Gwiwer

Surely that's wrong. Fog lights are not allowed to be used except when driving in fog. If they come on automatically when cornering .........

The ones I have driven show front DRL lights with ignition on and have the usual switchable settings for main and dip which also turn on the reds. But no way to turn off the front lights.

Daytime running lights are a curse in my opinion. Those are the ones which cannot be turned off. Once the ignition is on the front lights are on. It is confusing to have roughly 20% of approaching cars with headlights on; is there a reason such as poor visibility or are they shown as a warning of some problem? And surely they required a derogation of the law to even be permitted since one is normally not permitted to display lights by day except in poor visibility when they are mandatory. While on the subject far too many drivers overlook the fact that "automatic" lights only operate at the front. When it gets dark the lights are already on so far as the driver can see. But the rear ones are not. I have encountered a very large number of modern (DRL-fitted) vehicles driving a night with no reds-to-rear displayed. Someone has forgotten to operate the switch. Grrrrrr.

You may do so unless there are signs to the contrary or the road layout prevents it. Generally not advised because there isn't reliably enough space to make a U-turn without it becoming a three-point turn. That's the last thing you need at a mini-roundabout / painted circle. And while a Mini might get round in one a Chelsea Tractor may not but there has to be one rule for all. Try to find another way. Those little painted circles incidentally have exactly the same standing in law as a large fully constructed roundabout. More than one motorist has found that out to their cost when caught by Plod for driving straight over them and thus failing to correctly navigate a roundabout.

Peter I have always thought of your ballasting as being well executed with the right size product, especially compared with mine which uses over-scale Woodland "medium". As to colour we all know this varies hugely mot just according to region and rock source used for the ballast but dependant upon whether a high-speed main line with minimal ash or oil-drop (though turds and bog-roll might appear at random intervals) to terminal lines where locos would stand for extended times and soil the ballast turning it black and slimy. I have tried to replicate that by use of varied strengths of water-colour wash and use of weathering powders. I've even squeezed neat black paint from the tube onto the sleepers to represent really claggy oil drop at a signal. Some areas might be too dark but mostly I reckon it's OK. Yours looks fine given the amount of oil drop in station platform areas.

The law as I understand it for priority at roundabouts is "First in best dressed". While in practice this means one must almost invariably give way to the right there are some situations and some roundabouts where one may enter ahead of a vehicle approaching from the right. Skill and judgement might be needed to assess - whilst on the move - who will be first to arrive at the entry point. I signal for a roundabout I know according to where I intend to exit. For a simple "crossroads" with exits (using the clockface model) at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock it is left for first exit (6-9 o'clock), no entry signal then left after first exit to take second exit (6-12 o'clock), right on entry and past first two exits then left to leave at the third exit (6 to 3 o'clock). And if I wish to make a U-turn (6 to 6 o'clock) then I signal right past all three other exits then left before leaving by my entry route. In places I don't know I will follow signs and road markings in case the exit isn't obvious or standard such as places where most traffic takes a first or third exit and doesn't bother signalling. With more than four entry / exit points greater care must be taken but the same ground rules apply. I learned to drive 42 years ago. I also passed a D-licence test 30 years ago. On all tests (two were required for each licence) and throughout all training the roundabout approach and signalling was the same as described in the Highway Code. I know nothing of this signalling right to go straight on malarky. Unless it is in a location where "straight on" is actually a slight turn to the right. Such as, using the clockface again, entering at 6 and exiting at 2 rather than 12.

It has just been reported from here in Australia that a truck driver whose vehicle was in collision with a train "could not be found liable" and the charge of driving carelessly has been dismissed. In 2015 a truck and trailer combination approached a "passive" level crossing on a quiet rural road where the Melbourne - Warrnambool railway crosses. This line had at the time just three daily up and three down passenger trains and one conditional freight. Not exactly a busy route. As reported the truck drive stopped (as required) before the crossing to check it was clear to proceed. He even undid his seatbelt to lean farther forward for a better view. Seeing and hearing no train he moved off and entered the crossing. Before he was clear the train approached at about 115kmh (line speed) and was unable to stop when the truck was sighted across its path. The locomotive struck the trailer causing the entire train to derail, the truck to slew around and resulted in multiple injuries to the truck driver, train driver and many passengers. The line was extensively damaged and a deviation had to be built to recover the damaged train and restore services. Court found that the truck driver did all that was required and reasonable. He stopped (many would have just barrelled on regardless) and checked. But the length of this vehicle - perfectly legal - meant that from a standing start the time taken to cross the railway exceeded the time taken by a train travelling at line speed to reach the crossing from point of first visibility. Had the truck not stopped, contravening road traffic law, he might have crossed unscathed though still giving the train driver a fright. In the end he was fined for failing to wear his seatbelt (which he undid but did not do back up before moving off) and for log-book irregularities but the impact has been recorded as an accident. The crossing was rebuilt with lights and warning sirens.

A new menu introduced by a one-time employer required that we order some jalapeños. Dutifully we rang through our weekly order to the supplier in Bristol and tried our best to pronounce "HAL-a-PEN-yoss". To which the reply, in a thick Bristolian accent, was "Arr - that'll be the Jer-LAR-poes then". Since when they have always been Jalapos in this household! Saltedcaramel ice cream - yes please. Jalapeño flavo(u)r - no thanks, I'll leave those critters as a topping for seasoned potato wedges along with sour cream and salsa.

East Worthing. And the family home almost makes it into ERs. The bridge is known locally as the "ramp bridge" as such it has always had rather than steps. It links Angola and Ladydell Roads and saves a lengthy deviation over Ham Road Bridge which gave East Worthing its original name of Ham Bridge Halt. Mum lives just beyond the bridge backing on to the railway on the right hand side on this view. That is the house I lived in for just two weeks many years ago having moved there with the family and promptly moved out to attend university in London. There is often something of interest passing by. RTT has been a great benefit in tracking and capturing such things.

Yes indeed Baz. Acland Street is famed for them. I'm sure it is possible to gain girth and weight just walking along the length of that street which is the shopping strip and now also a modern tram terminus. You might have remembered it when cars, pedestrians and trams all jostled for space. The cars are no more. St. Kilda (Melbourne) has long been the city's playing place. Sea baths, shops, restaurants of many styles and qualities and the beach itself. The lengthy pier has a respectable cafe - restaurant at its seaward end too, rebuilt some years ago after a fire destroyed the original. The place was quite lively when I was there last night. Most restaurants seemed full. The beach wasn't packed but was quite popular. The Luna Park funfair was still operating with its lights piercing the night sky. And the gathering of substance-smoking, drum-playing persons was beating out a rhythm across the brightly-lit foreshore and dark waters in much the same way as they seem to have done for many years. A warm night at St. Kilda is one of the "should do" experiences Melbourne can offer. I agree with GDB here. Having worked hard every day this week so far today the various aches are suggesting I take a break and attend instead to other equally necessary tasks. Back to enwhitenment tomorrow. Welcome to POETS Day. Best wishes to all especially our sick and injured.

No

"London and South Western Railway" would be no more nor less accurate than many other names some of which have already been mentioned. Network SouthEast (which ran its own trains as far afield as Paignton and Kings Lynn, neither of which is by any standard "SouthEast"), Southern Railway (who ran almost as far west, at Padstow, as the GWR and again way beyond what most people consider "south"), the LNER in both its iterations ran to destinations well beyond London and the North East including Aberdeen and Inverness and, in the original LNER days, to the West Highlands as well. The SE&CR ran to Reading which has generally been held to be in GWR territory though whether it counts as "south east" or something else might be open to debate. And if we are resurrecting names of bygone railway companies should not Ryde - Shanklin simply be the Isle of Wight Railway?

Good <Insert time of day as appropriate> All. Greetings from a land where white paint seems to be flavour of the week. First room is almost complete with top coat now on most surfaces. Two more rooms to go. As I move around the house I pick up and remove odds and ends which are no longer required; specifically the part-used packs and jars of herbs and spices in the pantry which cannot be shipped. It's starting to look emptier around here now. A relaxed bacon, brie and cranberry combination on a thick slice of toasted sourdough for lunch which will be followed by a shower, four hours at the Palace and the final warm evening stroll along the St Kilda foreshore. Tomorrow sees the first of the "farewell drinks" sessions with friends, various. On Monday I have help from friends with shifting some big furniture in readiness for next Wednesday which sees the attendance of B-i-L and D-i-L (D is for Dragon, remember) to collect furniture which they are respectively relieving us of. Thereafter there will be a lot more empty space and I can paint the remaining rooms with ease. Best wishes to all.

First have tried to bring back the GWR with an uninspiring livery and lacklustre performance. Let's see if they can do any better with the MTR financial rocket up their behinds.

Neither Good Morning nor Good Night but Happy Lunchtime.

Sadly the 71 hasn't beaten the time-lock here and will be delivered to London instead of Australia. That has the modest embuggerance of obliging me to pay VAT on it. But it was always a very slim chance of it appearing on Penhayle Bay. Even if they were in the air today by the time they have reached the retailer, been repacked and sent back across the oceans of the world the layout will be closed. No matter. I look forward to the arrival my 71 and it can visit the future Southern electric-themed location yet to be revealed as the future layout. Reflecting briefly upon the 4Cor posts above the shelf price for such an item may well be influenced by the number of pieces commissioned and I stand by my figure of £500 (or perhaps something approaching it) despite replies from those quite knowledgable in the hobby. I wouldn't want to commission a 4Cor without a proportion of each sale going to SEG(P) and (SEG(H) who are responsible for the preserved unit. I declare an interest and I declare my concern that the vehicles need urgent and substantial funding to survive. But that's my opinion and others are available.

Thanks from a beautifully warm sunny Autumnal morning. Best wishes to Ian, Neil, Andyram and others with specific need of good wishes. Breakfast has occurred. Now where's me paint-brush?

They can - and should - be picky. Drivers of large vehicles need a greater level of skill and awareness than the average car driver simply because of the larger mass they are in control of. If there was a test fault they should tell you so you can re-train and be aware of it. If it is more that the tester feels more practice and experience is necessary rather than having made any specific error that too should be made clear. When I trained for my D-licence (also known as PSV, PCV or bus and coach licence) I was out on test for the first time and failed. Why? Not because I had crossed a white line but because one tyre had touched a white line which meant I was no longer within my lane when I reasonably should or could have been. I hadn't even noticed it, and thought I was just within the lane, never mind made mention of it to the tester. Go back another day. On the second attempt I was in a slight spot of difficulty within minutes. The test route passes through Camborne and takes a very sharp left turn in the town centre. Quite deliberately because that is the way out of town and is the bus route. You have to go that way. The only way round in a 12-metre coach is to approach wide, show yourself and wait for a gap (or a generous giving of way) in the oncoming traffic around the corner, then swing wide taking the whole road. I took it a tad early and was about to kerb the back wheel. I had the presence of mind to stop, tell the tester I was going to borrow the footpath, check mirrors, wait for a moment with no pedestrians and then went - gingerly edging up onto the kerb and down as we took the corner. I had a Minor Fault recorded on the test sheet. Not a fail. Why? Because I had stopped, told the tester, waited and checked again before moving off. Poor chap must have had a bumpy ride around that corner as many times as I've had a hot dinner!

Speaking as another who has lost friends at sea (two lifeboat crew, one coaster master) this still gets me every time. Cracking song passionately performed by a hugely under-rated musician.

Oh dear. Non-colours in nip and the Northern in spoon. BLACKFRIARS

With non-colours in nip the answer to that must be REDBRIDGE

Morning all. Moan-day has dawned and those here present have yawned. At least it's a bright sunny start albeit a little fresh at 11C. We are forecast a top of 20C by the seaweed-mongers. A couple of hours painting will follow the breakfast cuppa before becoming ironic with the shirt-flattening device and heading off to earn my keep. Cat is out flouncing about with leaves in the breeze. And how does one make a cat flap? One hangs aforesaid cat on the washing line in a decent breeze. Not a big fan of "edible" fish here and most definitely not kippers. Nor bloaters. I like it to have a little flavour but not strongly fishy. If it comes with (fried / hot) chips here then my preference is flounder over the local staple of flake (gummy shark) and back home I'd usually seek out a haddock rather than cod or rock (the latter also known as huss in some areas). I did venture a beer-battered sea-bass last time I was in Cornwall though that was very up-market fish and chips at a good restaurant on the beach at Polkerris. Mackerel on the BBQ has been OK as well but it needs to be cooked thoroughly all the way through not seared on the outside but raw at the bones. Enough piscatorial perambulations. Painting predominates pre-Palace. Back anon. Sleep well and enjoy your day when it arrives.

Further to the Kipper Wars ......

Watch this space. Final closure is Easter Monday.

Thanks Peter. It's always good to have you here and to have the uncommon privilege of through trains from Llanbourne as well. My video clips are ready after an extended time uploading - there seems to have been a shortage of width in the band around here today. That's the "superfast" NBN for you. Firstly the daytime train on the St. Agnes branch which was formed of a pair of ex-LSWR coaches and worked by no fewer than three locomotives. With two of the Beattie well-tanks in the yard the third was on the train with an A1X Terrier coupled inside. At the other end was an Isle of Wight O2, No. 16 "Ventnor". Not an everyday sight on the mainland let alone in "Cornwall" As mentioned in the post above with the stills one of the Bulleid light Pacific fleet West Country 34041 "Wilton" was assigned the freight which had been brought in the night before by the Garratt. The Bulleid worked hard and ran for a couple of hours sometimes coping with the gradients - if only just - but here requiring a rear-end shove after stalling on Penhayle Bay's 1:50 reverse-curves. One of the class 22s masquerades as its Scottish class 21 sister running in tandem (though not in multiple due to incompatible control systems) with a Scottish Region class 17 Clayton. This working was christened the "McMilk" train. A visiting class 25 and a mixed freight all of which looked suspiciously clean by Penhayle's standards! Another most unexpected combination occurred when this Chinese steam locomotive was coupled to the old Australian carriage set and ran a few circuits. My own all-Lima train glimpsed above in the sidings took quite a run at the bank when let loose on the main line. For a loco which hasn't turned a wheel in 12 years this ran rather well. Both loco and wagons are Australian. That remarkable Airfix kit Rocket seen in action and pushed by the Black Beetle-powered coach. To build that kit so well and able to run freely on a layout required skill indeed. This was also something of a crossed-finger moment as neither had ever been run before. P.C.M's Crompton 33111 races downhill with the direct mails from Llanbourne to west Cornwall and is passed by a pair of Penhayle's own 37s working hard uphill with a heavy train of china clay. The Melbourne tram in action. Despite the protruding step-boards she managed to run perfectly without fouling any of the lineside structures. I'm not sure what the power unit is but it's not exactly quiet. This class 25 was another visitor from Llanbourne and had charge of a mixed rake of engineer's hoppers some of which are kit builds. The two GWR pannier-tanks took over the milk train from the Scottish Region diesels and are seen in a late-night movement coming off the down loop towards Treheligan station. This train usually has a GWR Hawksworth brake van on the rear but for this occasion featured an LMS design brake instead And finally the train which started it all in more ways than one. The Powerline coaches and generic "Bulldog" locomotive are intended to resemble regional passenger trains used in the State of Victoria. Some of the "S-cars" remain in traffic to this day though the tangerine livery is long gone. This set, with an oval of track, was presented to me a few weeks after we moved to the house 14 years ago and ran around the dining table on an oval of track for want of anywhere else. "Anywhere else" became Penhayle Bay. The formal opening of the layout featured a shiny new Bulleid light Pacific with a ribbon to be broken upon its departure. While the opening speeches were in progress I slyly ran the orange train in from the other direction, unseen until the last moment, whence it broke the tape ahead of the Bulleid while the onlookers gasped in astonishment. The S-set has seen very little use since the layout was built but will be kept on as historically significant. So - the final open house running session has taken place. It isn't quite the end as the originally-advertised closure date of 17th April, Easter Monday, will be honoured for the benefit of those taking their Easter holidays by train. Some "farewell" specials, in the traditional manner, are expected in coming days. One more personal visit is expected as Mr. St.Enodoc of this parish hopes to be here one evening before final closure. The very last trains will then be featured before this topic is closed.