PhilJ W

My old stamping ground about 45 years ago, well Ludwigshafen opposite side of the Rhine to Mannheim but part of RNV. Its a quite extensive system, from Heidelberg in the east to Bad Durkheim in the west.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Arrived home from the Galleywood show a couple of hours ago, not a bad little show and pleased to see only two layouts that I had seen before. There had been a road accident right outside the venue just a few minutes before I left, the police were on the scene and there was no hold ups. A van pulling out of the venue had collided with a car on the road, hopefully the van was nothing to do with the exhibitors or visitors. GDB we have our own branch of P!ss takers R.Us. ensconced in our club. Last week when I visited the Benfleet show I purchased some raffle tickets. As I was going on to the Romford Show I asked some friends who were showing a layout to hold them for me. Lo and behold I won a prize, so they chose..... a ladys handbag and umbrella! They 'presented' it to me at the club Wednesday evening causing much mirth and jollity. Luckily we had a visitor from the church who accepted the return of it for future raffles.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A quick hello and goodby as I'm off to the exhibition shortly, be back later.

The one top right is the one I spoke of. Note the very similar New Zealand example, and the same gauge too (3'6").

Goodnight all.

Very similar locomotives were built by English Electric for Japan c. 1930, a couple are known to survive.

I understood that 70012 was returned to the USA to avoid import duties. Even if stripped for 'spares' import duty would be payable.

Puts me in mind of the three BTH Diesel Electrics that were provided for Fords Dagenham works in 1932.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Met up with my chum lunchtime, he's still talking of joining me on my trip to the exhibition at Galleywood tomorrow, despite it being his eldest's 18th birthday. I don't mind taking him but its a case of on his head be it. Mind you she might be mollified a bit if she knew how much he'd spent on her pressie. Thinking of what to do for the rest of the bank holiday, given the weather the roads are best avoided. Last time I visited Kew Gardens must have been over 30 years ago so perhaps time for another visit, but not this weekend. Last time I went was with my dad and my neice who was still at school then, she's now 45!

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bright sunny start to POETS day and the forecast says its going to get better. I don't think the weather gods have quite got the hang of a bank holiday at the beginning of May yet. Mayday of course hasn't allways been a bank holiday, when I started working for the peoples republic of Barking and Dagenham in 1970 I was pleased to find that all the staff received an extra days holiday on Mayday, and this was on the actual day itself so that if it fell on a weekend there was no holiday. One of my colleagues organized a boozey trip to Margate on those days but it all died out when it did become a public holiday. They claim to have members all over the globe. Thats it for now, C & C's to all ER's that need them, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Most likely passing the cost onto the buyer.

Gwiwers SWMBO is Australian after all.

But in the UK they don't apply to the dead.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Had a bit of bad news when I went to the club last night. The club secretary on his way home from the club last Wednesday felt ill and pulled over, just as well he did pull over as it was a heart attack. Despite the efforts of the police and paramedics he passed away R.I.P. Mick. Not entirely unexpected as he'd had another heart attack just before Christmas and was in his 80's. Bright sunshine earlier this morning but now coming over cloudy but the weekend down in this corner of the country is forecast to be a scorcher. Happy birthday Stewart and C & C's to all other ER's where neccessary.

Goodnight all.

Perhaps they chose the wrong prototype? Surely the A stock would have been a better choice with a greater choice of liveries and they came as four car units.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. More on the accident at Sadlers Farm last night. http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/16198945.Biker_suffers_severe_leg_injury_following_crash/?ref=mr&lp=9

Morning all from Estuary-Land. One good thing about the kerfuffle on the A13 yesterday. Just before I came upon the hold up a couple of cockwombles driving Teutonic penile extentions had overtaken me on the nearside, one on the slip road as I entered the A13. Both I observed had become 'trapped' in the traffic on the flyover, by all accounts that meant half an hours wait for the re-directed traffic to be sent down the slip road. A bit of sunshine first thing this morning but now has turned to rain and a tad windy. Best wishes to all ER's under the weather, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. A bit late this evening as I spent a couple of hours running my recent acquisitions on a test track. The test track is at Leigh-on-sea so I collected my friend and his young son on the way. Unfortunately there was a serious accident on the A13 just before Sadlers Farm junction and I met the traffic jam shortly after I went on to the A13. I decided to leave the A13 at Pitsea flyover, just as well that I did as I observed that traffic was being guided down the access slip that goes towards Sadlers Farm. So as to not mess about I diverted to the A127/A130 and Sadlers Farm was pretty clear from that direction. There was a lot of flashing blue lights on the Pitsea side which suggests something pretty bad. By the time I returned it had all been cleared.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit late on parade this morning so C & C's where appropiate and I'll be back later.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. The rain has stopped at last but its still pretty chilly. Rain was so heavy that when I ventured out to Tesco's at lunchtime I noticed that the water was coming out of some of the drains. Boundary fences, I am responsible for the boundary fences on both sides of my property due to my house being the last in the street. Not as bad as it sounds as the boundary at the rear is protected by a two metre brick wall on the 'street' side. At the front there were no fences until I had some installed about six months ago, not to bad as it only required three panels per side and made a huge difference by preventing cats and foxes from using it as a shortcut and also stops the wind dropping litter in the front garden.

The Sentinel engine was placed under the floor like the later DMU's and also like most DMU's drove via Cardan shafts. Any hammer blow would be taken up by the crankshaft rather than be transmitted to the track.