Mr Brunel

Hi there, In Michael S. Welch's "Great Western Branch Lines 2 - Rural Wales", there is a photo of No. 7442 with chalk markings on its smokebox door which may be the one you are thinking of. The writing says "New Valves", and there seem to be some initials - RC and WJ, it looks like. There is also a series of numbers, which could be 11462 or 1/462 (I assume this is a date, but of course it could be something else.

Looks like a remarkable cut and shut job on the Triang Hall chassis, but no lining or emblem? I know we all find transfers a bit intimidating but you've got to have a go some time. And that figure in the cab - its clothes haven't been painted in prototypical GWR uniform colours... wibble... In all seriousness it looks excellent. Thank you very much for posting the photograph - I'm disappointed I couldn't make it to Didcot this weekend.

Ah, I should probably explain that I've been a member of the group for about a year now! I'm Sam Sheppard - you may have seen my name on the Yahoo group from time to time? When I last came, I was keeping the normal cleaning jobs going while 5572 was being worked on, hence I spent most of the day cleaning No. 5900 and No. 3822. I'm not sure when I will next be able to visit Didcot, as I'm starting postgraduate education in September. I might try and come in this weekend to do more cleaning - I meant to have a go at No. 6998 some time.

I'm glad to hear that because I was at Didcot a week ago and I spent a lot of time getting "up close and personal" with No. 5900! It was looking very dusty and a bit sad so I gave the loco a thorough clean. It's nice to know that my efforts were worth it, given that it will be outside with everybody getting a good look at it...

Hi all, Earlier this week I received a research query from an university tutor of mine: "I need to find out what coffee shops there were in Paddington Station Concourse (not underground) in 2006! As in, was there a Costa, or a Nero or a Starbucks or that sort of thing? I only need the name of one such outlet, but I need it to be historically correct." I thought that somebody on this forum might be able to help with her question? Apologies if this is not the best place to ask such a question. Regards, Sam

Oo very nice - what did you use to remove the cab and tender lining please? I've a Bachmann Hall I was thinking about repainting, but I don't know of anything that would shift their printed decorations.

Looking good! I especially like the silver smokeboox door handles and straps. They are really part of the iconic 4079 'face' aren't they? I also rather like the "OZ" shed allocation... I have actually known for some time that 5051 and 4079 had exchanged tenders once more. How so, you might ask? Well, I have recently joined the Non-operational Locomotives Group - I was actually volunteering at Didcot on the day that the tenders were swapped around! I was polishing the cabside number plates on 6697 when I was told to down tools as they were clearing that road of the shed... I remember walking alongside 4079 as the 08 pulled it out of the workshop, which felt like a special moment - the gap between the workshop and the engine shed marks the first time I've seen 4079 moving, or in full daylight. Enough of my waffling - thank you for your updates! Best, Sam

Superb, thank you! By the way, is there any chance the smokebox door of 6697 could be opened? I need some pictures of the inside of a 56XX's smokebox for a project I'm doing...

Hi Drew, Do you have two spaces for my Dad and myself please? Sam

Is it just me or is the lining a slightly different colour as well? It seems to be more 'orange-y' on Okehampton and the King.

Spotted on the B3268 between Bodmin and Lostwithiel, on a recent holiday to Cornwall:

Spotted (with the aid of Google Maps): This is next to the A447, near Cadeby (of Teddy Boston fame).

The Castle is coming along nicely - were you working on 4079 yesterday? I was travelling from Oxford to Cardiff and thought I recognised you disembarking at Didcot...

A few years old by now, this is a 1:72 de Havilland Mosquito B Mk. IV. It's the Revell re-boxing of the Hasegawa kit. There's actually a tenuous railway connection as I bought the kit from the small shop in Grosmont engine shed!

Let me see - 5051 has 4079's Collett tender, and 6998 has (I think) 5051's Hawksworth tender. Where did 6998's tender go?

Will this do to start with? Thanks for a great tour. An informative day out (thanks to Mr Station Master for his signal box talk). I particularly enjoyed seeing the Dean carriage that had done duty as a bungalow - it reminded me of when my dad bought a car from a bloke who lived in two grounded Midland Railway carriages!

Here's a little one I spotted earlier today - didn't have time to take a photograph of my own, but this Google Maps screengrab shows it well enough. This is the railway overbridge on Worcester Street in Gloucester: As you can see, it still bears a 'British Rail - Private Road, No Parking' sign.

I mentioned this one before - here is a Google Maps screenshot which, I hope, shows the grounded van body in Leckhampton Lane in Gloucestershire: As the bauxite colour suggests, it seems to be a BR 12 ton design (I believe it has corrugated ends).

Another example that comes to mind is definitely the old Livery Street entrance which is all that's left of the original Birmingham Snow Hill.

The railways around Cheltenham are arguably not too evocative as very little actually remains of them - however, there are some reminders left if you know where to look. Here's what's left of Malvern Road: The Travis Perkins yard which obliterated much of the site has at least been kind enough to retain the yard gates, complete with GWR monograms. There's also the 'STAFF ONLY' sign around the back which I'm fairly certain is original. And here is the approach to St. James station, in whose place a Waitrose now lies. The road bridge has been replaced, but it's clear how the track would have split (the left-hand line continuing to Stratford-upon-Avon, and the right-hand entering the station). The Waitrose is a dull alternative but it's slightly spooky to think, when rifling through magazines or wandering the fruit and veg aisle, that I'm stood where GWR Prairies long ago brought in trains from Kingham.

Hi Castle, Can I have two (provisional) places for my Dad and myself please? Things might change nearer the time, but we're keen to see 4144 in steam and wearing the correct colours...