devonseasider

Chris, thanks for the suggestion and Phil, thanks for confirming my gut feeling. Actually, that agrees with info I picked up earlier this evening from another source. Now just have to add the lettering . . . .

Just about to letter & number a pair of gate stock coaches & realise I don't know the luggage loading in the guard's area. Gut feeling is that it was probably 1 Ton but I haven't found anything documented to support that, or a clear enough photo to allow the branding to be read.. Can anyone confirm (or offer an alternative)? Graham Muz? Someone else? Ta.

Really surprised there hasn't been a response yet. Maybe I should clarify the request 'cos I can't believe there aren't any photos! I'm not asking for a p-p set headed by a diesel ! What I'd like to see is the 1960s/70s immediate post-steam version of a train like this. In other words, something that would have been operating this type of service as a replacement for the steam-hauled p-p train. I should also have mentioned that Tormouth Quay is booked for the Plymouth show next Saturday, June 24th, from 10.00am to 4.00pm in the Abbey Hall, CATHERINE STREET, PLYMOUTH, PL1 2AD The p-p set in the photo should be operating, God & RDE Wonford Hospital willing!, along with a variety of other interesting and/or unusual stock. Come & say hello (and take over the layout for a while to give us a break!) if you're within striking distance. Should be a nice show.

> How about a steam powered push-pull set next. Bonus points if it is not of GW origin. Classic ex-Southern westcountry branchline set courtesy Hornby. M7 heading converted Maunsell p-p set past Tormouth Quay. Next - a 1960s/70s diesel equivalent of this type of train.

Apparently a few "interesting" snippets starting to come out at the High Court in the Belokon vs Owen & Karl Oyston / Blackpool FC unfair prejudice case. People who understand the legal intricacies seem quite encouraged / optimistic about this last week's proceedings.

That's fine. Important thing is that you picked it up OK.

Slight problem there in that Mainly Trains isn't with us any more. To quote the website, it's "closed its doors for the last time". Do Comet do one, or Perseverance or High Level?

Did you pick up my info sheet, David?

Just done a quick check & it was 28th Feb 1965, a Sunday. I remember it was an organised coach trip courtesy of the Lancaster Railway Circle (Society?). After 50+ years I'm not completely sure of the precise name but there may be someone reading this who does, or perhaps even someone else who was on the trip. Stranger things have happened. I'm pretty sure I joined the coach in Preston - I was mid-teens & living in Blackpool back in those days. First stop was Nottingham shed, followed by Colwick, Toton, Annesley & Langwith then back home. At that time, Nottingham & Toton still had a bit of steam on shed although diesels were taking over rapidly. To be honest, the day's mostly "clouded in the mists of time" although I do remember that all of the original Peaks, D1 - D10 inclusive, were on Toton, there was a Scot on Annesley and Langwith had one of those funny new-fangled Clayton centre-cab things in the yard. Also saw quite a few ex-GCR 04 2-8-0s of various flavours. According to my notebook from the trip, the Brush 4 behind the K3 was probably D1533.

I can't keep up here! Here's a wild card. On the edge of the world - Durango & Silverton aka D&RGWRR. Next - something from our antipodean colonial friends . . . .

It would have been if it was a Welsh one. I think you missed out there!

Must be one of those funny 2-2-2-0 things but I thought they were LNWR, not LNER . . . .

OK, what about a 2-4-0 (!!!) in steam as a stationary boiler quite some time after withdrawal. Can't remember the exact details off hand but could look them out if anyone's interested. Next - what about a "proper" 2-4-0?

< pedant mode on > D29 Phil, not J29. That would have been an 0-6-0. < pedant mode off >

Thanks for that information - clears up a 50 year mystery for me! Ever since I took the photos (on 9th September for accuracy) I've wondered on & off what happened. Now I know.

Buffers missing, assumed broken - most of the rest of it is! D6855, Thornton Junction, September 1966 following a disagreement with someone / something. Don't know for certain but this may have been "the other party" - it was just round the corner, alongside the shed. Next, any Irish narrow gauge?

> Perhaps we could look for a Scottish steam loco in BR days? Here's a J36 on Dunfermline shed, 9th September 1966. Still in steam at the time but not for much longer. Next, please, a loco showing obvious collision/accident damage & awaiting repair or condemnation.

Lostock Hall MPD, July '65. Black 5 45209 lost its tender on some rough trackwork in the yard. The local crane only had to travel a few yards to do its stuff. Note how the loco-tender coupling bar has been crudely gas-axed to split the two parts. Here's the other end of the problem. Next, please, a loco showing obvious collision/accident damage & awaiting repair or condemnation. Oooops - too late!

As an ex-teacher & H.E. lecturer I can empathise & sympathise with both of you!

Should we send the boys round?

To the best of my knowledge, the last visit of a Jubilee to Blackpool. Easter Monday 1967, a very smart Kholapur stands alongside the shed building at Blackpool (North) waiting to take an excursion back home to Leeds. For a couple of years in the mid-60s a small group of enthusiasts, myself included, used to spend Saturday afternoons polishing any "interesting" locos that turned up on specials. The shed stores issued us with cleaning rags, paraffin, etc. and provided step-ladders so we could do the job. In return we were often allowed to drive the locos around the yard. Jubilees, Scots & Britannias were favourites but nothing with a firebox was safe from our attention! To follow - we've had Scots & Jubilees, so what about a Patriot in regular BR service in the 50s/60s.

Some similarities but overall I think it's more toxic at Blackpool than the others.

No suggestion that you were doing that Andy, at least none intended. Apologies if I gave that impression. What I was trying to do was highlight the split amongst the supporters. There are those with more extreme views who feel strongly that no-one should go through the turnstiles. The argument is that no income will hasten the Oystons' departure. Those who do go are seen in the same light as the Oystons themselves. I don't think there's been any actual physical intervention yet but it wouldn't surprise me if that happened, feelings in some quarters are running that high. Not only has Karl Oyston alienated himself from the supporters but he's also created an incredible amount of ill-feeling between the various elements of that fanbase. It will take years to heal once things finally sort themselves out, assuming they ever do, and in the meantime there's going to be a lost generation of potential fans who will look elsewhere. Very difficult, very emotive & very sad. Sunday's ticket sales for Blackpool are generally being reported as a little over 5500 although that probably includes staff freebies etc. Under normal circumstances I would have expected nearer to 20k. For the 2010 play off against Yeovil the total attendance was almost 60k, while the two championship play offs against Cardiff & West Ham each saw around 35k in the Blackpool end. Admittedly, in the latter case, that did include a considerable number of 'Ammers who had been able to buy tickets from Bloomfield Road due to, how shall I put it?, problems in the ticket office. That's another story and again I'll say no more! Anyway, the next big match involving Blackpool starts next week at the High Court in that there London. This time it's club president, Latvian banker & 20% shareholder Valerie Belokon versus the Oystons. Should be interesting.

Quite a number would counter that with "such a shame so many Blackpool fans were there to see it" Yes, really massive understatement. It's a very difficult, very emotive situation which is ripping the club and its fanbase apart. Basically it's down to the actions (or lack of, depending on the specific issue under discussion). In a nutshell, and being careful to avoid words which could lead to my being sued, points of contention include: - Lack of meaningful investment in the football club, the team, the facilities and the infrastructure. - A chairman who admits to having no interest in football and who refers to "the footballing side of the business". No prizes for guessing where his interests do lie! - Repeated goading of supporters, culminating in litigation against those who disagree a little too strongly. What other football club chairman sues supporters who express (albeit strongly!) their discontent with his performance & attitude? - In the region of £30 million transferred out of the football club into it's holding company. The published accounts seem to show that this has then been made available to other Oyston-owned companies in the form of unsecured, interest-free loans. I understand that the auditor expressed concern over the ability of the recipients to repay these loans. I haven't even mentioned the fact that the owner (father of chairman) served time for rape, having had a number of appeals against the sentence rejected. Many supporters are taking a "not a penny more" stance and are boycotting activities which would result in financial gain for the Oystons. Away league matches are thus OK, but home games are clearly no-go. Sunday's playoff was also no-go as the competing clubs each take 25% of gate proceeds after costs, hence the boycott. Down here in the sunny southwest I'm cocooned from the day-to-day vile goings-on, but I did support the boycott. A very hard decision but I believe morally correct, There's quite a hard-hitting article here in the Mail Online at : http://tinyurl.com/y9c4m3sh Worth reading to get a flavour of what's going on. I've said more than enough . . . .

Not sure how well this fits the bill but let's give it a try. It's certainly unusual, but designed for neither "traffic" nor "payload". Also, it's "stuffed & mounted", although not really "in preservation". Longmoor Military Railway "track wrecker" - kept as a museum piece by the camp entrance. 1967, I think, without checking back through my little black book. As it's a bit dubious I'll leave the "next" request open as a wildcard.