Richard E

Lycra, like hivis, makes them immortal, didn't you know?

Is it just me or does the TSU bear a resemblance to an HST power car?

I'm a bit ashamed to admit to having worked for Barclays. Best day was when they made me redundant ... Corn Street in Bristol was the home of the bank's regional offices (called Local Head Office in those days) and they were all very grand buildings, high ceilings, intricate carvings and plasterwork with gilded decoration in some. Very much showing the extravagances that the employers lavished on property in the days they were built in the 18th and 19th Centuries. There are also the 'nails' outside the exchange building where trade would have been carried out. I am led to believe that this type of trading gave rise to the expression 'on the nail' meaning immediate payment. Of course Bristol was very much a trading city with a very busy port and built on the slave trade and later on tobacco.

Is that a tail lamp I see on the leading coach?

Traffic is regularly at a stand over Crescent Bridge these days even though they have now squeezed 3 lanes on to it - I presume it led to a normal junction in the 50's rather than the current roundabout and so I would imagine, at times, it was no different back then.

I've been reading Bill Hoole Engineman Extraordinary (again) today and found a photo of the run into PN from the south that immediately made me think of Gilbert and his modelling - it is opposite page 143 on the top and is remarkable in that one can see, even down to the fogman's hut, how true to real life Gilbert's model of PN really is. The picture is a fireman's view from the footplate of Sir Nigel as she slows for the run through the station. I don't think I can praise this model enough as it is a superb representation of something we have lost and, I think, in many ways we are the worse for it. Modern practicalities (which I experience daily on my commute at this very station) mean that what we now have is probably better from an operating point of view but we have lost an awful lot in the original buildings which could, possibly, have been retained had the option of a second access from Midland Road been taken up (an option they have ignored even now although there is some provision for it going forward). Oh, and isn't that road name telling - it lies alongside the old Midland Railway lines ... I must admit I do envy those who have been privileged enough to see the layout in the flesh, it strikes me that it must be quite awesome, I certainly would be well pleased if I can achieve even a fraction of what has been done here. I think I have a resolution for the New Year - finally get some work done on my own proposals albeit in N rather than OO as is Gilbert's choice.

I must agree with Cutler 2579 in that the pesky duck has found some water again in which to reside - he's sitting in the tray below the water crane bag and could, if the chain were longer be clobbered on the bonce by it.

This is the one thread to which I have subscribed - it's almost disappointing to find that nothing happens by way of updates but, of course, it also means they are more avidly consumed when they do arrive.

Sorry to be late in with this but the Bank of England building behind/next to the old NU building was a cash handling centre. When I was based in Corn Street I used to be involved with the cash run where we paid in and withdrew notes and coins at the BoE premises. Securicor used to handle the shipment of cash, staff from my bank had to be present to check the shipments. It used to be, IIRC, 4 or 5 vans at a time giving us up to £25m in each direction per run. We did 2 or 3 runs a week, more at Christmas. We had our own cash handling centre that dealt with making up the cash shipments from all the branches. Security was very high, all entries to the cash/bullion handling area was 'airlocked' and anyone entering had to sign in having been named prior to the drop.

Buon natale e felice Anno Nuovo to all. Long may your efforts continue to delight and entertain us. I am sure that many of us aspire to reach the standards that are exhibited here.

I'm sorry but I have to agree with BrushVeteran. 2014b is a year nearer drawing my state pension and I am looking forward to so doing even though it is wishing away my time on this planet. 40 years of work has taken it's toll and the last 9 have seen commuting getting harder in some ways so time for myself will be welcomed.

But look at 5042, 2nd photo, and it is totally different, I think some of it can be camera angle, some variance between models and some due to lighting exaggerating matters. Whichever it might be it doesn't detract from the wonderful recreation of Gilberts in his version of Peterborough North which is way better than many of us will be able to achieve.

Ooh Arr - thees got'n wur thee casn't back'n asn't! Many memories of bother over the swing bridges from as long ago as 1962! Yup, pre Cumberland Basin flyover days as that was built in 1965! My route to school was across the basin or the suspension bridge, used to live in Bishopsworth. Home was via the bus service through Bedminster past the Wills factory - bus always smelt of tobacco from the passengers getting on there. Moved to Backwell later on so home was via Dad's office in the city centre (by Bristol Bridge). An overriding memory was the smell from Courages brewery on the opposite river bank. Saw the office block being built, seen it derelict and I suspect it may be well gone by now - built round the ruins of St Mary-le-Port church. The caretakers used to regularly find skulls by the fire doors where they were washed out of the earth banks behind the building that used to be the graveyard of the church.

Yes, Chevette hatchback in the foreground and a Marina Coupe behind it. The Marina, being a Coupe, is quite sought after by some nowadays!

The AR plates were issued by Hertfordshire and GB was issued by Glasgow. I suspect the Scammell Scarab fleet were registered by the manufacturers who were based in Watford hence the Hertfordshire registrations.

Is that any relation to the Fat Controller?

And the cleaners need to be told off, they've left a load of fluff off their cloths all over the front of both of those A4. Apparently shed allocations for Silver Link are: Kings Cross 7/9/1935 Grantham 16/8/1944 Kings Cross 30/5/1948 Grantham 16/6/1948 Kings Cross 31/5/1950 withdrawn 29/12/1962

For the fire hose - is that an additional module in the training manual for the 70/8 sub series then?

Interesting, thanks guys.

Crikey! How does that affect work hours, you're not driving but does the clock still tick when you are waiting for the train you are relieving on?

61113 wasn't named though. in the 611xx series only 61189 was named apparently, Sir William Gray. None of the photographs of 61113 that I can find on line show any evidence of her having been named either.

The 'building' with the corrugated roof is a cover for the Royal Mail letterboxes (disused now) that are let into the wall. Don't forget that this was the site of the main sorting office in Peterborough for a while until they re-located to Werrington. The concrete framed and steel clad building has, in the Google view, been demolished. If it helps and Gilbert so wishes I can try to measure the wall at some point over the weekend in between taking pictures of 5043 making her way through Peterborough and Whittlesea. Edit to add - if you go back out onto Mayors Walk with the Volunteer Fire Station in front of you (it is the back of the Fire Station that you can see) and turn left the buildings to your left are still complete and are not the outside face of the wall, you need to turn right to see that. The buildings that are there are in use as offices for the railway (still). Oh, and the vast majority of the terraced houses (or what rubble is left from them) are now underneath a dual carriageway called Bourges Boulevard. There is one section of the old 'railway houses' (which I suspect are not those that Gilbert would be interested in) still in existence a little way south of Rhubarb Bridge at the top end of Bourges Boulevard. The area where they are is now a Conservation zone (http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/environment/conservation_areas/conservation_area_appraisals/great_northern_railway_cottage.aspx)

Stewart The BTP offices used to be the Stationmasters house. Yes, suffered from arson and was going to be demolished making way for half a dozen new parking places but that, thankfully, didn't happen and it has been restored rather well.

Ah, that is probably what fooled me as I was unable to view them side by side. Apologies for any confusion caused.

The thought has just struck me that I know of a street corner pub not that far from the station. It is flanked by terraced houses as well with a shop on the opposite corner of the side street. Not sure how it might fit if at all but I can try to get a picture or two at the weekend if it is of any help. The pub and houses were built in about 1901 so they are the right era. As I say it might be a blind alley or it might work well ...