BR(W)

And she was lamped-up so nicely! Cheers, BR(W).

This any use?: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlcfVceOlSU/VhlgyeFg5SI/AAAAAAAAHiY/GEc9S_QS2FM/s1600/Barmouth17.jpg Beautiful Barmouth Bridge showing how the ends are treated. Cheers, BR(W).

Bit of dodgy renumbering on that EM1. Blame the transfers, I say. Cheers, BR(W).

Coach, I'm so relieved that someone of your status has confirmed what I have thought for ages: that 'carmine' (e.g. Pantone 17-1831) is nothing like the colour that I have studied in so many railway photographs and videos of pre-'56 mainline coaches. I've always believed that the 'red' on this 'red and cream' coaching stock is actually more like scarlet (18-1662) and appears very similar to the red bufferbeams on clean locomotives. Nor is it anything like the post-'56 maroon (18-1619) when compared to stock so painted in mixed rakes. So just when did the term 'carmine' originate, I wonder? I certainly recall seeing some Tri-ang (or Tri-ang Hornby) red and cream Mark 1s with what I thought was quite an accurate rendition of the red (although the cream was rather too yellow). Cheers, BR(W).

Actually, 6858 'Woolston Grange', on 15th. August 1964, complete with Locomotive Inspector in suit and bowler hat on the footplate. She was taken off at Huddersfield, having adjusted several platform edges on the way, and displayed at Hillhouse shed for a week or so, before being returned to Wolverhampton 'out of gauge'! Cheers, BR(W).

Oh, agreed: a nicely built model with a craftsman's finish. I was steadfastly in the realms of 12 inches to the foot, in 1947, transported in reverie by your lovely layout! No intention whatsoever to malign "the hand that mocked", but rather, "the heart that fed". Cheers, BR(W).

You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment. Cheers, BR(W).

Please forgive me, but just what is 'very nice' about that LNER eyesore? I have tried to respect, if not like, the man, his products and the company, but can't; too much vainglorious arrogance, haughtiness and plagiarism, not to mention extravagantly wasteful, flawed design- and production-engineering. That 1400 is, however, very nice: the pooch's pendulous parts, one might even say. Cheers, BR(W).

Be afraid; be very afraid: the naughty step is vacant. Shudder. BR(W).

Now, because we can't see the locomotive in these shots, does that mean that the train is the 'Headless Norseman', I wonder? That Thompson BSK looks to be a very appealing model, by the way, seemingly capturing the attractive prototype really well. Cheers, BR(W).

Barmouth itself, in fact. The first is at the 'Excursion Platform' used for the Dolgellau shuttle (on which 5801 was a regular in the fifties before the Ivatt 2-6-0s took over) and which was separated from the main station platforms to the north by a level crossing and a superb footbridge. The gates would usually be left open for road and foot traffic on Sundays, with all services terminating in the 'Excursion', or 'Sunday' platform. The familiar 'NIP-A-KOFS' advert can be made out on the gable end; was there such an advertisement anywhere else in the country, I wonder? Cheers, BR(W).

Or even: A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, A Loaf of Bread - and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness - Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow! Cheers, BR(W).

Oh, all right, then: 31st May at 1958 hours. No, 1956 hours... No - oh, bu99er! Cheers, BR(W).

Ah, the good old days of full employment and high productivity. Cheers, BR(W).

Burlesque eh? Now if only someone had something like an avatar image of, say, Nicole Scherzinger... Cheers, BR(W).

A number of locos in the 5000-5224 batches (straight throatplate boilers) had their frames modified to accept the new sloping throatplate boilers (5225 on) once construction of the former type had ceased. This allowed a pool of spare straight throatplate (ie short firebox) boilers to cater for overhaul of the unmodified locos in the 5000-5224 range. Cheers, BR(W).

I'm afraid I agree: there has been quite a lot of negative comment about the soldering of the stainless steel used by DCC Concepts, and no matter how ill-founded and unfair, reputational damage may already have been done. But one should bear in mind that one of the benefits of the stainless approach was claimed to be a significant reduction in the regularity of the need to clean the rail heads for reliable current collection, and I for one would suggest that a little extra care and effort at the installation stage (perhaps even improving one's soldering skills and equipment) could be hugely offset by sweeter, more reliable running for many years afterwards. A trade-off worth making, I feel, especially as I believe their track's appearance to be superior to Peco's. Anyone agree, or am I deluding myself? Cheers, BR(W).

There was a young man from Calcutta Who coated his tonsils with butter, Thus converting his snore From a thunderous roar To a soft, oleaginous mutter. Allegedly. Cheers, BR(W).

And aren't the station buildings of standard L.N.W.R. clapboard (modular) design? Cheers, BR(W).

Coach. 6404 was at Croes Newydd from the end of January 1955 until transfer to Oswestry in March 1959 from where she was withdrawn three months later. Cheers, BR(W).

We were taught that the volumetric descriptor 'imperial gallon' was originally determined by the volume of ten pounds of pure water, at sixty degrees Fahrenheit, at mean sea level. I think. Cheers, BR(W).

I fear the naughty step is going to be a little crowded, so we may have to... fetch... the... the... naughty chair. What else can one do with such rebellious and provocative children? Cheers, BR(W).

When in BR service, Manors, no; Granges, yes. Now watch someone prove me wrong! Cheers, BR(W).

Spam and chips? Cheers, BR(W).