Hippel

Nasty spiders in France, too. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67544888 Paul

In picture two above, notice that the window frames to the right of the corner are unpainted. That's the result of a brake van trying to enter the office, so I was told! Paul

Here's some photos of the inside of the Warrington TOPS office. First photo is looking North west. Second image looks North east, and shows two workstations and a NEFAX machine. Photo three is what we called the 'yard file', as that reflected what went on in the yard, with the hatchway being where the yard supervisor was. Communication with Walton Old Junction was by phone or MUFAX machine the table to the left of the chair. The fourth picture shows the Y1 machine where all the unsolicited reports came off. All these show the older style of entry machine, a combined keyboard and screen. Later on they where swapped out for separate screens and keyboards, as seen in the last picture behind Tiddles, the office cat.

Hi, I was in Warrington TOPS '82 to '88, and certainly with the highly disciplined yard files for Arpley and Walton Old Junction, whenever TOPS went down, the yard staff would realise what a boon TOPS was because it meant them having to manually calculate train lists. Paul

Apparently it's no longer available. Paul

Had this battery-electric 08 for haulage tonight at Barrow Hill, courtesy of the Branch Line Society and Positive Traction. Paul

There's a whole host of shunters that haven't been done RTR, just saying. Paul

@tony6710 Any more projects in the pipeline? Paul

7069 is at the Vale of Berkeley Railway I believe. There's not much about it on their website that I can see, and I've signed up to their newsletter too, but there's not much information on those either. I would love to see this running or ride behind even if only a brake van ride. Thanks Paul

One of ours will eat biscuit crumbs and poppadoms! Paul

@GEARJAMMER If it's the one on 21st June 2008, it was 5197. Paul

Is it worth asking about an asbo? Would need your neighbours to cooperate, too. I think they're started via the council. Paul

@Darius43 Hi, would you say that hacking the chassis is straightforward, as that puts me off making my own. I'm too scared I'd go too far are damage things. Thanks Paul

Well at the the I asked what it meant and was definitely told 'private owner'. Paul

That's what I was getting at, about using old terminology. Paul

Going back to nicknames for these 16t minerals, when I worked in Warrington TOPS in the eighties, I sometimes heard them referred to as 'PO's, i.e. private owners! Paul

That looks smaller than a telephone box! Paul

Thanks @craneman, I emailed them weeks ago but I've heard nothing. Paul

Hi, does anybody have one they are willing to sell to me? I notice in a previous auction lot that there were included with, I think, some whistles and watches, so I know there are some about. Thanks, Paul

Brake vans to go with the Met E? Please? Thanks, Paul.

Back in May, I had a driver experience at Horsted Keynes on their 09, very enjoyable. Part of the experience was a personal conducted tour of the carriage workshops there. The vehicles in there were very well looked after. Paul

It was aimed at Dave or J.S.Bach who perhaps doesn't understand the reference to the county of Dorset. Paul

Dave, "In Dorset" is meant to sound like "endorse it". Paul.

Starting with Mendip Rails switcher 44, Western Yeoman II! Paul

Wasn't that song based on the Pacific Great Eastern trying to claim back what people thought was an abandoned track? Paul