The Night Mail

[NHY 581]

6 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Back in the day it was taken as read that exhibitors would be 'properly' dressed and behave in a socially acceptable fashion. The first time we took Dewsbury out Bob Essery required all the operators to wear jacket and tie, not to eat whilst operating, respond politely to members of the public (even if just to say, "A moment please", if busy) and to wear badges proclaiming their association with the layout. This would probably be laughed at today but being and old dodderer I do find it regrettable that things have slipped to the extent seen in some instances.

 

Dave  

 

Totally agree, Dave. It takes little effort to make yourself look presentable and be polite.........if it's too much trouble then you need to ask yourself if it's something you should be doing. 

In my case, I'm aware that some visitors have travelled in order to see my layout at exhibition.  I would frankly be mortified if they came away with a negative impression of either me or my work. 

 

Rob. 

[Northmoor]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

When my son died in Dublin it was very confusing. We had said we hadn’t heard from him so the University got one of his friends to go to his house. His housemates just said he had gone to Brussels. His friend said that he hadn’t so she she called the emergency services as the house-sharers didn’t want to. The paramedics said they would take Matthew (who had probably passed  away a couple of days previously) to the hospital. However when we were trying to contact the hospital to confirm that unresponsive meant “was deceased” the hospital knew nothing. The senior nurse who checked everywhere for us said we should phone the local Guards (police).  They knew nothing either but the sergeant we were speaking to said he would find out. Then as he was about to go and do so, they just had a radio report from the address (we had given) where the Guards had attended. The sergeant was so kind, he said normally they would have asked our local Essex police to come and break the news but it  was all happening while we were talking. He told us what to do, he said if we couldn’t get a flight, it could be arranged for us. He met us airside at the airport and got us escorted through the vip short cut. We had to be in contact with the police for over a year as they had held some of Matthew’s property until the final death certificate was issued. This took a year, not unusual in Ireland, but we had a named officer to contact and he was always helpful and kind. 
Tony

I clicked the Round of Applause not for your message as much as for the Guard who dealt with you, what an example to others they set for dealing with people in your situation.

 

Getting flights in this scenario reminds me of the stories from a friend of ours who worked in BA ticketing at Heathrow.  She dealt with a wide variety of Joe Public, had learned how to spot the sob stories from the genuine and claiming to be travelling to a dying relative was one of the more common ploys to try and get an upgrade, especially when there were delays.  She and her colleagues used a technique of, "Yes I understand your situation and we're very sorry but I can only transfer you to this flight at £XXX".  The genuine ones would sigh and without complaint get their wallets/purses out, at which point they were invited to, "Step to one side for a couple of minutes, let me see what we can do for you".  The rest would loudly moan, whinge and return to their seats in the waiting area, deciding that trying to arrive before "Grandma's imminent death" apparently wasn't worth paying extra for after all.

[newbryford]

2 hours ago, SM42 said:

 

We use to have such standards

 

It was after all an exhibition in our club's name, so any scruffy oiks behind a layout meant no invite. 

 

Reasonable, clean attire was all we required. 

 

Once they were in though  not much we could do. 

 

Eating behind the layout was also frowned upon when there was a perfectly good mess area with lunch provided and no-one wants to watch or hear someone eat at an exhibition. 

It detracts from the modelling

 

Drinks were fine, although not alcoholic. 

 

We took the look of the whole quite seriously and requested our guests helped us in that regard.

 

As a club we like to make a good impression when out on the road too.

 

Andy

 

I try and keep my "lot" presentable and have had "team" kit on previous layouts. (Blackmill and New Bryford)

 

I've actually just ordered sweatshirts and t-shirts for the team on DL for the NEC show.

And no - they are not yellow.

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

5 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

 

And no - they are not yellow.

 

 

Just the two stripes down the back!

[Happy Hippo]

Taking a leaf from SM42's tutorial on painting, this morning I masked up the door and windows of the summer house in preparation to spraying the last two walls this afternoon.

 

Having just got all the stuff out, I realised much to my dismay, that I had left the paint inside the summerhouse......

 

Take it off!  Take it off! Take it off!

 

The unmasking of the door will not take too long, but the humiliation of it all.....

 

I may have to go and sulk in the garage instead.

[Tony_S]

25 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

much to my dismay, that I had left the paint inside the summerhouse......

 

We had found out after using various shed preparations that didn’t work, we found one that did. It is so easy to apply it really is fine being brushed on. Though it is the sort of stuff that the person applying it needs to be masked and gloved rather than masking the summerhouse. Aditi has applied it the last couple  of times except for the wall next to a neighbours fence which seems to be my job. 

[AndyID]

6 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

and that age old complaint of attendees personal hygiene.

 

You must have missed my comment about sheep-dip.

[SM42]

Masking has been coming off today. 

 

Hurrah!

 

It has revealed a few spots of over masking ( right side failure) that will be touched in later  

 

The feature wall looks awful whilst awaiting a second coat which will now be tomorrow morning. 

 

Second coat on west wing window cill to do but coffee and cake break first. 

 

Tonight I will celebrating the foiling of a plot a little early by firing up the chimnea and sitting by it whilst disposing of various timber offcuts and paper shreddings.

 

 Beer may be involved in moderation.

 

Andy

Edited November 5, 2022 by SM42

[Happy Hippo]

I did originally consider brush painting the summerhouse, but even allowing for the masking up of the door and windows which took about 15 minutes, and about the same time to clean down all the spray kit properly afterwards, the saving of time in spraying over brushing is considerable. 

 

It's a no brainer that I'll use the spray gun again on the other garden buildings which do not have fancy contrasting colours that need protecting.

 

Providing the weather holds I'll try and get a third coat on tomorrow.

 

Of course, if the weather is looking even the slightest bit iffy, I'll go back to my garage....  Nyda is away all day in B'ham, so I am able to get some more modelling time in.

 

 

 

 

[SM42]

4 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

 

Of course, if the weather is looking even the slightest bit iffy, I'll go back to my garage....  Nyda is away all day in B'ham, so I am able to get some more modelling time in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think you are going to be in luck. ( depending on your POV)

 

Garage time seems likely

 

Andy

[jamie92208]

10 hours ago, SM42 said:

 

We use to have such standards

 

It was after all an exhibition in our club's name, so any scruffy oiks behind a layout meant no invite. 

 

Reasonable, clean attire was all we required. 

 

Once they were in though  not much we could do. 

 

Eating behind the layout was also frowned upon when there was a perfectly good mess area with lunch provided and no-one wants to watch or hear someone eat at an exhibition. 

It detracts from the modelling

 

Drinks were fine, although not alcoholic. 

 

We took the look of the whole quite seriously and requested our guests helped us in that regard.

 

As a club we like to make a good impression when out on the road too.

 

Andy

We were lucky re food and drink as the sports hall at Thirnes Park had a no food and drink policy in the hall to protect the running track.  That's why the exhibitors canteen was open throughout the show. There were of course some who chose to ignore the very explicit instructions. They did not get invited again.

7 hours ago, newbryford said:

 

I try and keep my "lot" presentable and have had "team" kit on previous layouts. (Blackmill and New Bryford)

 

I've actually just ordered sweatshirts and t-shirts for the team on DL for the NEC show.

And no - they are not yellow.

 

 

We had yellow T shirts at the Green Ayre rises show in Lancaster . I have a spare one if you want it Mick @newbryford.

 

Jamie 

Edited November 4, 2022 by jamie92208

[Tony_S]

The club I used to be a member of had folders full of standards documentation but it was for things like wiring and track dimensions. You had to have your DCC handset number issued and only use approved numbers for your locos. There were rules about not putting drinks on the modules but absolutely nothing about what we were to wear. It was about the only thing there wasn’t a club standard for. 

[Oldddudders]

Today, 24 hrs after the fatality at Ivybridge, there was a police presence there - at least 4 officers. I imagine they were seeking witness statements from anyone who had seen anything. Two late-teen schoolgirls were sitting on a bench, one in tears being comforted by her friend. Now I know why. The victim was a year 11 boy at the local college. 

 

We had one or two pupils and recently-former pupils die while Sherry and I were at school. One was a boy who had stood next to me daily for assembly - who died from natural causes. He'd always had a heart murmur. It does make life suddenly seem a bit real.

 

Sherry had a poor night, and they have now given her meds for atrial fibrillation, a magnesium infusion and put her back on HRT. Her surgeon, a mature man, is on holiday next week. Jetting off to somewhere exotic? No, camping (!) near Poole. He admits his sister will be nearby with a caravan if it all becomes too unpleasant! Surgeons and consultants, like most in the NHS, earn every penny of their salary. Evidently flaunting it is optional. Top man.

 

Sherry's operation scar is remarkably neat, but inevitably goes from below the neck to below the bust-line. As she is one who never fancied lying on a beach getting a tan this will not be a big issue. Many women suffer far more disfiguring surgery. Her release tomorrow remains a possibility. 

[simontaylor484]

What a tragic waste of a young life 

 

@Oldddudders Hope Sherry gets released tomorrow 

[newbryford]

2 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

 

We had yellow T shirts atvthe Green Ayre rises show in Lancaster . I haveca soare one if you want it Mick @newbryford.

 

Jamie 

 

Ta for the offer, but I already have a yellow t-shirt for model railway shows.

 

[Oldddudders]

6 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

Ta for the offer, but I already have a yellow t-shirt for model railway shows.

 

We have never met, Mick - my loss rather than yours! - but when I saw a yellow NR 150 on the up line at Newton Abbot the other day, you came to mind! 

[Winslow Boy]

6 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

Just the two stripes down the back!

 

Green with a copper top?

[Dave Hunt]

59 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

Ta for the offer, but I already have a yellow t-shirt for model railway shows.

 

 

Yellow or Stroudley's 'improved engine green'?

 

Dave

[newbryford]

38 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

Yellow or Stroudley's 'improved engine green'?

 

Dave

 

Network Rail bodyside yellow - Precision Phoenix P310

[PhilJ W]

10 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

I only have one green thing with a copper cap, and whenever I take it out, it's fully harnessed and wears a muzzle.

A Bulldog?

[Gwiwer]

Today’s arrival from our friends in Cornwall. 
 

I’m just going to leave this here …..  

 

[Happy Hippo]

28 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

A Bulldog?

33xx did not have copper capped chimneys🤣

[SM42]

Somewhere in the DPD system ( or not) is my brother's birthday present. 

 

I've had an e mail from them saying they would deliver today. 

No delivery arrived and contacting their tracking system shows they are still waiting for it to arrive from the retailer. 

 

Fingers crossed it might arrive Monday ( 3 days late)

 

 

 

Andy

[AndyID]

As promised the snow did arrive early this morning but fortunately it has turned to rain. Just as well too because it's been coming down all day and if it was falling as snow we'd be looking at ten inches at least.

[pH]

16 minutes ago, AndyID said:

As promised the snow did arrive early this morning but fortunately it has turned to rain. Just as well too because it's been coming down all day and if it was falling as snow we'd be looking at ten inches at least.

Snow all day here, but it wasn’t heavy and the temperature was just above freezing. It’s only now started to stick on the roads. There’s still a lot of leaves on the deciduous trees. Hopefully the snow doesn’t get too heavy - leaves and heavy snow on trees -> broken boughs and possibly falling trees.