bbishop

Went up town for Christmas shopping. My sister doesn't know it yet but she getting me Private Owners vol 12 (the Ian Allen staff sealed the plastic bag) and my step grand nephew (or is that grand step nephew (see later)) is getting a Lego train set. Had a superb pint of mild in The Old Coffee House in Beak Street (a new venue, I'll be back). Ended up in the Christmas Market on the Southbank. Basically disappointing, the overpriced Glühwein was drinkable, the Currywurst was dire, the big problem was that the goods on sale were actually too good and therefore too expensive. Really a Christmas market should be selling stocking filler tat. So stopped off at Lidl and purchased a large bottle of Glühwein for about the same price as the Southbank thimble. Seem to have drunk most of it so must head to bed. Blame the alcohol if this post makes less sense than usual. Bill

I looked into using Ryanair for my trip to the Spur Null day near Gießen last year. Frankfurt-Hahn appears to be nearer Strasbourg than Frankfurt! Bill

And don't forget the three wise men arrived on the Epiphany. Bill

Kelly, My freeview box is down to one channel (E4+1 for some reason) and has to be reset to pick up 117 channels every time I want to watch the TV. Which is about once a week! Bill

That's because you are spelling it incorrectly - should be ffaggot. Bill

I think the Southern Railway built the Wimbledon - Sutton line as a "blocker" to the Metropolitan District Railway extending beyond Wimbledon. Perhaps Ian could confirm or deny? Bill

Wearing my pedantic mitre, were monarchs that succeeded their brothers, previously Prince of Wales? I would have thought not, because the king could have produced a son and heir at any time. That would have knocked out James 2, William 4 and George 6. Also for various reasons Henry 4, Edward 4, Richard 3, Henry 7, James 1, William 3 and George 1. Bill

Ian, My lighting rig is based on "MARKET STALL" technology, which breaks down into separate bits of metal. The lights are at mains voltage, but are class 2 so are double insulated. The rig is portable across layouts, the only requirement is that T-nuts are positioned to hold the uprights. However, I've decided not to use my rig on Höchstädt, relying on LEDs built into the layout infrastructure. And the passenger stock is lit. And it's easier to achieve in 7mm. Bill

My father was a prisoner of war in Auschwitz in 1943-44 (not Birkenau). He told my mother about his experiences once, then never mentioned them again. Bill

My previous post pins my Newspaper to the mast, so I was wondering why I hadn't read Bennett's appalling article in the Grauniad. That's because it actually appeared in the Observer. Whilst the two papers are in the same stable, I don't think that abysmal level of journalism would be permitted to appear in the Grauniad. Bill

Don't want to seem pedantic and all that, but you should be using the subjunctive as "if she were an English graduate" Bill (a Grauniad reader)

Have you gone Barking mad? B

Gareth, Are you modelling the 20ton wagon (D1386)? If so, they are side door only so won't have a white stripe. Built in 1934, they had the large SR inside the diagonal of the end panel. Small SR from 1936. The SR inherited 8 plank wagons from the LSWR and SECR. These were always regarded as goods wagons although it was not unknown for them to be used for mineral traffic. Side door only so won't have a white stripe. The SR inherited mineral wagons from the SECR plus a few from the LBSCR. Many were in poor condition and were rapidly culled. Survivors probably included the wooden underframed Hurst Nelson wagons of 1911 vintage. These included both side door only and end door variants. In 1933, the SR acquired 200 end door, steel underframed wagons to RCH 1923 standards. The SR painted the white stripe on end door mineral wagons. I have a feeling that initially the stripe was diagonal across the whole side then later changed to the end panel only. Can't give you a date. Could other people support or deny this assertion, please? And give a date? Bill

Wheel diam 5' 2"; wheelbase 8' x 8' 6"; boiler diam 4' 5¾"; Bradley doesn't quote boiler height or overall length. Height over chimney was initially 13' 1½", a replacement chimney from 1914 reduced height to 12' 6½", removal of the capuchon reduced the overall height to 12' 5". Details from the Locomotive History of the South Eastern & Chatham Railway by Don Bradley. Bill

I don't want to sound horribly pedantic, but an engine is what you will find in your car. As you state later on, it is a steam locomotive. I'll look up the information in the morning. Bill

Mike, I'll pm you. Bill

Mike, For my sins, I'm Portfolio Organiser for the South Western Circle. Have you acquired any London & South Western Railway photographs? Bill

Off to join ModellersUnitedinApathy? Bill

Guys, If this were London, then there would be a pair of tram / trolley bus posts opposite each other. If the posts were also used for street lighting, then it is possible the replacement posts are still opposite. RMWebbers in South East London could have a look at the lighting along Downham Way. Bill

Mick - you should initially be put on the minimum dose for Ramipril (5mg capsules?) to check for side effects. If that doesn't reduce your blood pressure sufficiently then the dose could be increased to 10mg. I had an increased tendency towards nocturnal perambulations to the loo, which have decreased over time, but no other side effects. I'm also on Amlodipine, my doctor opting for belt and braces; they work because my BP is circa 130:80. Lady hookers - yes they do exist and tend to be the same shape as their male equivalents - short in the leg, broad in the beam and with thick necks. Speaking, of course, as an ex-hooker myself. Bill

Thirty foot was a bit too far. We found that a rope and shopping bag was the best way to get him down. Needed someone at the bottom to hang onto his collar, otherwise he would be coming up again. Dog with a sense of humour. His best joke was the "can't swim" routine. The props were a rocky shore and an incoming tide. Dog on rock, sobbing that he couldn't swim and was going to drown. Gaggle of holidaymakers on the beach, discussing problem. In the end one idiot would take off his shoes and socks, roll up his trousers and wade out to the rock. Toddy would be so grateful as he was carried back: "Oh, thank you, thank you, my hero, you've saved my life". On reaching the beach, he would have a good shake, making the damp holidaymaker even wetter, then swim back out to his rock hoping to persuade another sucker to fall for his joke. We kept well away, why spoil his fun? Bill

Yes, but how did she get down? My Jack Russell was the same, straight up to the top of the ladder, no matter how high. The only problem is that I "freeze" about 20 foot up a ladder, so recovering Toddy from the top was not a fun job. Bill

Mike has a provisional invitation for Star Lane to an exhibition in Bromley on 21 February 2015; depending, of course, on the group diary. Bill

If the text books had spots on the covers, then they were produced by masters at my school. We mixed the new and traditional syllabi as we went along. Didn't cause any problems, indeed many boys (including me) took Maths O level a year early. Bill

Mike, You don't mention Aachen. No, I've never been there but it has a reputation for "kultur". You can always pop across the border to Maastricht, which I have been to, and worth a day. Train times. Assuming you want the 10:58 out of St Pancras, you would be in Köln at 16:15 - just about getting dark. Bill