APOLLO

79 years ago ------ At the top of the climb at 85mph after which ‘I gave Mallard her head and she just jumped to it like a live thing. After three miles the speedometer in my cab showed 107mph then 108, 109, 110 and before I knew it the needle was at 116 and we’d got the record. They told me afterwards that there was a great deal of excitement in the dynamometer car. ‘Go on old girl’ I thought, ‘she can do better than this’, so I nursed her through Little Bytham at 123 and in the next 1¼ miles the needle crept up further, 123½, 124, 125 and then for a quarter of a mile while they told me the folks in the car held their breath – 126mph.’ Nuff said !!! Brit15

Have you sen this superb site, lots of Leicester Central photos. http://www.gcrleicester.info/html/leicester_central1.html Brit15

Frightening future (for our young). Brit15

Too many Black Puddings ? Brit15

Similarly I often find "strange" bits'n'bobs, on both my British OO and American O layouts. Most bits I can identify and put back where they belong, some however I just ain't got a clue. A OO 3 plank wagon parked at the end of a rusty siding holds the OO bits, a similar "Gondola" car does the honours on my O layout. Brit15

Whit Brexit looming perhaps GET STUFFED would have been more appropriate !! Brit15

Now all we need is stereo sound decoders !!!!!!!!!! Brit15

I was re-reading a pile of old BRM mags the just yesterday. Tony's interesting article on building "An un-rebuilt "West Country" class pacific" is a detailed and well illustrated 6 page essay. (May 1995 issue). BRM back then seemed to have a locomotive / stock building article in nearly every issue, not all by Tony though. Tony states that back then he was only building ex LNER locos, but this West Country was for his self, built out personal interest - a fine "excuse" I agree !!! One paragraph reads (Tony's words) "Why is it that the tolerance level of fingers to soldering heat is a fraction shorter than the cooling period necessary for the solder to solidify ?" Even "back then" there were many fine layouts. In another issue is a photo by Tony of a detailed Lima Brush type 4 on the superb Stoke Layout. Lima - much derided today but back then they were more than adequate for lots of folks. I seem to remember Lima Deltics on this layout also. (Sacriledge - mentioning Lima in Tony's thread !!). Yes, the BRM mag was a superb mag back then, I'm glad I kept all my old issues (from more or less when it launched). Anyway, Tony, bet you have NOT got one of these !!! Brit15

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1250 NLS plan here in 1909 http://maps.nls.uk/view/114583981 Brit15

Yes jjb the world of work has changed vastly, and not for the better (for most). When I started at the North Western Gas Board the Directors were public servants, as were us all. Safety, security of supply and standards of service were always at the forefront of everything we did. I'd like to say the rot started when British Gas was privatised way back in 1986, but it most certainly did not - indeed for a period it was a better company to work for. British Gas was sold whole (Maggie Thatcher and her ilk wanted to split it up) - and run by a very competent gas engineer - Sir Denis Rooke. The story is here. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-Denis-Rooke-engineer-and-chairman-of-british-gas-who-battled-nigel-lawson-over-the-privatisation-922511.html Changes occurred as they do, and lots changed especially from 1996 on, but the rot REALLY set in when National Grid "took over" (it was a supposed merger). Shortly after that they started to really screw everyone and everything up. In 2003 they declared "5000 staff have to go" - everybody got there figures, everybody including managers etc - I saw my figures, ticked the box and duly went (with a grin like a Cheshire Cat !!). It was always known that from 1986 Royal Dutch Shell wanted the exploration & production side, they finally got it last year when they bought BG. The name British Gas survives as part of Centrica (con-tricka - nuf said), and The National Grid got what they wanted, the High Pressure Gas Transmission Network. A few years ago National Grid sold some of the non transmission gas networks,and recently they have sold off 50% or so of the remaining network to overseas "investors" (asset strippers). The whole gas industry is a dogs breakfast these days. I'm proud I worked in the gas industry all my life, but very sad to see what the greedy barstewards right at the top have done to a once magnificent British asset. Brit15

Time to "split the range" a bit further ? I'm thinking Hornby Railroad, pile em high sell em cheap(ish), The Railroad range could be the main models toy / smaller model shops sell (along with of course the box shifters) If priced right they sell well. Hornby Railroad are damn fine models in my opinion. Worth the money. As to the "Hi-Fi" super detailed range - first it needs a range name (remember "Silver Seal" ?). Sell at / near RRP, little discounting so all retailers have a slice of the pie. As to road vehicles - again split the range - Oxford the cheaper stuff, Corgi the detailed more expensive (both though need the brand name Hornby on the box - to let people know who makes it. As mentioned earlier the brand name "Hornby" is very well known. Not sure about the other ranges - Lima, Rivarossi, Airfix etc. Anyway - my best wishes for Hornbys future. Brit15

This is the extent of my "naval" experience. Poolstock lock Wigan situated on the Leigh branch off the Leeds & Liverpool canal at Wigan. Born just behind the houses in mid view my mates & I used to cadge lifts on the coal barges bound for Westwood power station - just to the right of the gas works in the distance !! Happy days and no warfare, though my favourite barge was named Ambush !!. I'll tell you one thing - we in the west are doing the wrong thing selling all these piss-pot countries sophisticated state of the art arms. Brit15

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I'm all for preserving our heritage - but when a railway is electrified & modernised some of it just has to go. All those level crossings need to be got rid of also - yes it'l be costly. Just before the Pendolino's came on the WCML a pedestrian foot crossing beside my house was replaced with a footbridge, at no small cost. Brit15

Garry the layout is called january 68 (not the RM mag) http://www.blackpoolandnorthfyldemrc.co.uk/Jan68page.html https://www.flickr.com/photos/81001006/sets/72157624846199501/ Brit15

Well, you've done it again Garry, I've just ordered off Ebay a copy of RM November 1971, just for the Lydney article !!. Some model railways just bite you - Lydney, Frank Dyers "Borchester" layouts, (after which my OO layout is named), David Jenkinsons S&C layouts, and a few others. Not many "modern" layouts do that these days, one though I particularly like is "January 68" by Blackpool & North Fylde MRC. Just tons of atmosphere. Nice find there Garry, the loco looks scratch built, not a clue though as to it's prototype, I keep thinking "TT" but must resist !! Those days are happy memories for me. Brit15

Can of cold Draught Guinness at the moment. Have bought a few "special" beers for Christmas at Asda today - one is a "Sticky Toffee Pudding Beer" - sounds interesting !! Not a beer, but I got a(nother !!) bottle of Josef Meier's "Krauter Likor" - a 30% German liquor of herbs and spices - better tasting I think than Jagermeister, and just £10 a bottle at Asda today. Aldi do a similar drink, Jagdbitter, all are quite nice on a cold winters night !! PROST !! (or is it Frost !!). Brit15

Money is better spent on the Royal Navy & Devonport than throwing 0.7% of our GDP on so called "Foreign aid". Not that I am totally against foreign aid, BUT that money SHOULD NOT be "given" to other countries. It should ALL be spent in the UK (supporting UK firms and workers) on supplies, equipment etc needed in times of natural disasters, disease, medical aid, clean water, childrens education etc - and NOT to line the pockets of corrupt foreign governments (Like the China, etc). We downsize our Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Border Patrol, MI5 / 6 etc etc at our peril. The world is changing fast, and not much for the better. We are an Island race and need to protect ourselves better. Also Russia is not "The real enemy" these days - though needs to be watched / treated with caution. Brit15

Azuma till Steventon, then 'A goes slower on Adeezel !!!!!! Brit15

Us "poor people here up north" have billions of gallons of water within our beautiful scenery (and our electric trains run under old bridges !!). Brit15

Re the above - someone tell Bill Nelson !! Brit15

Now unloading !!!!!! Brit15

Have you noticed how many Formula 1 drivers have names linked to Scottish towns? Stirling Moss. Lewis Hamilton. Eddie Irvine. Ayr Town Centre. Brit15

"Urgent job Mr Brunel, on your railway line over at Steventon" Brit15