br2975

. Incentive.................. . At 7:00 am this morning I was building scenery formers for the hills that will surround Aberflyarff Exchange Sidings. . Unfortunately, no 56s will be gracing the 1970 Efflew Valley in the forseeable future (4mm that is)

. Armed with both volumes of "The 0-6-2 Tank Papers" by Ian Sixsmith will make you realise you need to order several, in order to 'ring the changes' . I can hear a Hippo's credit card crying from here

Just a reminder, 50 years ago tomorrow on Friday 4th. May, 1973 the last W.R. 'Pullman' services ran. . Two photos of a set awaiting its' fate at Canton, by my late friend Glyn Attley. . .

. Been there Done that . In the Prague restaurant. . Saturday lunchtime, the place was hectic - very popular with families. . My burger, and beer did arrive by train

. You both had the better option Mike.

. Mike, . It was later, when they were hired in - Summer 2006. . One return working each weekday, summer dated. . 10:55 ex-Cardiff 13:55 ex-Fishguard . Also worked by 37s. but replaced by 150 units part way through the summer timetable. . There are some photos and footage on the 'Railways in South Wales' FB Group

Single line sections of . The Rhymney Valley . West Wales to Fishguard Harbour . The Central Wales line on trains from Rhymney - Cardiff thence Cardiff - Builth Road in connection with the Royal Welsh Show

. And being more pedantic . The Central Wales Line ( or, Heart of Wales Line, for marketing purposes) doesn't pass through the Brecon Beacons. . Of course, if bored, you could use the fingers of one hand to count the locals who refer to the National Park by its' Welsh name.

. Yet again, a Hippo breaks a confidence !

There is NO regular freight along the Central Wales line. . I cannot recall the last freight diversions along the route. . The irregular flow from (East Pit) G-C-G to Onllwyn (Washery) ceased a few years ago.

. But, as I'm not Scots.......

. Yes, last Wednesday. .

. 'The old system' - involved keeping police issue firearms, generally 5 or 6 shot S&W handguns, together with ammunition, in a locked safe in certain (not all) police stations. . When the need arose, the weapons, and ammunition would be issued by a senior officer (locally to me, a Superintendent or above) only to 'authorised' fire arms users on production of their 'authority' - they were not handed out 'willy-nilly'. . The register would then be completed, showing the serial number of the weapon issued to the relevant officer(s) together with details of ammunition issued (i.e. how many rounds). . Actually, the procedure was very slow, and bureaucratic - if the incident was spontaneous, or the event was not pre-planned. . There was none of this Sweeney malarky where 'Mr Haskins' opens a cupboard and dishes out guns to any copper stood within shouting distance of Regan and Carter. . I recall one occasion when two 'authorisedf' colleagues were tasked to provide static protection for the then PM whilst staying in his constituency during election hustings. The 'operational order' directed Sergent A and Constable M to attend at a police station some 15 miles from the PMs residence and there "draw two Smith and Wesson handguns, and two shoulder holsters" The Superintendent issued the two guns and two shoulder holsters on production of both officer's 'authority' The Sergeant asked 'what about the ammunition ?' The Superintemndent threw down the 'operational order' saying "show me on there where it says I have to issue you with ammunition....?" The two officers sat out side a then serving PM's home (at the height of 'The Troubles', for three night shifts, with empty guns' . The story of me, a handgun and the Lord Chief Justice - is for another time, and another place. . Just don't believe all you see on t.v.

. And how did they get from Laarndun to the Woodhead route, in the time it took to put a train in a loop ? .

. I don't know where you would rustle up armed police officers from, at short notice, back in the 60s. . You would be hard pressed to achieve that today, when there are now specialist armed officers on routine patrol.

. Wash your mouth out. .

This week, one has mostly been sampling grape based products, in the homeland of our oldest allies.

. Puffs out chest, followed by sharp intake of breath....... . I happened across KGV inside the United Wagon Works in Newport Docks circa 1968 whilst being restored to working order by Messrs A.r. Adams staff, at the expense of H.P. Bulmer. . Three years later, 2nd. October 1971, together with hundreds of others, I was at Severn Tunnel Junction to witness him (surely not 'her' ?) breaking the steam ban.

In the real world I cannot ever recall................Perfection !

At the time you describe, the green to blue transition period - locally to me, Cardiff Canton had both Cl.121 and 122 units (well, just one of the latter). . W55019 usually worked the Penarth - Cadoxton service and was early into blue - but I don't recall the interior (uphol;stery) being changed. . The Canton 121s, which over time included W55023, 55025, 55026 and 55034 (BSYP) & 55035 amongst others, also worked Penarth - Cadoxton, as well as Bridgend - Cymmer - Treherbert - and likewise, I don't recall their upholstery and interior decor changing when first repainted. . In June, 1969 a BFYE W55026 was working the Bridgend - Cymmer service with a sheet of plywood in one of the large saloon windows.

. Whilst you are correct that 'The Grand Avenue' (to give it the correct title) starts opposite the Fire Station, the accident took place between Grand Avenue 'bottom shops' and Crossways Road, not far from, but out of sight of the fire station. . I believe the paramedics may have adopted the course of action you describe, on the grass verge. . The patrol car, a Ford Granada was halted by the tree, yet the engine and gear box became detached by the impact and came to rest some 5-10 yards ahead of the police car. . A very sad incident, and one which I used many times over the years to instill in my probationary constables that 'we are not infallible'. .

. I recall this incident well. . A nicer man than Clive Mordecai you would be hard pressed to meet - in fact my uncle once asked me if I knew Clive, and added "he was so nice, it was a pleasure to be booked by him" . The accident The Johnster refers to occurred at Grand Avenue, Ely, Cardiff during the high speed pursuit of a disqualified driver, who had his wife and toddler in their Ford Capri. . Clive Mordecai was the observer in the patrol car, Kevin Williams the driver - and acklnowledged as the best driver in the force, whose skills were used to train pursuit drivers from other 'government agencies' . The disqualified driver a Ronald David Nash, did a handbrake turn in front of the following Granada patrol car, to access Ty Coch Road, and to avid a collision kevin swerved and the patrol car hit a tree in the central; reservation. . Kevin, the driver died at the scene, Clive lost a leg there. . At the time of the accident I was in the CID at Ely, and 'heaven and earth would be moved to find Nash" . I recall the funeral cortege passing Ely Fire Station, where the watch on duty were the first at the scene of the accident. . Parked outside the station were ladder appliances with their ladders run up.....high, and the firefighters lined up in front. . As Kevin's hearse passed en route to the Western cemetery, the fire appliances lowered their ladders as a mark of respect...... an act which even now, 37 years later brings a tear to my eye. . At the graveside, a few of us made a pact, to get Nash, wherever or whatever. . Without going into the finer details of how we located him, a week later I was outside a block of shops in Weston-super-Mare, where he was living under an assumed name. . I ran through the traffic, bounced him against the shop window, put his arm up his back and said to him "What's your name ?" He replied :- "Ronald Williams" Me:- " - Ronald Nash, I'm arresting you on warrant for driving whilst disqualified .........." Nash:- "O.K. but don't hit me, please" Which, despite what the public may think, was the very last thing on my mind. . A short time later, I telephoned the mess room at Kevin and Clive's traffic department office, and as the sergeant answered I just said..... "Andy, it's Brian - we've got him mate" His reply was a sighed 'yesss' nothing more. . A couple of years ago I bumped into Clive's wfie at a local Riding For The Disabled event, we'd never met before and she'd never heard these events recounted. . Sadly, Clive died just over a year ago.

. Well, not always. . In a former life, during the mid-70s I was gainfully employed taking levels in connection with the then proposed B4265 Llantwit Major by-pass, in the Vale of Glamorgan. . One survey involved levels along the bed of a brook, which flowed beneath the former Barry Railway Vale of Glamorgan line, near Eglwys Brewis . For those 'in the know' I always used collimation out, then rise and fall back or vice versa. . My readings suggested the culvert flowed up hill. . I returned the following day, and did the survey again, not telling the 'chain boy' why, obviously. . I reversed my use of rise and fall out, collimation back; and the channel levels still suggested the culvert flowed up hill. . I kept quiet about it, and thankfully no one ever noticed. . I changed jobs soon afterwards anyway,

It is a little known fact that most police officers, when giving evidence at court - mumble, in a most monotone manner. . Until that is, they come to the point where the defendant either used some sort of obscenity, or said something incriminating. . Listening to most police officers giving evidence can send a glass eye into hibernation. . Something like "mumble, mumble, mumble, grunt, mumble, growl quietly, mumble, F**K OFF COPPER, AND TELL THE MAGISTRATE TO DO THE SAME !" . An experienced copper giving evidence could quote a defendant in the same way three times, but by altering the inflection of his speech each time, the officer could create a totally different impression in the mind of the bench, or jury - even though the defendants words stayed the same.. . . . . . Which brings me on nicely to, the Stipendiary Magistrate; in Cardiff that was, for many years Sir Lincoln Hallinan, opinions of whom varied, depending upon which part of 'The Stipe's Court' you normally occupied. . I was sat waiting my case (he'd hear 80 - 100 matters before lunch, easily) one morning when the following case of one Terrence Hutchinson was called, charge - drunk in a public place. Terry was harmless, and was a regular sight around Cardiff pushing his partnet, Pat Maguire in her wheelchair. He would always address me as 'Kojak' for some reason. Terry walks into the dock, dressed in his Parachute Regiment tie, blazer and slacks -immaculately attired, and comes to attention. The Stipe looks over his glasses at Terry:- "How many times have you appeared before me for offences relating to drink Mr, Hutchinson ?. Terry:- "No idea Sir" Stipe:- "This is your fiftieth occasion Mr. Hutchinson, what do you have to say about that ? Terry:- "Happy Birthday Your Worship !" Stipe:- Oh ! yes, it is my birthday, thank you Mr. Hutchinson" The Stipe thought for a minute, then called out Stipe:- "Mr. Hutchinson, I find you guilty of the offence and sentence you to one days detention - sit at the back until I rise for lunch !" Terry:- "Yes sir, thank you." . . Sadly, court, and giving evidence is something alien to today's officers. .

. On my first day - each of my course went in turn before the Assistant Chief Constable, to be posted to our respective stations. . My interview, with a non-tie wearing senior officer wearing a pale blue cardigan with no elbows, went like this:- ACC:- Where would you like to go then ? ME:- Llantrisant, Sir ACC:- Why ? ME:- I live in Beddau, Sir ACC:- Don't be so bloody stupid, you can't go to Llantrisant, it's not a sub-divisional HQ ME:- Oh ! ACC:- How about Ton Pentre ME:- Where's that, Sir ? ACC:- Tonypandy, somewhere a big city boy like you will never have heard of. ME:- Yes sir, you're right. ACC:- Well being a Cardiff boy, when you drive from Beddau into the big city, do you use the M4 or Llantrisant Road ? ME:- Sir ? ACC:- Well, if you use the M4, I have vacancies in Llanishen, but if you use Llantrisant Road, I have vacancies in Ely MW:- I use the Llantrisant Road, Sir, so I'll take Ely. ACC:- That's settled it then, you're off to Ely . Every copper I met afterwards asked "what did you do wrong to get sent to Ely ?" then burst out laughing when I said "I asked for it" . Unbeknown to me, despite being local, Ely was considered the force punishment station, the last chance saloon......... . Then, at the Police Training Centre, Cwmbran my training Sergeant said to me................. "When you meet your classmates again over the next two years, they will say they have done this, and done that - when what they mean is they've read about someone having done this, or that.....whereas in Ely, you WILL have done what they've only read or talked about" . God bless you Mike, you were right. . .