balders

Is it a case of "black looking blue" due to the ageing process in the film reproduction or the film stock? I thought the single star was old school dirty petrol carried in black tanks. Certainly very atmospheric photographs! Regards Guy

Utilising the old route would take it down past Newton, at the back of Brownsover estate (my mum's house backs onto the old track pretty much) and through the estate (Staveley Way etc) before crossing the canal and the long gone viaduct across the Boughton Road towards the site of the birdcage Bridge as was Regards Guy

As Alberto Dacosta states its at a very early stage and is just a fledgling proposal. Obviously we all know how long these blue sky proposals take to even get to a basic stage. Given the proposed route alongside one of the busiest roads in South Leicestershire, the fact that DIRFT1 and 2 exist, and Magna Park is pretty much unoccupied, the quarry at shawell has just had its extension agreed across the proposed track bed, and the approved solar farm, this will never get off the ground. Regards Guy

The more I look at this it is actually proposed to diverge and follow the A426 past the top of Cotesbach with a branch to Magna Park somewhere on top of Churchover. I think April 1st has arrived early! Regards Guy

This made me smile I must admit! I've forwarded it to Mrs. B who is encountering many Human Challenges in her role as a new senior conductor :) Thanks Johnster! Regards Guy

Hi Graham I don't as I lifted it direct from Alberto Costa's Facebook page. Only saw it about 20 mins ago so not had time to do any detailed digging. I'd imagine they've discounted the GC at the Rugby end as the connections there would be billions worth of monies. At least the viaduct is still in good order! Regards Guy

Rugby to Bitteswell via the old Leicester line. Hooking up with the old GC looks like a bind, then a junction at Narborough with the Leicester Nuneaton line. Regards Guy

Looking at it further they want to cut behind Lutterworth off the old GC and hook up with the remains of the old Rugby Leicester line at the back of Magna Park (Bitteswell). This will bring it across the viaduct into Rugby. Still not convinced though! There is a need for another rail solution as the area around Lutterworth and the A5 is very congested with lorry traffic, despite DIRFT and the upcoming DIRFT2. Regards Guy

https://www.albertocosta.org.uk/news/alberto-backs-exciting-lutterworth-line-railway-plans I'm afraid I don't know if this is the correct place to put this, mods please feel free to move it somewhere more appropriate if needs be. I'm staggered at the lack of financial grasp some of these people have given the infrastructure costs at the Rugby end alone! Politics aside, a good idea. Reality, however, is cruel. @dagrizz @Rugd1022 Keep safe Regards Guy

I thought that MK1 tool vans used steel roller shutters. Like those found on commercial premises. Opened from the inside with a chain pull. When closed, very strong. Take up limited space as they are attached inside across the top of the door opening. The courier vans converted from MK1 BSK's use the same concept. Roller shutters appear flush from the outside but there is usually a lip on the bottom (may be fairly flush to the floor) which enables it to be pulled up from the outside. Flickr link credited to 15038; Of course I stand to be corrected! I may be talking garbage Regards Guy

Vacuum braked and chosen ones dual braked on works visits. Not all ended up dual braked. Not boiler fitted but may have had steam heat through pipes fitted when new.....gradually removed (see the hole in the buffer beam under where the air pipe is, or not, depending on brake status) Derby Sulzers site is the go to place for decent gen on everything class 25 (and 24's, peaks etc) Regards Guy

Southern stock "S1311S, S24485S, S942S" First one is a PMV, I guess the second one probably is more than likely a CCT (with a typo....S2448S) and the last is a gangwayed BY......so all parcels stock. Sorry Chris....for some reason it didn't include the whole quote! Regards Guy

Love J2922. A great capture......almost a fleeting glance but the clarity is lovely. Top work. Regards Guy

Same as........I recorded a lot of them from 1983 but "Tram" appears all to frequently in my records! Too busy running for connections in some cases, but recorded enough to show i had a decent proportion of the fleet over the years. The empty spaces make me question my judgment now! Regards Guy

Bar some liberties with character casting......it was very good and well worth investing three hours! Regards Guy

Departmental disposals? Although not lined many were one colour.......olive, blue, red. Without a look at the photo I guess we're stumped! I don't have access to that particular review. Regards Guy

My contribution.......no photo as it's a rather dull affair......watching Mrs. Balders filling out her Jan 2021 roster and diagrams on the family calendar whilst I sip a brew. Happy New Year to everyone on RMWeb! It's assisted my sanity for the last year no end. All the best for 2021 Guy

Great photo that second one mate. I'm surprised that the metal fairies haven't visited it. It's a magnet sitting there surely! Regards Guy

Chaos. 4M29 at Stockingford between Arley tunnel and Abbey Junction. Broken coupling. GBRF facilitating a rescue. 19.29 front portion on the move. Hoping to be cleared by 2130 (ish). Info from Mrs. Balders.....who managed to avoid chaos by booking off not too long before it all kicked off. Regards Guy

I'm sure some enterprising "businessman" will find a way of relieving the sleepers of their attractive metal in the near future.....which would be a shame but probably inevitable. Regards Guy

Only two were converted to departmentals. 14008 (17008 in the renumber sequence) from lot 30382 became 977317 in 1985. Scrapped Vic Berry 1989. 14011 from the same lot became 975750 after withdrawal 11/77 scrapped Doncaster Hexthorpe in 2004. 17021 (14021) was allocated 977592 but never carried. This still exists. Regards Guy

There are a few but not many! Vintage Carriage Trust website has a good search engine with some good parameters. KWVR, GCR and Mid Hants have one apiece and there are a couple of others unserviceable elsewhere. Regards Guy

She is and always was vacuum only. I've not seen photos of '106 in service or otherwise with train air pipe fitted above her steam pipe. Wouldn't a bogie swap with an air braked sister at some time in her life leave the cast fitting visible?.....although obviously redundant. Regards Guy

There is a YouTube video regarding the last trains between Nottingham Arkwright Street and Rugby which has footage from behind the driver I seem to recall, but also filmed by a bystander crossing the bridge you mention. And I do recall that there is a photo somewhere on the Internet of a similar working. I'm sorry I can't be more specific. This particular stretch of the line between Rugby and Leicester interests me as I live close to the remains of the trackbed outside Lutterworth. I'd love to see more photos in general of this stretch, particularly between Rugby and Lutterworth. They do occasionally pop up. @Rugd1022 any ideas Nidge? Regards Guy

Spot on that. Taken from the footpath of the A45 opposite Sir Henry Parkes school field walking towards the bridge over the line. The Rover plant where my dad worked is the industrial backdrop. All changed now! Regards Guy