jamie92208

Good morning all. Some more picture for you. First of all another couple taken near Marsh Lane cutting where a footbridge crosses the line near the stone terminal. Here a 185 heads eastwards. It's one of those locations that wold make a good model. Viaduct then embankment leading into a large tunnel moth with a goods yard behind. There used to be a station roughly where the rear of the train is. The road on the south side of the viaduct is appropriately called Railway Street; And a 158 heading for Leeds whilst a 144 waits on the loop line for a path. I believe this area was the original terminus for the Leeds and Selby Railway that George Hudson bought and closed for a while so that all the traffic went on his lines via Normanton to Leeds. We then head south to Clapham Junction. Here a 450. Then a 66 heads west with an engineering train. One of the 458's when they were the unloved. And a 455/X unit with the ex 4Pep coach heading in. Off the top of my head I can't remember which sub class got the ex 4 PEP coaches. More tomorrow I hope. Jamie

Good morning from what may well be a temporarily sunlit village, judging by the view to the southwest of dark grey clouds. Yesterday We had great success with French bureaucracy, in the form of making progress towards getting our post Brexit residency cards. When we got home I celebrated by heading for the shed in the evening. After the good progress the other day I was worrying about how to fit the motion unit into the frames and then join it up with the footplate and boiler/smokebox unit. As with most problems, I often find that it is best to have a think about it, then procrastinate for a while, before having a go. Anyway I picked the various pieces up and tried to fit things together but with a drawing in font of me a plan formed in the porridge that is between my ears. After I'd found the mandrel for the slitting disc I measured, marked, check, remeasured and then attacked the dummy cylinder block until most of it ended level with the frames, apart from the rear plate with the cylinder and valve guide castings on it. This was then trial fitted and the footplate, firebox and cab assembly placed on the frames. The next step was to then try to fit the boiler/smokebox unit over everything else. Various parts of the smokebox saddle interfered with the rear plate of the cylinder block so the whole unit sat about 6mm too far forward. Much head scratching took place, the vernier's were deployed and eventually a plan emerged. The rear of the cylinder block was being held in place by the nylon hornblocks. I therefore marked, etc and enlarged existing cutouts that allowed me to move the motion unit rearwards. Measured again and removed another 3mm and hey presto when I put it back and then tried the boiler unit on everything seemed to be in the right place. Thus is what it looked like on the chassis jig. Success. A few minor tweaks needed, but the main aim of filling the very visible void below the boiler has been achieved. Here's a slightly different view. Overall I'm very pleased with the work. It's been a faff but is worth the effort I think. I still need to connect it all to the crank axle via the con rods and eccentric straps and also secure the unit into the frames. I'm thinking of using some 12BA bolts through the frames with captive nuts inside the cylinder block. 2 each side to give registration. There will also be a vertical 8BA bolt that goes through the cylinders and footplate and then into an existing captive nut below the smokebox. After that I worked out how to attach a die block so that it can move and that was enough for the evening. I can really see progress to the extent that I've started the detailed research for the 0-4-4 tank kit that I inherited. Jamie

Good moaning from the Charente. It's not raining and there are even patches of blye sky. As mentioned last night a successful day was had in La Rochelle. I then had a successful evening in the shed, details elsewhere soon as I dread the awl. Not a lot on the agenda today, in fact the calendar is blank till Monday, though No 2 son has his birthday on Saturday. I may well head for the shed this morning and tidy another area of floor ready for painting in due course. Regards to all. Jamie

Actually the type of train detection woul interest me. Obviously the diveunder will be in wet ground so will it be axle counters as used in wet tunnels, or more conventional means. Jamie

As the seafarers would say, self loading cargo to platfirm 1, freight to platform 2. And somebody's got to say it. They were all dying to get in. Jamie

I did think that it was appropriste to be sitting in a former French nsval base on Trafalgar Day. There was a statue to a French Admiral that mentioned his many victories over Les Anglais but only managed to name 1 in 1810. Jamie

Sorry to see that Keith. Maybe you'll have to rebuild it in steel. And the same in other Latin American countries. El Salvador abolished their currency and noe use the almighty dollar. Nicaragua uses dollars and in Costa Rica you paid in dollars but got change in Colones. Anyway we're back from The Prefecture. Very efficient and they cealtvwith all 3 of us together rather than making Beth and I wait for an hour. Then a lovely meal on the harbourside in thecsunshine, a nice walk round and a nice journey each way. Jamie

As far as I can remember the coffin trucks were double deck. I have the book about The Necropolis Railway so will have a look and check. ISTR that the coffins were laded from the opposite side to the mourners. Jamie

Grey sqirrel tails used to carry a bounty of one shilling, I was told by an old bobby. Paid out at the local nick. Re licensed premises visits, they coukd be a very useful way of keeping certain landlords in check. I must admit that one night, when I wasn't in the best of moods, I visited one fairly isolated pub and the landlord told me porkies about his licence. I had noticed all the parked cars outside so turned to the drinkers and toldcthem why the landlord had annoyed me, then quite gently said, "You all know the drink driving laws, whose feeling lucky tonight" We then parked opposite the pub for a while. It made me feel a lot better. Vertical farming has been around quite a long time. 20 years ago the force stables had a set up thstvprovided fresh grass through the winter. That's not the typevof grass younst the back are sniggrrring about. Brian, I hope that young Max is OK. Here it is a tad breezy, a shutter started banging during the night but has now been secured. Anyway, today we are off to La Rochelle to give our fingerprints and the other stuff needed to get our residence cards. Regards to all. Jamie

Good afternoon from a rather grey, damp and cool Charente. To start with we are in Leeds and as I was going into town one day I noticed that the demolition of Doncaster's Monk Bridge works had opened up a new view of the remains of the approach viaduct to what was Leeds Central Station. Some of the view has been obscured by new build now. As far as I know it is used as a car park by Leeds Commercials who operate out of the old NER roundhouse on Wellington Street. Next we are at Paddington with a view that has also changed. No HST's now and I think that the Heathrow Express units are on their way out. The 360's were working the Heathrow Connect services though. Then we boarded our HST for a trip to Taunton to knock off the Berks and Hants route. This 59/1 was in the station at Westbury. Together with one of my old friends 59204. The above photos were taken on 23rd March 2006. Now we move forward into April and a 158 heading into Leeds as it exits Marsh Lane Tunnel. Jamie

Most shunting moves are now controlled by a brakeman over the radio to the engineer, often riding on the front car or loco. This includes passenger trains doing back up moves. There was some sort of comms failure on a push pull train I was riding in Chicago and that went the last few miles into Union Station with the engineer in the loco riding backwards and a conductor calling the signal aspects for him in the corridor connection of the front coach. Jamie

I believe that soup is to be made. Jamie

Adverts this morning for Rotita ladies clothing and Gymshark mens clothing. I don't think the former would suit my figure as well as they suit the lady in question and I have no use for the latter. Jamie

I seem to remember there was a soft drink with that name. They used to advertise on the boards round the finish on ski runs. Very appropriate if you didn't stop in time. Anyway, good moaning again. It's groundhog day or seems like it. I am yet again awaiting the attentions of the fair Veronique. I got to the shop yesterday to find that I'd got the day wrong on the calendar and the hairdessers is closed on a Monday. However the day was not wasted. Various jobs got done and in the afternoon I spent 2 hours cutting the grass, hopefully the last time this year. I then had a successful time in the shed while Beth was on the phone. Anyway i will be away soon after breakfast and attempt to carpe diem. So I will bid you all á bientot. Jamie

And here is the young lady in question. Jamie

Farmer Copley's my grandaughter has just been taken there and ended up with a pumpkin nearly as big as she is. I'll try and post a photo. Jamie

Good evening. The planets must have been in line tonight. I've just spent an hour and a bit over in the shed and lo and behold most of the valve gear has gone into place. The valves even move. The rocking levers are in place and I've even attached, loosely, the first die block and lifting link. It needs a lot of cleaning up but I'm rather happy with this. The apparent curve in the slidebars has been exaggerated by the lens . My plan is to keep this unit together and build the rest of the valve gear onto it. I now need to get the unit installed in the frames and get them all straightened up. However after several months of effort there is at last some light at the end of the tunnel. It's probably a train coming the other way but things are moving. Jamie

Good afternoon. A quick update before I head out to give the grass a final cut for the year. It's going to start raining tomorrow. We are at Colton Junction in early 2006 probably February. It turned out to be a busy afternoon. Firstly a Freightliner 66 went south towards Church Fenton, Light Engine. Probably heading to Midland Road depot in Leeds. Shortly after two trains arrived together. A EWS coal train with York built hoppers and a 158 heading south for Leeds and beyond. Then a Freightliner set of coal hoppers. And a lonely light engine heading north up the Selby diversion. Then another 158 heading south. And finally a 325 heading north. Quite a variety in a short space of time. I doubt that I would see so many coal trains now. Jamie

You could always recreate that famous photo of IIRC the Swindon open day when they made tea in loco tenders steam heated. At least it's a useful use for tenders designed to go behind Swindon built locos. Jamie

Yes I must admit that I thought of the War of the Worlds. Jamie

Good morning. Up fairly early today as I'm off to have my hair cut by the fair Veronique. That's a good thought. We did get our photos taken yesterday, eventually in Beth's case. The market was visited and we sat outside and enjoyed thecmorni g sun under a cloudless sky whilst having a coffee. Eyelid inspection after lunch then a cluck bird was roasted and eaten. Over an hour on a video call to Martin and Katie then ensued and a good catch up was had. Not a lot on the agenda for today apart from programming a bedroom heater. Regards to all. Jamie

Yes that is possible but obviously only if the charity is big enough to be VAT registered. Jamie

On the su ject of food, the experimental batch of sticky biscuits got fi ishedclast night. She's planning another batch now that will have to be quality controlled. It's a hard life. Jamie

I've just realised thst the westbound double stack train is on track 2 which takes it over the 1900's line over Sherman summit rather than the 1950's built No 3 track which has a 55 mph limit rather than 79. This doesn't happen often as most westbounds get sent along the gentler grades of No 3 track. The stack train must be what us known as a 'god' train with the highest priority. Normally you only see Eastbounds coming over the hill. Jamie

That wasn't Kiko's was it. Jamie