Ceptic

Hi all. Apologies for the lack of up-dates. Since I live a considerable distance (in UK terms) from the Group, the majority of news comes via e-mail. The most recent being back in September, last. Many thanks for the bump, andrew_m and aussiebrfan. The latest news, is that work is continuing on the cemetery's Monkey Puzzle trees, the trolleybus overhead and lighting for both the Cemetery Junction and the Holdenhurst Road. These haven't been without their own setbacks, re-wires (I.e. street lighting and the trolleybus wiring don't mix, the whole caboodle goes live), re-thinks, plan Bs, Cs, etc. The trees are being, individually, hand crafted, copied from old photographs, as there are a lot less of them now, especially after the storms of 1987. No RTP here (A little elsewhere tho', to complete the picture) P.S. Edit. http://www.flickr.com/photos/alwyn_ladell/4733730436/in/set-72157624356062652/ Relying, again, on Alwyn Ladell, a link to postcards from the time when the cemetery was the proverbial "Boot Hill" of the town. Originally situated on land which was, then, outside the northernmost town boundary. The L&SWR were also forced to take this boundary route to avoid the town's more affluent, influential, residents. A late 1980s pic, showing the depletion of the cemetery's avenue of Monkey Puzzle trees. The one on the right looks rather poorly. A present day image, courtesy of GE. Hardly any avenue left and, still, no trolleys. Once these sections are finished, the promised photographs will be posted. All the best & A Happy New Year !

Lidls,... 376/8 Wimborne Road, Winton, Bournemouth, had, at least, a half-dozen of the large cabinets, in the store, this morning. Cover-all phone No. 0870 444 1234

Depends who were the grumpiest.... ...Probably caught that 'face' off it's Monday morning multitude of commuters. I've always thought that the introduction of the, inverted, black triangle, added a welcoming / cheery smile to one end of an, otherwise, 'blank face' of the 2 car Emus / 2/3 car Demus. May I, also, take this opportunity to thank Colin for keeping us all enthralled by his expertise. Also to Dave, Howard, SRnan, et al, for making this topic one of the best to come out of RMweb. Here's wishing you All,.... a Very Merry / Cheery Christmas and the Very Best of New Years. Cheers, Frank.

Working on to 70 ?.....Yep,...I'm game... "Gissa job,.....I candoo tha',......Go on, ....gissa......" http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=19THRdXxmaI P.S... Look out for the the 'Best of the smelly farts' clips.....It runs on for a bit, and falls a bit flat in the middle, tho'.

Hi Colin. Old Brightonian ?,...me ?.....Yep...Still love the place,...after all these years. Brighton General, eh. Up the top of Elm Grove. I know it. After being bombed out of Portsmouth, Dad's Mum, previously living in Bedford Place, Kemp Town, moved halfway up Elm Grove, along with her offspring. As far as I've been told, I was born in the Royal Sussex, Eastern Rd, Kemp Town. Funny old world, innit ?... So many connections. Wishing you, and yours, Colin, All The Very Best for Christmas. I'll catch up with you, later. Frank.

Hmmm,....'fraid not, Howard. All I have, to hand, are U/f drawings of the loco hauled SR, BR(S) stock. Even then, these are limited to some of Maunsell and Bulleid coaches. Thinking about it, I have some lists of the OPC / BR Drawings Joint Venture Scheme. These lists / catalogue numbers are the basis of the NRM's Drawing Archives listings. I'll have a look through what I've got, and see if there's anything of interest. All the best, Frank.

Hi Howard. i've got some pics of a BR Mk,1 2-EPB's U/f. If these would be of assistance ? you can reach me via PM. P.S. These are slide scans and their colour has faded, but, most details can be seen. All the best, Frank.

Born in Brighton, escaped / evacuated, westwards, during WW2's dark days. Spent most of that period, when I got the chance, looking at SR steam. The most memorable time was when, during school holidays, I stayed with relatives, either in Brighton or W.Worthing. As a kid of the time, being used to steam locos, (Third rail) electric traction and Emus were a vision of the future. Even now, (The) other railway(s) is / are attempting to catch up. All the best. Frank.

The Bulleid 4-SUBs, also, reached out to Brighton, on No Lav, week-end excursions / cheap-day returns, Possibly, other South coast resorts welcomed their visits, as, I'm sure, the incumbents welcomed the resort's conveniences. Also to be seen on the L&SW mainline, reaching Eastleigh works, for re-furbs / repairs / maintenance etc. All the best.

Hi Colin. Apologies for going off topic, and setting the cat amongst the pigeons with Clive,.....but... On the odd occasion, I've wondered, what was the most efficient way of loading / disgorging the 'commuter multitudes' ?. Two, or three, sliding doors, per car, or, individual slam-doors to each bay. Experiencing the Waterloo to Waterloo East rush, in both directions, the main bottle-neck came at the Ticket barriers, until the advent of the Cl 508s and the 455s, which, seemed to cause a certain amount of concern among some. Pack ;em in, and ship 'em in / out, was, and still is, the policy. The 4-SUBs were very efficient at this, and offered a very comfortable seat. (If you could find one) All the best, Frank

I agree, BernardTPM. Once run-of-the-mill. Now, just a, sometime, pleasant reminiscence of a railway shifting a multitude of commuters. SR paved the way, and others followed suit.

By any standards, Colin, be'em metal or plastic scratch-builds,... that is neat craftsmanship....Damn Neat... To quote Boris, on another thread,.......Awesome Many thanks.

Hi Colin. Re :- 4377's Driving Motors. Ian Allan's ABCs for 1963 & 1973 both list 4377 as having the MBS (Compartment / 96 Seats). SUBsquent batch of SUBs, Nos. 4378* / 9 / 80 / 1* / 2 / 3* / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 shown having the MBSO (Saloon / Open / 82 Seats). * Units missing in 1973. All the best, Frank. P.S. Edit... As an afterthought.. The only batch of SUBs shown as having the Semi-Saloon / 84 Seats, MBS in 1963 are Nos. 4121 - 30, reduced to 4121 / 4 - 8 / 30 by 1973. P.P.S. Edit....No. of seats added.

That's the new flag for when Scotland (+ N. Ireland & Wales, later)) go devoluted.

Hi JeffP Some general views of the Ransomes & Rapier 70' T/T at the Didcot Railway Centre. (I wonder if anyone has any detail shots ?) Ex-SR, recovered from Southampton New (Western) Docks. There was another 70' T/T, this time built by Cowans Sheldon, situated north of the Terminus, at the loco shed coaling stage,there. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turntable_Didcot_Railway_Centre.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Didcot_railway_centre's_turntable_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1041754.jpg http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7DF8_Didcot_Railway_Centre_Turntable_Didcot_Oxfordshire_UK http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im20100802Did-Ransomes1.jpg http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=22555 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=301937&nseq=8 Some, maybe useful, pictures here of the Cowans Sheldon 70' T/T at Yeovil Junction. Post # 118, near the bottom of this page. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70133-photographic-survey/page-5 Regards.

Hi Colin. I'm tending to agree, that the trailers were N/S, both saloon, compartment & downgraded composite types. The MBSO's were Smokin' (and sparkin') The SEG Booklet's G/As confirm this. Although printed in 1979, it gives some idea to the units' latter days By the way, your SUB's looking SUperB All the best, Frank.

Great pics, cary hill. 6' - 6" clearance on that bridge over Old Watling Street. I hope those truckers have got this route crossed off their Sat-Navs. Cheers.

Now, that looks like a certain Mr Magoo,...to me

Riiiiiighttt........Received and understood. Thanks Colin. I hope everybody is paying attention ?....Questions will be asked later (at end of lesson)..... .....Oi,...You,...Ceptic..... wake up at the back there !...

Another view, showing but two repair strips in line with the bottom edge of the body panels. Beats me what those two Yellow fangs / whiskers are, tho' ?. (They're not present on the other end) All the best.

Hmmm...... Maybe trying to split hairs on this one,...but, I'm going with Dave. Das's pic 1 on post # 108 shows the cut-away beneath the Driver's door, showing the floor and the top edge of the Sole-bar channel. Given that the camera level is slightly above in-line, the adjacent body panel bottoms are not giving the impression that they are comparable / in line with the top of the Sole-bar. Nor, is the Headstock return, top flange visible, even from the camera's standpoint. Within the same post, pics 2, 3 & 6 show wiring / pipework within the S/bar's recess. This is not the upper flange of the channel. Dave's photos, of the inner ends, in post #109, nos. 9,10,11 & 12, show the centre buffers and rubbing plates cutting into the base of the end panels, similar to the outer ends. Body side panels appear to be another notch lower..... ....There again, given my eyesight, what's an inch or so, between friends ?

Yeovil Junction's turntable. First of all. Apologies for the delay in posting. The reason behind this was, I wasn't too sure of it's origins, as I couldn't see any builder's plate attached. It turns out that it was built by Cowans Sheldon, in 1947. Discovered and listed by the Cumbria County Council's Archive Dept....Well done to those involved. The present archive list is downloadable, in PDF form, via this site http://85a.co.uk/forum/view_topic.php?id=1562&forum_id=5 Thanks must also go to Brian Nicholls for bringing it to my attention. Right, on to the photos,.... The well's wall is 3' - 3" deep, with the base sloping down to a circular, 1' wide gulley of approx 20' Dia. The base, from there, slopes up to the central hub. Facing the station, there is a radial inspection pit. The gulley drains into this and, in turn, this drains into a separate cess. Also to be seen, is the refuge, built into the wall. Track and pedestal detail. Wheel and bogie detail. The wheels are 4' Dia. with a 3 1/2" wide tread. The 6 lightening holes are 5" Dia. on a 2' - 3" P.C.D. The hub is approx. 1' Dia. x 9" wide. Underframe detail. Deck / bridge details :- Wheel guard, approx 1' high x 5 1/2" wide, giving a 1" clearance all round. Note the anti-slip metal mesh (a later addition) The wooden decking is 4' - 6" wide, each side, from the inside edge of the rail. Stanchion and handrail detail. Stanchions are 3' - 4 3/4" from the outrigger pad x 2 1/2" equal angle. Handrails are 1 1/4" Dia. Extendible push-bars & brackets. (A later addition ?) The winding gear. The canopy is another later addition. That's all Folks Regards.

Or,....to be appearing on a Nachos' menu, near you. (Wos I born 20 years too soon,?....or what ??)

Yeovil Junction :- Ex-L&SWR, West of England Main Line. Opened 1860. The main purpose of this survey was to photograph and measure details of the Yeovil Railway Centre's 70' turntable. These will be included. As far as the station, itself, goes, it still comes across as a somewhat forlorn site, barely bathing, in half the glory it once shared. Upon arriving, I felt reluctant to add pics of the station to the gloom of the overcast, storm threatening skies, as there are more colourful shots, aplenty, available via Google / Flickr. Some may be of interest, tho'. Parts of it have been brightened up with a new lick of paint. The truncated footbridge has gained a new roof and side cladding. As in earlier days, the main entrance is via the up-side station approach and footbridge. The Ticket Office and Waiting Room being on the island, now, up and down, platforms Nos.1 & 2. This type of platform canopy is typical of many on the "Southern". It would be a shame to see it fall into disrepair. Seen at the top, far left, is the ex-Cattle Dock. Shock !....Hunger !......Horror !, even.....'Peppers' Buffet'.....is No more....(Excuse shaky image) Once a sanctuary, supplying the weary pilgrim with a pint of hand pulled Bitter and a very handsome Bacon Buttie,..coupled with ambient atmosphere, has, apparently, shuffled off. Good grief...Is nothing sacred ? .. ...To be continued. Continued... The station, originally, consisted of four platforms on the two islands. with Up / Down Fast through centre roads The Down platform's only access was via the footbridge. Each side had it's own Goods Shed (still extant). The main Goods Yard being on the Up side, on the site of the Car Park The brightest things to be seen (apart from the arrival / departure displays) are the three, recently installed, LED Starter signals. Up, with 'Feathers' for the Pen Mill spur. & Down. Looking across to the Yeovil Railway Centre's new Engine Shed and the island's, now canopy less, building. http://www.d400fund.org.uk/news.html This picture and link speak for themselves. The YRC HQ (The next, but one, stop) http://www.yeovilrailway.freeservers.com/index1.html Ye olde Station Master's house. Now with plastic windows and porch, plus double garages, alongside. Turntable details to follow. Cheers.

Vot ??...Dis iz Goring ???...Vot are you bombing ? Herr Reichsmarshall ?? Dis Goring hast niet de turd rail !, Vot ver you tinkin' ? Herr Reichsmarshall ?? Ooh Kaaay......I zee you hev got yur Luger out.....It iz now time I fetch my helmut,... is it not ?