Rugd1022

Yes, they're blue 😉.

Photo by Bob Faulkner : D5374 at Wellingborough Shed on 7th August 1966...

Photo by Jim Freebury : D5675 at Frodingham on 16th February 1969... Photo by Norman Preedy : D5561 at Gloucester Horton Road...

Photo by John Sydney-Han : D6745 at Tibshelf on the up York - Bournemouth express in 1963...

You can never have too many books, it's the law - you are however, allowed to run out of room! My books are all over the place but once Christmas is over I'm determined to re-jig my shelf space and add some more in one of the alcoves in the back parlour. They're all mixed up at the moment just to make them fit the space I've currently got - railways, cars, music, films and TV subjects etc. Happy Christmas all 😉

D6xx at Swindon Works...

Photo by Tim Wright : Crewe Works...

A recent discovery amongst the flotsom and jetsom of life...

Photographer unknown : 37 189 takes the up main through Reading with a Didcot - Padd parcels service on 19th July 1983...

On Days Like These - Matt Monro...

Hugh Dady's colour album 'Heyday Of The Warships' has a cracking photo of D602 in BSYP livery taken by Roy Palmer at Llandrindod Well in September '67 with a freight from Landeilo Yard, which according to the caption it worked just twice. (On the same page is a Terry Nicholls shot of D602 working 1A77 12.00 Penzance - Padd past St.Budeaux on 28th December, two days before being withdrawn).

Oh Calcutta - The Dave Pell Singers...

Your Mother Should Know - Fabs...

A bit of nostalgia around Leamington...

I went through a short phase of wanting a Beetle when my youngest sister was looking for one, but was soon cured of it after driving three of them over a weekend. I do like them but have no burning desire to own one, unlike lots of other classic cars. I am rather partial to Karmann Ghia and Type 34 Coupes though, there's something about both types that really appeals. Regarding older gearboxes - the manual / overdrive in my '73 Series 2 XJ6 was a joy to use, as was the four speed manual in my '73 Rover P6 2000TC, both had just the right amount of 'snickertiness' when changing up or down. By far the smoothest was the Borg Warner three speed auto in my '70 Rover P5B Coupe.

Cheery wotsits from playboy central...!

As well as perusing '60s Jag saloons of late I've been reminiscing rather wistfully (again) about the Rover P5Bs and P6s I owned between 2006 and 2015, this is partly brought on by the sight of a mate's immaculate P6 3500S, and seeing a particular P5B Coupe for sale on carandclassic.com which I knew quite well as a nipper back in the '70s, as it was first registered less than a mile from where I sit typing this and lived hereabouts for seventeen years. It'll no doubt haunt me until someone comes along and buys it but in the meantime it's got me looking at all the period imagery once more... It'll all end in tears...!

I Love My Dog - Cat Stevens

That's taken at the north end of Bridgnorth, just past the level crossing gates where the locos run round 😉

Midnight To Six - The Pretty Things

Stray Cat Blues - The Stones

The Story Of The Blues - The Mighty Wah

1953 (later 47 500 'Great Western') doing the light engine shuffle near Westbourne Park on 18th July 1973...

Hey Man - Spacemen 3