APOLLO

A superb model. I also like the tarp covered van. Back in 1963 for passing my 11+ exam therfore gaining a place at Wigan Grammar School my parents bought me a Tri-ang TT Britannia, 70036 Boadicea - I still have this loco. I remember Brits and Brush 4's were the staple in the mid sixties on the WCML expresses and fast freights through Wigan. Here is one of each passing at Springs Branch many moons ago, not the best of shots but note the many labels on the vans - rarely modelled. Brit15

More interesting Brush 4 pictures. Once as common as muck. Much missed (yes a few survive). D1962 at Crewe, again reversed head codes. 22 June 1969. Crewe works same day, boiler test. Pay your two bob or so at Gresty Rd entrance, Quick safety briefing - Don't jump over pits, don't step on the rails, touch nowt and follow the guy with the flat cap !! We young 'uns were trustworthy back then - another age. Lots of variety too. Crewe north line up Journey out & return was interesting, Wigan - Crewe via Chester and reverse around the triangle !! D4xx waits for the ex LNWR signal to drop !! Brit15

If I remember rightle D1957 was amongst one of the first Blue from birth Brush type 4's. Note the tender of the (more than likeley) Black 5 station pilot lurking in platform 3 at Wigan NW. Around1967 ? Brush 4's, headcodes, Wigan, what about this gem !! An experiment so I belive. Springs Branch 6 August 1969, I started work at Wigan Gas Works the following week !! The other end. Summat went wrong !!! Brit15

I believe the damage was such that the electrified Carlisle avoiding lines were closed for good. A pity as there is a lot of freight running through Carlisle station these days. Brit15

Brass tends to tarnish quickly, where are your tracks located, ? A damp(ish) cold shed etc would worsen the tarnishing. Nickel silver, though expensive, is far better than brass or steel. Brit15

Who needs batteries ? Brit15

Oliver at Wigan Wallgate on a special, probably the last time a BR Brit seen in the town. And the real Oliver has form in this Royalist town - long tale https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wigan_Lane#:~:text=Lilburne deployed part of his,chased the Scots in 1648. A re-enactment some time ago. https://greatacre.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/civil-war-in-wigan/ We even have a ditch named after him Anyway, Wigan was loyal to the crown, as our coat of arms shows. Brit15

Everything was fine and dandy, until, "The lid fell off" !!!! Brit15

King John was a right so and so, !! Henry VIII also, one of England’s most famous monarchs was a foul-tempered, gluttonous, bloodthirsty tyrant who, as well as ordering the executions of two of the women who had the misfortune to marry him, had an estimated 57,000 people executed during his 36-year reign. Any more "Bad 'uns", not neccesarily Kings ? Brit15

To me there was nothing better than a Flying Brit in their final years, Crewe to Carlisle. Who needed film stars with actors like this, and you certainly heard their chime whistles !! Southbound at Springs Branch. Though we had a couple of quite welcome visitors from the far east (!!) at Wigan, a change from mucky old Black 5's and 8's . Final Brit through Wigan (Wallgate). We used to stand on "The Iron Bridge" and spit down the chimneys to try and put the fire out - never worked !! Brit15

Oppenheimer ? Yank Movies ? Load of Tosh. If you want to laugh and cry at the same time watch this. We Brits have style, guts and brains (sometimes) !!!!!! Brit15

Brit15

Just back from a visit to our HUGE recycling plant at Wigan, on the site of the old Wigan Coal & Iron Kirkless works, which warmed the planet a degree or two in it's day !! A very well laid out facility with many clearly marked bays and bins etc. Park and chuck !! I was disposing of most of my VHS & Beta tapes recorded etc over many years. It dawned on me that I've not watched any for years and nearly all of the stuff I recorded (Railway related,, many various films, documentary's etc) are now easy and free to view on Youtube etc, plus my machines are well past it, so time to go - 12 boxes of 15 in each !!! Now where to chuck them ? The helpful guy said boxes and tape covers to the cardboard bay and tapes to the hard plastic bin - so a ten minute debox / sleeve job and a bit done for the "urth" !! It is time plastic was banned for ALL throw away packaging (perhaps except bottles etc). Things like out trains were many store in their boxes etc OK. Anyway, Well done Accurascale. Brit15

Be careful what you wish for. Brit15

The Royal train has an official door opener. Brit15

Problem sorted !!! Brit15

Brit15

So glad I'm nearly 72 and long retired. From leaving school to retirement. 40 odd years in the Gas industry, at the sharp end, all my bosses (good, bad and in between) were qualified and experienced engineers. They were well respected. They earned it. My gangs were a mix, local lads, Irish contractors, We all got on together, got stuck in and got the job done. Superb people all (well, most !!). My office was the great outdoors. When on call (one week in four) home was a dream, I rareley got there. The customer was king, and rightly so. Safety, security of supply and customer care was our mantra. We were very well paid (but we put the hours in). When everyone else were snugged up in bed fast asleep the teams and I were out there in the cold dark and wet keeping you all warm. We survived on tea, fish and chips (and Pies !!). Would I do it all again ? - Hell YES, but not as a young man nowadays. The gas industry today is FUBAR. Gas is demonised and will be gone soon, rightly or wrongly. Our best leader was Sir Denis Rooke, he was an experienced gas engineer who led British Gas at privatisation in 1986 and kept the industry intact (and for a few years onwards) when Maggie Thatcher wanted to dissect it. Of course the dissection eventually took place, and now, far, far worse, the industry is villified and in decline. Well done Greeta & Co. How dare you !!!!!!!! Brit15

Best thing in Whitby !! Brit15

My Rover V8 drifts to the left when approaching a petrol station !!!!! Brit15

The old Tyneside Electric trains were well known (and often photographed) running with their passenger SLIDING doors wide open. Geordies were made of stern stuff back then !! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47684379182_74a2cf152f_b.jpg Brit15

Wasn't there more than one case many years ago.of Mk1 doors opening on there own on the electrified WCML due to body flexing at high speed, a couple of fatalities occured also. Brit15

There were three banking locations in Wigan, up to the end of steam around 1967 when Springs Branch closed to steam. All locos from Springs Branch or Wigan L&Y Prescott St sheds. WCML North Wigan NW to Srandish Jcn, a few freight trains banked usually by the Wigan NW station pilot, Jinty or Black 5 etc Whelley Loop (Wigan NW Avoiding line) Northbound Bamfurlong to Roundhouse sidings, Whelley, sometimes on up to Standish Jcn. Usually a Black 8 or 5 or a WD 2-8-0. Pemberton Lop Line (L&Y Wigan Wallgate avoiding line Hindley - Pemberton) bankers from Westwood Park west to Orrell on the coal trains bound for Aintree Liverpool. Usually a 4F 0-6-0 Tender loco. This ended around 1964 Brit15

I forgot to mention I do really like your gloomy, rainy dramatic skies, very S&C indeed. Mid 60's was my first trip on the S&C, the 12.0 stopper from Hellifield to Carlisle. The S&C is in seemingly good shape these days, especially the stations. I once modelled Garsdale, the control panel was better than the layout !!!! Brit15

When your train stops at the exact location for a photo out of the window from your seat. Perfect weather also, a rare sunny day "up there" !! Ist Sept 2022, 1450 Carlisle -Leeds. Brit15