balders

Impressed with the acceleration of the 730's and the "new car" smell is a real welcome change to the dingy, hot and smelly 350/2's. Still trying to track down 350108 as my final one for haulage mind......without cheating! One of my former colleagues is now a recently qualified Coventry driver as well. Liking the 196's and had a tour of the cab some weeks ago. Keep up the good work. What you think is mundane isn't.....! Regards Guy

I had a cassette recording from May 1982 of '105 getting the green through Cardiff on loaded TTA's. Absolute beast. So glad she's still around doing the business. Regards Guy

That, my friend, is devotion to The Art above and beyond. Please keep them coming. Your catalogue has been mentioned without prompting regarding prototype in many conversations I've had. Regards Guy

I did mention his spirit was with us yesterday on the Wizzo tour out of Paddington and back through Jed territory (albeit via Coventry not Solihull!) Regards Guy

The Hudson High Line. Fantastic bit of urban reimagination and yet retaining a fair bit of original features. I loved it. Walked it from Hudson Yards in 30° heat. Photo taken as the line does a 180° spin towards the meat packing district. Regards Guy

Westbury. Inside out. Just before being hoofed off as there was no driver to take the train forward 🤦‍♀️ Regards Guy

......and looking fantastic in express blue as well. Regards Guy

.......the BCK still in use on the Bluebell railway. Regards Guy

For me it was April 1983 and a visit to patures Southern. Staying in Weybridge saw me with 5 days of freedom to go and explore. It may seem mundane back then if you lived in it all......but to me the staggering amount of trains into and out of Waterloo was boggling. All obviously slam door of several types and in three days I'd cleared my 508's....and I'd never even seen one before. This ain't Coventry any more. That's for certain! First runs down to Basingstoke behind (and in front of) push-pull cromptons. Class 09's and 73's and some arcane 3rd rail slam door units. Loved it. Very happy days! Regards Guy

I used it for only the second time on Monday........other than a railtour last year......and it was very pleasant. Passenger numbers were good considering it was a Monday early afternoon and 150139 was very smart. Interior was clean and tidy.....though t'Northern blue is a bit of a clash with the LNW livery! Good work and hopefully it'll carry on in the same vein. Regards Guy

Now this is what we all love! Well done sir! 😀

Haven't got that far yet 😋 We shall continue tonight, before er' indoors falls asleep on the sofa. Again. Early early spares. The joys of being a senior con! Another excellent true crime revisit by the Beeb. Except Grid-Gate 😀 Regards Guy

Exactly! Insult to injury! (my wife just shook her head when I pointed it out......metaphorical face-palm) Regards Guy

South Wales. 1973 🤦‍♀️ Once again a fine drama spoilt in the first few mins by something that didn't need to be included..........given the period detail in the vehicles has been excellent throughout.........The Steeltown Murders. BBC 2023

C1012.........with a lone maroon interloper looking rather dirty and tired in mid 72....... Some classic phots there @DaveF Regards Guy

No idea how it's role changed after that date........not privy to any info regarding DMU's etc or sectorisation and other multiple units. A quick look at coaching stock allocations in 1985 doesn't show any stock allocated to GC that i can see.......it's split between Perth, Inverness and Fort William with MK3's at Craigentinny and of course a large number of MK1's etc at Carlisle. There were stored coaches at GC though. Regards Guy

Having done some digging......... BEFORE October 1983 CL was indeed Glasgow Cowlairs.........so the branding on the stock in the 70s would have referred indeed to Cowlairs. When Cowlairs closed the CL was transferred to Carlisle Upperby. My bad! Every day a school day! Regards Guy

Carlisle MK1's got everywhere! GC was the depot coaching stock code for Glasgow Cowlairs. Regards Guy

CL is the coaching stock depot code for Carlisle Upperby. Regards Guy

J1695 is a very interesting image given it's part of a preserved line now. It looks like a substantial and well maintained railway landscape given it closed a couple of years later. I recall going there with my dad in the very early days of preservation in the torrential rain and having short rides in a brake van at Shackerstone I think. Regards Guy

M31045, LMS full brake built 1940, ex-Crewe test train, scrapped August 2014 at Crewe so it was probably being shunted around for disposal purposes I'd imagine. Regards Guy

What to do when signal checked at Greet tunnel? Ring the box .........then take some phots. Secondman and driver get some snaps of a most excellently healthy 37215 this afternoon during the superb autumn mixed traction showcase on the Glos and Warwicks Regards Guy

(Optional senior conductor on her first sleeper soirée)

As a regular user from Rugby, down to Euston, back up and from New Street there seems no ryhme or reason as to allocation. In the last month I've had all the sub-classes on random trains. Cheers Guy

Looking forward to this answer as I'd imagine that given the quantity (and quality) of stuff that was around that I'm sure there was some fag-packet and fingers crossed stuff going on in the background! (Compared to today........) Regards Guy