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I did a lot of hitching around the UK, plus some in Europe and Canada, in the 1960s. Since then, I’ve said that part of a driver’s education should be a couple of trips in the cab of a semi (artic in the UK) on a main road. It really brought home to me how differently they handle from cars (Duh!) and I’ve always tried to remember that around them on the road.

Looking for something else in my negatives, I came across three from a day-trip over the border to Washington State in 1986. One I have posted on RMWeb before: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/196-creative-photography-railway-related/&do=findComment&comment=603134 It's of Northern Pacific 0-6-0 1070 on the Lake Whatcom Railway. The railway's website says this was the last steam locomotive retired from the Northern Pacific Railway, in 1958. Here's another of 1070: And more up-to-date power on Burlington Northern in Bellingham that day: 2079 is a GP38-2, and 2076 is a GP38AC. Interesting difference in the position of the numbers - I can't see any obvious reason for it.

I would advise watching this with the sound muted - the commentary is pretty over the top. https://youtu.be/aj5ZlL1J3X4 (The bridge operator was “intoxicated”.)

One of our sons was apparently quite pessimistic as a kid. He would put a stick of chewing gum in his Christmas stocking before it was put away for the year, just to be sure there would be something in it next Christmas.

I assumed that was a committee of railroad staff employed in and around Enola yard, dealing with local concerns. (Edit - autocorrect!!! No, it has nothing to do with a deadly viral disease!)

Mac ‘n’ cheese?

No, no, no!!!! I won't even use a knife that's previously been used for butter to put marmalade on toast. (Other than that, I have no irrational phobias.)

And the second one is ‘1’!

Just to confirm - article on CNN today: https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/21/politics/donald-trump-2020-election-fox-news-oann/index.html A thought - one of the networks mentioned would only need a couple of letters swapped around to be appropriately named.

Can you read the B1’s number?

A friend of mine told about a lock-in at a pub in Morar in his youth. Closing in Scotland was 10pm in those days. About 11 o’clock a piper appeared, and an impromptu ceilidh started up. Some time later, talking to the barman, Gerry said “This is great, but what about the village cop?”. Replied the barman “Oh, it’s OK. Just buy him a drink and he’ll keep on playing.”

I read that as a reply to this bit of Stationmaster’s post immediately above it: I thought - I’ve never heard of that for mice bait!

I remember carving turnips - a very lengthy process and tough on young hands. Pumpkins are much easier. I wasn’t implying Halloween traditions started in Scotland. They are older than ‘Scotland’, being based in Celtic lore. Northeast England was Celtic before the Romans arrived and apparently there was a Celtic influence there at least until the Anglo-Saxon invasions. So it’s likely that some traditions were handed down from that time.

That comes up most years about this time. Halloween is from old Celtic traditions, taken from Scotland and Ireland to North America and imported back to England, I believe originally around US forces bases. Growing up in Scotland in the 1950s and 60s, Halloween was a big thing. We used to dress up and go far and wide around the town ‘guising’. You had to do something - sing, recite poetry, tell a joke etc. to get a reward, not just shout ‘trick or treat’ at the doors. From Wikipedia (yes, I know!): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Hikers in bear country? (And you know how to identify bear poop ...)

Can the VAR adjust the lines, or are they drawn automatically? Because if you exclude Mane’s arm, which Law 11 says you should, he’s clearly onside. If the lines are drawn automatically based on the ‘edges’ of bodies and can’t be adjusted, then that’s a problem. (Or else the ref acting as the VAR doesn’t know the rules. It does happen!)

CN freight crossing the bridge over the Fraser River from Surrey to New Westminster: I was hoping to get a closer shot, but it turned left off the bridge, instead of right. The bridge was opened in 1904, originally with an upper deck for road traffic. Behind it is the Pattullo road bridge, opened in 1937, which replaced the road deck. And behind that again is the Skytrain (rapid transit) bridge opened in 1990.

Outside a local backstreet auto shop. I have no idea what they were doing there - the vehicles in the background are the usual type of visitor.

Mishap at Culdrose?

There’s a normal route? We parked somewhere near the station, walked back along the military road and went just about straight up to the summit, through the middle of a herd of deer at one point. It’s a hill I’d love to do again. But with things as they are, I may not get to visit the UK while I’m still capable of doing it.

Is this what you’re describing? https://images.app.goo.gl/fFApWkLM4wwC732r6 The bus is a Brill. Previously used in Vancouver, but all withdrawn several years ago.

Do you want to put a small wager on that, Brian? He’s already mused about setting up his own TV ‘news’ channel, and a group he is associated with has apparently looked at buying into OANN (Mods - delete if felt to be overly political.)

This destination would be appropriate for some of the Sheffield routes, too. https://images.app.goo.gl/irerC1X9G4aYaiaTA

Sorry - a bit OT. I was surprised to read that about Scottish Region engines. I went and checked some photos online and found that yes, some did have catcher recesses on the tender - I had not known that. My problem was that I had actually seen some of those engines - so much for my powers of observation!

Here (Greater Vancouver) all the bendy buses - trolleys and diesels - drive on the back section.