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This is Tabby, yes I know, but my wife wanted to call her Gloria . I told her that there was no way I was calling Gloria at midnight in the back garden when trying to tempt her in so we called her Tabitha. She just appeared one day from under the shed where she was sleeping, we think according to the vet that she was about 10-12 weeks old. It was late Sept, so I cut a hole in the shed door so she could sleep inside. After about a week of feeding and talking to her by my good lady she cautiously crept into the conservatory and settled down on a bed upstairs. 7 yrs later she has grown into a very intelligent cat. We lost our previous cat a year earlier and we had been looking forward to enjoying our holidays abroad without the worry of a cat back home, Tabby put paid to that. I thought I had better post another photo just to prove she is not always scruffy.

Not trying to be critical but 44123 was a r/h drive loco. As a simple restoration project then maybe it is not that important. Pete

If that is his "hungry" look I wouldn't like to see his "angry" look.

Apologies to all for going off topic.

not relevant to topic

not relevant to topic

John, I am told that there is a stone in the railway retaining wall at Heeley indicating the boundary between Derbys and Yorks. Incidently I know it's a long shot but there used to be a lad slightly older than me with your name who went to Tupton Grammar and trainspotted at Clay Cross station, not you by any chance is it ? Pete

I managed 32yrs, piled it into Brass and managed to get away at 53yrs old. Having worked part time for a few yrs (training Dvrs on GSMR) I understand from former colleagues that light hearted banter is now frowned upon and to be resisted. That's the one thing I miss after retiring. Pete

Ian, Lets call it a draw. It was always a bit of light hearted banter anyway, I hope. As an aside on the local BBC regional programme there was talk of re-opening the Peak railway. However the hikers and bikers were not at all happy. Pete

Nearholmer , Thank you, yes that is what i was alluding to. I know that the Severn was the longest out of necessity to cross the river. All academic, now that we have the chunnel etc. Just wondering whether a cut and cover ( Haddon tunnel ) could be classed as a non subterranean ? Pete

No I'm not upset Russ, as I shall appeal to the neutrals using the following evidence. 1 You can always tell a Yorkshire man but you can't tell him much. 2 Derbyshire is smaller than Yorkshire and must therefore have a higher ratio of tunnels per square mile. 3 Totley is I believe the longest subterranean tunnel in the country. Cowburn must be up there somewhere as well in length. I leave it to the jury to decide. Ps I did live in Sheffield for 36yrs but always pointed out that I was a Derbyshire lad. Pete

Having found a local magazine for the North Derbyshire area (Reflections June 2019) apparently Derbyshire has 50 tunnels including 2 that are the oldest in the world. Pete

half of Totley, Cowburn, Doveholes, Duckmanton , Alfreton, Rowthorne, Shirland. Bromhouse and Ambergate before they took the top off. Not sure about Disley and New mills ? Possibly also south end of Bradway. Of course when they were built both Totley and Bradway would have been completely in Derbyshire as the county boundary with the dee daas sorry Yorkshire was at Heeley . Pete

Russ, I reckon I have just counted 13 tunnels between Peak Forest Jct and Ambergate for starters. Pete

Russ , Derbyshire might do well. Pete

Don was my ride out instructor in 1980 when we were both at Sheffield but seeing as i had been driving for 4yrs under driver supervision (as we all were in those days) we ( 4 trainees ) spent most of the time discussing and testing each other on rules. light refreshments were also taken. Pete

Clay Cross Sth and Nth junctions , as I believe that they were the busiest junctions in the country in terms of tonnage carried. Pete

" Oh Well " the 1st single I ever bought. Pete

Evening Russ, I trust you are well. Good question as I left Sheffield in 86 to try and instruct you Thornaby lads. I would hazard a guess at around year 2000 for Ken and around 2010 for Mick. Pete

Platform 5 . Sheffield crew. Driver Ken Wood aka spit the dog . S/man Mick Slone aka halfer. Pete

Brush 4 from me. Pete

Black 5 from me, did everything that was asked of it and more. Pete