Rugd1022

Sorry, I thought you were referring to Mike's Bletchley photo!

I couldn't lay my hands on any Pannier photos so here's one of an early low numbered Finsbury Par kallocated Brush Type 4 instead... 😉 A car park shenanigan with a difference - back in March I went to the big classic car restoration show at the NEC where the Sporting Bears charity were offering rides in various cars, as is my wont I chose the 1971 Lotus Europa and after a wizz bang exciting 20 minute ride we returned to the halls and drive under the car park barrier at full ghusto, and yes, I did automatically duck...!

The leading power car is an LMR one though.

Looks that way to me Russ but happy to be corrected.

Photographer unknown : Crewe Works in November 1974, 1957 is marked up to become 47 554, it was supposed to become 47 261 and later became 47 705...

D5574 at Coventry c.1961...

Wolverton Works, 17th May 1970...

Three from Leamington Spa, c/o Gordon Bartlett / John Cash / John Ford collection...

My Dad and I went to the motor show at the NEC in '78 on the Saturday, arriving on 310 066 and going home behind 310 080, the return journey weighed down slightly by plastic bags crammed with new car brochures (a few of which I still have). I remember a red TR7 on display near one of the entrances, and begging my dad to buy one!

Just found another LMS Sleeper shot in my hard rive, an ebay find taken at Oban in 1973...

A blast from the past...

Quite possibly put there by my great uncle Harry who worked at Welford & Kilworth as signalman porter! He wrote this little book about his time on the railway...

Waiting On A Friend - The Stones

'Brit' 70034 at Bolton-le-Sands in July 1966, photo by Dave and Jenny Hill...

Instant first impression on looking at those two photos - ''they're really nice looking models''. I'm almost certain that the old Airfix 'Model Trains' magazine did an article on detailing the N2 of the period. Likewise I'm sure they did one on converting the Hornby 37 from centre to split headcoe boxes using plasticard etc. Someone mentioned the old Airfix 4F earlier which I've always liked, it had the right 'Midland' look about it and with a bit of weathering and some real coal in the tender looked rather good I thought. In 1980 a mate of mine built a layout based around the split level fast and slow (goods) lines between Sharnbrook and Oakley and had a pair of Airfix 4Fs slogging away on long coal trains, they really did look the part.

Another cracking set of evocative images Dave, very nice indeed, J2055 in particular looks like it could easily grace the cover of an Ian Allan photo album or ABC Locoshed book for 1970 / 71, it has a certain look about it. Looking forward to the next batch of suitably grim ‘70s winters scenes.

This is correct as the newly relaid line from Oxford trails into Bletchley in the down direction anyway, albeit up on the flyover. There used to be a connection from the Oxford line into the down bays at Bletchley but this was done away with when the WCML was modernised in the '60s. The track bed of said connection is now a roadway giving access to the new 'West Junction' crossovers. Re- spotters, I often give a toot and a wave so long as it won't scare someone else on the platform making them jump the wrong way, bit can't let anyone in the cab these days as it's a disciplinary offence. Some years ago one of our drivers let his daughter in his cab to take a photo, was caught doing so and almost lost his job over it. It's a shame but there it is. We've had several instances of people getting into cabs and causing damage.

No Morris Minors were hurt, injured, or completely and utterly bodged during the posting of these images... 😁

Here you go Steve, it's actually orange...

And yet still modelable.

The Triang BP was cutting edge modern image at the time...

Yes that would make sense - there wasn't one in '83, in fact there wasn't one between 1981 and 1985 😉

Went to the local pub meet in the Maser where a nice and varied selection of vehicles turned up, about forty in all but here's a quick sample...

Probably to make it more like some of the other WR named ETH fitted 47s like 'Great Western', 'Great Britain', 'Fair Rosamund', 'Thames' etc. 'Vulcan' kept its plates in the usual position... As did 'Cyclops'...

The Old Man's Back Again - Scott Walker