10800

Looking forward to seeing it immensely - along with many others I'm sure. Hope your dad doesn't overcommit - better to have fewer upgrades and additions that allow you to rest a bit and enjoy the exhibition than to have more but leaving you totally exhausted.

Could be, but it would have been early September as I was working in Scotland in July and August. I didn't travel on it though, apologies if I gave that impression.

Probably going flat out preparing for Scaleforum Dave.

On the subject of HSTs (sorry for butting in Darren) I took this of prototype 252001 on the blocks at Paddington during a period of my life when I was more interested in other things, such that I have no date for this. I was on my way to see a friend in Hereford and it was probably summer 1976. You experts may be able to date it closer than I can, but it's all very frustrating! I know I went to a performance of Monteverdi's Vespers in Hereford Cathedral a couple of days after this but so far I've had no success in pinning that date down!

And one day this working will be represented in model form crossing the viaduct!

I like starlings - loads of character, beautiful plumage (now where have I heard that phrase before <g>). Can't believe they are classified as endangered now in some areas. I've never yet seen the evening mass displays, keep meaning to go up to the Somerset Levels some time to do that. Here's one that posed for me at St Ives a few years ago.

Fair point, I was really only referring to objectors actually on the route.

I'm sure we are retracing old ground now, but HS1 was upsetting a lot of people at the equivalent stage in its planning. Many of them probably now travel on the Javelins to London frequently. And yes we are an overcrowded island, isn't that precisely why higher capacity ground transportation infrastructure is needed? No doubt the thousands of people turfed unceremoniously out of their homes in the urban railway construction of the mid-19th century were also a tad miffed, and with no compensation or safety net either. For the objectors, I suspect that engagement and negotiation to get the best compensation/mitigation for themselves would now be preferable to continuing to object on principle.

Having just enjoyed a holiday in the Languedoc near Ollargues, I became conscious of the former railway line between Mazamet and Bedarieux which is now a 'voie verte' used for walking and cycling. Apart from finding out it closed to passengers in 1972 and freight in the late 80s, can anyone suggest any books or other sources of historical information on the line (doesn't matter if in French). The former station in Ollargues, now a garage and post office: The iron bridge at Ollargues built by Eiffel: Ornate protective fences at culverts now replaced by 'safer' substitutes: Station at La Trivalle, now a tourist information office: Bridge at Lamalou-les-Bains. Even the Ouse Valley Viaduct hasn't got any of these!

Doesn't have to be rare to be ringed John - any bird caught in organised nets will be ringed simply as part of long term research and monitoring of ages, migration patterns etc.

I wondered (briefly) whether an indicator at the crossing displaying how far away (distance and/or time) the train was might be helpful to reduce frustration, such as they have countdowns for traffic crossing lights in some places in Europe; but then it would only probably encourage the muppets to chance it even more ('45 seconds - no problem, go for it'). Turn the engine off, chill out, open the window for some fresh air, 10 minutes won't kill you but the alternative might.

Two gannets dive feeding about 200m off the beach at Teignmouth the other day. First time I've ever seen any here. Not sure where they may have come from, I know there's a colony on the Cherbourg peninsula but do they nest/roost anywhere in south Devon/Cornwall?

Lovely - you're in the right (only?) part of the country for swallowtails, lucky you to get so close.

And also David Gould's Oakwood Press books on Maunsell and Bulleid coaches. The Maunsell one is linked under the Amazon description of Mike King's book.

As the saying goes, "I was wondering how long it would take you to notice that"! Yes I did have an uneasy feeling because of that, so maybe it is an ECS. Sunday I might see if I can research my WTTs and CWNs to clarify. Application of headcode discs can't have been that haphazard ...

For the Ivatt tank at Victoria on a Tonbridge train above I wonder again about the headcode, which as it stands seems to be incorrect. Adding another disc to the left side of the smokebox door would make it a Victoria-Oxted-Hever-Tunbridge Wells West service which would make sense, and which could well have continued through to Tonbridge. The Maunsell Restriction 1 coach set 185 (BTK-TK-CK-BTK) would be most used on the Central Section and could get through the tunnel between Tunbridge Wells West and Central (Restriction 1 - 8ft 6in wide, but not as narrow as the Restriction 0 8ft 0in coaches for the Hastings line).

A few years ago while on holiday in Norfolk I came across this Mediterranean Gull entirely by chance on the prom at Sheringham, quite happy chilling out with his BHG cousins.

Oo, nice pied flycatcher!

Fascinating photo of the Leader bogie - has Kevin Robertson seen it I wonder? And some casual application of headcodes on the Lewes photos I suspect. The U1 code is correct - this would probably be one of the morning heavy duties which picked up a portion from Eastbourne at Eridge or from Tunbridge Wells West at Ashurst. Needed a powerful locomotive to keep to schedule (either a U1 or Light Pacific). The Fairburn is most likely a London train via East Grinstead and Oxted but is missing a third disc at left (Victoria) or right (London Bridge) end of the buffer beam. The L with the Birdcage set I think is a Tonbridge train via Eridge, with a redundant disc at the top of the smokebox.

Yes it is a 3-SUB (?1496). The headcode denotes a service from Guildford via Cobham. (Sorry Clive you already got there!)

Interesting to see the LMS twin 10001 at Brighton. I'd read that they were sometimes maintained there instead of Eastleigh while on the Southern, but never seen any photos to confirm. So maybe they did go on running-in turns up the Oxted line or even the main line at night.

John, I'd forgotten how many buildings there were! In view of their historical value and the amount of work that might be needed to bring them up to modern scratch I wonder if - for some of them at least - it would be just as easy to conserve them as historical artifacts and build completely new replacements. Something to consider in due course when we have another 'survey'.