Not Jeremy

I unreservedly apologise to all he good burghers of Keynsham for impuning their impunity. As CK is away modelling or something silly, I think we can afford few more slightly OT shots, I'm sure he won't mind (much). Here are Colin and Reg from their great OB adventure in the summer of 2013. Colin is hiding in the undergrowth outside Titfield church while the other wally is holding another piece of Dave's genius, the original Titfield totem. They are even rarer than a sensible comment on the coming out of Covid thread and worth an absolute fortune I expect. Whoops, hopefully nobody noticed that...

I didn't know that Bath had any old fogeys left, tis full of young people and money from London, all run by a bunch of greedy trolls and flat earthers from Keynsham, masquerading as the ever so reasonable Ditheral Lemocratz. Still looks more Brassknocker than Winsley to me... Picture from the Monkton Combe School archive.

An excellent reply Karhedron, you ought to write a book on the subject, I think it might be quite popular.... Simon

Cripes, I have just spotted Cecil B DeKernow's film, best part of thirty years ago, hell. Lots of (young looking) friends there, it was very (and typically) generous of Chris Austin to agree to perform the opening ceremony and unveil Dave's beautiful running in board. The board that graces the station now is a replacement made some years later by Dave, as the "indestructible MDF" proved anything but. I was out there last night with Dave, mostly feeling bloody old... And Tim, surely your picture is of Brassknocker Hill rather than Winsley Hill? Or am I more confused than I thought I was...

Indeed he does, I'll chance an answer without him though, the answer is yes as more than one dairy company's output was added to milk train services. Which ones would have depended on the dairies that were being picked up from en route. During the war the tanks were pooled and it all got more mixed up. Later on is probably even more complicated, I'll leave that to the RMweb milkman, who is a very fine fellow indeed!

Fabulous bit of video! Tricky to work into my little end to end though

You're quite right, introduced in 1968 on the Triang "Flying Scotsman", ghastly modern nonsense, don't know whats wrong with people these days....

Thanks for that Nidge. Going through some photographs I recently acquired, this is labelled "last steam at Old Oak Common 21st Mar 1965" and has some good characters in it:

I know this is sort of the wrong way around, but I recently had a fantastic phone conversation with a chap who phoned up to place an order for a book. His name is Gordon Carter and he was a second man at Old Oak in the days of the hydraulics, finishing up driving out of Stonebridge Park. He was so funny, full of anecdotes, a wicked sense of humour, and I have the distinct feeling that he would have been a memorable work colleague to say the least. I wondered, given the wealth of experience on here, whether anyone had any memories or pictures of Gordon? I'm sure they would be worth sharing. One of his comments to me, on the NBL Class 22 locos - "I loved those little locos...good for sleeping" Priceless! As these posts ought to include a picture, here's the late Peter Barnfield's lovely shot of D6315 at Truro on the "Cornishman" on Thursday 18th August 1960. Simon

Wise words indeed, although I somehow feel that the totally pointless contributions from us berks have been somewhat underplayed in your analysis.

Oh really, what utter tosh. To the extent that I (if it is I to whom you refer) was making disparaging comments, well fair cop (although I thought I'd kind of flagged up that I wasn't being entirely serious), but my comment (ill judged as it may have been) was fairly aimed pretty squarely up thread to the (in my opinion) utterly fatuous comment made by Georgeconna. Which has naff all to do with Gold membership or not And as to your assertion about "those that should know better", well if that's aimed at me you're probably right - and so what? In the few hours since i last posted I have met up with my son and watched a live band (of complete misfits I'm afraid) three miles away on the other side of Bath. I cycled there and back, had a couple of beers and had a thoroughly good time. On the way there I went through several red lights, rode on the pavement, went the wrong way up one way streets and didn't wear a helmet. In my defence I was clearly displaying lights and didn't collide with anyone and any thing. Life is short and beautiful, we should all stop worrying about unimportant details and enjoy it while we can. As for Gold membership or not, well that is an entirely personal choice for each of us. With that in mind, I leave you with this ditty. The tune will be the same as "Goldfinger" and this has only previously appeared in the "Gold Lounge" - so any plebeian non goldmembers reading this may consider themselves very favoured indeed to see it Goldmember It's the plan, the plan that gives so much Warner's Midas touch So be a bold member Come in and enter the heart of RM - web There's no Rosa Kleb! Andy and Phil's words will pour into your ear There really is nothing whatever to fear Reclining in the palatial Gold Lounge You're no longer just trying to scrounge You're a Gold Member.... Goodnight all

Thanks Dad! I don't know though - does you good to let yourself down once in a while......

So tempting to ask that us Goldmembers* could be provided with a F#ckwit emoticon that we could use if we read a post that, er, deserved one... Actually, I reckon that could be a nice little earner for Warners Andy, it would make the paid option soooo much more attractive. For all the wrong reasons of course. Soz * I appreciate that I may no longer actually be a Goldmember and might have been variously demoted or promoted to some other exalted status within the very fine organ that is RMweb. Hells teeth, we're lucky to have this place, entertainment on so many levels!

I have just had a traipse around and that is pretty impressive! I watched most of a garden railway video and then had a bit of a thrash around with the search function on Garden Rail. It works pretty effectively and I found loads of interesting stuff, well, interesting to me... Quite fun to read a few of Tag Gorton's pieces, who I haven't seen for ages, still "snuffing it" hopefully(!) Simon

A slight update, apparently the 24th is the date the books arrive on these hallowed shores. They will then need to make their way to me here in Bath and I'm not currently clear how long that will take. I will update this thread when I know.. In the meantime, here's another image from inside..... Gawd, at this rate I'll have given it all away and nobody will need the book!!

Thank you very much to everyone who has ordered Andrew's new book and apologies for the continuing delay, all rather frustrating. However, I have just been told by my supplier to expect delivery of the books on the 24th October. Hopefully they will arrive here in Bath on that day. As soon as they are in stock, we will be working hard to send out all of your orders. Andrew has volunteered to pitch in as well, so customers might even get a note from the author with their books.... I leave you with a chapter heading page to give you a feel of what to expect.

Well, I must say, that seems very fair

What sort of service could I expect as a total berk.....

Thank you very much from George and Simon! Everything was picked up at 5.00pm by Roger the brilliant postman in his big red van, it is great when everything works out, which it usually does...

Dear All Thank you for your concern on my behalf, much appreciated. I am not getting annoyed, rather I am just flagging up a bit of an issue arising from the somewhat idiosyncratic arrangements which now prevail. I mentioned the address thing to explain to people why it is as it is, and the email thing to head off a potential barrage of helpful suggestions about how easy it is to set up an email and how we are all in the 21st Century etc etc... And on RMweb because it is read by so very many people. Simon

Is that really so Bernard? The selling off of Crown offices, taking short term leases in the back of supermarkets, paying less to your staff, casualising the labour force, and so on - how is any of that consumer driven? And actually, in the real world, many businesses do (still) use the Royal Mail, my business included. It is arguably still the best service, despite my grizzles. Yes I know carriers are better in some cases - I use them too, but if the greedy shiftless *rseholes who run the Post Office keep shafting their organisation then yes it could well get worse. Sorry, this subject really gives me the pip, and to my way of thinking pretty much sums up what is "wrong" with this country. We live in paradise with no real problems to speak of, so we have to go out and create them ourselves. I think Big Ears should tell them to either drop the "Royal" or shape up and shift out. It's alright, Matron's coming with my medication now.....

Hmmm Off topic, so apologies and feel free to not get drawn into anything, but given your stance I'd be interested to know what you think of what has happened/is happening to the Post Office? Certainly not "consumer driven" is it?

A new book from Pen and Sword, which has just been placed into stock at the Titfield Thunderbolt Bookshop. My take on it is here and I have to say I do have some reservations. I would be interested to hear others thoughts, I reckon there's enough here to get a lively and good discussion/conversation going, as I am sure there will be many people who disagree with me. Which could be a welcome alternative to threads about Covid infested traffic queues of unemployed drivers trying to leave the country, or were they trying to get in to the country? Oh its all too confusing, lets make a cup of tea and discuss the minutiae of Victorian locomotive design, idiotically long book titles, captions that send you to sleep, the colourisation of odd pictures and the vagaries of the English language instead, over to you... And yes, the book is available from everyone else too! Not Jeremy

Impeccable!

Actually not really... Since the 1st July the EU has changed the way in which VAT is handled/levied, a "breakpoint" in the new arrangements are sales of 150 Euro, hence the £135 mentioned above. details of VAT changes This has nothing whatever to do with Brexit. Apart from anything else it is a change that applies to EU member states as well as countries outside the EU - everyone in fact.. The BBC has not carried any reporting of these VAT changes (that I can see), which is very strange as they have affected many folk and businesses. The cynic in me thinks this is because the changes, for once, don't support the "Brexit was bad for us" mantra which is so depressingly prevalent in Blighty at the moment. Shame on the BBC. Apologies to Auntie if I have missed something, I'm sure the good burghers of RMweb will put me right if I am wrong.... I would be interested in hearing any factual information or informed comment on why the EU have made these changes. I do not ask this from any "anti EU" standpoint. Simon