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…what a superb re-creation of a 'little incident' that happened at Grantham in 1898. See this page and scroll down to "Horse running away on Wrong Line!" - 21st April 1898 for the press report. (They didn't know about resistors in those days.)

This may be all you need (and more): https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=1150266 . It seems that a 'highly desirable' in setting out a pole route across an area where there were buildings, sidings etc. was to minimise deviation from straight lines both vertically and horizontally, thus avoiding the need for inclined stay wires from near the tops of the poles to ground level which would be inconvenient/hazardous in such places. At Grantham, perhaps avoiding the passenger station buildings (by going behind them) dictated that the alignment passed above the roof of the grain warehouse (as it couldn't be taken around the building without resorting to pole stays)?

Thanks very much Roy. When 'Jock' Michael kindly lent me three of the photos he sent a letter describing the day and saying, wistfully, that he was the only one still around to tell the tale. Sadly, as we know, Jock too has now gone, but by contributing the story and pictures he's made sure that these Grantham men are not forgotten. All the best, John.

You were following in the footsteps of members of Grantham Loco MIC, who visited the RH&DR in 1959: http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/railway-life-at-grantham/loco-department-staff/grantham-loco-mutual-improvement-class-day-trip-1959/

Ref. the discussion on the cleaning, filling and trimming of signal lamps (18 Jan onward, previous page). First, apologies for being slow on the uptake. Here's a memo and attachment received at Grantham's Yard Box from the Station Master's office in 1921. It relates specifically to hand lamps, rather than signal lamps, but given the relevance to Grantham I hope it's of interest. Of course these are the official instructions - which may or may not have been rigorously followed. There's lots more info on signal lamps and their maintenance in GNR days in Michael Vanns An Illustrated History of GNR Signalling, pages 53-55. John

Thanks for the mention - we've had another 3x increase in page views on several days during the past week ...and I've just added another four evocative B&W photos taken up the branch in steam days. John

It's lovely to see the well-modelled wooden building next to the top/new shed. It had a more vital function than as a shed for lifting tackle, however, because it was Grantham Loco's 'Class Room', a facility used for the training of cleaners and loco crew etc. by Loco Inspectors, and also for the more informal Mutual Improvement Classes (MICs). The lean-to annex at the back was a bike shed. This is gleaned from a large scale plan originating from a survey carried out in GNR days (although with many later additions), the relevant area of which can be seen about a third of the way down this page on Tracks through Grantham. For the fastidious among us, the building which was there in the 1950s/early 60s, and therefore appears in Keith Pirt's photos, was a replacement class room in a slightly different location nearer the 'shears' (...or maybe it was the original one simply moved along a bit), because the eastern apex of the turning triangle had to be built right where the class room originally stood (i.e. where it appears on the plan and in the Britain from Above pix). Roy@34F recalls using the [relocated] class room on one of his pages so he'll be delighted to see it on the layout, I'm sure - a corner appears at extreme right of the first picture on the page linked to. John

You are spot on with the location of the stables. Here's part - a very small part - of a plan with the stables marked, plus an adjacent trough. The whole plan is one of those available to buy from the Network Rail Mediastore http://nr.mediastorehouse.com/gnr-grantham-station-layout-1914/print/10883377.html. Well worth £15 for the download. (I wouldn't suggest buying a print of this one - the original drawing must be around 10 feet long, so even at the largest size of print available much of the detail would be lost.)

That's a really classic signal 4479, a beautiful job. You should stand alongside it for a portrait. What's that - you already did? Of course! http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/railway-life-at-grantham/loco-department-staff/driver-charles-parker/ and scroll down a bit. Have a great show. John

Looking at the factory chimney I think the late, and fondly remembered, Fred Dibnah has made an unexpected visit to Grantham with his pneumatic bolster chisel, timber props, pile of scrap tyres, can of petrol and 'hooter' ...

Here's an interesting view of Grantham shed pre-1937 which has just been lent to our project. I thought it might help you with the odd detail in this area of the layout, and I'm also hoping those 'in the know' might be able to help us by identifying the types of loco seen in the background. The driver is Ernie Parr, who retired in 1948. There's no sign of the coaling plant, hence the photograph must date from before 1937, but that's all I can glean on the date. Maybe there's evidence others can use to 'tighten the brackets' date-wise? On the right, captured purely incidentally, is a scene you just couldn't make up - a woman is crossing the tracks with a child in a push chair. Peter Wilkinson, former Grantham fireman, who has lent us the picture and who is a distant relative of Ernie, thinks she will most likely be going to the office to collect wages due to her husband (or perhaps a brother or her father). Close examination shows that the child is holding onto a shopping basket and they are being followed by a dog! I wondered if this little scene is worth considering as a subject by your 'people person'? Ernie, who retired on the same day that Peter started working at the Loco, is carrying a very neat and clean metal box. “All the drivers had them,” Peter tells me.

A few more photos, all taken on the Saturday. A lull in activity is an opportunity to admire the gleaming metals, from the complex junctions and connections at the North Box to the ladder crossings in the distance. Hovering above an imaginary Dysart Road... The audience appreciates.

4479 - re. your enquiry on 'the other side' about the coal stage water tank, while I can't definitively answer that one I've thrown in a few thoughts...

Yes, you're right. Thanks for the extra photo and sorry for the mistake on my part - I should have looked more closely at the photos on the last page, where the extra length of platform's quite clear. Urgent appointment at Specsavers required I think. The up platform was indeed not extended northwards until wartime. John

As you are showing the platforms in their un-extended condition, I wondered if you will have the 'drawing down' of longer passenger trains in the operating plan? (Not being knowledgeable about whether this is indicated/allowed for in WTTs; if it is you will surely have picked it up. No doubt I will find out in a few weeks!)

Your platform work reminded me of the following feature I found a few weeks back on the retirement, in spring 1938, of Charles J Cooke, who's an important man for your period because, as I expect you will already know, he was the Station Master at Grantham during most of 'The Streamliner Years'. Towards the end he has something to say about current and forthcoming alterations to the down platform. Maybe the photo will be of service to your people person? ps There's a mistake in there which I expect is down to a journalist not knowing their local railway geography (nothing changes!).

I've just seen this, recently posted on the Grantham Matters website - replacement of Barrowby Road bridge (main line section) in 1955 in photos: http://www.granthammatters.co.uk/see-it-can-be-done-grantham-railway-bridge-replaced-in-30-hours/ If you need to expedite construction maybe those lads could lend a hand? ps it's odd that they should refer to trains stopping at Nottingham - it looks like the Nottingham branch remains in use.

Truly wonderful stuff 4479 and crew – and thanks for the mention of our site. Our page view stats got very excited the last time you gave us a plug! Now here’s a shot of an even more ‘out of period lorry’ which you could add at bottom left of your final pic! Just a week or so ago. Note the latest ‘convertible-style’ fold-down trailer bodywork. John

Well it's very kind of you to say so, and pleasing that 'modelling inspiration' is being derived from the pictures. Much of the content's down to the generosity of the folk who have entrusted us with their precious photos, and with their memories too of course. There's also a steady 'drip-feed' of photos taken at Grantham appearing on the web more generally, as folk rediscover their old prints and negs. Still plenty to go at to keep us out of mischief!

Some pix showing Grantham Loco's coal reserves (which were located at various sites at different times): http://returntograntham.co.uk/loco-department-staff/footplatemens-photographs/ (scroll down to 6th image [and the 7th] - shows the neat, vertical walling-type construction; probably 1930s/40s - certainly before 'the 'angle' was laid out) http://returntograntham.co.uk/loco-department-staff/new-photographs-from-the-1960s-at-the-loco/ (several views in April 1962, these were 'heaps' rather than carefully built stacks)

The bits of balsa - something with legs that straddles locos under repair?

Beware 'the electric fluid', guys... from The Grantham Journal 15th August 1891 The British Newspaper Archive Best put in some lightning conductors too then!

The Grantham & District Horticultural Society is clearly impressed with the standard of produce being grown at the new lineside allotments because... (The Grantham Journal, 8th April 1939 from The British Newspaper Archive)

Here's a wider crop of the loco (...on 'The Twin-Tub Express'?), with dome included. Looks like, in Grantham tradition, there's enough coal aboard to reach the equator at least.

I bought a print of this photo from the Science Museum a while ago to try to ID the loco. Here's a crop from it. According to the BR Database Donovan was released from Doncaster works on 25th April 1961 following a general overhaul. There's a disagreement on the date between two departments of the Science Museum. The date given on the Science & Society webpage is 29 June 1961, but on the NRM website linked to above it's 17th May 1961.