Flying Fox 34F

There were many occasions, I’ve seen overloaded trains on the ECML. People still sit on luggage in vestibules Paul

With regard to Mr Hunt’s potential visit to a certain museum in the corner of Covent Garden. He may struggle to find anything painted in his preferred shade of red! There may even be a distinct risk of spotting colour images of a red Pannier tank or two???? Paul

Mrs Slocombe would not be amused! Paul

The joys of New Street. A railway no-one wants to see! The 1960’s rebuild buried it under a shopping centre, as supposedly the car was the future, (think Aston Expressway). The last rebuild just dealt with upstairs and the Concourse, no improvement downstairs, too difficult probably? As for Nuclear bunkers, I’ve been in a few. Small,yes; claustrophobic, yes; but at least the lighting, let you see in all the corners: Mind you, could be worse, Nice, south of France has a Motorway viaduct over the top of the station. You cannot hear yourself think! Paul

Local knowledge is key to the rail network, but is eroded by centralisation. Part of the issue, is the railway companies used names for locations that didn’t necessarily reflect the local place name. Hence, a report from the public, can send response staff off in the wrong direction to the wrong place. I was once told to check the track at Crow Park on the ECML. I was relatively new to the job and the Shift Manager knew it, but being an enthusiast, I just headed to Sutton on Trent, to the site of the old station. When I rang in, he was lost for words. Paul

Changing the subject, and as it has been mentioned earlier, today being St. Nicholas day, my Daughter has just returned from school with a large box containing, Orange Juice, Cake and Chocolate treats of various flavours. The one in the image attached caught my eye! All hail the Chief TNM!!!! Paul

My kind of shop. Could spend hours rummaging around in there. Four Candles, (Fork Handles), anyone! Paul

Class 800’s don’t ride to well, either! Also, the most comfortable seat has the driver sat in it. ASLEF made sure of that one Paul

I would run something, but the Cat which now lives with us, would chase and destroy it, unless it was LGB! Paul

A Primary School P.E. Teacher, once received a visitation from myself, following reports of children on the line in Football kit. The said school was next to the ECML, and said teacher had told the kids to get the ball back!!!!!! He was rather arrogant initially, until the BTP Officer, who joined me, pointed out he would have been charged with multiple counts of Manslaughter, if the train driver hadn’t have seen them in time! Paul

The danger with any electrical equipment is when it is exposed to a Short circuit of some description. When I worked as a cable surveyor for EMEB I recall two things. Being told, in event of a short circuit for every 1000v AC the flame would be 12 inches, (30cm), long. You won’t be quick enough to get out of the way! The other was a video from one of the manufacturers of 33kv / 11kv Transformers, they deliberately short circuited one in the Test House at the factory. The building was so badly damaged from the explosion, it had to be demolished! Paul

I always used to look at people on a platform on a rainy day with all their umbrellas and consider all the potential risks. Fortunately, it never occurred in my time. Paul

I’ve had two incidents in my career of persons climb up the supporting columns, (Stanchions, to those in the know), both survived the rather painful experience! It happened again this year in my old area. Unfortunately, a Police Officer lost his life in the process. Paul

Sent for second time ???????

The situation with 25kv OHLE is very complex and I don’t claim to have an Engineer’s knowledge, but I can say, even when the Breakers are triggered, it still has a lot of potential energy, until it is earthed correctly. On the UK rail network this has to be done manually. This is why people complain that they are stuck on a trapped train, tangled in the wires. Until the Earth Straps are applied, it is not safe to get near to or touch it! Paul

With regard to Gauge Wars, looks like one may have broken out on Wrights Writes. No doubt United Nations Gauge Committee will be calling for a cease fire. Paul

Mike, Thank you for the response. The latest photos I’ve seen were posted by Paul RhB on the Bridport thread. I enjoyed studying each one. I’ll have to take a look at the NGRM, I like nicely done narrow gauge. Paul

Never modelled a scalped double decker bus or bent HGV, but I’ve dealt with plenty of real ones!!!!! Paul

Some general comments to add to the mix! There are a few layouts out there, that are apparently historical perfect. I can think of one model terminus set south west of Bristol with Blue locos and coaches which does nothing for me. On the flip side a certain fictional narrow gauge terminus set in Bridport, (just been at Warley show, and no I wasn’t there!), keeps my attention even with nothing moving. I can watch videos and look at pictures for hours! Gauge war, it’s not the gauge that matters it’s the wheel flange dimension to the flangeway width and depth, is most important to every railway of any scale. They fall off otherwise! Finally, I recall the late Iain Rice used a graduate scale on the buildings that feature at the rear of Longwood Edge, his last project. I saw it and met him back in 2019 at Scaleforum. Paul

My Grandparents front room was the Parlour. I never saw it used, but I presume it was for important visitors and funerals? Paul

A 70’ turntable was installed at Grantham in 1920, just before the H4, (K3), 2-6-0 appeared. This led to speculation about a pacific being in design. The triangle at Grantham was commissioned in 1951, after several attempts to stabilize the foundation of the 70’ table had failed. In the interim period groups of locomotives were worked out to Barkston to turn on the triangular junctions. Looking at the Grantham triangle, I’m not sure a 4-8-2 would have got round it without track damage. Paul

So WB is suggesting a Pannier Tax to help those with an Addiction. I wonder, like many do when in power, if the money may get diverted for another cause? I don’t know, a Shed perhaps. The term, “Big Pharma”, seems to have appeared with a certain former American President, who likes golf and is named after a duck. I recall he used it against all opponents, who were hoping for the party nomination and Madame Clinton in the actual election, as they were all had backing from the various companies of a pharmaceutical nature. Paul

Andy, You need a strip of carpet to stand on or a doormat! Concrete floors are bad on the feet. Paul

A regular sight in my Railway days, was to observe a certain member of the House of Lords returning on week day lunchtimes from London with his full Fortnum and Masons shopping bag! Obviously making the most of his daily attendance allowance, though I suspect he literally walked in and out of the Palace of Westminster. Paul

A Gresley 4-8-2-2, (4-8-4), would probably be too big for the existing turntables on the ECML. The 4-8-2 proposal was tight as it was. Paul