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Translink, the transport system in Greater Vancouver, runs several “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” buses each year: https://images.app.goo.gl/B8no774MKjZJBP649

We use ours in the same way. It’s very appropriate for Thanksgiving here.

I presume this is now a record of a historical artefact. That is the same dinner service as we have, given as a wedding present many (many) years ago. I can’t remember ever seeing it in use anywhere else before, in the UK or after we moved here.

I used to work in downtown Vancouver, and the office had a clear view to the east. At certain times of the year, soon after I arrived in work, the sun would rise behind Mount Baker - it could be quite spectacular.

Those people are free to do what they want with their own lives - the major quibble I have is their resulting use of limited resources like health services. But what I do object to strongly is their putting other, more sensible people at risk by their antics.

Choose the right Great Western Railway to model, and you can have lots of different colours of engines: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/493812/ https://www.railpictures.net/photo/726966/ https://www.railpictures.net/photo/582751/ https://www.railpictures.net/photo/538970/ The railroad is now owned by Omnitrax, so engines in the colours of many of their other short lines can be seen at various times on the Great Western.

On an IT “service quality” course, we were asked how we felt we should perform with respect to users’ expectations. The commonest answer was, as you might expect, that we should exceed them. No, said the instructor, you should meet them as precisely as you can. Once you start delivering beyond expectation, that standard becomes the expectation, and doing precisely what is requested in the future becomes unacceptable.

There’s a process called ‘rail banking’ in the US which accomplishes much the same thing as you’re talking about: https://www.railstotrails.org/build-trails/trail-building-toolbox/acquisition/railbanking/ There have been ‘mothballed’ routes put back into service. BNSF brought the ex-Northern Pacific route over Stampede Pass in Washington State back into service after several years out. It hadn’t been railbanked, but did need a huge amount of refurbishment.

What happened to the rest of the train behind?

Shotgunning a beer means something different here - something like a cheap ‘yard of ale’: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgunning

Growing up, none of our kids liked Christmas cake. After a gap of a few years, my wife decided to make Christmas cake again this year. We asked our sons if they thought any of their kids would like it. One said his definitely would not. The other said he didn’t know about his two year old, since he’s not really been ‘exposed’ to that kind of food - they’re more into savoury cooking than sweet. On the other hand, he said his four year old would love it. The actual quote was “He’d probably want to eat it for breakfast!”. So a small cake went off to them. They ‘FaceTimed’ us last night as they brought the cake out for dessert after their dinner. Both the kids hoovered up their piece of the cake, followed by a small piece of my wife’s shortbread which had also been in the parcel. My wife is greatly gratified!

I remember being told that alcohol imbibed that way had a greater effect than the same amount drunk in the usual way. I’ve never tried to prove or disprove that. Has anyone else?

This morning, I got vaccinations to complete a course of shingles vaccine and a course of bacterial pneumonia vaccine (one in the left arm, one in the right). The arms are starting to hurt and weaken now. I’m going to have problems lifting anything this evening - like a fork to my mouth!

I first heard of it being used around Gloucester for the Holbeck ones.

The 44738-57 batch were sometimes called ‘gorillas’ because of their head-on appearance.

How about modelling this? V2 at Swindon with a WR tender? https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Trains-Railways-British-Isles/LNER-and-BRE-and-BRNE/LNER-post-grouping-locomotives/LNER-4-6-0s-and-prairies/i-Xp8cRTF/A

There’s a bit missing in that story. Shields depot wasn’t in operation when the first stage of the south side electrification was energized. Units had to be hauled to Hyndland for maintenance, as you say, over the unwired City of Glasgow Union line. The locos originally used were ex-Caley 0-4-4Ts, which had Westinghouse brake gear. When the Scottish Region ran out of those, they brought in ex-Caley 4-4-0s, again with Westinghouse equipment. Those engines were 54463/65/502, which ended up as the last active 4-4-0s in Scotland. When those were withdrawn, D8085/6 were fitted with air brakes for the work.

I don’t know how much you want, but it is available to buy. Google “Bondic”.

People joke that there are only two seasons in Winnipeg - “minus 40” and “mosquitos”.

Very useful information, Ray. Thanks for the effort of putting it all together, and for showing details of your modifications. Some points about the shed codes on the models: - 45116 with an early emblem should probably be 65B (St Rollox). It was there at least from Nationalisation to March 1957. The late crest was introduced in 1957 - I believe there’s discussion of the actual date elsewhere on here. It’s probable it would have carried the early emblem and a 26B (Agecroft) plate for a while after its transfer from St Rollox till its next repaint. - 45156 with a 26A plate and the late crest is a correct combination. However, it was also a transfer from St Rollox (65B). It went to Newton Heath (26A) in April 1957. It had been at St Rollox at least from Nationalisation in 1948, so not always a Manchester area engine. - 45157 was never shedded at 65A (Eastfield). It was a St Rollox (65B) engine all the way at least from Nationalisation to withdrawal at the end of 1962. It was the only one of the four named engines (five if you believe 45155 was ever named) that I didn’t see.

Sorry to lower the tone of this topic - which I have found interesting - but I’m re-reading the “Hitchhiker’s Guide” books and that phrase seemed familiar.

There was a famous vine in Scotland in recent times - the Kippen Vine. It was all under glass, though. I remember seeing it from outside the greenhouse in the early 1960s, just before it was ripped out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kippen It was planted to provide eating grapes, but someone has made wine using grapes from a cutting of it: https://theweevine.org/2017/07/30/making-wine-from-kippens-famous-big-vine/

Flicking through the sports channels on TV, I’ve just come across the 2020 World Championship of the World Axe Throwing League! I just hope everyone can be a good loser if they have to be.

Another garden railway: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/756990/