nostalgic for those halcyon yet decidedly grubby days and have a certain pity for todays lads who have no opportunity to grow up in a similar 'independant' way. Doug

Seen recently on a trip to Mallaig...........I wonder how many Mbs/cwt of nutty slack? Doug

Poop-poop!

Hi, Woody, Having recently re-read my Wallingford Branch [Paul Karau] book, MM would equally well re-enact a W'ford cameo, where the locomotive [in the W' case a 14XX or 517] would be spotted immediately next to the cross-over/run round turnout so that coal could be shovelled directly from the loco coal wagon into the loco bunker..... Doug

You beat me to it by a nano-second, John. Woody's lighting makes it seem more 'branch-liney'.......[No, I haven't been overdoing the RLW...] Doug

That has got to be one of the best railway puns I've heard in years! Huzzah![but I don't get out much...except Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France in the last 3 weeks...] Doug

Cor! Spot-on, BR(S)......The same programme inspired us to get the caravan out and drive up to Austria from SW France for a visit, we were not disappointed except with the weather on the day of our ascent, which was not the best. I might put up a few more piccies on a separate thread if you think it would appeal to enough members, Doug

Last week I watched this human doing this......where is he? If this is of any interest to RMWebbers, I have more but it's a bit off-centre, interest wise! Doug

........sometimes I think I'm a fool, on other occasions I verge towards certainty.......

Diesel powered accordion.....

Taken at Broomhill, two reprobates.......Dave and Brian Doug

Juss woteesed! D

Oh! Memories, I instantly thought of the smell of a damp, blue gaberdine mackintosh, and how I'd keep tripping over my toes in each years new Clarke's sandals with their sticky crepe soles. I shouldn't complain, growing up around garrison towns in the 50s I remember kids who wore plimsolls and/or wellies to school all year round, what their Dads must have thought when a private soldier's wages couldn't put good shoe-leather on their kids feet, 'Homes fit for Heroes' didn't accord with the shared lavvies of Buller and Montgomery Lines Quarters in North Camp/Aldershot. At least each Autumn I'd get a new pair of 'Tuf Stone breakers'. In Class 4A1 of Queen's Road C.Primary School I felt so sorry for my chum David Durden, having to come to school in hand-me-downs. His four older sisters weren't too pleased, either, I bet............ [No! Not like that.... his cardigans buttoned up the wrong way] Doug

..............I think it's very nice for an uncle to take his young niece on a railway trip! I hope you both enjoyed it. I'm taking the O.A.P. I live with on a trip to the Kyle of Lochalsh, Fort William, and Mallaig and a trip on the Strathspey Steam railway at the beginning of April, plus a quick trip up the Cairngorm Mountain Railway with 4 nights in a hotel promising 'Scottish Breakfast'.....If that's Cornflakes with Bagpipes I'll not be too chuffed. Why? 'Cos it will be our 40th Wedding Anniversary. [Thinks-'you don't get that for murder, do you.'] So, from SW France to Haggis-Land in April, am I mad? Oh, she's taking this O.A.P. too..............Any recommends/must do-s? Doug

When you look at a picture like 1017 jpg it makes simpletons like me realise how unsatisfactory Peco track is in terms of realism. Moreover, it makes me regret my inability to tackle the 'roll-your-own' approach, so I'm not altogether decrying Peco Code 75 stuff, but do resent having to re-space sleepers. For my little wide-shelf jobby it's no big deal, but some of you seriously big modellers must have the patience of Job! Hopefully, these B/W piccies will last longer now they are recorded with electrons and not emulsions. How I wish this technology was around when I still had my [Royal Engineer] step-fathers 3" x 2" b/w photos in some recognisable form, to scan them and preserve them. Who wouldn't be amused/entertained by his pictures of 'De-lousing parade' featuring his railway team in their skivvies, using paraffin blow-lamps to kill bugs on the wire frames of their truckle beds in a Cairo railway yard...? Oh! How slowly our evenings pass when compared with such socially inclusive escapades!! Dave [and others] please keep posting.... Doug

....with regard to the chap in the orange overalls it looks as though the 'Giant Rivet Setter in the Sky' singled him out for special attention! Doug

Men like these would have been the people who impressed a young me with their patience and forbearance as I asked daft questions, tried to cab them and generally got in the way. Don't the firemen look young? This picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristolsteam/8544717662/in/photostream/ should be in front of every modeller painting model foot-plate men to avoid the 'one shade of blue' covers all coveralls! I bet the sleeves reached the end of his arms before the shovel put muscles on his shoulders, too. Thanks for posting, Doug

It's now time to start looking at the fan-trained nectarine tree on the south wall of our house for the first buds, and maybe throw a piece of fleece over the younger tenderer branches if the blossom opens too quickly and there is a hard frost warning. Whilst doing so today, I spotted Eddy Lizard, who was obliging enough for me to let me take my camera out of my pocket. P'raps he/she is a bit of a poser, because they normally disappear in an instant..... Close up of head Doug

I hope that is a high-tech rag he's using.......

....and his Great Uncle, Mr T. Oad..... Doug

....and here's his Mum....tee hee...

I thought I'd lost this picture, not the best quality I'm afraid, but my best attempt at a Brown Longeared bat that catches the insects drawn to our terrace lighting. He/She has become quite fearless and flies beside our heads as we sit with a drink in the evenings. His/Her ears move independently, http://www.arkive.org/brown-long-eared-bat/plecotus-auritus/ Doug

AAaagh! And they let that lovely lamp smash down onto the ground???? Philistines..... Doug

Taken on a visit to U.S.A. 2007. Doug

Beautiful, Tim! Doug