Dr Gerbil-Fritters

I believe that Global III just west of the cam is now closed.

Eight units, six initially formed into three back-to-back pairs as Tractors, two additional units initially for spares. 43480 43484 43423 43465 43467 43468 43296 43308 source: railway Magazine The class 43s are turning out to be among BRs most successful, useful and long lived diesel locomotives ever. Well done BREL...

Perhaps not, but they could at least clean them. The 222s really are bl00dy awful in every respect. I have little hope the replacements will be any better. More of those poxy Hitachi commuter units I suppose.

Interesting, I was at St P on the same Wednesday at around 4.30pm and the Eurostar area was absolutely jammed! Now then - never mind the class 43, was that an E 03 next to it? Tell me you photted that! Also - by 'eck, British trains are cr4p compared to Europeans ones. Compartments? Windows? Lunch? I had a first class seat on an EMR meridian... no window, no room, no food, smelt of toilets, and no one wearing masks.

I was hoping to find out too... I am so confused by the many 'it's on/it's off' for OLE north of the economic powerhouse that is Market Harborough... I had my first trip on the MML for 2 years last week. Was impressed by how much more robust the new OLE appears than the flimsy nonsense south of Bedford. Was less impressed by the shabby, clapped out EMR meridian. And no HST alternatives anymore, for shame. <Edit> Just seen on the Grauniad website: 'Promised upgrades include full electrification of the Midland mainline – a scheme scrapped halfway through by the government in 2017 – and of the existing TransPennine line, as well as more investment in the east coast.' 'promised'.... hmmm

I've had many happy hours driving rentals cars off road. As long as the ground clearance was sufficient, all was good. I did stay clear of deep sand, and would often walk ahead of the car just to check. My worst moment came on the interstate from Flagstaff to Phoenix... entering the northern suburbs of Phoenix in the dark, in a raging storm with rain, dust and lightning the highway narrowed to a single lane between concrete barriers in a construction zone. At 50mph the car in front swerved suddenly and threw up a piece of concrete the size of a football... I watched it describe a beautiful arc towards my face. I had no time to react other than to think 'oh sh1t...' but it landed just short of the bonnet and ricocheted under the car. It took out the radiator grille, the front bumper, the a/c unit, and some of the exhaust box. I was really shaken up. Next morning I limped it back to Hertz expecting them go bananas and hit me with a hefty bill. The lady who received it looked at it, looked at me and said 'rough night, huh? Let's get you another car hun' No charges and no issues. I've stuck to Hertz ever since!

oh good grief, now Rick Astley? I don't care what instrument you play it on, it still makes me want to punch the wall. more perkiness

None of my lady friends at art school in the 1980s did...

Enough of this Toyah rubbish. Here's a proper lady of music She's even on my screen saver slide show.

I bet no-one has mentioned My Beautiful Laundrette. I used to look out for Omar's dad's flat when I commuted that line in the late 80s

No-one tempted to do this? Found here

A bit more work on the platforms. This one was straightforward, the smaller station platform needs a bit more thought as it has the freight shed spur inset and interfaces with the Bahnhof Strasse. More balsa needed!

The locals need some way to get on and off those lovely new Silberlinge, so I spent a bit of time putting in the foundations for the platforms. Typical low level jobs.

That's G-AKNP City of Cardiff, a Short Solent 3 (passenger conversion from a Shorts Seaford 1 aka Sunderland MkIV) It's had quite a history.

Gawd, don't start down that route... before you know it there will be VIP only corporate sponsored marquees in front of the interesting bits where nobs can sup champagne and scoff canapes while the rest of us are herded into rickety enclosures at the far ends of the layout. Just like airshows these days...

I finally installed the final six frog wires this afternoon and extended the curve around to the other side of the shed towards the 'it'll be done when it's done' staging yard. In the meantime, to make up for the lack of visual progress... Some shiny new stock has arrived for the locals. Pity the 50 is not push pull fitted. The 65 is, but not yet DCC chipped.

Yes three is the magic number As I approach my 6th decade on planet earth, I find I have developed a taste for classic hip hop music...

Proves you only need three people in a proper band. Anyone else is just a hanger on.

UP600 (GP38-2, SP #4841) is a full fat ice breaker. Special fittings include; cab window protection grilles, rotary windscreen wipers, snow shield over the rear cab doors and the retractable ice breakers raised on the roof. Nice catch! Still in snow service today - and has extended cab side windows as well these days. Not many customised machines anymore. Super photo from April 2021, by J Fischer on RRPictureArchives.net

I'm about half way through tweaking the electrics. Not had much time lately, as work ramps up in October and enthusiasm diminishes as the daylight hours shorten. Everything seems to work ok, apart from one turnout which is still being a nuisance. A remedy is in hand, I just CBA to do it at the moment. 50 1480 got a quick run out to test the new electrical gadget

RLK 2121 is a rare beast - a BL20-2. EMD only built 3. 2121 was originally a CBQ GP9 #279, built in June 1954! I saw one of the others at Bakersfield in 2009. Originally built as Spokane Portland and Seattle #153, built in June 1956. For some reason I didn't bother photting the CORP GP38... The other local power that day were: GP35 CEFX 3034 (Ex-DRGW #3034) and Esquimalt and Nanaimo GP38 3870 (previously Penn Central 7818; Conrail 7818; P&LE 2050; CRLX 344; CSCD 344, 1996; ENR 344, 1999; ENR 3870, 2000) and UP GP38-2 #735 (Missouri Pacific #2235) The absence of dynamic brakes make this an easy spot as a former MP unit.

While they were busy hassling me every time I got set up for a shot, somebody tagged their van. I had the full spectrum of LEO interference that year - one of the reasons I never went back to Tehachapi.

28th of August 2009 - a tad warmer than your visit I bet There was another sadly abused caboose a bit further east that day, where a SVRR job was working Somewhat shocked to realise that 2009 was my last visit to the Tehachapi line... I've not been back since. I went a couple of times a year from 2003 - 2009, then stopped going. 2005 - 2015 spent more time on the Santa Fe Transcon, Southern Pacific Sunset Route and at Cajon/Colton.

Hmm, I can't find a photo showing one of these without the exposed underframe... there is an articulated twin that appeared on RMWeb previously that is a dead ringer though.

Is it one of the Royal Scot/Coronation Scot coaches? But it seems to be running on B4 bogies... It's not XP64 stock... is it 13252?