Hibelroad

About 20 years ago I was a prolific seller on eBay, partly because I was given the job of selling a large inherited stamp collection. After that I did very little but have returned this year in order to shift some unwanted household items. It has changed out of all recognition and I do struggle with the sellers interface. However I can understand that ebay have had to address many new scams and fraudulent transactions since my early days so things have had to change. In the event my few transactions have gone smoothly and payment received without too much delay. In my case I was more concerned with getting unwanted goods out of the way than making a profit so the week or so that payments were delayed were not too concerning. It is still a good way to move unwanted stuff providing you are not looking to get rich quick.

If it's a family day out the experience will be riding the line, the rolling stock used will be a secondary issue. Unfortunately economics are a big consideration and it seems that the preservation movement is experiencing the same problems that BR had, it's just that they are a few decades behind.

I think I’ve only seen one reference to shellac here but it is a good surface treatment for card, it keeps moisture out and makes the cut edge more crisp. It is essentially french polish so just buy a bottle from a diy shop and brush it on both sides. Brushes can be cleaned in meths.

I think much of this is down to the rules don’t apply to me mentally which some people have. There will be signs at all the popular tidal crossings advising of the safe times, at Hilbre life guards go round in the summer advising visitor to leave. There is also plenty of online info which can be accessed when planning a trip, however some will choose to ignore it, after all there is always the coast guard, mountain rescue and other ‘free’ services just waiting to give you a ride home, all of which makes for exciting social media posts.

I have used personal finance budgeting software for several years and would recommend this approach to everyone. It allows you to plan ahead and be aware of what’s affordable. Some might say that’s boring but it’s not as boring as being in debt.

I’ve been to Hilbre many times, and worms head. The key is to check the tide tables which are available online. I’m a great believer in learning from your mistakes ( you should see some of my kit building efforts) so I think that those marooned should be left to wait for low tide, unless life was at risk.

The Fringe jokes are so bad they even make this thread look good.

No idea what it is but having worked in power station control rooms and substations I would put my money on it being electricity supply related, it’s that sort of terminology.

I’ve had a new tin of Precision Paint turn to gloop recently after a couple of uses, but still have tins from 40 years ago which are perfectly usable. Whatever is added to paint these days is ruining it.

I read somewhere that there were hydraulic lifts at Stockport Edgeley, presumably in the early days when there was a footbridge and no underpass. I cannot find the reference now so cannot give any more details but I believe there is still a spiral staircase within the main building which would have given access to the footbridge, so a lift might be needed for heavy luggage or other goods.

Yes I did wonder about that myself, hydraulic was an important way to transmit power in the days before electricity was readily available. There is a hydraulic accumulator at Heaton Norris which was primarily a source of power for the goods warehouse but was also piped to Stockport Edgeley station, a distance of around a mile across the viaduct so long pipe runs are not uncommon.

I've recently come across this water tower at Holyhead which clearly shows the LNWR tank design. The whole structure looks like it should be a coal hole but there is no indication or brickwork to show that it ever was. As far as I know this must be one of the last LNWR tanks on existence but I cannot find anything out about it, as it is some way from the station it seems to have been missed by photographers in the past and not mentioned in any books I have which cover the station and engine shed. https://goo.gl/maps/XfszMgDgoDX3Ghhk8

I only asked where Gymru was, I wasn’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition.

Where’s Gymru?

Some fall on stoney ground.

In the interests of saving the planet and the cost of living crisis Hornby have decided to reintroduce clockwork, this is their first wind up.

When texting was first invented there was a tendency for people to just use both thumbs on the numeric keyboards. I remember a newspaper article saying that young people were loosing the use of their fingers and, for instance, using their thumbs to press doorbells. Total nonsense, journalists just make up stories to fill the column inches, the more sensational the better.

Similar to the story above, but the way I remember it Last Monday I was sat in B&Q car park when the passenger door opened and an attractive young blonde jumped in and started to interfere with me. After a while she left without a word and I noticed that my wallet was missing. Out of curiosity I went back the following night and the same thing happened. It happened again on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday but I think Friday must be her night off.

I’ve only ever seen 4 bolt chairs but Jack Nelson does say that “there were also 3 hole chairs used on lighter roads”. That doesn’t help with the original query but at least they did exist. At the time of 30ft panels wouldn’t the chairs be buried in the ballast so from a modelling perspective the type of chair would be academic?

Well they may be firefighters now but in my yoof they were firemen.

Just thinking about it, Fireman ( or as James May would put it to be PC, Firemanwoman ) is now a job title for someone employed to put fires out. I suppose it goes to show how usage changes with time and why people might now think stoker is the correct term.

After wading through the last few pages I’m getting nostalgic for the cracker jokes.

Journalists like to sensationalise every story, creating problems where none exist and this is no different. I take it these people can cope with some of the strange ways domestic uPVC doors and windows are opened or locked, it usually boils down to putting a bit of thought into it or asking for advice, if all else fails there is bound to be an online video !

I’ve just come across this query and it seems to be unanswered. Firstly “LNWR portrayed” by Jack Nelson is the best guide to wooden buildings, the drawings concentrate on the platform side but the street side appears to be the same except for fewer doors, possibly just the entrance door. Goostrey station (Cheshire) is a fine surviving example and Google street view shows the street, or rather car park, side. I don’t much about South Wales, the only book I have is “the origins of the LMS in South Wales”. It shows that wooden station buildings very common on the ex LNWR lines but no useful pictures of good sheds. Unless anyone knows differently I would think brick is most likely.

Four by my reckoning.