jonny777

Yes, there always seemed to be far more 27s on Eastfield, Haymarket and in Glasgow Works than there were working in the 1970s. I often wondered about the percentage of active locos at any one time.

There ought to be no mystery to lightning and thunder in a snow shower. As I explained earlier, almost all rain in this country (summer and winter) begins its life as ice crystals in the cloud. These will merge to form snowflakes. In simplistic terms, the only determining factor in the snow/rain equation is temperature. Or more precisely, the height of the freezing level above the ground. In general terms this approximates to about 3C per 1000ft, or 1C per 100m. Therefore if your outside temperature is 3C, the freezing level will be 1000ft above you; and if you are at sea level and it is raining any nearby hills rising to 1000ft will have snow on the tops. Any snow falling below 1000ft will encounter a rising temperature and will melt slowly (to rain) as they fall. However, the melting process requires latent heat, and the only medium which can provide this is the surrounding air. Each snowflake which melts into a raindrop cools the air by a tiny amount. If there is a ready supply of external heat (wind off a less cold sea, or large urban area for instance) this cooling will be balanced by that; but if the area is well inland the melting snow as it falls will cause the air temperature to drop. The heavier the snowfall, the greater amount of latent heat required and faster the temperatures will fall, effectively lowering the freezing level towards sea level. As this happens the more snow reaches the ground un-melted, and rain appears to turn to snow.

Hello from a dull, damp and cold Somerset. Rain at present, but heavy rain due to turn to snow (a confusing description, as it all snow when it comes out of the clouds - but simply stops melting before it reaches the ground) this afternoon. We are going to miss the worst of it apparently. That event has been reserved for London & SE England during this evening's rush hour. Expect road travel chaos as 50% of drivers run into each other as they believe a 4x4 means they can still stop from 60mph in 30 feet on slush, and the other 50% just abandon their vehicles and walk home muttering expletives about lack of road gritters.

Well, things are looking a little more promising for a blocked weather pattern in about a weeks time. Although, nothing like 1947 or 1962/3; or even 1978/9 at the moment.

It was the same at our school, until the deputy head force fed me tapioca and kept clamping my mouth shut until I swallowed each spoonful. She seemed well satisfied with her efforts for a few seconds until I projectile vomited over her, and the girl sitting next to me. I escaped the cane, but the 'news' spread round the village like wildfire. My mother was not amused, marched to the school and gave the teachers within earshot both barrels (or so she told me). From that point on I was excused tapioca, and have never had it since.

Hello from a dull and cold Somerset. Thanks for the Lincs update RhBBob; it is always nice to hear from the county of my birth. My brother must be not too far away; he lives in Sibsey. I had never heard of Frankie and Bennie, so I googled it - more US imported 'food' I see. What is wrong with steak & kidney pie? I see they have a section devoted to food allergies/intolerances, but nothing about one of the most restrictive of them all - a cheese/dairy allergy. Oh well, it's not likely to be culinary destination for me: now, where did I put those slices of liver and rashers of bacon?

Hermes are not improving. I was expecting a small packet of various bits and pieces bought online, and the tracking site at midday said "out for delivery by courier". I have sat here almost all afternoon, not more than 10ft from the front door. No courier by 4:15 so I clicked on the tracking page again - and saw "delivered and signed for by customer". What? I haven't signed for anything today. After a few uneasy minutes wondering who might have my parcel by mistake, and what they might have done with it (no card through the letterbox to indicate it was with a neighbour), I decided to take a gander outside (cleverly disguised as bringing in the recycling boxes). What should I find propped up by the wall adjacent to my front door in the pouring rain - my parcel.

In which case I will prepare for 24 hours of cold wind, a few bits of sleet, a report of minus 10C on Ben Nevis, and giant headlines proclaiming that "some parts" of the UK are colder than Moscow; followed immediately by the mildest January weather for 50 years.

Hello from a cloudy but not too damp Somerset. Compared to some folks' nightmare travel day, my trip into town ought to be a doddle. And I can try out my new trainers bought in the sales, reduced from £45 to £15.

Hello from a foggy Somerset. I can barely see the church tower 150 yards away. Eldest son left his external HD here after leaving for Yorkshire, so that has to be parceled up in readiness for a bumpy 24 hours starting tomorrow, courtesy of Royal Mail 24. A few new tropical fish (Hawaiian Red-tail Platy) have been bought and added to the tank, and look to be coping with their new home. Gluten-free lager brew has started to ferment nicely, and so I can sit back and read the Sunday paper.

I use various thick and thin forms of Zap-A-Gap, but have never thought of storage conditions as an issue. I just keep mine in a cupboard at room temperature; although the bottles do tend to lie on their sides which may help prevent drying/clogging of the spouts.

Thanks. I really am going senile, not to have noticed the reply - sorry.

Sadly, the videos have gone already. Maybe only a few hours to see images such as 55238 leaving Oban on 18th May 1960 http://www.ipernity.com/doc/2257080/43822962

A Bristol bound DMU joins the Taunton line at Worle. In the distance on the main line is a 47 with oil tankers.

No need to apologise, as I said I do appreciate the humour. I am sure that us English southern jessies couldn't cope too well with -27C. However, my question of how the pipes are kept unfrozen when the 10 day maximum is -6C still stands.

I do have a sense of humour - but I was asking a serious (for me) question. I could be pedantic and state that the lowest (deg F) temp recorded in Scotland was (one night in the last 100 years - and for less than hour) -17 F

As a naive Brit who may only experience that forecast for the UK once in a lifetime - how do you stop water pipes from freezing up?

Continuing the theme; here is a Duchess followed by 10201&2 on named WCML trains c1960/1. http://www.ipernity.com/doc/2257080/44110602

I read with sadness that Ipernity might close through lack of funding; which is a shame because it is not as private-info-and-copyright-grabbing as the US server companies. I use it for sharing (with a few friends) colour images from the 1950s, of uncertain copyright although I have purchased the copies over the years. As the site may be taken down within weeks and I have found it possible to upload short video clips from obscure vhs tapes bought decades ago; I may as well share with a wider audience. This link ought to take you to a 40sec clip of 70021 leaving Penzance c1955/6. http://www.ipernity.com/doc/2257080/44109956

Hello from a chilly but not frosty Somerset. I know just what you mean Neil. My eldest turned 37 just before Christmas... in 3 years time he will be 40

You are right. Thanks very much to you both.

Can anyone recognise this location? Given the locos, my guesses would be Woodford or Annesley - but it could well be elsewhere.

Go for a ride?

Hello from a sunny but very frosty Somerset. Bird breakfast put out. Ice broken on their watery bowls and the pond. I also read about brain problems for those living near busy roads, and wondered if living close to the M4 in Berkshire for 30 years has contributed to my brother-in-law's motor neurone disease? Christmas decorations due to come down later.

Good morning from a very cold house. Some idiot (aka me) moved a box against the wall in the utility room yesterday evening which (unbeknown to me) accidentally pressed the switch to the central heating boiler. Result, no early morning heat until I discovered what I had done. Living room temp was down to 11C. Brrrrr.....