Rugd1022

Deep Deep Down - From the soundtrack of the 1968 film 'Danger Diabolik'...

Reminds me of being on the Park Royal tripper and being given a small crate of Guinness by the shunter, a regular perk on this particular job. You could spend a whole shift working round Acton Yard, Park Royal, Greenford and West Ealing on those turns, happy times indeed.

This Old House - Shakin' Stevens

When the first Miuras were sold to customers in late '66 / early '67 most of them were returned straight back to the factory to have the interiors retrimmed, such was the 'quality' of fit and finish. These early cars also had a black anodised finish on the door frames which would rub off at the slightest touch, the factory soon got these problems in hand though. The under dash 'hot water tap' was also present on the Lamborghini Espada, quite an odd feature on what was supposed to be 'Italy's Rolls Royce', it didn't seem to put buyers off though, the Espada was the firm's best seller until the Countach sales got into their stride in the late '70s and early '80s.

I left My Heart In San Francisco - Tony Bennett

I agree Ian but there is one exception - from the rear the Aventador is a stunning piece of design in the flesh (well to me it is anyway). The later Huracan looks quite plain in comparison, but there's much more Audi input here than in the previous modern era Lamborghinis. I almost wrote off one of my Rover P6s in Chiswick some years ago when a Lamborghini 400GT crossed my path at a roundabout, it looked absolutely stunning and I nearly went into the back of a large delivery van!

Some more Italian nostalgia from the late '60s c/o a Lancia forum I came across recently (original photographer unknown)...

I've been refused twice at Willesden Junction in the past even with a diagram, daft isn't it! There are occasions when we don't have a diagram, for instance if we're on call.

Unfortunately for me the new gloves are useless, even the smallest size is too big, if I wear them when climbing on or off a loco they get stuck behind the handrails and my hands slide out backwards, not what you want when clinging onto the side of a 66! I had the same problem with the earlier issue suede gloves, utterley useless they were. Regarding awaiting new kit etc, I've been waiting for my new Freight Duty Pass since last Christmas, my old one is out of date but I still carry it, I've been refused access to some stations when on duty in the London area which now have barriers because it's out of date which is very embarrassing.

A Little Bit me, A Little Bit You - The Monkees

Blimey, does this mean I need to get some jabs the next time I work a train down the Midland...?

Midnight Train To Georgia - Gladys Knight & The Pips (like so many titles, we've had this one before but it's a real favourite of mine).

Ocean's Eleven - Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr and Deam Martin

Yep - Lancia Flavia 2000 Coupe, 1969 onwards 'facelift' model, similar in outline to the Ferrari 330GT which is no surprise since they're both Pininfarina designs. Here's chummy and co-pilot again...

''Who's driving this thing, you or me...?''

I still have several items of my original issue BR uniform from my days at Stonebridge Park and Old Oak, including three of those wonderful light blue cotton 'Summer jackets', two zip up Secondmans jackets and one matching Driver's jacket, all in excellent nick and stone me they still fit as well! Stashed away down in the garage is my first issue BR leather driver's bag, a little frayed around the edges but it is still usable, sadly I can't fit all my current kit in it or I'd still be using it in anger.

Came across this lovely period shot today - a Lancia Flaminia GT, a rare RHD one at that, awaitng the passage of the local Jinty at Wetmore Road level crossing in Burton-on-Trent...

My White Bicycle - Tomorrow

A Lancia 'Esagamma', whatever one of those is...

Some colourful Italian nostalgia...

Sometimes it's not easy to stay 'smart' when working on the freight side, we have plenty of uniform and PPE kit provided but the quality is awful, it's difficult to keep it clean and nothing seems to last, when asking for replacements it can take months to get anything, and when it does turn up it's often in the wrong size. Since joining Heavyhaul I've gone through four company supplied kits bags, they just fall apart - some Drivers have just bought their own but we're supposed to have the company logo on everything. We've been told that a whole new set of uniform and PPE is coming due to the recent rebranding, it'll be interesting to see what the quality / fit is like.

A collection of Old Oak 'faces', c/o Albert Abear… Bert Southgate, Charlie Shute, Dennis Mansell and (in the cab) Eric Webb... Bert Hunt and Don King... Dennis Mansell again with Driver Alec Wallace... Loco Foreman George Coles...

4th October... a date seared in the memory of those with a penchant for WR Diesel Hydraulics I'm sure.... it was on that day in 1971 that the remaining North British Warships were withdrawn.

Just before I sold my P5B Coupe I put four new Vredestein tyres on it, my local tyre emporium ordered them from Germany, IIRC they were around £100 each.

Stone me that looks fabulous - nice ot see it without the headlight! I was sat on 6M67 at Small Heath yesterday when along came 50 007, 50 017, 50 049 and 50 050 on a light engine move, much swapping of horns ensued twixt me and the driver, they looked startlingly good in banger blue, large logo blue and NSE liveries.