Tanllan

Thieves Like Us - New Order

Songbird - Fleetwood Mac

My maternal grandparents lived in Normanby near Middlesborough. About a mile away in Eston there was a suburb called California and I seem to remember there was an 'Eston & California Social Club'. <https://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=455770&Y=518925&A=Y&Z=115>

You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones

Bridge To Better Days - Joe Bonamassa

Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy - Howlin' Wolf

Could that be a sub that was lost or abandoned and subsequently recovered b the German navy?

Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf

I Believe To My Soul - The Animals

Remember You're A Womble - the Wombles

Coal has a relatively low specific gravity (SG) typically in the range 1.3 to 1.5 for solid coal as it lies in the seam and 0.83 to 1.1 when broken e.g. as loaded into a railway wagon. Limestone has an SG of 2.6 solid and 1.55 broken. Granite broken 1.65 So a wagon designed for coal could be quickly overloaded if another material was put in. There is a hand chart at this link which lists most materials that might be carried by rail. https://www.simetric.co.uk/si_materials.htm

The freighter would have been loading stone from a nearby quarry at Kittling Hill having perhaps discharged a cargo of coal. The 1925 6" to the mile OS map based on a 1922 survey and published in 1925 shows an 'Old Waggonway' leading from the quay to the quarry. From National Library of Scotland maps web site https://maps.nls.uk/view/101027883

London Calling - The Clash

The intermediate piers have been rebuilt a few times over the years. As originally built one was on top of a fault line (the one that failed in 1964). In 1999 that pier was subject to a very extensive re-build involving the creation of a new deep foundation and a significant concrete cut-water. The river Banwy has a large variation in flow rate and the effects of Storm Dennis did not get near the 'Highest Recent' see this link<https://rloi.naturalresources.wales/ViewDetails?station=2062>. Periodically, during a period of low water level, somebody has to get into the water and inspect the foundations for scour/undercutting. Before the first train on 16th Feb a light loco was taken down the line and driven slowly over the bridge. HTH

Phil, On this occasion we escaped without any damage. The main road (A458) was flooded just west of Cyfronydd meaning our passengers travelling from the east had to travel via the 'Old Road' which does not flood (very much) but is rather steep and windy. If the gauging station at Llanerfyl reaches 3m then the railway will almost certainly flood. The last flood to do any significant damage, was 4 or 5 years ago and, required us to replace 30 tons of ballast in order to run the Santa Trains that year. In 1964 the Banwy Bridge nearly collapsed when one of the intermediate piers was damaged in a flood.

Storm Dennis swept across Mid Wales on 15th & 16th February. The River Banwy runs parallel to the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway for about two miles. The river rose rapidly over the night of 15th February and by eight o'clock the next morning was less than a foot below the track in some places. I took the linked video during a couple of track inspections that were made before passenger train running commenced on Sunday 16th.

Skin Deep - The Stranglers

Do The Do - Howlin' Wolf

Hello, Should anyone desire a fix of narrow gauge steam haulage (in steam heated carriages) then please be advised that the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway will be operating during the February half term holidays. Trains will run from Llanfair Caereinion to Castle Caereinion & return ONLY. https://www.wllr.org.uk/february-half-term-winter-warmer-trains?dt=2020-02-16 Trains depart from Llanfair for the approximately 1 hour return journey at 11.00, 12.45 and 14.30 on the following days 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 22th, 23rd February Tickets may be bought online or on the day at the booking office. Should anyone wish to say 'hello' I am rostered to drive the 11.00 & 12:45 trains on 15th & 16th February. Beyer Peacock build loco 'Countess' is the rostered locomotive. Regards, Geoff

Whilst undamaged asbestos cement sheets are 'relatively safe' they have to be removed and disposed of correctly. The links below documents the approved method of removing an asbestos cement sheet roof. <https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a14.pdf> For disposal off site you must comply with this document <https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/em9.pdf> Last but not least for your own protection ensure you get a valid Waste Transfer Note from whoever takes the stuff away <https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/duty-of-care-waste-transfer-note-template> If you just pay 'some bloke £50' to take it away and it is subsequently found 'dumped in a ditch' and can be traced back to you then expect a hefty fine. Regards, Geoff

I'll Go Crazy If I don't Go Crazy Tonight - U2 geoff

Non Stop Wombling Summer Party - The Wombles Geoff

Where Were You Last Night - The Traveling Wilburys Geoff

You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry & The Pacemakers Geoff

Bridge To Better Days - Joe Bonamassa Geoff