DaveF

Switzerland again this morning, this time at Emmenbrücke just north of Luzern. It is the junction for the Seetalbahn which runs partly along the road to Lenzburg while the main line goes to Olten and beyond. If you go there today you will find it looks very different, the junction to the Seetalbahn has moved and a completley new stretch of line built to link to the old route. The stripes on the loco and coach in the first photo are to improve visibilty on the section where the railway runs along the road. Emmenbrucke De4/4 1662 Lenzburg to Luzern 3rd August 1988 C10074 Emmenbrucke Ee3/3 16410 3rd August 1988 C10076 Emmenbrucke Re4/4ii 11119 Luzern to Olten 3rd August 1988 C10079 Emmenbrucke Ae3/6i 10685 freight 3rd August 1988 C10080 Emmenbrucke station on right 3rd August 1988 C10083 David

In the end I went out this morning to a different garden centre where I enjoyed coffee and a cheese scone again along with the usual free biscuit. I bought some sweet pea plants as I feel it is unlikely that I can sensibly get the compost sorted out to sow my own seeds. If I change my mind in a few days I will simply end up with a few extra plants, no bad thing. I also found a couple of paperbacks jumped into the trolley as I walked past, I am sure I didn't see them until I got to the checkout. I managed to avoid a queue at the nearby roundabout as all the traffic was queueing in the right hand lane but the left hand lane is also marked for the direction they and I were l going in so I used it. It meant I got past about 12 cars in one go. Since I got home I have been working on a model, reading, doing a crossword and some gardening. The soil is far to wet to stand on and I can't bend or get down too easily so I used a long handled grabber to remove a lot of weeds while I stood on the path. It worked well and my scar didn't hurt doing it. I must remember that for the future. It's remained sunny all day, out of the wind it was just warm enough to sit on the garden bench while wearing my fleece. David

Photos from trips to Scotland in 1973 and 1974 taken at Craigendoran. Craigendoran Junction Class 101 Glasgow QS to Oban Aug 73 J3331 Craigendoran Junction Class 101 Glasgow QS to Oban Aug 73 J3332 Craigendoran Class 303 043 Helensburgh to Airdrie Aug 73 J3333 Craigendoran bridge over A814 July 74 J3856 Craigendoran Junction Class 20 up freight July 74 J3857 Craigendoran Junction Class 20 up freight on extreme left July 74 J3858 David

A fine sunny morning with just enough clouds to the south tpo hide the sun from time to time. The breeze is strong from the northwest and it does not feel very warm. Late yesterday evening I had some very sad news, a friend at church who was one of our lay readers has died. I saw her at the beginning of February and she was her normal cheerful self. Apparently a couple of weeks ago she developed problems eating and was taken into hospital at the weekend and died a couple of days ago. They found she had cancer, she hadn't known. I've known her for many years, she used to play bridge with Mum and gave me help after Mum died. She will be greatly missed. I am hoping to start going to church again from Sunday now I can move about reasonably comfortably, it will feel very different without her there. As it is sunny I may go out this morning or I might just stay at home and enjoy sitting quietly on a bright day. For once I don't seem to have anything which needs doing urgently. David

Railways without trains in North Wales on the Cambrian and LNWR line to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Barmouth view to viaduct from Llyngwril 26th July 01 C25433 Talybont view north 26th July 02 C26026 Talybont view south 26th July 02 C26027 Dolwyddelan 19th April 86 C7468 Roman Bridge 23rd July 2002 C26010 David

I spent what was left of the morning drinking coffee and tidying up my PC. After lunch I did a bit of shopping and then went to the beach for a walk. If anything there is less sand and more stones. The council are discussing what to do about the big drop from the prom to the beach - over 12' in places. By the time they decide the sand will probably have come back. Then I had alook at the Quayside where two ships were moored, a freighter and a support ship across the river. I only had my phone with me for photos and it was dull again. Once I got back home I sat down and realised that for the first time in ages I haven't needed an afternoon rest which is progress. I don't think I need to say what I'll do this evening, it doesn't change much. Horizon Enabler Ruyter bound for Terneuzen David

KIrkby Stephen on the Settle and Carlisle in the 1990s. Kirkby Stephen BR Class 4MT 80080 Carlisle to Kirkby Stephen 22nd Feb 93 C18290 A driver training week but trains were available for public use on a turn up and buy a ticket basis. Kirkby Stephen 29th Aug 96 C21393 Kirkby Stephen 142093 and 156471 Leeds to Carlisle 10th April 97 C21772 Kirkby Stephen 142093 and 156471 Leeds to Carlisle 10th April 97 C21773 Kirkby Stephen 156483 Leeds to Carlisle 15th April 99 C24306 David

A short time ago I recevied an email from a company saying they were going to charge me for a subscription to Nero which I have on my PC and use from time to time. I didn't recognise the company name so had a good think. In the end I logged into my copy of Nero and found that the subscription is due and that the charge is being made by the correct company, I had managed to forget that Nero sales are though another company if you are in the UK. I am quite glad I checked and didn't just assume it was spam.. David

Central Halls Westminster around 1954/5 with Mum & Dad, I'd have been 5 or 6 years old. A J69 Dad had built was on display in a showcase of his local club's models. By the standards of the day it was quite a nice model. I can just remember it - or to be more eaxct what seemed like a very long train journey from Nottingham and seeing layouts which were beyond my wildest dreams - at the time I had a train set plus two sidings on a board in my bedroom. Sometimes I was allowed to run Dad's layout in the spare room. David

As most of you know for the last 5 weeks I have been recuperating after a hernia repair. I was signed off on Monday evening by the consultant who told me I am making very good progress but have to be careful (no digging or moving furniture etc) for another three months. Obviously I have been doing some railway modelling as well as gradually uilding up the amount of exercise I do i.e. walking. As the consultant said it takes longer to recover when you are 74. I don't like daytime TV and eventually I get fed up of sitting reading so started to look properly at YouTube which I've never really bothered with in the past. So I've been having a lot of cab rides, mainly around Switzerland and Austria and a bit of Germany and France revisiting lines I've either ridden on or taken photos from the lineside. It has been a revelation to me as to just how many railway videos there are, some clearly professionl, others (very) amatuer. Last night I found a UK ride on the Blyth and Tyne from Benton Junction (was Benton Quarry Junction) along the Blyth and Tyne to Morpeth which was enjoyable, especially as it was filmed before the work started to reopen the line to Ashington to passenger traffic. The passenger trains will turn off from the section filmed at Bedlington North for Ashington, the line from there to Morpeth will remain freight only. David

I went to bed early last night and was asleep before11. I think I heard my heating come on at 7.30 this morning but didn't properly wake until 9. That makes around 10 hours sleep, I must have been tired. I'm not going to do much today, I feel very lethargic. It was raining when I finally woke, it has now stopped but is dull and cool, another reason for not doing much. I may have a short walk sometime if it fines up a bit more. Apart from that that I will continue reading, watching vidoes on DVD and You Tube and making something just as I seem to have been doing for ages. I too have noticed how slow RMWeb can be at times, in particular Early Risers. It seems not to load within a few minutes of someone posting or when I am in a hurry. As for Gwiwer's temporary lights. As I've mentioned before my town has a population of around 40,000 and has three roads in and out. The road due south along the coast is OK, but when you head inland from the next place south there are various speed limits and sometimes lights at a building site. The road heading inland from the north side of town has had lights on and off for months, this week they have gone away. It is a busy road so there are often traffic queues. The final road inland from the south side of town has problems. There are two roads leading to it, both have temporary traffic lights. One has 2 sets, the other has one long set where they are building the new station and roundabout. Where the two roads merge to make the one road actually leaving town they are building another roundabout for the station, on Tuesday there were no lights, just a narrow bit of road and a temporary 30 limit. The limit changes frequently, it can be 30, 40 or 50 so no one really knows what they should be doing. Then there are the roadworks which have closed the main route for 50% of the buses leaving the bus station. It closed in October to all traffic, some buses can use it now, cars will be able to use it one day sometime in the distant future. This is to make the road narrower, have less parking, move a taxi rank and put in a cycle path and "amenity areas". It seems to have escaped the council's notice that there will soon be no one visiting the place as shops keep closing. Meanwhile the market place is fenced off so a new "culture hub" can be built. The shopping centre which closed last month is to be demolished and a new "innovtaion, education and Energy Central Institute" built. There are problems with this as it has been found that some of the older buildings next to it which were to come down are listed, apparently "no one knew". David

The Sittingbourne and Kemsley as preserved in 1975 and 1979 this morning. Sittingbourne Bagnall Superb running round May 75 C2095 Sittingbourne Bagnall Triumph 23rd April 77 C3312 Sittingbourne Bagnall Triumph crossing Milton Creek viaduct May 77 J5711 Kemsley Down SKLR Bagnall Superb May 75 C2099 Kemsley Down SKLR Kerr Stuart Premier May 75 C2101 Kemsley Down Ruston and Hornsby 0-4-0DS Edward Lloyd May 75 C2104 Kemsley Down Bagnall Triumph Oct 79 C4855 David

As expected I haven't achieved very much so far today. I have printed off some documents from e mails so they can be put in my car file for quick reference and I can make notes on them if I need to. I have also booked the car in for its paintwork/alloy wheels/tyre checks due next month. One alloy wheel needs some work as I found a pothole a little while ago though the damage is only cosmetic. In some ways I would prefer steel wheels. Since the garage has been taken over by a large group what used to be a 2 minute phone call to the service department has become much more convoluted and time consuming as you have to go through their central bookings system. I had an e mail about church things so I now have dates for the services when I am doing things for the next few months which is useful. I will be doing more than in the past. The rain finally stopped after lunch so I had a quick walk, as it is very damp I ached so it was not as enjoyable as usual. I've also done a bit of work on a model and found a mistake in the instructions, fortunately before I had attached the wrong bits. I've done a lot of thinking about things I might or could do but have decided none of them can be done now, everything needs a little more mobility and lifting ability than I have right now. What a pity, I'll just have to continue doing only things I enjoy for now. Just for fun I asked Windows copilot for pictures of Midland Railway locomotives. It didn't find any but suggests I visit the NRM. Next is tea and so on. David

I think it was used to fill in the quarries. Its main use is in manufacture of concrete but t does have some other uses. David

Photos taken at Otterington on the ECML south of Northallerton in May 1966. The station had closed in 1958 (passengers), 1964 (freight).. Otterington Class 40 Newcastle to Kings X May 66 J492 Otterington Class 45 Liverpool to Newcastle May 66 J493 Otterington WD 90011 down iron ore May 66 J494 Otterington Class 47 15.00 Newcastle to Kings X May 66 J498 Otterington Class 37 up hauling Class 08 May 66 J499 David

I think my "get up and go" got up very early this morning and has left the house without me. I woke about 04.30 for a call of nature and could hear some birds singing, it was nowhere near dawn. So far today I have done a few jobs and have been sorting out more paperwork, this time making sure that all the car documents are in one place. I found a couple need printing off for safe keeping, including the service plan details. There is a pile of unwanted stuff to be put in the bin after I have checked how much of it needs shredding. It's dull and rainy so I won't be going far until it dries up, after the last two days of being quite busy I feel very tired so a day of rest will do me good. As it wet I also ache and bits around the scar are sore. I haven't though much about what I will on this "rest" day but I do have some phone calls to make concerning my funeral plan - to finish setting it up, church things and so on. David

Photos on the Midland this morning at Kegworth, between Trent and Loughborough. Kegworth Class 44 up coal Jan 70 J2046 Kegworth Class 46 D165 up Jan 70 J2047 Kegworth Class 45 up fly ash Nov 77 J5858 Kegworth 45144 up Feb 83 C5936 Kegworth 47475 up l e Aug 83 C6150 David

It is the same when I go down to my local harbour, there is a limited range of likely ships, mainly support ships, Arklow ships, A2B ships and so on. Even the other ships such as small tankers, cement carriers etc repeat regularly. David

I visited one of the local garden centres this morning for coffee, the first time since before Christmas. It was enjoyable, I don't think I've ever had such a strong cappucino, twice the usual amount of coffee grounds must have been used, it was very good. Then I had a walk round and found a couple of cheap books. No plants as I cannot do "real" gardening for some time to come. Going I went the "easy" way which has two sets of temporary traffic lights. I came back the "hard" way which only has one set of temporary lights, they are no longer three way so it is a bit easier but still slower overall. I will be very pleased when the roundabouts and the new bridge over the railway by the new station are finished and the level crossing closed. I also found out that the temporary speed limits have been changed yet again. Fortunately there are no speed cameras as no one seems to know how fast to go. It was warm enough to be outside and have a good chat with a couple of neighbours after lunch. I also put weedkiller on some dandelions as I cannot dig them out at the moment. When I came back in I did a crossword. Next will be something simple for tea then TV, book and so on. So continues my (not) exciting life, it is quite pleasant much of the time.

Black and white days at Grantham. Looking at them I think they were probably taken on Ilford HP3 film or the equivalent as they are rather grainy. Grantham down pullman car Lucille and Gresley coach c1951 JVol1172 Grantham J6 down pass c1951 JVol5121 Grantham Loco A3 60110 Robert the Devil c1950 JVol3266 Grantham North A1 60130 Kestrel down ex pass c1951 JVol4141 The white triangular areas top and bottom left are simply there because the print was quite badly damaged at some time and it had been trimmed by Dad. Grantham North A1 down ex pass c1951 JVol4131 David

Continuing from seeing the consultant yesterday evening I found an e mail from his secretary in my inbox at 06.50 this morning with a copy of the letter he has sent to my GP - basically saying I am doing well and that I am now handed back to my GP. I think that is incredibly efficient. I've also had a visit just after 09.00 from Age Co's area manager to check how things are going with the housework they do for me, I have his own number to contact him direct if I ever have any problems with the service. We had a good chat. The groceries came at about 08.30 and are now safely put away. There were subs, one was that raspberries were replaced by strawberies so I was slightly surprised to receive a box of raspberries and no strawberries. I also have twice as many shredded wheat as I ordered. I don't have much planned today, I feel tired after the visit to the hospital yesterday evening and I didn't sleep too well. I may just go out for a coffee somewhere as a small treat. Yesterday evening I had another virtual trip to Switzerland, this time travelling from Spiez to Zweisimmen, a trip I've done two or three times for real. Zweisimmen has changed a bit since I was last there. David

Having posted something in the wrong place RMWeb requires me to put something here, so here are a few extra random photos. First an 0 gauge loco on my model railway. I know the "deliberate" mistakes! Then some at Butterwell Junction and Ulgham Lane crossing north of Morpeth on the ECML. Passenger train at Oxton Butterwell Junction 91114 Durham Cathedral down ex pass 27th August 2013 DSC_1129 Ulgham Lane Crossing DBS Class 66 66221 up coal 27th August 2013 DSC_1139 Ulgham Lane Crossing DCR Class 56 56301 down coal 27th August 2013 DSC_1142 David

Photos at Damdykes just south of Cramlington on the ECML in Northumberland for this morning. Damdykes Class 101 Morpeth to Newcastle Dec 81 C5608 Damdykes 2 Class 43s passing Aug 83 C6309 Damdykes 47839 Dorset Scot Aberdeen to Poole 10.37 3rd Nov 90 C15487 Damdykes Class 142 Morpeth to Newcastle 10.50 3rd Nov 90 C15490 Damdykes Class 143 Morpeth to Newcastle 10.57 9th Feb 91 C15574 David

It is captioned as a down train alomst certainly heading towards March - of course when it gets on to the Nottingham to Grantham line at Netherfield it becomes and up train. David

After I wrote my earlier post I set off for the hospital in Newcastle, allowing plenty of time for the journey as I wanted to get there just before 5.30. Of course there was no traffic, not even all that much coming out of Newcastle so I was there by 5.10pm for my 6pm appointment. Fortunately there was a space in the car park, free as it is a Nuffield Hospital. It is quite a long walk to the consulting rooms, then I was quickly signed in, told to help myself to tea or coffee and sat down on a comfy sofa. I had taken one of Simenon's Maigret novels with me so the time passed quickly until I was seen. The consultant was a bit surprised at how well the incision has healed leaving a reasonably smooth scar after only four weeks. Then he checked that the hernia really has gone. It should be fully healed in a further 3 months, meanwhile I have to be sensible, no digging the garden or moving furniture etc and if something makes it hurt then stop. The occasional burning sensation will continue until healing is complete. I am very pleased. The journey back was very easy with hardly any traffic, I can now relax. David