drmditch

Please excuse a slightly cheeky question. What is the provenance of the Cattle Wagon behind the J50's smokebox?

Best of luck for this trip.

Despite hankering after a J14/J54 saddletank, I would have to agree with the above and vote for the 4-2-2. Only,however, with a driver familiar with the techniques of driving one. Have just read in HAV Bulleid's 'Master Builders of Steam' that the TE of the first Ivatt Atlantic was the same as the Single, but of course with much more adhesion. I must check this, because Mr Bulleid (jnr), appears to lack accuracy elsewhere.

Or perhaps the G1, both new and rebuilt, as providing better value for the LNWR and it's successors?

Ah - I wonder if there is a gravitational relationship between switchback roads, putting roundabouts in, and taking roundabouts out? (A question for friends of the A1 - the road that is, not the locomotive!)

Re: Sir Henry. As it happens I've just been re-reading E S Cox's 'Locomotive Panorama' - so not sure if Sir Henry actually had much to do with the design of any locomotives! However, the best (and most forward looking) designed under his leadership would surely have to be the 2-6-4 tank locomotive. I think the Royal Scot did contain some elements of the valve gear design from them as well.

S15 please. Haven't checked, but could this be regarded as the first (UK) 'modern' 4-6-0 ?

And your point is? There come times when positive discrimination is the only way forward. Which is not to say that I appreciate some of the, in my view, poor journalism of such programmes as Women's Hour in recent years. Actually, I don't listen to R4 that much these days; not after the horrible 2016 'Brexit' period, when the BBC was stuck between being perceived to be partisan by one side or the other, and giving airtime to appalling arguments that weren't arguments but merely name calling. R3 has become my standard radio channel.

The problem with the old bridge was that it was dangerous to walk (or even 'cycle) across it! It was ageing quite badly as well, having been built circa 1872 (I think!) At least they left part of the abutment on the west side as a viewing platform!

Could you provide more detail? Also the reference to the book. (I must have missed it somewhere above.)

I also live near. I have some photographs of the old bridge on Broom Lane before it was replaced, which might help a bit. I will try to find them. These are of the time when only the ECML ran underneath it. Even better though is an article in British Railways Illustrated for March 1996 (Vol.5 No.6) by 'MB'. Pictures are from 1955 to 1963. If you are unable to locate a copy let me know. Several of the pictures are listed as from the Neville Stead collection. I'm not sure where this is now, and whether it is accessible.

I grew up with the term 'mardy' in Essex. (Although I don't admit the Essex connection too often!)

Also please ensure correct use of articles. Some modern practice I can ignore, but 'the HMS Victory' makes me scream and shout.

Is it correct to use the term 'recusant' after 1888?

To be contrarian, a C4 Atlantic please ( in original livery).

Re: Ancient Structures and Railways. Perhaps Norwich was fortunate not to be visited by one Mr R Stephenson FRS, of Newcastle, Berwick, and Conwy fame. Re: Ecclesiastical Titles Acts of 1851 and 1871. According to Wikipedia there were no prosecutions under either of these Acts. Would Mr Edwardian care to comment? I am concerned lest such xenophobic legislation be promoted by the current government.

Re: Boring jobs (a.K.a wiring). What is your maximum length of cable run for point motor control? (I'm coming to the conclusion that my control panels are in the wrong place.)

A very hesitant suggestion, but assuming it is somewhere on the GE main line, would the locomotive shadow suggest it is travelling in the down (E or NE) direction?

Good. Hope you avoided a reaction. I had an interesting episode about 9 hours afterwards. Fortunately I was in bed by then! Re-assuring to know that the vaccine was exciting my immune system. Re: Discussions about Sir William. Does not his career emphasise the importance of being a good engineering manager? Also, what about the box of drawings he is alleged to have brought with him to the 'Ell of a Mess'? Do agree about the role of Tom Coleman, but what about that of Robin Riddles in managing the 'politics'? On my late LNER railway I'm glad to have a representation of one of the 06s allocated to the NEA. There is something about them that just 'looks right'. However, to remember the 'engineering politics', what is the full story about the 'Fowler-Anderson' bypass valves on (some?) of the later Pacifics?

Some small boat sailors are really stupid. Many years ago I saw a tow part in the Tyne. No-one who had seen that would get anywhere near a tug and tow.

Re: Sail Training The sea is still the sea.

Bother!. This thread move so fast and I been otherwise occupied over the last two days! I would have asked for:- Leamside (may happen) SDLUR (that's the Stainmore Route) Leeds Northern

Brilliant! I didn't know the RN still used sail training. Very sensible I would think.

Well, any of the flight paths have to cross the coast eventually, so depending on cloud cover, either side should eventually give a view of the coast. It does depend on the cloud though. On that occasion the first shape I remember seeing was Spurn, so we were probably over Lincolnshire on a NW heading. Certainly the cloud cleared fully and we had a good view of the Humber, Kingston-upon-Hull, and I think a bit later the Ouse and the City of York. On other occasions (I used to fly that route regularly) we approached land in other places. The flightpath probably also varies by the wind direction at Newcastle. Sometimes after approaching over County Durham, we would go out to sea again, and turn over St Mary's Island. Once I got a good view of Durham city itself (recognisable from the air). Coming home after a long time away was always an emotional experience, and England is so green! I enjoy flying, in a comfortable seat with a good book and a gin-and-tonic (depending on what one has to do after landing). My imagination may run away with me, but over the southern North Sea or Essex and Kent (and once on 15th September), and watching through windows with ice tendrils forming on the edges, the hazy sun emerging from cloud, one has to think of the young men for whom that was the last thing they saw.

Apologies if I have posted these thoughts sometime and somewhere else: There used to be a Blue road sign on the Doncaster Bypass (A1M - earliest part) at the bridge over the River Don - 'The North' My view having been granted asylum from the 'south' in 1989, is that County Durham and Northumberland form 'the North' (possibly with the addition of some counties west of the High Hills.) North is home. South is south of the Tees South of the Humber is Further South South of the Trent (at least on the A1) is Far South South of the Thames (and indeed the entire Thames basin) is Furthest South. There have to be some exceptions and to respect the views of my brother, the South West (as in Devon and Cornwall) is not really South at all. Having said all that, the longest time I have been away from 'home' was nearly a year in West Africa. Flying home from Schiphol to Newcastle (I always try to get a starboard seat for that journey) and crossing over the Humber estuary I was swept away by tears at seeing Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, not to mention Spurn.