Mallard60022

Nowt as interesting as this. I've got a few letters from Shed Foremen with loco lists, some works wheel tags, a WR water gauge spanner, loads old old bits of paperwork, wagon labels and some tickets (sold the best ones a few years back), a slightly damaged WR ground signal 'fac, a MR Platform 1 sign from Guide Bridge, an ER (orange NER area) Porter's cap badge and 90059's front number plate (W.D. ex Frodingham). I've got some Polish loco plates but that doesn't count.........I don't think I've got anything else, but I remember having had bog cart destination blind from Scotland and BR Guard's van lamp that I was give when I lived in Wellingborough. I often look back and think of the stuff I could have had as it was just lying around sheds and dumps. However, at the time I only had a bike and number plates are bl**dy heavy and signal arms are rather too big for a rucksack. Also, when I were a lad, I had no money........ P @ 36E (ex 83D)

Now then chaps, I think we may be getting quite far away from just looking at what Tony has so kindly presented to us and then engaging in friendly discussion about modelling. I'm far more happy to admire his pics, chat about things modelling and not get into that irritating situation of 'disagreement' which inevitably ends with Andy or another 'Mod' having to 'discipline' us and I don't like discipline as he (Andy) knows......................... To be honest, I couldn't care less if Thomson had a bald head and was a vegan and Gresley wore long-johns whilst visiting loco works. So, for my brain's sake, can we drop that very old chestnut please and get on with thoughts about models and how to get them looking authentic which is what I so need before I get so old I can't use my hands. Cheers. Phil @ 36E (who, with no apologies, likes any steam locomotive - even some 'foreign ones' )

Well, what a superb set of 02 pics from Tony(thanks). P

Gerbil, I think that Mr Smith was the young lad that was 'gifted' the last Pines when he was only 23/24? There was a great article last year in two Railway Magazines. Rebuilt Bulleids were pretty hot but as you probably know, very light on their feet. Great boilers and superb acceleration though. I loved 'em. Another great batch of pics Gilbert. The kitchen car needs to go into works; poor old thing, but considering they are Kirks and getting on a bit I think they look pretty good. Wonder if you could get a kitchen car separately? Alternatively, would you like 'someone' to build you a 'gift' Comet triplet? I know someone that would but can't paint the damn things!! (Mr. Wright might be able to?) P

Now then Gerbil I shall not let you insult the mighty Standard 5, well 73096 anyway. (Good joke though .....) Just a quick reason: around the end of 1990s I took a 'Green Train' (pre Cathedrals Express) excursion from Guildford to Gloucester behind 73096. It went via Reading, Swindon and Sapperton Bank where the loco went into overdrive mode and the sound was fantastic. Had ten on too, unaided, so it was no easy haul. There was some very fast running between Reading and Swindon and on the run into Gloucester as well. Just one of those fantastic days out. Also went to Exeter from Woking behind the same loco and it flew up Honiton Bank ( confirmed minimum speed 46m/p.h.) with even better sound effects where, a few months later, I am ashamed to say 34016 almost stalled. However poor old 34016 had been brought almost to a stand by signals on approach and it was also having to haul the attached diesel (until that engaged itself just before stall). Sorry to go OT but I rather like the Standard 5 and would love to drive one. 73096 was a Watercress loco at the time and they had done the rebuild. It seemed to be in fantastic condition, beautifully tuned. P

Look very good matey. I like these Hawksworths except for the 'curtains'! P

Ah Neil, that's interesting about the U Boat painting. That's where the New England and Gateshead shed crews got their idea. Perhaps poor old Thompson's rebuilds were left as Gilbert's to avoid them being seen by anyone!!!!!!!! (Crouches - can't say ducks as that is personal). That lamp is just so good now it's painted. Think you have found a new job there Gilbert; bespoke lamps for the more sophisticated modeller's use. Note that the N5s crew are still showing off after hauling that Express the other day. Still disappointed that the break-down outfit were not spied creeping out of that old shed to re-rail the Dubdee G. G, the strangeness of the C5 is probably the taper boiler and that hight running plate + it has that gert big tender (I like those - really chunky and the Brits should all have had them IMO. Strange that the X crews didn't like the C5s. Maybe they were a bit rough running? I've not driven one so I don't know and who would anyway unless they have been on 73096 on the main at 75ish. They were generally well regarded elsewhere I believe so I suspect your thinking about local enginemen's conservatism is the reason. Bit like the Laira men's attitude to Brits whereas Llandore crews liked them. I suspect they were rather more liked on the X country routes with many stops rather than the racing grounds of the ECML (but they wouldn't be racing on unfitteds would they?) Quack.

Hooray. Gilbert is not frozen. For a minute there I thought we might have been treated to the New England ploughs. Is there still hope? P

Few years back I would have been windsurfing in stuff like that(the sea, not the 'four foot')- probably why I'm like I am now Just noticed that another webber watching is called Harbour- nearly appropriate!!j P

Great shots G, particularly the first. That loco looks like it has a 'stealth' finish (had that been invented in '58?). I can understand how your head is bursting after all that signal input; it seems very complex but then I'm but a simple boy. P

I think those ' ladies' have just read LNERGE's signal diagram and are attempting to attract the attention of the signalman, but a York service has got in the way. By the way they look somewhat 'slapped' and have huge ar*es shoes. The one on the right appears to have lost 'something' important (by her feet). I could be mistaken though as I was told by an old boy from the outskirts of Nottingham, that in the summer of '58, there was a performing arts group of four girls that used to (careful.......) entertain passengers whilst the train was standing at Platform (whatever). I think this might have been them captured on Kodachrome by that very gentleman? Suppose though they could be coach spotters being rude about the MK1 BSO that they have see 36 times that month. Hope they copped the B1 if they liked loco's too? Quack.

Oh to have the thickness of skin so obviously owned by Tony. I have this picture in my tiny brain cell of TW receiving one of these 'fan letters' in the BRM Office and the resulting howls of laughter. P @ 36E

Oh, that lovely route of course. Is that run from PN the one where they used to do the ECML filming of engines at speed? I'd never cottoned on that it was that distance. Of course at Melton it could have also taken the Nottingham line (Old Dalby T T as now I think) but not if it was a Leicester train of course! Those days of so many routes; wonderful. Rail travel in those days was such an adventure but sadly I missed out on so much of it due to poverty. Great news about the dignified and decorous like wot you are G. I wouldn't have thought you would allow that sort of behaviour on PN. Footplate staff will not be using their shovels (or tenders on those big things) as porta-potties then? Couldn't face the shovel fry up after that thought ..... ; brings a whole new meaning to 'slack pipe' don't it. P

Lovely stock on that Leicester G. I'm really becoming a coach addict. Must be making up for years of not really taking any notice of them until they all started to look alike and then I wanted to catch the last of the 'proper jobs'. Could Leicester trains have gone on what is now the Nene Valley line to get to Leicester or was their no proper junction with the Midland? My railway geog for that part of the world is hazy and I'm too lazy to dig out my Rail Atlas By the way, I do hope you are not going to pose any of your 'rail staff' as Tom F has; it really is very rude indeed P

63760 is one of the Tyne Dock babies. Great pictures Andy. Any idea where 63650 is? P

Hey Gilbert, Vague Silhouettes - great name for a band. I shall go out now and recruit a bass player; you are OK for drums aren't you? Andy can fill in on keyboards and Tom can join us on strings for Beatles covers. Volunteers for singer and gob organ anyone? Anyhow, that's a damn good repro pic of the original though. That blue beast must have caused a bit of a stir when it first appeared at PN. I saw it once at the Cross; 1960 I think? The B1 in the snow;brilliant. I think the buffer beam and buffers might have had a bit of ice stuff on them and the tender axle-box covers. There would have been plenty of steam too, including some leaking from the 'bags'! Coach, you have permission to continue............. Gilbert won't mind. Quack.

Oh blast, no hot anythings except boxes perhaps? Love the high view B1 shot and as Tom says, wow for the first one - just brilliant. Oh yes, Cleethorpes is similar to Siberia I'm told but Jeff will confirm I'm sure. So you have got an exotic express and a lovely loco to haul it. Chelsea Tractor; sounds like a certain mid-field thug that they have on the books........... Now then Gilbert, who would you like to make the litter & detritus (what a great word) for your station track area? Finally, what a tragedy about your railway related goods, a real loss of such vital info.......... Exiting remark: I cleared the snow from the car park at work this afternoon leaving a lovely, shiny and wet surface. So tomorrow morning I can watch the skating showfrom the safety of the Boiler House as folk arrive in their usual 'first thing stupor'; more crunching and tinkling with a bit of luck. Shortly afterwards I shall appear with my gritting device (shovel and industrial strength gloved hand) smiling and mentioning that "you are a bit early today, It's quite slippery isn't it?" Bye, P

Gilbert, why do all your 'going away' shots look so good? In 'real steam' days, if I took a pic 'going away', the loco always looked out of 'perspective so to speak. Was it the lenses on those old cameras do you think? Re. the hot pants mystery (and I really will leave this alone now honest). I have to reassure you that hot shorts were very much the thing for some young women in 1958. I have very vivid memories of witnessing such clothing as two young women passed me as I was spotting in the back lane on the east side of Plymouth North Road (yes I said spotting.....). If you refer to the long gone TV comedy (?) Hi de Hi you will see or maybe even remember that the Yellowcoat girls often wore very short shorts! So Gilbert, we expect to see a slightly modified 4mm figure as this is authentic and don't let Tetleys put you off Let's face it, we must have something on the platforms for the loco crews to stare at and pose for mustn't we. P @ 36E

I can see a ghostly ladder, a lamp on the A4, the tender derailed in a very weird way at the cab end, the forward on-side WD's driver looks wonky, there is no crew in sight (did they leap clear?) and the forward reverser position, so where's the 3rd? P

Inspired!'Failure' has now opened up a whole new can of possibilities uuuuummmmmmm! Time warp ruse from Coach - really clever idea this; have not laughed so much for weeks at the thought of the SM remonstrating with the bearded driver whilst also prepping his Box Brownie. Drake at 36E (GN today).

More ideas for shots. How about a sneaky look inside the shunter's bothy? Also can we see the hot pants and contents in close up or is that being too sad? Can you photoshop Haymarket Cross onto the bit beyond that northern Bridge so it looks like New England? View from the Signal Box? View from the cab(s)? WD derailing running tender first! Driver with knotted handkerchief/beret rather than grease-top. Inspector on footplate with bowler hat. Wedding party saying farewell (to some poor s*d that has made a big mistake...........) Station cat(s) Spotter eating Hales Individual Fruit Pie and possibly spitting huge mouthful of same across platform as he sees a Scottish A4. Signalman using flags as there is signal failure. Porter trying to deal with after effects of someone having ignored the 'not whilst the train is standing at the station' notice. P Drake @ 36E N.B. Physiotherapy sessions provided to counteract the result of contortions required to get the camera into many of these positions and treatment available for stress induced by close up of hot pants.