FarrMan

Gilbert That last photo from Spittal Bridge is more or less as I remember it from sitting on my bike at the end of the parapet, and is so realistic. The only two bits that I am seeing standing out are the gap between the two lines on the right, and the gap behind the water tower. Have you got a suitable old photo that you could use as a backscene there? I would have thought that there should be a good few taken from that spot over the years. Thanks again for giving me and others so much pleasure. Lloyd

Gilbert I always wondered what a Hovercraft was really for! Though that was more early/mid sixties from memory. Lloyd

This reminds me of the rule for unmarked crossroads even before I was born - As most accidents happened at unmarked crossroads, the less time you spent there, the less exposed you would be. This led to the idea that the safest method was to cross them as fast as you can! Lloyd

I agree with you, Gilbert, about the angle compared to protoype photos. The parapet on Spital Bridge was quite high on both sides from the road, and extended all the way down to the junction on the East (Up) side, and so the only spot for a photo without a ladder was at the end of the parapets where the fence started on the West (Down) side of the line. This was just beyond the Midland lines/sidings. I can imagine having difficulties getting into that position without demolition - and the dust from that would be unthinkable! I always thought that the weight sank (sagged?) down as you got older, and that you got shorter. When I go to pick up something off the floor, though, it seams further away than ever. Many thanks again, Gilbert, for all your work and acrobatics to give us such magnificent prompts to reminisce. Lloyd

I do love these photos from Spital Bridge. So lifelike from what was my normal viewing position. Thanks for doing the acrobatics necessary to take them. Lloyd

I agree with Tony. A lovely shot of a lovely model that is so reminiscent of the real thing. Thank you Gilbert, and all your helpers. Lloyd

Were they telling you that you were NO WHERE, or that you were NOW HERE? Lloyd

Clive Barnsley is outside Easter Counties area, so must be an excursion to Barnsley, but why would anyone want to go THERE? Lloyd

Gilbert I feel just the same. Very many thanks for your continual provision of nostalgia! Lloyd

From memory, it was about 9.18pm from Peterborough North, and eventually arrived in Glasgow about 6.00 to 7.00 am. It would have been on a Friday night/Saturday morning in August, 1962, 3 or 4. The camp was just by the Largs branch, south of the station. It was still operated by standard tanks. Perhaps if there was no buffet (they were always too expensive for us - took our own food) then perhaps all the long station dwell times were to allow troops to refill at the station buffets! Lloyd

I remember one summer, probably about 1962 or 1963, A group of us getting on at Peterborough North to go to a Boys Brigade camp in Largs. Took the train as far as Glasgow (probably Queen Street), then coach to Largs. It was supposed to wait about 10 minutes at Peterborough East, then just 2 minutes for station work at North. They probably expected us ruffians to take a while to board, so did not wait at east that night! Apologies for late reply - just been away for a work week - certainly no holiday. Lloyd

Clive, many thanks for this explanation. So it is in effect a triangle narrowed in one direction by using a scissors crossover. This now makes sense to me. Lloyd

Could someone explain for the benefit of this ignoramous (i.e. me) how a scissors crossing can be used to turn an engine? Lloyd

Are Yes. The over excited photographer. I remember me well. Once got a lovely shot of 60103 in the sixties between North and east stations before it went under the bridge into East Station. Unfortunately I had not noticed the telegraph pole growing out of the chimney. Lloyd

Sorry Lloyd

Gilbert I am glad to hear it, but my experience re a small investment from a legacy some 50 years ago, when I asked for the money back, was not good. At first all I got was the interest, though they claimed that that was all there was. When they did remember to send the original capital a year later, strangely it had not earned any more interest. It rather put me off them. Some solicitors up here are not much better, though. A few years ago a client of mine got a solicitor to draft a letter admitting that they were to blame (fuel oil contamination to a neighbour), and charged £800 for it. After he had discussed it with me, I adjusted the letter explaining why my client was not to blame as accused, which was sent and accepted by the other party! Lloyd

My little experience of Nottingham solicitors is that either they are completely stupid, or very bent. Lloyd

Also there used to be a GP in Mallaig whose name was Dr Duck, with a first name of Donald - and no, Clive, he was not just a quack. I was at one time teaching in Aberdeen with a teacher called Joseph King who did NOT like his first name abbreviated. Lloyd

At Mbuma Hospital in Zimbabwe about thirty years ago, the doctor/surgeon was a Dr Hack. Is that enough to make you get better on your own? Lloyd

Could someone enlighten me as to what a GSMR mast is, please? Lloyd, the ignorant

Re photo along Crescent Bridge, from memory it did drop down quite steeply on the other side, so that photo fairly accurate. Lloyd

Up here we often get a cold spell end of April/beginning of May. As it is lambing time, it is referred to as the lambing snow! Lloyd

Geoff My memories from the late fifties/early sixties are of trains either drawing up or the front of the train stopping well beyond the end of the platform at Huntington. My recollection is that this applied to down trains, and the front of the train was beyond a bridge, but I may be mistaken. Lloyd

At least GW did not name one of their Flower class 'Pansy', though 'Penguin' was probably an ominous name for a passenger loco! Lloyd

my memory is that it was normally about 90 minutes Peterborough to Kings Cross in the early 1960's. First time I came back up the East Coast Main Line on a 125, I got a shock when we were passing Peterborough in 45 minutes! Lloyd