Bernard Lamb

Good morning Tony, I had heard that story, but decided not to stir things up too much. I suspected that somebody would grasp the big wooden spoon. I wonder just how much larger LB would have to be, to have a fiddle yard that could handle the trains that you run, if it was built to P4 standards. Bernard

This has come up from time to time. I have yet to see any proof that the layout ever ran a set sequence of trains. Bernard

It looked familiar, so I checked my stock this morning. I have one. It was originally in red but is now in green with DR branding and runs with a KOF and a van as my works train. I certainly never bought the set. so it must have been available as a single item. I have no idea of what the code might have been, as it was purchased a very long time ago. Bernard

Another benefit of HS2 is handed over for public use. The Wendover to Halton canal side path has been completed. Bernard

I have used solder to fill in gaps and they have never given me any problems. For example I have removed one section of baseboard and added another, where the rails have been around 5mm too short. Add fishplates and fill 'em with solder. File and sand to a smoothish shape. Works for me. Wear is not a problem and conductivity cannot be lost as there is no movement. Bernard

I suggest that you take a trip out to Watord Junction. The trains are packed for many hours of the day with families visiting Harry Potter. They come from all over the world. There are a lot of people with money to spend, who can be persuaded to go by tain. It just needs the right approach and a bit of joined up thinking. Bernard

Take it up with Facebook. I have made a mental note of your post count. If you read some of my previous posts you will see that they generally are welcomed. I do not normally respond to trolls, but I will make an exception for you. If you do not like something just ignore it. Bernard

Some years ago, 2016 possibly there was an exhibition of all the Oliver Postgate related material at the V & A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. Bag Puss and The Clangers in the flesh so to speak, plus a lot of Ivor material. Fascinating stuff. Thanks for highlighting it. Bernard

If you have a few £ to spare and want a bit of entertainment, it would be worth while sending them an invoice for the use of the photo. Say around £75 as a reasonable sum. I doubt if they will pay it. Then start a County Court procedure to recover the £75. I doubt if they will get involved. You are unlikely to get your money and fees back. However a judgement against them will mess up their credit rating. No need for a Solicitor or any other expense. It is a straight forward procedure. I have done it once and it took a fair amount of time and effort, but I did get my revenge. I have dealt with the national press over the use of photographs and they pay up straight away when sent an invoice. Bernard

I had exactly the opposite experience once. Back in the late 1980s at work we had bought a new tensile testing machine. With a computer to control it that had all the latest features. It was the third such machine in the country and the only one in the south of England. The supplier asked if it would be possible to let prospective customers see it in operation. I agreed subject to any commercial problems. He said that he would demonstrate it and I did not have to get involved. I had designed various routines to store the results and perform various calculations. I ran through what I did on the machine for the sales manager before he brought a potential customer to see it. He remarked that my software modifictions were better than the original and suggested that we show it to any potential clients. If they bought a machine from him they could buy the software update from me. Bernard

Otis King? They were very good and being not much longer than a pen, fitted easily into a jacket packet. Bernard

I have never come across any connection and agree re the derivation of the name for the Gresley locomotive. Oddly enough I almost bought a house in Grafton that was part of the stud farm, at the time when the whole Mentmore estate was sold off. Bernard

But is that the right place to sell them? Even with the internet it is a niche market. Add in the carraige cost and a lot of potential buyers could be put off. Some years ago SWMBO wanted to sell a very specialized musical instrument. A London dealer who she knew said he would give her £250 for it. He then told her that it would fetch well over £1000 in the states. He offered to take it over on his next trip and when he came back he gave her £1050. She did not ask how much his expenses came to in selling it as she was more than happy with the deal. Horses for courses. Bernard

Very much so. However having been born within sight of the Tollesbury line I might be biased towards the period when they were there. So 1949/50 and only one in use at any one time for me, with a J67-69. Bernard

Sabden lives on. Bernard

I would suggest that you try a modern mirrorless camera. I could not get on with a full frame digital SLR. However I tried a mirrorless camera a few months ago and it is like going back to the feel of something from around 20 years ago. As long as you remember to open the lens before you try to use it. Not a cheap solution at around £2k for a decent Nikon. Bernard

Sea Bird or Galileo as among the best. Santa Claus as far as my family is concerned. In 1964 he was. A long standing family joke that my mother never did understand. There were several oddities in the LNER system. Brown Jack being probably the best example. Bernard

A long time ago, when I was very young and stupid. I visited Cairns. Instead of taking the train I decided to walk up to Kuranda. A long slog, but superb views. I remeber being told about one particular rock that was the favourite sun bathing spot for a very bad tempered snake.. Stamp on the ground as hard as you can was the local advice. He was there, but soon moved out of the way. Bernard

I havn't got a clue how things were classified around 150 years ago as I was not about at the time. I was just mentioning that there were trains that took things ove a distance of around 400 miles. Bernard

I have no idea as to the current situation locally. However my old school, Berkhansted, actually had a seperate house and category for what they called 'train boys'. Bernard

Unusual, but quite regular, was a private train that carried the Earl of Roseberry's household between Mentmore, near the station at Cheddington, and the summer residence of the family at Dalmeny. I understand this was quite an expedition and involved a fair amount of livestock, as well as household items and staff. Bernard

A, very glossy, bus on a bridge, with no driver or passengers. Bernard