DavidBelcher

I'm back on RMWeb after a long break caused by work and sporting commitments! I've severely trimmed back the ex-LNER contingent in my stock collection, impressed with your A2/1 though. I've a hunch "Rothesay" might have been the only member of the sub-class to sport a 6-wheel tender bearing any sort of BR identity.... David

Well, the theme from The Persuaders was a John Barry effort, no less - enough said. Sticking with ITC, at home I've got The Wedding Present's Hit Parade compilation on CD, featuring a rather fun cover of the UFO theme. As regards my own current listening, dusted off the second Young Knives album and gave it a spin last night. Provided you live in a detached house with double glazing and don't own any particularly timid pets, playing I Can Hardly See Them off said album with the volume cranked up is particularly satisfying/recommended. David

In the 30s there was of course a lot of it (streamlining) about; the other class that springs to mind as following the bulbous trend is SNCB's streamlined 4-4-2s; http://freddo.110mb.com/trains/belgian.html Note the huge deflector plates! The de Glehns on the GWR - having had one dismantled to study the finer details at close quarters, Churchward allegedly described them as "watchmakers' work" such was the mechanical intricacy! David

Wonder if they were influenced by the LMS? 20-odd years earlier, smokebox access on the streamlined Coronations was by a very similar arrangement. David

Thanks for that photo of the SR coach - the LMS diner I used to own seems to have been of similar vintage; underframe detail and the peculiar rectangular buffers are almost identical. David

Raven was something of an innovator, and as well as main line electrification the NER's embryonic cab signalling system would probably also have become more widespread if he'd been made CME at the Grouping. David

Patient: Good morning, doctor. Has there been any news about my test results? Doctor: I'm afraid not. You may find this a little hard to believe, but the lab were unable to process your specimens as they were stolen the other day by a monkey that escaped from the zoo down the road. Yes, that's right - a monkey. Patient: Macaque? Doctor: No, just the blood and urine samples, apparently. I'll get me coat. David

Back To The Old House - The Smiths David

So It Goes - The Verve David

Sheffield: Sex City - Pulp David

Stay Where You Are - Delays David

Stay Together - Suede David

Over Rising - The Charlatans David

Fallen Angel - Elbow David

First Of The Gang To Die - Morrissey David