Flying Fox 34F

The railway periodically try’s to reinvent the wheel so to speak. Every once in a while, some highly qualified individual with no knowledge!, tries to insist on placing a combined team of the S&T, P. Way and an Operations Manager in one van for incident response. The title for this merry band of misfits, Fast Action Response Team!!!! Ironically, when the vehicles first had Response Unit labelled on the sides, it was along the lower panels of the doors. If the Hilux had four doors, you could open one door to leave the word Ponse in full view. Very appropriate for some folk I used to work with!!!!! 🤣 Paul

Oh how I remember the term, ‘Def Stan’! Many years ago, I spent many hours writing out packaging design sheets, quoting relevant Defence Standard codes for various items of military benefit. It was interesting, because as expected despite one set of standards, each military service had its own ideas, which had to be accommodated! As is the rule these days, most of the time the packaging and documentation was far greater, than the actual items. Paul

Looks like your name is going in WB’s Black book! Paul

I.D., I agree with you about the Bentley. The latest iterations are just loud noisy boxes that run at high speed and drink a lot of fuel. The Jaguar is a nice car, but I wouldn’t swap my 2021 Toyota RAV4, when the fuel consumption is 5.7L / 100km. Paul

Reading the comments about FS, I need to consider myself rather fortunate. My Father took me to see her at the old Market Overton preservation site in 1974. I got a cab ride. Not bad for a 5 year old. In 1983, she ran three consecutive Sundays along the ECML and we were lineside for each occasion. In the mid 90’s 60103 spent a period of time at the Nene Valley. As a Volunteer Guard, I spent much of my time working trains with her on the front. On at least two occasions, we had to add two additional carriages to the seven vehicle rake to cope with demand. Also managed another cab ride as a round trip. Finally, whilst working as a MOM on the ECML, I would dread her being around. Too many folk, thinking they had the devine right to go anyway lineside to take a photo. However, if I was on duty and a water stop was required, I would be about. My last interaction was a week day positioning move, (just loco and support coach), sitting on the footplate drinking a mug of tea, whilst the crew were having breakfast. I had the cab all to myself. One of the crew knew me and was aware that I can look after a steam loco! Good to see the latest images, but I look forward to seeing FS as an Apple Green LNER A3. Paul

All this talk of Polish Andy, is making me think of The Fast Show and Swiss Tony! Paul

HH, Do you mean Midland Railway paint colour red or Midland Red buses, a.k.a. Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibuses? Paul

Many years ago, I had a colleague whose neighbour planted Leylandi’s along the boundary fence. Said colleague hammered a length of pipe into the ground adjacent to each tree. A dose of bleach was applied daily until the unfortunate tree withered and died. The neighbour apparently never twigged what was going on and even replaced the dying trees twice over, before giving up. Paul

Rob, Are you saying we are all a bunch of Fiends???? Very quick deduction Sheep Bloke Paul

WB, It’s others that are discussing garages. Your not! Paul

Hmmm, replying in Triplicate. Legal reason no doubt!!!!!! Hat, coat, gone Paul

Graham, Nice piece of tidy woodwork. I can see the yellow 6 inch ruler appears to have EWS markings on it. Looking forward to the second instalment. Paul

I used to enjoy a Briefing day. Mainly to see what Rules were being adjusted. The convention in our area was to have a debate to see if the existing rules would have covered the situation, that had demanded the new rule. As for answering questions, I used to find the questions with the incorrect answers. The Briefer already knew about the errors, but it was an entertaining way to pass the time. Finally, I’m going to join Renovators Anonymous!!!!! I’m Paul, currently laying a laminate floor, installing light fittings, wrestling wood for faux beams, then stripping out the old kitchen.

Just to add to the mix. I’m now ripping out a very basic kitchen and obtaining new units to fit. This will be the fifth kitchen I’ve done, in four different places!!! As for Yorkshire Pudding, (don’t look ID?), my Yorkshire division of the family tree have it with Jam! As an aside, my Father insists on have Bread and Gravy for breakfast on the 25th December each year? Not sure if this is a Yorkshire thing or Liverpool? DH might be able to clarify???? Paul

I love all these discussions about gauge and railhead dimensions. Considering the incredible amount of different standards of rail used on the National Network, anything goes, so to speak. When the Skegness line was closed for renewals about a decade or so ago, the Engineers made a lot of noise about a section of track with rail from 1897, IIRC. Of course, the P/way Patrollers knew it was there! Paul

The pronunciation is, ‘Beaver!!!!!’, spelt Belvoir and supposedly a corruption of the French word for Beautiful View. American tourists cause much eyebrow raising when they ask how to get to Bel Voir Castle!!! A little silly piece of history related to this pronunciation. In the early 1980’s, Lincolnshire Road Car, of National Bus Co, joined in a campaign of local depot promotion. Boston based vehicles were identified with ‘Fenlander’ lettering and image of Boston Stump on a white disc. Newark had ‘Cavalier’ with an appropriate Royalist looking gent. Grantham had, wait for it, ‘Beaverbus?’ The image on the side of the buses was of what appeared to be a North American Beaver? Much sniggering ensued amongst those in the know. I presume there should have been a reference to the Duke of Rutland’s residence, but it was lost somewhere in the paper chain. Paul

Many of the issues highlighted upon, I believe, are due to employment contracts with Performance Related Pay. Managers, Officers, etc; get given their individual targets by those upon high, who manipulate the situation to meet political expectations. All parties have done it, in the last 40 years. It suits the Sub-Contractor mentality of business. All public services and servants are going through this. They then Publicly wonder?, why staff are leaving or falling seriously ill! Paul

Hello Mike, You are quite correct, Cecil Street was the best chippy in town. On the occasion of my meeting Mr Holland, you are on the right road, but it was the Neptune, next door. The Windsor was closed for some reason? If I remember correctly, he’d been player at Belvoir Castle. Paul

Mr Holland is a nice chap. I once sat with him eating Fish and Chips outside a certain chippy in my old home town. We were discussing railways and music. It might have helped that I was in my NR uniform at the time! Paul

My encounters with the Police have always been good natured. There was once a very serious strong-armed attempt to get myself to sign up! Many times I have been stopped in the early hours, whilst at work in a NR vehicle. The standard question of, “Is this your vehicle, sir?”, would be answered with, “I’m authorised to drive it, but as to actually owns it, I do not know?” NR have used many different Leasehire companies over the years, you couldn’t keep up to date? A quick look at the side of the vehicle made the officer realise. I did once have to pull rank on two Officers of the Civil Police, who were stood on the Down Main of the ECML, looking for a body after an initial report of a Fatality. Before, I had arrived, The Signaller and Control had followed procedures and there was no evidence of a fatality, but a possible near miss. I was informed when I reached the access point. By the now the railway was back in full swing at Linespeed, (125mph). The two officers greeted me and I asked them to move to the side of the railway. They replied they were following up a report of a fatality at the location. Noting a train approaching in the distance, I pointed out there will two fatalities, if they didn’t move now!!!!!! With them safely out of the way and the train gone, I asked how they gained access. The reply, “Hopped over the fence from the Allotments.” I duly pointed out they only had jurisdiction, if authorised by BTP Control and that you never assume the trains are stopped, even if you are stood with one. Train’s don’t respect someone in uniform or in a Hi-viz jump suit. It can be very difficult to persuade people otherwise. Paul

With regard to Politicians, Friday evening’s at my local stations were always entertaining! After a hard week of attending Parliament, MP’s of all persuasions would head home. I’ve seen them drunk, or stoned or both. One character, who was at that time the longest serving MP and a very good speaker when on TV, would stumble off the train, plod along the platform, in the style of an occupant of a Care Home, then literally fall into the car. Fortunately, his wife was driving. However, another would be clearly over the limit, so the Station Staff would quickly intervene and bundle said MP into a Taxi. Their car would be recovered the next day. A message of thanks was usually left for the staff, upon the next trip to London. Finally, a familiar member of the House of Lords, would be seen each weekday morning heading to the Smoke to book in for his daily expenses and to collect the shopping from Fortnum and Masons! All good entertainment Paul

I believe that all the evidence required to prove how out of touch Government departments are, just refer to episodes of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister. I once met a certain PM. It was clear immediately that once out of the Parliamentary fish bowl, he was completely lost! Paul

I gave trying to learn French at the age of 14, after my teacher declared to the class, I spoke with a Chinese accent. At a Parents evening later that year, the teacher complained I had given up. My Father, made sure he understood why!!!! As for Romanian, I understand a lot of technical items, but can struggle with conversations, though it depends on who it is with and whether any alcohol is involved. Apparently, locals think either French or Dutch until they are correctly informed? Paul

WB will be sweating! That’s five times the S word has been used. Paul p.s. I’ve got a large temporary structure full of firewood

Sorry Dave, I have to point out our cat is a, ‘her’, answering to the name of Lucky. Last night, she was helping me consume two slices of homemade Lincolnshire Plumbread! Currently, Lucky is curled up on the sofa. Paul