Tanllan

Pressing railway wheels on and off axles is a serious task. The link here is to a video lilmed at Stonehenge Works on the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway on 29/01/2019. An axle is pressed into a wheel. The machine was obtained from the the Motor Rail & Tramcar Company in Bedford when they closed down. The finished wheelset will be used on coach 14 which is currently under construction.

There are some interesting suggestions there. Now for a 'what you don't want' and that is the much beloved by railway modellers coal cells right up against the sidings. Yes many goods yards had coal cells but they were generally well away from the rails. Have a look at the aerial photos linked below. NB to 'zoom in' you will need to register and log in but it is free. <https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW024747> <https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW014227>

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2

Update - The auction closed at 20:00 on 20th June and raised £3930. Thank You if you took part or even just looked to see what was on offer..

Falling in Love Again - Marlene Dietrich

This Is Radio Clash - The Clash

The rather poorly reproduced photo below was taken at Kinnerley on the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Rly, on 6 October 1931, and comes from Roger Carpenter's book about the Criggion Branch. The 4 plank wagons were almost certainly going to the BQC quarry at Criggion. BQC also had a large fleet of 3 and 4 plank private owner wagons.

Alone Again (Naturally) - Gibert O'Sullivan

In October 2018 the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway withdrew The Earl from service pending a ten year heavy overhaul. In 2019 a contract was placed with the Vale of Rheido Raiway for them to undertake the majority of the work. The exception being the bolier which after being removed from the frames went to Varley Boiler Services Ltd. All was going well until the arrival of Covid-19. Worked has stopped and the monies set aside to fund the work has been diverted to meet more pressing immediate needs. We need to raise a considerable sum to finish the task and an appeal called Keep The Earl On Track has been launched. One of the fund raising activities is an auction of various lots including particpation events and items. For instance you could bid for a Driver Experiance or a book. If you are interested the auction listing is at the link below. https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/welshpoolauctionone?fbclid=IwAR1RSoyLBJBtTy1kDZfv-q8tgEkJCz_-3kwaqKGMS48204iAjdZNcBk2uvY#none The main appeal page is here https://www.wllr.org.uk/node/267

No More Heros - The Stranglers

Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - The Beatles

You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse

Turn Out The Light - Joan Armatrading

The above map is very interesting and lines up with a map of the Probable Thames Valley Coalfield dated 1872. See attached document. Thames-Valley-Coalfield[1].pdf

Boys From The County Hell - The Pogues

Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles

pictures of a blue tit. First it landed on the fence and then made the short flight onto the feeder loaded with suet pellets.

Fade Away And Radiate - Blondie

Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd

Down In The Tube Station At Midnight - The Jam

Fool to Cry - The Rolling Stones

This little chap came into our garden this afternoon and was hopping round my wife's feet at one point.

Mike, My understanding of a 'Catch Point' is a set of points that are sprung loaded that are designed to deliberately derail a vehicle/train making a 'wrong line' movement or is out of control on a 'running line'. e.g <https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.4008993,-0.7125305,3a,44.8y,16.9h,90.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXCULP0sIEwUzt-RLJbInaQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1> To make a facing movement over Catch Points a shunter or other appointed person has to hold the points closed during the movement. Whereas Trap Points can be set to pass through in either direction. If catch points had been provided at Flatts Lane LC an additional person would have been required to assist the guard during the busy shuntling activity that used to take place at this junction. The coal depot on the map was a domestic coal merchants yard. Being on NER territory there was a set of coal drops.

It really depends on the circumstances. If you need to protect your running line from errant movements on branches or sidings then traps are appropriate. From my childhood holidays, at my maternal grandparents home, I can remember that where the Eston branch crossed Flats Lane there were trap points to prevent movements onto the level crossing. By the time I was old enough to be allowed to roam alone there was but one train a day and the signal box, etc., had been removed. On the west side of the crossing there was a single set of traps but on the other side each of the three lines had a set of traps - all worked by local levers - big heavy 'throw over' types or NER origin. See link to map for context. <https://maps.nls.uk/view/125623774> As for the Killers Branch on the C&HP - (which features a narrow steep sided cutting and hence damp/slippery rails) I understand that the loco often had trouble controlling the loaded trains heading for the 'main line' - if traps had been provided then the local breakdown gang would probably have been there on a regular basis.

Something' Gotten Hold Of My Heart - Gene Pitney