billy_anorak59

DJH Kit-built 02 - NRM Yard, York 2004...

Mint. Un-weathered. Scratch built. A one-off commission. Brilliant - many congratulations! Billy.

Hi Martin - just stumbled on this one - I'll be following with interest! Just wondering if you've seen the Flickr Site 'KDH Archive' shots taken of Northgate the day before it closed? Can't see that it's been mentioned here, but I might have missed it... https://www.flickr.com/photos/96859208@N07/12931356055/in/album-72157634859512951/ Quite a few interesting shots of Northgate itself, and loads more around Chester in the wider album. Even if you've seen it before, it might be of interest to the rest of your audience perhaps... Billy.

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but there is some prototype inspiration in Dave F's excellent RMWeb thread (UK Prototype Discussions)... I've put them here - I tried to link, but it didn't work for some reason (probably me...)

I’ve managed to miss this thread up to now - how, I don’t know (I think I must be a bit slow…). I don’t usually contribute to the forum, as I’m not worthy, I just lurk - but this thread has grabbed me by its ability to simply ooze atmosphere. Apart from my gushing appreciation, I was just wondering if you had seen the aerial shots of Camden on the excellent ‘Britain From Above’ site? It seems to have got a lot bigger lately, and there is good resolution available if you register, as you are then allowed to zoom in a fair way. Not quite your era (20s/40s), but useful? Apologies if you were already aware. See http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw000804?search=camden&ref=1 for example. It’s been great to follow your journey so far – looking forward to the rest of it! Bill.

Ah - thanks gents, I knew you'd know. Cheers.

Not seen it mentioned, but one of my favorite films is 'School for Scoundrels' (1960 - Alistair Sim, Terry-Thomas, Ian Carmichael). Near the beginning, the hero (Ian Carmichael) is on his way to attend 'The School of Lifemanship' in Yeovil. When the train pulls into 'Yeovil' though, I seem to remember that the loco is an Eastern Region tank (poss J50). The fingerpost directions to the school then take him on a journey across the goods yard. The film finishes in the same place, only this time, Terry-Thomas is looking for the school. Anyone know where it was filmed?

Don't know if anyone else has posted this, but further to the photo on post at #327 of D5705's recent body lift, there's a whole sequence of the same at: http://www.elrpsmembers.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=53

Thanks. Yes, they're the only ones I found. I must be losing it - it didn't register with me that 40 106 was at Doncaster - I could have sworn it came off at Guide Bridge 'cos I took a photo of it there detatched from the train.... hey ho. I hadn't thought of the gallery owners either, so I'll give them a whirl - thanks again.

A plea, if I may? I wonder if anyone can help regarding a (LCGB?) railtour I travelled on in the late 1970's? (21/01/79) I've done a search both here and on the excellent SixBellsJunction website and can't find any reference to it, although I have found some photographs on the web (on a Fotopic site), taken at Stockport on 21/01/1979 which was called the 'Doncaster Rover'. This would fit the time I had in mind, the weather, the destination, and the loco hauling at that point. Now that I'm getting on a bit, my memories are a bit blurry, but what I do remember is: We boarded at Liverpool Lime Street - the loco was 40 106 (in green). I don't remember Stockport, but I seem to remember that the 40 was taken off at Guide Bridge and replaced by 2 Class 76's, which would imply that they in turn, were taken off at Sheffield. Again, I don't remember what provided onward haulage to Doncaster. The day started cold but bright, but by Guide Bridge, there was snow on the ground, and by the time Doncaster was reached, the snow was joined by thick fog. My main recollection was that I was in the last carriage (a compartment Mk1) and it was FREEZING!! (I don't think that any steam heat available made it that far down the train, and I don't suppose that the 76's were providing any anyway!) Once at Doncaster we made our way around the works and there were (IIRC) 11 Deltics there that day. A couple looked very folorn (Nimbus? St Paddy?), and I was shocked to see them in such a state. There were Class 50s (being refurbished?) and Class 56' being built. I also recall (because it remains the only one I ever saw) a Class 71 tucked away in a dark and dingy shed, undergoing what looked like body repairs. Was this the preserved one actually undergoing preservation? All I have left are photos of 40 106 and unidentified Class 76s at Guide Bridge, plus some of some murky shapes at Doncaster - the old instamatic didn't work well in fog... I have no details of loco numbers, the route taken there and back, timings, or what was on Doncaster Works. Any info would be appreciated. Can anyone help? Cheers, Billy.