Tom Burnham

Reminds me of the old Patent Office Library off Chancery Lane, where I spent a lot of time in the 1970s and 1980s. St Michaels has better stained glass, though...

Or even an illuminated address!

A 4-wheeled brake 3rd built by the L&NWR at Wolverton in 1911 for NLR services is preserved on the K&ESR - http://www.preservation.kesr.org.uk/coaching-stock/l-nwr. Also, I believe the last ever Model Railway Constructor had an article about building a model of the ex-NLR passenger brake van which ended up on the original K&ESR. This addressed the issue of having springs inside the W-irons. Cheers, Tom

Indeed, there do seem to be quite a number of building fronts with mathematical tiles. Some have a glazed yellowish or black finish, more common in Lewes, I thought, than in towns in Kent like Tenterden where there's extensive use of them. Tom

A recent photo looking out from the Castle over the town towards the station indicates quite a few tiled roofs on the older buildings -

Have just been visiting Lewes and thought folks might be interested in this model of the town c1880, on display in the Barbican Museum. There is a slightly tenuous connection as the Cluniac priory at Castle Acre was apparently a daughter foundation of Lewes Priory (almost entirely demolished following the Dissolution).

Hmm, I think this would be a later type than the GER 4-wheelers sold to the Kent & East Sussex. They had very characteristic round-cornered panelling on the upper parts of the sides, and square cornered beading at the waist and below. Regards, Tom

H F Stephens was quite angelic as a child. Christina Rossetti was moved to dedicate a short Christmas poem, "Golden Holly", to him.

I think I've read that even in the 1930s, if you had a London-Bristol ticket you could travel by LMS via Birmingham for the same fare.

Thanks, Neil. On the list to see when I'm in the Midlands. Tom

What a brilliant idea. I wonder how the different seasons are managed?

Harking back to previous discussions about troop trains, Neil Dimmer has just posted a photo of a troop train hauled by a C class 0-6-0 passing Beckenham Junction in 1929 (OK, a bit later than the period of primary interest, but much of the rolling stock seems to date back). Behind the loco are an LMS and an LNER cattle wagon with horses, followed by 3 very assorted horse boxes, followed (I think) by the actual carriages. See https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/SRSteam/18991913-SECR-Harry-Wainwright/Wainwright-Tender-Engines/Wainwright-C-class/i-C2fWgJ7/A

There was the Culm Valley Light Railway (Tiverton Junction to Hemyock) opened 1876. The Ilfracombe branch (opened 1874) was built to light railway standards - hence the special Ilfracombe Goods locos the L&SWR acquired to work it - but was later expensively rebuilt to main-line standards as traffic increased. Tom

Although they didn't do too badly at Lewisham on Tuesday morning! Regards, Tom

Providing sufficient running powers were available, the map would have looked very impressive! I wonder how long a Terrier or an Ilfracombe Goods would have taken from (say) Tenterden Town to Criggion? Would probably have had to introduce sleeping cars...

The Kent & East Sussex and the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railways each had an ex-LSWR Royal saloon, although they were many years out of royal patronage by the early c20 - www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk/rolling-stock/stephens-royal-saloons It might have been helpful if George V had directed the charm offensive towards European watering places as Edward VII had done with considerable success... Incidentally, Captain Alaric Churchward (there's a name for you), the South Eastern & Chatham's man in Paris, received the Victorian Order for being helpful in facilitating Edward's trips to Biarritz. Capt Churchward in earlier years had been a Cambridge athletics Blue and then married into the Neame brewing family. He had previously been in charge of Queenborough Pier, in its brief period of being frequented by the crowned heads of Europe.

In the Edwardian era there were complaints from the season ticket-holders of Gravesend (SE&CR) about wagons loaded with manure left on the through lines to stimulate them while they were waiting for their trains in the morning.

In Charles Dickens' piece on "Mugby Junction" written in the 1860s I think, all the staff of the refreshment room were women apart from one token man. Regards, Tom

The second "Gazelle" is a nice idea, but I wasn't convinced it had actually happened when I researched the original article. No reason why one shouldn't put in an appearance at Castle Aching, of course (apart from the difficulty of actually making it work...) Happy New Year to one and all, Tom

Would that be the Natural Gas Fields of England, Limited? If so, its engineer rejoiced in the name of Mr Inverness Watts, according to press reports at the time. Apparently at one time the gas was used for station lighting, pumping water for locomotives and for 200 houses in Heathfield itself (lighting and cooking). Tom

Colonel Stephens used acetylene generators quite extensively for lighting both carriages and stations. Even the South Eastern & Chatham experimented with acetylene lighting at Robertsbridge station, provided by the local firm, The Cottage Lighting Co. Ltd. (prop: Jesse Piper, who had patents granted in this field).

I've just come across this thread and it makes me think that maybe I ought to revive an 0395 model I started 25-30 years ago, using the DJH kit. It was intended to be 3440 as hired to the Kent & East Sussex, but this introduced a complication as it was one of a handful of the 0395 class which received 3300 gallon tenders from withdrawn Jubilees. I acquired some tender parts from a manufacturer who produced a Jubilee kit at the time (Nu-Cast possibly?). I'll have to get the bits out and see what I can do, though I have a feeling that a new chassis will be necessary...

Belated thanks for the link to this fascinating film. It includes several features not often photographed like the luggage trolley and the PW ganger. Overall, it gives the impression of a railway which is not gently decaying. Although some of the rolling stock is old, the buildings are mostly well kept, or at least well painted. Incidentally the "10" speed restriction sign with dark lettering on a square board is like the ones originally installed on the Sheppey Light Railway. And you have a great representation of the WC&P in model form.

William Burkitt was a great mover and shaker in late-Victorian King's Lynn so might well have been involved with the guano works. What could be more natural than that his private engine, "Gazelle", should appear on the WNR? Actually building a model that worked would be a problem, though. Maybe permanently coupled to a motorised inspection saloon? http://www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk/locomotives/gazelle Cheers, Tom