Oldddudders

9 minutes ago, gwrrob said:

 

You would have been fine as the show is well spread out on one level not like GETS at all. Enjoyed the mixed modelling idea and my only criticism is the long walk from the station bearing in mind the older demographic of our hobby. Certainly be going back next year. Really pleased for Pete and the Railnuts getting the record and being featured on the Midlands news, I'm sure this boosted the attendance.

Sherry in Torquay had seen a news item w Pete Waterman (so not just Midlands news) - her comment was "We should go!" As she doesn't walk v well I may have to manage her expectations....

30 minutes ago, Gilbert said:

My photos are here..

as always disorganised and so far uncaptionned but it gives a flavour..

Chris H

Thanks for this. Having failed to attend again this year, it is lovely to see what the members brung. And I certainly recognised several of the layouts. So glad the day was another Gunstone & Co success. 

Wonderful! Wonderful! - Johnny Mathis

And before Zero 1 there was Astrac, developed by General Electric. I think C J Freezer did an exposé on it in the early '60s in RM. 

I suggest a good look at what happens here. 

Goodbye Jungle Telegraph - Brian Auger

29 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Nice!  I have a Thorens

I bought a Thorens TD150AB in 1968. Served me well, but I always longed for a better tone-arm. The SME3009 was the choice for those who could afford it, with a Shure V15/2 cartridge. I offer no evidence I would have noticed the difference in output!

A gay friend used to do a stand-up comedian routine at a pub on the Marston Vale. This went well until the night he announced "Tonight there is a birthday behind the bar", whereupon the two bar staff looked at each other and shook their heads. "One of the pork pies is 5 years old today!" And that was that for his booking.....

In the late '60s, early '70s, I would drink in the Sussex Oak at Warnham, but only if taken by a mate in his car, of whom there were two such. I had no taste for bitter at that stage, but it was evident that the brewery, Brickwoods, had a penchant for variable quality, from things the mates said. Don Cooper, the landlord, certainly knew what he was doing in the cellar, they said. Brickwoods were taken over by Whitbread, and, anecdotally, introduced all sorts of demon tech devices - like thermometers. While the Brickwoods product was now called Whitbread Trophy, it became absolutely predictable, I was told. 

Do I recall an article in Trains mag something over 20 years ago, in which they pictured a 160, I think on the K&WVR, captioned "Alco? Baldwin? Lima? Yes!" or something like that. They had found the loco to include parts from all three builders. Inevitably each builder will have used his own techniques and methods of construction, outside-supplier parts etc. so the locos will have had detail differences for that reason alone. 

This morning, and for the next three mornings, I am required by my Rheumatologist to drink 5 glasses of water, over and above my usual fluid intake. Tuesday, late morning, Nurse Corinne will attend chez moi to give me my annual infusion of Zoladronic acid, which takes about 20 minutes.

My drink of choice these days is Chardonnay, whether in France or the UK. The bitter that I enjoyed for decades, as did late first wife Deb, now seems to go down more slowly than before. Being 75 does have its downsides!

1 minute ago, Hroth said:

 

Her brother must have been friends with Terry Scotts brother....

 

"'Ere - what 'ave you 'ad in your 'and? 'Ave you really? Urrgh!"

Desert Dream - Tangerine Dream

3 minutes ago, Hroth said:

Only in the equivalent of a tupperware* box please!  Wouldn't want the sockiness to spread to edible items...

Indistinguishable from certain cheeses, however....

1 minute ago, skipepsi said:

Er NO!

Now come on Mick - is there something you have been frightened to tell us?

14 minutes ago, polybear said:

Bear keeps his commercial quality Bread in the fridge

Unusual. A few decades ago, I recall a London Underground car-card ad campaign by a firm offering office air-con kit. They had a cartoon character called Mr Cool or similar. One of his lines was "I keep my socks in the fridge!" Perhaps we should have a fridge-content confessional on here?

Some more Bulleids would be nice, and Dia 2406 in particular. There were 3 times as many 2406s as 2405s, which they have already tooled. And each had a quite separate purpose, 2406s being "loose" vehicles, while 2405s were formed into two-sets 63-75 with a BTK, Dia 2123. These vehicles were predominately used on WoE services, both local and to Waterloo. 

ISTR Scotland/Scotrail mandated retention toilets some time back. 

10 minutes ago, DenysW said:

Tesco. Along with Tavel rose.

 

The shame is that the Brits seem to reject demi-sec, which generally has a better flavour.

Couldn't find it on Tesco online store. Brut v demi-sec is entirely a matter of taste. But on the odd occasion I bought demi-sec in error it was a matter for regret, so I am a true Brit.

In my mother's youth there was a joke about the impossibility of abolishing the Second Chamber (i.e. House of Lords) because of the number of Liberal peers.....

4 minutes ago, Mike_Walker said:

Since the pandemic and the cancelling of all the franchise agreements and their replacement by management contracts, the operators are paid directly by the government in the form of their costs plus margin which is a puny 2%.  Which is why it's proving almost impossible to attract bidders when contracts come up for renewal.  Would you want to run a business for such tiny return?

No doubt this gloomy environment is affecting all the TOCs. I became aware a few weeks back (from a member of  XC traincrew at Plymouth) that my former colleague Tom Joyner had quit as XC MD. When people like him - as former traincrew - jump ship it's probably holed below the waterline. 

A late friend feigned never to recall pub names, and would always identify such as "The Old Boot & Socks". Imagine his delight when he found a wine-bar near London Bridge called "The Boot & Flogger". 

1 hour ago, Dave Hunt said:

I normally drink Prosecco rather than Champagne but if someone presents me with a bottle of the latter it seems churlish not to get stuck in.

Sound thinking. Prosecco tends to be a bit less alcoholic than champoo, typically 10.5% rather than 12.5%, and is certainly more affordable. I buy sparkling Saumur, costing about £3.60 in my local Lidl, which is made by the same methode traditionelle as champoo, and has the same % alcohol. I think it has more depth to the taste than Prosecco. I have never seen sparkling Saumur on sale in UK supermarkets. 

30 minutes ago, Steadfast said:

Talking with a friend we reckon Newey is Aston bound, and possibly what has kept Fernando there for the future? It's known Daddy Stroll made Adrian a big bucks offer at one of the earlier rounds.

I suspect money is not the big draw for someone with such a history of success and thus £ reward. He will be more influenced by the best offer of facilities and investment in the ultra-high-tech kit needed to succeed. We know, for example, that Williams has been under-investing for years, may now be catching up. He would be unlikely to choose such a team, despite his scope to take them further up the grid. 

On 19/04/2024 at 22:14, GrumpyPenguin said:

Nobody does "ugly" like the North Americans !

Google "Coffin feedwater heater" images.