chris p bacon

Digging through the hard drive I found this, hopefully might be of some use to you as it's usually obscured by a DMU etc

For that briefest of moments "Last Tango in Paris" crossed my mind. Brought a tear to my eye...

Many years ago did some booking office work and whenever a blue rinse came to the window and said "Return to Eastbourne" we'd mutter "Really...are you sure about that"

We put more feeders out this time of year so in the past week or so the number of small birds has trebled. We have a feeding station in an area that should be more difficult for predators with lots of cover but yesterday a large female Sparrowhawk found it and although didn't get anything flew up and down it for some time. I have a feeling we'll see her there again in the not too distant future. Lady bacon didn't get a picture as she couldn't find the camera, if only she'd looked in the railway room.....

You must of made 2 phone calls yesterday evening then...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPMKlEwrIs8 Pm sent

Not quite, try posting something positive about Buy & Sell and you'll find where they've gone. Quite abusive email but not brave enough to put their name to them.

Here is the build thread Phil. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/100704-oo-lner-coronation-brass-kit-build-sydnope-scale-models/

I'm working on the basis that as Gismo's not posted he's stalled on the build and I'll overtake him . . . .well I might if it wasn't for those pesky 1700 slates. . or moving the boiler. . .or cutting the doorway .....or the firewall.....or the clean up.. damn....

In response to the glues changing, I do believe they have. I seem to remember talking to the chap who built Gresley Beats buildings that I was having trouble making laminates and he said that it was now the same for him and it was because of a small change in the glues formula. For clear styrene/windows there is "canopy glue" I've only used it a couple of times but seems to work ok. Coming together well

The LNER had a hairdressers and a cinema coach, who's to say they didn't have a pole dancing one ? First class + supplement of course...

Courtesy of Bill Davis (of Bedford) here is a shot of the motorail loading dock at Willington.

Just looks to be a platelayers next to the occupation crossing, I'll post other bits on your thread as I'm dragging it away from Bedford here.

All of the works listed are now housing and the 2 girls schools merged onto the DAH site in Cardington road. The St Johns area is still derelict with the trackbed as it exits Bedford complete with nothing built on it, if East West rail wanted to use it there is nothing preventing it apart from pedestrian diversions and what used to be a bridge then level crossing on Cardington road. 3.53 is a brief shot of St Johns and 4.21 one of Willington. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT1LM38VJT8 Willington is 6.45 and St Johns 7.11

This is actually 1952, but gives an idea of the industry in the area before the big warehouse shops appeared in the late 80's http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw046971 http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw046966 http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw046969

My niece was at HS too, again was horrified at the thought of HS merging with DAH. My time was back in the 70's ....all those years ago.

The area is still open and bleak and the backdrop to the station buildings on the down (Cambridge) platform was St Leonards Avenue https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.1279777,-0.4636227,560m/data=!3m1!1e3 There were some minerals stabled on the chord around to the Midland (don't forget the flat crossing of the Bedford to Hitchin) but they were usually on the Goldington power station trip workings. I've got some pics I'll dig out that show some real grot for the OP to model. As for the girls school in Cardington road, that would be Dame Alice (now Bedford girls with the merger with High School) . . oh the tales to tell there....

But I can't see any Italian flags.

That backscene is far to posh for the St Johns area of Bedford. . . . in fact it's too posh for any of Bedford

Interesting to see you buy Whisky by the boxfull.

That's the trouble with Sat Navs

Thanks Mike, I often wonder if I'm taking too long with something but that's the sort of timescale ity would take me. Of course as you work your way through number 2,3,4,5...etc you'll get quicker......

Looking really good Mike, what sort of time has been expended so far ?

I've looked through my bits and bobs and don't have anything on Willington that you haven't already seen in print. I will ask about locally in the next week or so though. Agree with Steve above, last day of service on the "branch" was 30th Dec 1967, should of been the 31st but it was a Sunday and there was no Sunday service so it effectively ended on the Saturday night. 64 would fit with the withdrawel of goods services although I'm sure that South Mills Blunham lingered on for a short while after with the occasional trip from Sandy as I've seen some piccies taken in late 66/early 67 of some vans in the yard there.

Yeh, another Bedford to Cambridge station ! As can be seen from the link below I am doing Sandy (main interest is the GN), I've been collecting ref material for the line for quite some time and see you've already found some of the printed material, I think there might be another book with something in so I'll have a look on the shelf to see if I'm right, I don't think I have any pictures of Willington in the collection but I'll check later this evening. You can get down to the old yard and see the remaining platform (remnants) if you visit Danish camp, I get to it on the cycleway from Sandy which is the old trackbed. Looking forward to this one