corneliuslundie

J182 confirms my view that the Mark 1 DMUs have never looked as good since the original livery was abandoned - slightly better still with the whiskers, but one can't ask for everything. Jonathan

Almost right Jonathan

"Unless HS stands for Hangover Stories, can we return to something to do with UK High Speed rail please?" But what is there worth talking about? Re alcohol, what is wrong with Dublin brewed Guinness - apart from the gluten which now stops me drinking it? Jonathan

No, the woodland designated as "ancient" on the maps was not 300 years old, just there as woodland when the map was created. The idea that all "ancient" woodland are made up of 300 year old trees is a myth. But is believed by many "tree huggers". And I have read Oliver Rackham, also Dudley Stamp, H L Edlin and others on the subject of trees. Plus a very interesting more recent book on how trees communicate with each other. Re the construction of the early railways, what environmental damage is now obvious in terms of lost woodland etc? (A genuine question, I do not know). But back to HS2, provided that they do not sell of the land they have acquired, it should be possible to extend it later at least to London, Trent and a sensible connection to the WCML further north. At a much greater cost than it would have been of course, but that is the British way. But probably not in my lifetime. Jonathan

Where is the "jealous" icon? Seriously, very nice to see. Many, many years ago my wife and I visited the railway. When whoever was in charge realised that I was interested we were given the key of the loco shed and told we could look around. Jonathan

But most of the "ancient" woodland, while classified in a certain way, did not contain 300 year old trees. The basis for the definition goes back to map making a number of decades ago. If it was on the map then it is treated as if it is ancient. And a wood full of 300 year old trees is not in a good state anyway, one needs a range of ages with renewal constantly under way - not like the Forestry Commission does, clear the site and start again. There are not actually that many tree species which normally live for 300 years. But back to HS2, how is the government going to transport people and goods by rail if it doesn't happen? The West Coast Main Line is full. That said, despite what was said above, we are going to have to accept major changes to our lifestyles if the world is to survive, and travel is one of them. So we need more environmentally friendly modes of travel (ie rail) but also more environmentally friendly life styles. Jonathan

I hope any computer guided cars are more reliable than the computer controlled delivery pods in Milton Keynes. I gather that they quite often have to be rescued from hedges etc when they have taken a wrong turn. And the other issue with current electric car batteries is that they have quite short lives and are very expensive to replace. Hopefully by the time those now being built need new batteries there will be progress with battery design. And on HS2 I am not sure there is anything worth discussing . It will just depress us all. Jonathan

MRLP have a better education policy Simple Mind you that is not difficult. Far better to pay people unemployment benefit than to spend it on something useful - not. Oops, I am in danger of getting political. As I prefer to avoid London the present shenanigans will not really affect me, but long term it is a disaster for the country. Jonathan

Yes, presumably not for the DMU! Lovely photos (again) Jonathan

And not a train in sight to give an excuse. Jonathan

Yes, probably Baldock, a rush hour extra possibly. I can't now remember details of the timetable though it was about that time I moved from Cambridge and stopped using the train from Cambridge to London. And I suspect that the class 31 hauled train was for Cambridge, though it might have been Peterborough. There is a carriage part way down the train which might possibly be a Thompson buffet car. A few years earlier it would have been 1B66 if it was the Cambridge Buffet Express. Jonathan

Yes, that one will be included. I have a drawing which is a tracing of the Cambrian original, done at Swindon some time around nationalisation. But not a lot more detail than the version you have posted. Jonathan

In C1378 the Class 47 looks as if it is baring its teeth at the photogarpher. J

The Cambrian had four First Class and one Third Class Saloon, plus the ex Duke of Sutherland's Saloon which was bought from him and presumably became First Class. There were also a private Saloon which operated on the line, belonging to Earl Vane. (chairman for about 25 years). The GWR had a lot of Saloons. The Diagrams were prefixed G and there were at least 20 Diagrams. Jonathan

I wonder if some of the higher class traffic before the First World War would be the horses of families going on holiday in a Saloon, with the brougham or whatever on a flat wagon behind the horsebox. Though I have never seen a photo of such a train. But that Saloon traffic disappeared after the First World War. But that would not be goods traffic. Jonathan

Is that the Mumbles Railway tram which was destroyed by vandals? Jonathan

There were no passenger services on the Kerry branch by this time, I suspect, anyway. So any transport for the cattle dealers would have had to be by a goods train. Jonathan

Sorry Phil, you need to copy it and paste it into your browser. It works then for me. Wickham Green too has provided the link anyway. Jonathan

Part of the Special Train notice for a Kerry Sheep Fair attached. Not sure of the year as it was sent to me by a friend, but obviously September. This is the Welsh Kerry of course, not the Irish one. Jonathan Kerry sheep sales timetable_20180808_0001.pdf

Just seen this on: www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/digger-wedged-under-notorious-north-wales-low-railway-bridge/ar-AA1gqhFP?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=5eca15db6eee4f7c9b70b638200dd32a&ei=86 Cefn y Bedd, Flintshire Jonathan

"Though I am wondering if I've made a transcription error" You have my sympathy. Trying to identify numbers from handwriting can be very difficult, especially 5, 6 and 8 in some handwriting, and then there are those entries which have been altered . . . Jonathan

I suppose still better than from many steam loco cabs, though a bit more difficult for you to hang out over the side. And (hopefully) no smoke drifting down to obscure the view. Jonathan

And I am pretty sure it is not Rhymney or Taff Vale. R&SB might be a slight possibility as MWC did a kit - I can't of course find mine now I want it. Not the MWC Port Talbot Railway van. Jonathan

It looks to be 15 ft 6 in. long and just over 9 ft wheelbase perhaps 9 ft 3 in. That gives plenty of options. as i suspect it is really 9 ft. Jonathan

Surprising to find sprung W irons with a white metal kit. That may be a clue or they might not be part of the original kit. Is it one of the old Model Wagon Co kits perhaps, though those I had didn't have sprung W irons? Jonathan