D826

Just observing that BR was doing some very good things very well which augured well for the future just before privatisation. Chiltern is often cited as an example of how things went well. My recollection, (which may be incorrect) is that Chiltern total route modernisation was undertaken by Network South East. I find the current approach to ticketing baffling. An example of an open return to Tiverton from Paddington costing £301, was illustrated on LinkedIn the other day. That is just bonkers. Given the interrelationships between efficient public transport and what should be other policy objectives/ targets. There should be major benefits from an integrated approach to transport policy and what it can, or could deliver. The Venn diagram of overlaps in a world where both politicians and media seem to concentrate on very narrow matters and never mind the interrelationships. Weaponising and choosing to make a political football of climate change, and misrepresenting HS2 - all to create division are amongst the worst decisions of the current Government in my humble. I can only hope whatever happens, it doesn't cost 300 quid to travel by train to Tiverton and back. With all politicians, watch the cups - listen carefully to the words ! Best regards Matt W

Lots of good pictures of my Dad (NB Ray Wood, not Wood(s)) -in the book 'Red Panniers' too. A cracking book.

Shows a lack of editorial oversight and comprehension too. The fact the heading says 'Signs' would, you'd have hoped, led to some quizzical looks somewhere. Lord Reith will be rotating at velocity in his eternal slumber.

Maybe summer 77 ? After abolition of headcodes in 76, (and that year a lot of 50s were displaying their running number in truncated form in their headcode boxes ie 5044 )- here domino headcodes replacing the redundant roller blinds and before naming in 78. Fingers crossed there'll be a Western along in a minute if its summer 77. Possibly a 25 on the Paignton local too. Sure to be a 46 or 47 on a NE to SW too. Happy days. Very happy days. Matt W

For me, notwithstanding my love for all things on the GWR/Western Region and all points west (as the book title said - Don't Knock the Southern) it would be Great Central related. I'd love to have caught the Master Cutler between Marylebone and Sheffield in 47 to 58 - and enjoyed the fast running and excellent engineering of that late lamented masterpiece. The engineering near Canons Ashby and through South Northants and traces that remained just looked so impressive. If its possible for a dead railway to look fast the GC did. (Though obviously not on the Met GC joint lines). (Id be tempted to follow up with a visit to Barnstaple in about 1960 then down to Dawlish for 1970).

Likewise- who'd have thought I'm getting nostalgic about Met A stock. Bouncing on the fasts from Amersham to Baker St. The prospect of running one alongside Red Panniers, the delicious Radley 30t GP wagons and doing something loosely based on the tip workings is immense. That Rapido Met E class looks lovely too. Dad liked L44 but preferred the Met F Class. He said L52 was a bloody good engine - but rhapsodised about the Panniers. Said they'd pull anything. Admiring the work and skills of many on here. Rather like Mantles Wood. All the best Matt Wood

I spoke with my 89 year old Mum Roy. I think it must be a different Blossom as the bloke my Dad worked with would be in his 90s. (If Dad was alive he'd have been 99 this year). Other names Dad worked with were Harry Varley, David Slattery (Peaches), Tom Power, who like Dad, moved to and lived in Aylesbury. He took me as a 4 or 5 year old, about 1971, to Neasden depot to see the Rolls Royce Sentinels. I still remember my nervousness stepping over rails at the depot and his warning to 'not step on those ones boy - they're juice rails' and to this day regret not pressing the starter button in the cab of one of the Sentinels. Dad loved the railway and driving/firing. Told me that good pway guards were very skilled. Gave me a very strong impression of the camaraderie and teamwork of the railway back in the day. Love all these LT posts. Best regards Matt W

Names I remember Dad quoting for Neasden locomen are (remember- different times) ; The Captain Blossom Hazel The Witch Doctor Wizard Persil - aka ' neck' ! In all seriousness he loved the railway and his overseas workmates and went to a shunters funeral in Brixton - early 70s - only white person there - that was Dad - loyal.

He was at Neasden Roy - joined LT on demob from Army in 1947/48. Steam shed foreman at Neasden Steam shed by late 60s according to Red Panniers. Diagnosed as diabetic in 1975/76 - very ill for a couple of years - LT were very good to him. Kept him on and he was a ticket collector at Ricky from his return to work in about 1978, till retirement in 1990. He loathed being a ticket collector- but was a dyed in the wool railwayman. Full of great tales about life and work on the railway. He was a good man - good old Dad. Had access to very colourful vernacular language too. Happy New Year to you sir - I've seen your posts and timeliness of railway work, often wondered if you knew Dad. I believe he was nicknamed 'Dinker'. Other nicknames of Neasden Steam shed staff quite amusing.

Here's said photo - Dad loved driving steam locos, but absolutely rhapsodised about the Panniers. Said they'd pull anything. Very distinctive posture when driving, my old Dad. Some brilliant photos and reminiscences about him in "Red Panniers" where he's incorrectly referred to as Ray Wood(s). Just a Wood singular us Woods.😉

Re Air tanks - in case of interest. I have an H Casserley photo of my Dad driving L52 - it appears to have what looks suspiciously like two air tanks on both left and right hand side on both water tanks. (I.e. there are air tanks on both sides of boiler). Best regards Matt W

Anything by John Betjeman on railways quality. The "lets Imagine a branch line railway" linked above and the piece de resistance that is "Metroland". The former used to be on iplayer. The latter, I'm not sure but I bought it on DVD years ago. JB - a lovely laugh, a great raconteur and a passionate advocate of railways. This is great too, some lovely shots of Whernside, but trespass to give operator's the collywabbles !

My old man - born 1925, worked on LT from the late 40s, and Mum was born within earshot of Bow Bells in 1934. Marylebone was always 'Marry - le - bone' to them. Other areas of London which shall remain nameless - many of which are now altered beyond recognition, often for the better would be unrecognizable to Dad who retired in 1990, died in 95 whose London vernacular language frequently referred to places as a "s***hole' - as in 'what's x or y like Dad?" - "a s***hole boy". 😉 Best regards Matt W

With a government whose only consistency is incoherence.

Lots of the trains to Watford Tip, near the triangle of lines on the Met South of Rickmansworth, were loco Ash. Generally conveyed in the 30 ton General Purpose bogie open wagons. Hauled by LT Panniers, and I assume before that by Met F class. The trains also took general refuse, pway waste, hard-core from demolition of LT Neasden power station to the tip. My Dad was foreman at Neasden LT steam shed. Good photo of a wagon, load on fire, being taken to be doused at the water column at the end of Watford Met platform in the wonderful book, Red Panniers - Lightmoor Press. Loads of pictures of Dad in that book. He got loco ash/ a smut in his eye once which led to him visiting Moorfields eye hospital. Was most insulted when they asked if he'd visited any 'ladies of the night' as it might be syphilis. He was furious ! Best regards Matt Wood