KeithMacdonald

Part 5

Part 3?

Apart from the dragons?

I refer my honourable colleagues to the last big Modelling Police incident. It is now legendary, and spoken of in hushed tones of awe and reverence.

Evenin' all. We have been contacted by the Elucidated Brethren of the Order of the Rivet, who demanded to know if Mr Parker is assisting us with our enquiries into a possible breach of Modelling Rules. We would like to reassure all members of the modelling public that Rule One is still in force. Rule One = there are no rules. Although we still wish to interview @Ducking Giraffe about reports of "tracing" and unlicenced use of depleted uranium. Mind how you go.

In my old folks home, it's dog walking and cross-country running. Plenty of us are 70+ and active members of the local running club. 😀 🏃‍♂️ 🐕‍🦺

The Railway Convalescent Homes Charity has announced that its last property, Bridge House, Dawlish, Devon is now closed. Sad for anyone that was working there, but maybe in a way a good thing? Presumably that's because railways now are cleaner, healthier and less dangerous places to work? 55+ years ago, me and my teenage mates used to cycle past there regularly, and back then it was a busy place, with lots of residents and visitors. Completely by coincidence, I found that a namesake, Isabella MacDonald, was working there, way back in 1911 as a parlour maid. How and why is another story, as Isobella was born in Brodie, Morayshire, in 1893.

Is that pork scratchings on the table?

It's amazing the things you can find in genuine family records. Father unnamed for some strange reason? https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV35-MMPH

With a Nigel Mansell moustache?

Ah yes, it makes sense now, it's not the usual view of Torrington station is it? That bridge in the background is a good reference point. Here's a picture from the other side of that bridge, with those sidings visible on the left.

Good question. Any clues about the date? Given it's "31159" and where it was allocated... https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=D&id=5577&loco=5577 ... it's either a long way from home, or perhaps those four tracks might be nowhere near North Devon?

Oh Pooh, what have you done? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68510904 If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a nasty surprise. Best not ask what happens to Piglet. Bacon sandwich anyone?

It was for an Orient Express from Victoria, due to go through the Chunnel, but they were worried by the reports of leaks in the tunnel.

What's the problem? They've all got flat caps on.

No, no, that's a Rugby Special, taking the Scottish supporters down to Twickenham. That's the supply of Tennent's Lager for the trip.

So says https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/mental-wellness-index-uk-miserable-nation/ I'm really miserable that we were beaten to first place by Uzbekistan in the overall rankings. But we're top of the "% distressed/struggling". Huzzah! Britain still leads the world in some things! Original source = https://mentalstateoftheworld.report/2023_read/ I identify as Marvin “The first ten million years were the worst, and the second ten million years, they were the worst too. The third ten million years I didn't enjoy at all. After that I went into a bit of a decline.” Marvin is obviously British. Perhaps even Scottish? Who knows? (we're all doomed anyway).

@slow8dirty - great detective work! From class37.co.uk, a screengrab of the relevant trips. Ref : https://www.class37.co.uk/fleet.aspx?strnumber=37175 Just wondering, if it only worked as far as Barnstaple, where did the clay originally come from? Was it Marland or Meeth clay? I thought that the line from Meeth and Marland carried ball clay, but not passengers, until 1982, five years before these events.

What's our position, Spock? Extremely uncomfortable, Captain.

Yeah .. that's what he said last time we caught him flashing at the neighbours.

Quite right! Given the size of the man, I'd be surprised if you could get more than 60 inside the boiler of this thing.

Thanks to Geoff Marshall for the video.