chrisf

A certain train company would be the first to agree ... Chris

Good morning one and all It's Friday and almost time to do the fodder run. At some time in the process inspiration will strike as to what I shall have for Sunday lunch. The list of stock items that are about to run out is longer than it should be and probably incomplete, if that makes sense. It ought to include something to put in sandwiches for tomorrow but for once I will take a chance on what the Biggleswade show has to offer. I managed to reach my contact at the body shop yesterday and it's looking like they can bring my car back here once all is ready. We are now looking at next week assuming the replacement piece of plastic trim arrives safely from Germany. An electrical fault has now been discovered. That, I suspect, would be the annoying beep which the car insists on emitting when it thinks I am getting too close to something that I am about to hit. Clearly it does not work on animals in the road. The skip outside next door but one now has some dining room chairs in it. As they look better than mine I am sorely tempted to do a swap under cover of darkness but he is a miserable expletiveofyourchoice and I suspect that it is not worth the potential hassle. I am mildly curious to find out what else will end up in it and whence it will come but at the same time I wish it gone as it is stuffing up the car parking more than somewhat. On the radio I hear that Tony Blair is asking us to rise up and change our minds about Brexit. Good luck with that. Warm thoughts to all, particularly those deserving of them for myriad reasons. Chris

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The GEC sets are the compartment ones built by the LMS in the 1920s. Terry Tew has cut and shut one for his Earls Court layout. Chris

I hate to spoil a good joke but the injured automobile is actually a Volkswagen Polo. Have I not mentioned this before? Chris

Good morning one and all Area Group caused a few problems yesterday. More specifically, it was the discovery that our chosen venue had closed its doors four days previously with little prior warning and, as yet, no mention on the website. We managed to find somewhere suitable and to notify members. Fortunately my friend the organiser is adept at making the most of mobile phone technology and the meeting went ahead. There is more news of the car. I was unable to speak to my contact at the body shop but her colleague explained that the replacement of the cracked plastic door pocket thing is at their expense because they broke it. Now I learn that there is an electrical fault. Oh boy. More phone calls ... This is strange. 'More phone' came out as 'morphine'. Fluent Crabtree again! I had better do the ironing today as there is more laundry to be done and one must not allow these things to accumulate. Even more important will be to catch up with last night's Archers. Busybusybusy! Warm thoughts to all, especially those with particular need of them Chris

Good morning one and all The postie seldom calls on Tuesday and yesterday was no exception. Since I was expecting no Valentine cards it matters little. Number in = number out. Perfect balance. Just before I set out for Stevenage yesterday the body shop phoned. Apparently there is a crack in the trim of the passenger side door. To fix it a part would have to be ordered from Germany. My car would then be collected from here, fixed and returned to me. For some reason I am smelling a rat, not least because no mention was made of who would be paying for this. I need to make a phone call first thing, not least because there is now a distinct possibility that I will be collecting the car today. At the very least I should inspect the alleged crack. Oh dear, it was all going so well. Hmmm. 'Stevenage' came out as 'Stavanger' before I corrected it. Are the towns twinned perchance? Tonight the Area Group meets in Bedford. I am looking forward to this, not least because I tire of the M1 in early evening. A 10 minute walk is good for me. Warm thoughts to all, especially those with specific needs Chris

I doubt it. New Street is much more likely. Chris

That rings a bell. There was a diagram that took [G]WR stock from Gloucester to Sheffield. I looked this up for another RMwebber a few years back. Found it. 5.15 pm SX Sheffield to Gloucester. In summer 1961, in addition to six WR coaches that had formed the 7.54 am from Worcester and the 6.10 pm from York there was at least one Eastern Region coach at the front which was hitching a ride to Weston super Mare and a LM loco stores van from Derby to Bristol. There were four sets in circuit, three belonging to the Western and one to the North Eastern. Sadly there is no mention of Cleethorpes but it cannot be a coincidence! Chris

Good morrow to you Valentine and good morning one and all There is news of the car. Paige from the body shop phoned yesterday afternoon. It seems that the part awaited from Germany is a new wing. It is due to arrive in Swindon tomorrow so it could be as early as Thursday when the completed car is available for collection. The insurance company has confirmed that I may drive to Swindon in the hire car and leave it there, being sure to notify the hire company of where it is so that it may be collected. This is much better an idea than up to five hours on the bus. Today I visit Poorly Pal, who says that he needs a blood test. He seems to need something to worry about at all times. This time he thinks he might have appendicitis. How you diagnose that with a blood test I'm not sure: I thought sharp pain was the normal symptom. Be that as it may, we will be dining on orange glazed pork. I prepped the ingredients yesterday afternoon, having managed to find a lemon squeezer in a drawer which works equally well on oranges. I also rediscovered a garlic press which seems to do what is required of it. Before all that I bought a new kettle, leaving me to stop wondering why the old one failed and how to get rid of it. Parking in my street got worse yesterday. A skip has appeared outside next door but one to add to the two cars, neither of which get much use. When one of them does take a trip, he has the nerve to put out cones so that there will be a space when he returns. Somehow I do not think that he was issued with them but some questions are best not asked. Finally for today, farewell to Sara Coward who played Caroline Sterling nee Bone in The Archers. She is the latest member of the 69 Club, joining Bowie, Rickman and Lake who all succumbed to cancer at that age. It is with some apprehension that I look forward to my own 69th birthday next week. Warm thoughts to all, especially those with particular need for them. Chris

I have only four Newport District passenger WTTs and have not so far found a working which corresponds to the one you describe. Newport had several auto workings - to Monmouth until closure, then to Chepstow, to Blaenavon until the dmus arrived in 1957 and to the Sirhowy Valley. There was a Sunday morning auto which ran empty to Cardiff, then to Pontypool Road and back. I had an idea that there were Newport - Cardiff auto shuttles at some stage but cannot find them. At times I can't see for looking. Chris

One of my favourite subjects! Also auto-worked between 1953 and 1958 were branch trains between Porth and Maerdy. These were powered by 4575 tanks, based at Cathays but outstationed at Ferndale. Most published photos of this service show pairs of compartment trailers. The service on the Senghenydd branch was also maintained by auto trains, these being Cathays sets that also worked to Coryton in the course of their day's work. I think you will find that Canton had no involvement with auto work after the timetable reconstruction of September 1953. An oddity of the auto workings from Abercynon shed was that the Pontypridd - Machen workings had the loco at the south end whereas those to Ynysybwl and the St Fagans Pullman had it at the north end. Trailers did get switched around between routes from time to time, probably because of cleaning and maintenance requirements. Chris

Kind of you to ask, Stewart! The necessary part is due to arrive from Germany mid-week. I am waiting on a reply from the insurance company about arrangements for surrendering the hire car and collecting my own. Until then I am trying not to think about it. Chris

Good morning one and all The fodder run will be done this morning as I am off to see Poorly Pal tomorrow and need some ingredients for our lunch. I also need a new kettle as the hitherto trusty stainless steel effort in my kitchen seems to have failed. Discovering this first thing in the morning is a tad disruptive. On Wednesday the Area Group meets in Bedford and I am hoping for a good turnout as it is my idea. Apart from that there are no pressing matters this week - not that come to mind, anyway. Andyram, hard luck on not making the shortlist. History may judge that it would not have been the right job but what do I know? Warm thoughts and best wishes to all, especially those with particular need for comfort. Chris

Good morning one and all A good night's sleep? I remember those. I certainly did not have one last night and was wide awake at 2 am dismantling a purchase from Doncaster. At 3 pm yesterday I was resting on a chair in the exhibition hall and felt dog tired. Funny how things change. I have had two e-mails relating to the repair of my car. That from the insurance company says that the repair will be completed on Wednesday. The body shop, by contrast, tell me that the vital part is expected from Germany on Wednesday. Be that as it may, I need to establish whether I can drive the hire car to Swindon and leave it there. The alternatives to that are a five hour bus journey or an expensive train journey. At least the end is in sight. Today I will enjoy rump steak for my lunch. I had been eyeing a slab of sirloin but Jim the butcher said that rump was on special offer so that was that. Assorted other tasks present themselves for completion but how many if any will get done is a good question. Whatever else occurs I think I shall listen to the remarkable actress June Brown on Desert Island Discs. In another communications medium JohnDMJ asked me to say hello to some folk who I presume are his workmates. I must apologise for not doing so, the reason being that none of those present were displaying identification and it would have been very easy to make a silly mistake. I do that often enough as it is. Warm thoughts to all, especially those in need of support and encouragement. Chris

Far too neat. Replace at least one of the BR suburbans with a Thompson. Chris

Good morning one and all It's Chris versus the A1 today as I head for the Doncaster show. If all goes well I shall partake of an Olympic at the Little Chef at Markham Moor. However, I am not going all the way on an empty stomach so the foundation will be laid with shredded wheat, hot milk and some left-over canned fruit. Yum. I don't like "how did we do" stuff either. If the service is really carp the provider, or, as the case may be, non-provider, will be told and possibly so will everyone else. The Desperate Dan look really does not suit me so I need to shave. Back tomorrow with more drivel. Warm thoughts to all. Chris

94xx. Chris

Never! Welcome back Chris

Good morning one and all Last night's concert was disappointing. The musicianship was fine but I could not hear the words properly. No doubt I am getting a bit mutton in my old age but the three vocalists had only one microphone between them and their vocals had to overcome a guitar, a fiddle and - worst of all - a banjo. Apparently many of the songs were political in content. Surely those words deserved to be heard clearly. Ho hum, can't win 'em all. Earlier in the day I took delivery of a new CD that I had only ordered the previous day. By any standards this is remarkable but from Amazon it is ruddy fantastic. The least I can do is to make it the next to be played, so that means either to or from the Doncaster show tomorrow. After it arrived I booked tickets for three more concerts at The Stables. I would have liked the chance to see Ninebarrow when they come to Bedford in March but apparently it is a private house concert. All right for some. Today there must be a fodder run. Not much fodder is required but it includes materials for sandwiches tomorrow which are needed in case the catering at Doncaster is unduly exorbitant. There should be a couple of comics to collect too and I will take the opportunity to top up the hire car with diesel. Nothing is left to chance in that task. It is probably not possible to put the nozzle of a petrol pump into the aperture of a diesel car. It was when I was a petrol pump attendant in the summer of '66. Warm thoughts to all, especially those in need of them Chris

Good morning one and all Jamie thought yesterday that I might have been inspired by breakfast TV in my use of "murmuration". Not so, my liege. I only have breakfast TV on to avoid the tranche of religion that Radio 4 emits on Sunday mornings. With predicable reverence I call this the mumbo-jumbo hour. On other days I allow the Today programme to digest and analyse the news for me. The remarkable footage of 60,000 starlings in an aerial ballet was shown on the 1 pm news. By this time my report had been completed and sent to the fixtures secretary. Yesterday I tried BT's 1572 service for the first time. Just after noon I got one of those irritating recorded message calls offering me a service that I do not want. This time it was for cleaning ovens. I have heard from this outfit, CMF, before. You press 1 for a quote and 5 to be removed from the list. Last time they rang I pressed 1 and when they rang me back I explained patiently that I wanted neither a quote not any more calls. Clearly they listened intently. This time I pressed 5. Then I dialled 1572. Although it was a withheld number it is, I hope, now blocked. We shall see. What else happened yesterday? I cooked bangers and mash and did the ironing. One was enjoyable, the other a chore. You decide. I also ordered a CD from Amazon. It is Geoff Lakeman's first solo album and I can't wait till I see him at Sidmouth to hear it. Oh, and I managed a bit of m*d*ll*ng. The earth may have wobbled on its axis at that news but rest assured that it will continue to rotate. Now if I ever manage to finish a project things may be different ... Warm thoughts to all, especially those who need them Chris

Good morning one and all Sometimes I wonder whether the word "murmuration" is better applied to a roomful of railway enthusiasts than to a flock of starlings. Last night, and not for the first time, the audience at the LCGB Bedford branch was quite incapable of sitting quietly and admiring the slides being projected. As well as offering helpful comments to the speaker, which he invited, they sat and burbled at one another, which he would most probably have preferred not to happen. I expect some of them do not realise that they are doing it, poor old souls. Tolerant? Moi? Today I have lots of notes to decipher and turn into a report of last night's talk. If the sheet of lined A4 had turned up in ancient Egypt someone would have reached at once for the Rosetta Stone to decipher the hieroglyphics which pass for my handwriting. The task is best discharged sooner rather than later while my forgettery is still fresh. To do so will also defer the ironing for an hour or so so it's not all bad. There being no further burning issues today, it only remains for me to extend the warmest thoughts to all in distress. Chris

Good morning one and all I rose early and still find myself late on parade. Still, I've had a bath which helps me face the wicked world. After my porridge and toast it's a quick fodder run for little needs to be procured. At least the comics - sorry, magazines - are all sorted and accounted for now. This kept me busy yesterday morning. I need to magic up some storage space, either that or let some subs lapse. The new brochure from The Stables arrived yesterday. As I leafed through it there were groans when yet another attractive concert was found to clash with a previous engagement but there were two which I am free to attend so the bookings will be made soon. In the afternoon I watched part of the recording of 4square's new EP live on Facebook. It seems that at least one band member lives quite nearby and I must remember to ask the question when I see them next month at The Harrison, just off Grays Inn Road. All this excitement did not prevent the laundry being done. At this rate I will soon be quite on top of things. Gosh. It won't last ... Warm thoughts [why did that just come out as 'yogurts'?] to the many who need them Chris

Good morning one and all Dieting? Exercising? You don't know me very well, do you? Seriously though, thanks to those who posted explanations and translations. I am inclined to the view that the Triglycerides is the three-eyed counterpart to the one-eyed Cyclops in Greek mythology. In a not uncharacteristic bout of defiance yesterday I cooked myself toad in the hole followed by woodland fruits strudel and custard. I then got some exercise by ascending the staircase to my bedroom and there reposing for fully 90 minutes. This is not something I do at all regularly, not least because I have plenty of useful things to do that do not all get done. So what does the week ahead hold? LCGB meeting on Tuesday - an evening of Derek Cross's slides presented by his son David, should be good - and writing report of same on Wednesday, Doncaster show on Saturday, usual fodder runs and unspecified pottering. Thanks to looking up things for various people I am surrounded by books which really ought to be replaced in their designated bookcases. Many of these are upstairs. This means exercise. Oh goody. Amid all this a couple of impulse purchases at recent exhibitions are glaring at me as if to say "build me and build me well". Do I hear the sound of gauntlets being thrown to the ground? Maybe I do. Condolences to Alan Shedman5, hang-on-in-there to Andyram and warm thoughts to all others who need them. That just came out as 'arm thoughts'. How do the keys get sticky? Probably the marmalade. Chris

As promised, I have been delving through books to learn more about auto trailers with corridor connections. The only trailers to be fitted with corridor connections (gangways) were 70 feet long. The first trailer to be equipped with a gangway was 32, in 1910 and at the guard’s end. The intention was that it should work with a railmotor with a gangway at the saloon end but no evidence of it doing so has come to light. Trailers 3 and 4 were fitted with gangways in 1911, followed by 5 and 6 in 1913. 3 and 6 had them at the guard’s end, 4 and 5 at the driver’s end. The latter kept their driving controls and warning gongs. They worked in pairs, mostly but not exclusively on the Saltash shuttle, and lasted until the mid 1950s. Trailers 9 and 10 were fitted with gangways in 1911 at the guard’s end with the intention that they should work with railmotors 59 and 60 which had gangways on the driving cab at the saloon end. In 1920 9 was rebuilt and the gangway moved to the driving end so that it could run as a pair with 10. Around the same time railmotors 59 and 60 were rebuilt as trailers 126 and 127, also as a gangwayed pair. Trailers 75 – 80 and 81 – 92 were all built with gangways at the guard’s end. Railmotors 43, 44, 46 and 47 had gangways at the saloon end. 43 and 44 retained them on conversion to trailers 134 – 135 but 44 had the gangway fitted to the driving end instead. Trailers 134 and 35 ran as a pair. Other gangwayed trailers were those converted from Barry Railway and Cardiff Railway rail motors. The Taff Vale’s purpose built trailers received GWR control gear but their coaches converted from rail motors, although gangwayed, were not used as trailers by the GWR. Information cruelly precis’d from three books by John Lewis. Isn't that interesting? Chris