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Ah. Didn't spot those / realise they were different to the other bins.

Great picture of the Cravens (assuming 105 rather than the other one) unit in South Shields. With the b&w imagery, other than the livery on the train that picture could conceivably have been taken any time since their introduction (assuming 1950s).

Is that some sort of drop-down coupling on the 92s?

Looking at the most recent pair of pictures, I also noted some changes to the skyline. A tall building on the left, behind where the blue flag is flying on the 'now' picture, seems to have gone as has an ornate structure just to the right of the EMU cab. Thank you for posting these, always interesting to see the "then and now" comparisons, although they are often slightly depressing...

Just out of interest, and probably not adding anything to the topic, were tank wagons like this a single compartment inside or were they divided into two or three compartments to allow for part loads or even mixed loads?

Here you go. One of my pictures from a few years ago: Not hugely common but did happen. As can be seen, for transit they would bolt 2, 10' containers together to make a 20' equivalent unit. No idea if loaded or empty though...

Only a guess, but I would estimate D3054. Fairly confident about the D305 and working through the possibilities for the remaining digit 4 looks the most promising for me.

Haven't watched Designated Survivor myself, but a colleague who has similar tastes to me says that all 3 series are well worth it. Of course, does their taste match my taste in this instance and more importantly, would either match your taste?

Yes, I have the Deja Vu album, from which that came. I also have the Joni Mitchell original and a cover by Eva Cassidy (from the "Time After Time" album). But I hear the MSC version on the radio from time to time, and there'll be a version on Youtube no doubt, and to my ears that is the best. Others may disagree :-)

Matthews Southern Comfort cover of the Joni Mitchell song 'Woodstock'. Best version of that song I've heard and one I don't have in my jukebox! Grr!

No number for the coach?

Are there still equivalents of British Rails Q trains running? Perhaps by NR. Perhaps something like that pathed in front of the steam special to scoop up those that are endangering themselves and others?

Only problem with a clear tunnel, whether glass or polycarbonate, would be how long it would remain clear for. Salt water and sand are rather abrasive and the initially clear tunnel could become opaque in time. Another thought would be withstanding any debris that might be carried by the sea, particularly in wild weather when the water may be washing up and over the rail tunnel. Not knocking the idea, just something that came to mind when I read it. And what loading gauge would you build it to? Do you leave room for future OHLE, etc. Nothing insurmountable of course, but things to consider.

I suspect I would be one of those "that cherish their solitude". Been a while since the last time, but when I do travel by train - particularly alone - I am more than happy to stare out of the window and watch the world go by. If only because when I am normally travelling it is by car, and I am driving therefore have little opportunity to stare out of the window and watch the world go by. [I am looking out of the window in front of me, and to the side, and behind via mirrors etc. but all for a specific purpose rather than simply to see what is there and to allow the mind to wander.]

Thank you to those that replied to my query about the yellow wraparound on the blue/grey 313. I'd forgotten about the chamfered corners on that generation of units and of course that makes for an obvious edge to the colour. Just seeing the side-on view made it look a little odd, at least for me.

Out of interest, does anyone know what determined the curvature of the yellow wraparound on the 313? (And presumably the other classes of units from that generation?) Why that shape and size, rather than another, or simply squared off, or no wrap at all?

Ah, OK. Learning more every day...

From LTSV wagon profile for HBA/HEA (https://www.ltsv.com/w_profile_023.php): Two further suspension experiments involved the fitting of modified hangers to at least one wagon (361798), and a Gloucester Floating Pedestal type to another (360285). The former had been converted to an RNA (qv) by 1992 while the latter remained as a HBA but was withdrawn by early 1986. So I suspect DaveF has captured 360285 as that looks like Gloucester Floating Pedestal suspension. As it is in the flame red Railfreight livery I would have assumed it had HEA coding, rather than HBA, but I'm often wrong in these matters...

I did wonder where the MNR was putting all of these units, as "warm storage" implies under cover / in sheds rather than out in the open (at least to me). Nice to see this happening, and hopefully the money will be used (spent/saved/invested) well for the line.

I liked Alien Ant Farms cover of the Michael Jackson song "Smooth Criminal" - gave it some of the edge that it needed. Another that comes to mind is the Anthrax version of the Joe Jackson song "Got the Time". Bowling for Soup covered "I Ran (So Far Away)" by Flock of Seagulls, which I like too, though not sure if the cover beats the original... Oh, and Def Leppards cover of "Action" by the Sweet. A definite improvement on the original (IMO) is Michael Andrews/Gary Jules version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World". I could go on, but I'll stop for the moment...

I remember reading somewhere years ago - so I've no idea of the source - that the benefit of the diesel shunter was noticed almost immediately with the quoted example of a steam shunter having to stop for water (coal wasn't mentioned) twice a day whereas a diesel shunter could work at a remote yard for a week before requiring fuel. But as others have said the duration between fuelling would, like anything else, depend on the use that was made of it in between fuelling. With respect to trips on the mainline, I know that 08s were slow (20mph then later 15mph) but the 09s and the 03s were geared higher, around 27mph. But back then the railway had (a) more track capacity and (b) slower moving trains - slotting a shunter move among class 8 and 9 freights would be somewhat simpler then rather than now. Not sure how the 0-4-0 diesel shunters (01s, 02s, etc.) fared in terms of top speed and 'comfort' when travelling on the mainline, although perhaps they didn't as they were more likely to be used locally to their home base rather than remotely. Though someone will now tell me (us) otherwise... thinking while typing, the Scottish 06s could have been based some distance from their home depots...

While drivers should not be using phones while driving (at least IMO), nor should cyclists. Passed one today on the road; left hand steering, right hand holding phone, head generally downwards looking at the screen. Perhaps a directions app?

When I first looked at this, my initial thought was that it could be a candidate for the "when the real thing looks like a model" thread. Does anyone else see this, or is it just me?

Interesting, the black cab window surround on 45104. One-off, or were others treated too?

I used to visit Waverley in the mid 1980s. 96294 and 96295 used to be parked in one of the south facing bay platforms among the parcels vans. Not sure if they were still in use then, as I only ever saw those two and they never seemed to move.