PhilJ W

Middleton press are usually pretty good with their photographic reproduction and if anything the pics are better than usual. The only thing against them is that most of the industrial line ones were taken after abandonment.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Very sorry to hear of your loss HH, 19 is 133 in human terms which is remarkable. Off shortly to the Chelmsford exhibition after a muggatee, be back later.

Goodnight all.

The rest of the trackwork was also pretty good. I've already got my hat and coat on.

I think today/tonight is also a Hindu ceremony as I'm sure Tony can confirm (or not as the case may be.)

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Fun and games today near Tesco's. Just west of the store is a skew bridge carrying the C2C Pitsea-Upminster line over Pitsea High Road. This morning it had a very large lorry wedged underneath it. Quite a surprise as the normal clearance is about 15 feet but apparently his nearside wheels were up on the pavement. Needless to say the trains were stopped and a rail replacement service is in force, I don't think the lorry's insurers will be too happy.

Don't worry, if you did any of the above someone is bound to tell you.

Some of the road markings hereabout are so worn that only a 'ghost' outline is visible, and then only if the conditions are right.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. As Tony has said its bright and sunny here this morning and the seaweed twirlers reckon its here for the weekend. Must remember to draw some modelling tokens today as this Saturns day is the Chelmsford exhibition. I'll be on my own this time as my friends neice has decided to get wed on the same day. I have one of those pull down ones, I had it fitted when I had the new boiler installed. Problem is its taken about 20% of what was a smallish loft hatch. Either I will have to have the hatch enlarged or go on a diet. Muggatee awaits, be back later.

Goodnight all.

The blade/rasp/knuckle remover is fixed and I can see no way of replacing it. It must be over 40 years old now so it owes me nowt.

There are photos of this locomotive in the Middlton Press book on the Cyprus Railways.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Done a bit more on the shed this afternoon, found that the 12 mm ply I'm using for shelves needs about a millimetre shaving off of one corner to fit. I eventually found my Surform only to discover that its knackered so I'll have to visit the orange emporium for a replacement. While I'm there I'll have a look out for any offcuts of ply or MDF, very useful for m*d*l*ng.

I wonder how much it would cost to import it into the UK?

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. I'm finding this bright sunny weather confusing, twice today I've been back to switch off a light that isn't even on.

Any thoughts on the Atlas 'World of Stobart' ballast undercutter? motorising one might prove difficult but a re-branded/weathered one should look good alongside your other engineers stock. There is also a road/rail Unimog in the same series that several people have motorised.

My favourite one from 'Mock the week' was from things you wouldn't hear in a Thai resturant. "These meatballs really are the dogs b0ll0cks."

Morning all from Estuary-Land. The bin wagons dawn chorus is just beginning so just as well I'm up. Interesting CCTV footage on the BBC breakfast show this morning, in a very snowy Colorado. A car parked in a driveway is visited by a bear that seems to have got the knack of opening car doors which it duly did. Problem is that it left them open leading to a car full of snow. Off for a quick bath before breakfast now, be backlater.

Goodnight all.

I remember some large signs as you left the docks at Dover saying 'Drive on left', in several languages and IIRC similar signs as you left Calais (saying 'Drive on right).

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. As an avid fan of 'Buzz-word calypso' I read Andrews and the Q's posts with interest, I'm sure there must be some way to bu@@er them up. I spent more than 37 years in my final job, when I started it was the head of department who did the hiring and firing. When I left there were layer upon layer of 'HR' departments who didn't know (or care?) about what you did. In fact that is the reason I took early retirement, the only thing I miss is the camraderie of my colleagues.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I must admit that I start some C*******s shopping on boxing day or soon after, when the supermarkets want to clear their shelves of all the goodies tat. Some of it is quite useful tat, such as a string of 50 'soft white' LED's for £2 complete with batteries of which I obtained a few last year. C & C's to all that require them, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. News of another royal sprog has me reaching for the sick bag and my late fathers comments would probably be unprintable. The only thing that stops me from being a republican is Donald Trump, be careful what you wish for. Back to the usual things now, bright and sunny outside, hope it lasts. Muggatee to be drunk so its be back later.

Goodnight all.