Poor Old Bruce

Not sure they ever were. The preserved Brake 3rd at Butterley has a unbraked centre axle (probably not an original underframe but not certain). The Fish Van at Rowsley has an LMS-built underframe on which the centre axle is braked.

If l could work out how to copy the pics off my phone, l would post some views of the old Great Northern trackbed from Mickleover to Egginton Junction. I'll take a proper camera down there some time soon.

More from 1989 Cuxton with relay boxes Charlton Lane Crossing Shepherds Well Selling Chartham

More from 1989: Canterbury West Canterbury East Dover Hawkesbury Street Junction Dover Priory

Some 'modern' 'boxes on the SE. All from April 1989. Crabtree Crossing Snowdown Appledore Rainham Rochester and Chislet Colliery

Not keen on those replacement windows although they are, no doubt, less draughty than the originals. I've got some (slightly) earlier pics of Acle to post in due course i.e. when I've worked through what I have scanned already and got round to scanning them.

Here's one of Rothley in 1991, without one of those pesky train things getting in the way. Lincoln East Holmes in 1991 There was a West Holmes as well.

Look like Midland wooden posts with replacement upper-quadrant arms. The gantry in the background could be interesting as well.

Another couple of pics of Maidstone East to show what a difference the lighting can make to a photo. seen in 1989. .. and Maidstone West again, 1989 The preserved box at swanage, 27 April 2018 and a big fence with Shildon box in the background, 18 Oct 2018

Knocking it is what it was there for Here's another pic showing the train (and 'box) at Addiscombe, 3 May 1989

Boat of Garten, 22 April 2018 Llandrindod Wells, 25 April 2018. Sorry about the train in the way but it was this or nothing at the time. I should have one without a train somewhere in the collection. Haslemere, 27 April 2018 Aviemore, 19 July 2018

It is indeed a structure gauging train. It was in the late 1980s when the fancy 'sheet of light' SGT thingy was still under development. Some bright spark had the idea of building some new trains for the Southern without thinking whether they would fit the infrastructure or not! One of the BR Research Lab coaches was fitted with blocks of polystyrene out to the kinematic envelope of the new stuff and run round until it hit something and the blocks got damaged. Then it was a case of stopping somewhere safe, replacing the blocks (held on with double-sided carpet tape) and carry on. All good fun and a chance to get plenty of SB piccys as the passage through the stations was at reduced speed 'just in case'.

Pontrilas, 5May 2017 Exeter Central, 7 May 2017 Lincoln High Street, 19 Aprl2018 The preserved 'box at Hartington on the Tissington Trail in Derbyshire, seen on 7 June 2019

Some South Eastern boxes from some time in the 1980s Hastings Minster Margate Deal

Dunkeld 21 April 2018 Dalwhinnie, 21 Apr 2018 Pitlochry 23 Apr 2018 Workington Main No.3, 24 Apr 2018

Here's another one of Swanwick Junction on 17 Aug 2014 Church Lane at Darley Dale, 17 Jan 2011 The re-purposed Kyle of Lochalsh, 1 May 2017 Stirling North, 2 May 2017 Stirling Middle, 2 May 2017 Par, 6 May 2017 Penzance, 7 May 2017

Class 86 at Hademore Crossing, between Tamworth and Lichfield in 1980 to show how high the pantograph was expected to go, and still perform effectively, at a level crossing.

97800 (ex D3767 according to the buffer beam writing) at Ashford, 19 April 1989: Anybody know the significance of the (Welsh?) dragon?

Has this one been posted before? 08500 at York in 1992

Some preserved examples: Bury South, East Lancashire Railway, 23 Jan 2011 Ramsbottom, East Lancashire Railway, 23 Jan 2011 Matlock, Peak Rail, 20 Feb 2013 Grosmont Crossing, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, 23 Oct 2018 Levisham, also NYMR, 25 oct 2018 Cheddleton, Churnet Valley Railway, 20 Aug 2008

Do you mean 1950s, Carmine and Cream? Most corridor coaches were painted this livery with non-gangway coaches being plain carmine. All-over Crimson Lake (aka Maroon) was introduced in about 1956. Blue and Grey came into general use c1965.

All the more credit to those who have done it/do it at 12in to the foot.

9 Aug 1983 Miles Platting Junction Manchester Victoria Huyton Speke Junction Halton Junction (more missing letters).

It's a bit like me, as you get older, bits start to drop off .

Griff Junction, between Coventry and Nuneaton (see Ramrig post below, thanks), 30 Aug 1983 Lichfield City, also 30 Aug 1983 Yoker in 1989 Falsgrave Box at Scarborough, 21 April 2012