62613

You'd be right! The South Shields Matrimonial Marine and Technical College.

Yes, there is some history between the two. I was in Shields, September 1970 to July 1972. and for most of 1973; what for, I'll leave you to guess why. Shields were then in the process of being thrown out of Simonside Park, their ground at the time, and not that far from Filtrona Park. There was talk of moving them to the Westoe Stadium, but, IIRC, the local residents objected. One other result I've never forgotten; F.A. Cup, round 1 1969-70: South Shields 1 Oldham Athletic, then in the 4th division, 0.

Do you mean Buxton? Grantham finished below Stalybridge. The playoffs are an utter lottery; I can remember my other team (Oldham) were involved in the first Division 2 playoffs, against Leeds. In the semifinal second leg, they were going through 2-1, when Andy Ritchie and Keith Edwards combined, in the last minute, to score a Leeds equaliser. Nobody could score in extra time, so Leeds reached the final on away goals. Oldham had finished third, six points ahead of Leeds, and had beaten them four times out of the six games between them that season. It still hurts, 33 years later!

Given the cash cow which is the (almost) Champions' League, yes! On another note, we (Stalybridge) survived, with a 1-0 victory over Grantham, and finished above them. I don't think anyone noticed that, if both ourselves and Mickleover won (they did!) and Marine lost (they did!) then they would be the ones relegated. A very sad day for a friendly and well-run club, which has been in the NPL Premier for as long as I can remember.

That's a bit bigger than a barge. It looks like the sort of coastal collier that plied their trade across the Irish Sea, and in the North Sea and Channel. Their usual runs were from coal loading ports to power stations.

Why does that not entirely surprise me?

Try again! Didn't its exterior appear in an episode of Dalziel and Pascoe?

AKA Bugsworth canal basin; a fair bit of it is still intact, but not the railway, sadly.

I think DIN standards have pretty well been incorporated as Euronorms as well now, haven't they? I just drew them, by the way, and the only time I ever really saw a G1/4" fitting was on distribution blocks for control air, for attaching the flexible tube to the valve controller. Even 1/2" was usually site run after the first fitting.

What might also help is if people not involved in running engineering projects had some idea of how spending on them works; it's a bit like having basic economics taught, and how Parliament actually works. We hear that the cost of HS2 is to be £56 billion. My impression is that a lot of non-engineering types think that the money is all spent upfront, rather than over its lifetime, with a peak in the middle of the main phase. If we cannot afford the £3-5 billion per annum that HS2 costs, we really are finished as a nation.

The old BSPT and BSPP threads have been incorporated into BS EN standards. I couldn't tell you which without a bit of research, since it's three years since I finished.

Would it be fair to point out that most MPs had no idea what they would be voting on until two or three weeks before the "deal" was put to Parliament?

Great pic, spoiled by the signals, if it's pre-grouping. Distant signals didn't become yellow until 1928, IIRC, and if this is true GN, surely they should be somersaults, rather then upper quadrant.

Yes; there are factions who want 'No deal' and factions who want to remain in both major parties, and all viewpoints in between; as one might expect when 650 people get together and attempt to decide things. It's why we are where we are, in the end. Having said all that, I think the main thrust in both the main parties is to leave the EU. The problem is of trying to find the way of leaving which will bring enough in both parties together to get it through Parliament. Remaining at this stage is, I think, and sadly, a dead duck. Is it worth pointing out that it took about 35 years to get the EU to its present state; the various member states integrated gradually, and it may be that we have to leave gradually, but not over 35 years!

Yep!

Since the clubs lost all interest in their fans, except as cash cows, many seasons ago, why should being a member of a European Super League bother any of those that might qualify for it? See the protest by Fulham fans about ticket prices against Man. City last weekend. There used to be an F.A. rule (38, I think) which stated that the directors of a club couldn't make a personal profit out of their directorship, but that was one of the first ditched when the Premier League was formed. I'm not saying it didn't happen before, but it's quite commonplace now.

I was for 30. Also CAD, but started on the boards. Retired 3 years ago.

You're still paid the same for rubbing out (old draughstman's saying)

Not strictly Manchester-Leeds, but I went into Manchester, from Newton for Hyde station, yesterday afternoon. The platforms at Flowery Field station have been extended, but what was much more interesting was that there has been some vegetation clearance on the site of Dewsnap Yard; the 4-doll signal (minus arms) which had been hiding in the undergrowth is now visible. The clearance extends from the White Bridge down to around Guide Bridge East Junction. Anyone know why?

As a result of North Ferriby's demise, Stalybridge have risen a place in the NPL Premier; NFU's record was expunged; they are counted as finishing last, with zero points, and points gained by other clubs were, of course, also removed. The ramifications for promotion and relegation are unclear at the moment.

.....But, sadly, no results service on BBC TV (don't do SKY).

I drive round that roundabout at least once a week, and I've never noticed that! That could even be my car at the back of the queue going the other way.

Personally, I'm rooting for Mossley, who seem to be clinging onto a playoff place. Everyone who ever visits Seel Park says it's super ground, mainly because of the views.

C8452: interesting to see what looks like an engineer on the bridge wing (the C/E with a boiler suit that white!) and another, not so clean, at the foot of the ladder. I once got chucked off the bridge for wearing a boiler suit!

I thought about that. How far can you lower them before the leading truck fouls them?