Rugd1022

There would be no reason to leave anything stabled at Banbury really, as the loco, stock and crew would all need to be back at Old Oak.

^^^ Beautiful! Some more Continental nostalgia, photographer unknown alas but what lovely images, all taken in 1970... Innsbruck... Mont Saint Michel... Guess where... Tyrol... Stockholm... I've just ordered another Italian crime flic from Amazon, not an older one this time but a more recent one made in 2010, it's set in the '70s and based on a true story of a kidnapping plot, of which there were many in Italy at the time, anyway the production team went to town on sourcing a large number of the right cars which must have taken some doing with lots of 'everyday' stuff amongst the executive BMWs etc...

Morning all, Grey, damp and decidedly dismal hereabouts this morning, but I am being thoroughly entertained by the thirteen beautiful Magpies currently dancing around on the lawn, all in search of delicious grubs no doubt, they really are lovely creatures to look at. There are also two very handsome looking Crows joining in, bless 'em.

Another dash of Continental municipal chic, an Alfa Romeo 430 of 1942 vintage coachbuilt by Ambrosino…

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye - Soft Cell

A newly arrived DMU creates some interest amongst the local spotters at Reading General, photo c/o Darren Ford...

400 arrived at Bath Road for train crew and fitter training in October '72 with 401 and 402 following soon after, probably in January / February of '73. 402 was Old Oak's crew training loco. 50 027 was the first one to reach Penzance in early '74, just after it was renumbered from 427 when it was used as the crew training loco at Long Rock.

First proper licence in my posession yes, I was expecting it to come to my address, I thought the company would keep it with my records, route cards etc. Another potential nightmare if ever I lose it on my travels, as well as this and my outdated duty pass I've got a swipe card to gain access / egress at DIRFT 2 (it's like Fort Knox with CCTV everywhere). I lost my PTS and company fuel card a few weeks ago thinking I'd left them on a loco down in London, found it at the bottom of my bag when I got home though (phew!).

No, definitely shot in July, August and September of '70, the director Mike Hodges was given Ted Lewis's novel 'Jacks Return Home' in March that year and signed up for the film two weeks later, the film was based on the book. The film took about forty days to shoot during those three months over the Summer, about four or five days of which were spent shooting the Wallsend scenes. (Steve Chobnal's excellent book on the making of the film has the actual shooting dates for each scene, taken from the production 'call sheets' ).

As I mentioned earlier Russ yes we do, but I'm still waiting for my updated one to arrive, despite several phone calls up the food chain. Low and behold though, my shiny new 'Train Driving Licence' arrived in the post this morning, complete with a grainy image of my boat race looking alarmingly like a long forgotten member of the Kray's gang. I'm sure I tried to smile a bit in the photo booth...!

More great stuff, thanks for sharing Dave... J6782 of the High Level Bridge walkway is very 'Get Carter', even ten years after the film was shot (Summer of 1970)

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...