Arun Sharma

That's pretty much my experience - I'm 165cm and similarly I find the seat lordosis curve is in exactly the right place so that the seat [whilst seemingly quite thin and stiff] is actually very comfortable - Personally I find the 800's seats more comfortable than those on a FGW HST even on a PAD-DID journey.

I communicated with Norman for the last twenty years or so when I took up P4 and then 0gauge modelling. On the basis that if you could see a piece of kit in a good photograph, then it ought to be visible on a good model - and Norman's photographs were models of clarity. I can't think of many locos that he couldn't find me a good photograph of and as often as not they were not the 3/4 front that so many photographers like but modellers don't always find especially useful. Latterly he told me that he was recording class 86 and 87 electrics - though I don't think that it included following them overseas!. RIP Norman

I had an idea that the last three 8Fs were relatively recent transfers to BR from MoD ownership - hence their odd top feeds which gave them a yellow cab stripe as well as thus not having had anywhere near as onerous working life as the average 8F. Thus they would have been in better condition anyway.

Many engine blocks of diesels - especially class 08s weren't cut up. Many were sold intact for use in boats.

Only banned for 6years and 11 months _ The question arises, "What do you actually have to do to get banned from driving for life?"

I seem to remember hearing that the London Underground had/has a zero mileage point at Ongar from which distances are measured.

Thank you Pete

Very nice! Reminds me of the old Fallowfield Station that I used to walk past every day on my wanderings into the University. What scale have you modelled it to?

Very nice Neville. We miss you on the other place

I would like a copy Tony.

There again, only a month ago there were guest Swiss engines working on the Snowdon Mountain Railway giving free rides - albeit sadly, not the whole length of the SMR.

Thank you both - The Llechwydd booklet should turn up tomorrow and those nice folk at VCT Ingrow have a copy of MRC Feb'66 saved for me.

Thank Jason - The gunpowder wagon is not the same as the one that I photographed [2 overlapping sheets rather than 3] but interesting that there should be variations on that basic theme. The likelihood of the wagons being locally built from whatever was lying around "at the bottom of inclines" seems distinctly probable.

Thanks Ray - That might make rather an interesting model with a slate wagon parked on it.

Many thanks Ray [and Paul] - I've measured up the [now dismantled] Didcot wagon which the GWS believe is a diagram 049 one dating from 1903 so probably no need to worry [on my behalf at any rate] regarding finding the drawing. I'll also see if I can find a copy of the MRC - VCT Ingrow is usually a good start point. Paul - I've sent a query regarding the 6w wagon to the HMRS GW rolling stock representative.

Thank you Ray and John - Amazon has a copy of "Llechwedd and other Ffestiniog railways" in stock for rather less than £2-00 so that is now on order. I'm guessing that the storage area to the East of the Portmadoc embankment refers to "The Cob" and Boston Lodge. I'd certainly be interested in knowing which MRC had that drawing of the GW transporter wagon - pro tem I'll go and have a hunt for more information in Atkins et al's "GWR Goods Wagons" - though it doesn't seem to bee too good on NG wagons per se.

Thanks John

Thanks Kevin, that's very helpful - I was in Llechwydd just to the N. of Blaenau

Do you mean that part of the current Llandudno Jcn - Festiniog - Trawsfyndd railway was once narrow gauge?

A short while ago whilst lurking around a slate quarry doing underground zip wiring I came across this narrow gauge vehicle. I'm pretty certain it is a gunpowder wagon for use on 23 & half inch gauge track with a wheelbase of 38 inches [rather than the better known Festiniog vehicles which are 48in WB]. Rather interestingly the axle boxes are embossed "GWR" and their dimensions [and appearance] are identical to those on the slate wagon currently being overhauled at GWS Didcot. The wagon itself is 73inches long with protruding centre buffers being additional to that. Would anyone have any ideas regarding the identity and /or age of this wagon? I should say that the reason I think it is a gunpowder wagon is its sheet steel construction with a door at one end only which was pretty characteristic of these vehicles. The plan is eventually to produce an [0-16.5] resin and etched N-S kit of this vehicle and the Didcot slate wagon.

Wasn't #4487 referring to the build quality of Swindon-built Hondas at the South Marston plant rather than steam engines?

There are photographs around 1964ish of 34051 Winston Churchill taking trains of tank wagons to the MOD fuel depot at West Moors. This traffic continued via Wimborne until 14 Oct 1974. Fat controller is correct in that the major RAF airfields based along the line of the M40/M4 had their JetA1 fuel delivered from [mainly] underground pipelines starting at Milford Haven. [edited to add addnl. info]

Yes, you are correct of course

Interesting comment Jim - Isn't this the reason why the MDR & UERL used the electro-pneumatic brake back in the early years of the last century so that brake force was applied more smoothly throughout the length of a train? Do any freight trains in the UK use EPB systems? Presumably permanently coupled rakes of wagons could have such braking systems?

Where's "Royal Oak" when you need him?