PhilJ W

Just 300 yards beyond the level crossing at Pitsea is the local council tip. The only access to the tip is across the level crossing. Last Sunday lunch time I was returning from a trip when I decided to call in to the nearby Tesco's only to find that the queue for the tip extended over the crossing and onto the slip road from the A 13, about half a mile. The biggest surprise is that there has not been an obstruction of the crossing or an accident.

Railway Bylines had an article on the locomotives about the same time. I have acquired a fair amount of information on these locomotives that I don't have to hand as it is with the person doing the graphics and drawings for me. I hope to visit the K&ESR later this year to get more information.

My late father worked at the plant from 1952 to 1962. I remember the Bo-Bo Diesels, there was three of them one of which has been preserved in working condition on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. I am working on a OO scale model of one of these locomotives but have reached a bit of an impasse when it comes to the rather complicated roof details.

For the 1100 I would suggest using the wheels from a Cararama Mini as they are the right size and pattern of hub cap. The Thames van I would suggest the wheels from the Oxford Zephyr as both vehicles shared many components.

And before the return of licence make them retake the driving test.

You've added a double track to the front of to BCB since Ally Pally?

I have a booklet entitled 'Memories of the LNER Tyneside' by Allan W. Stobbs, M.S., B.Sc. published by the author in 1988. I can find no ISBN number however. It contains several excellent maps of the lines concerned as well as photographs of the electrics that I have not seen elsewhere.

Tragically there has been yet another crossing accident this time involving a child. >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21894520

They were originally in red and cream (rather like BR blood and custard with a brighter red), then as that livery was considered to conspicuous during the war it was changed to blue and grey as in the photograph. IIRC the original NE electric stock was varnished teak.

The only British truck plant is the Leyland plant making the smaller DAF LF models (up to 10 tonnes).

The start price was £0.75, so if people are stupid enough to make such bids its down to them.

Just how did the sheep manage to climb up and fall in?

In fact the transformer in your first photograph has ceramic insulators and may even be of of a suitable age.

The insulators would have been ceramic rather than plastic.

I have seen a picture somewhere of a train of Warwells loaded with Sherman tanks being hauled by a Metropolitan Bo-Bo electric locomotive.

The other cars are the first Vauxhall Victors. It must be at the start of their journey as there's no sign of rust.

I am the winning bidder on this and I did expect the bidding to go a bit higher. I hope you are satisfied John with the price as I was.

No its MY right of way!

The first one started at £2 and the second at £29.99, bidding mania strikes again.

Perhaps this will help >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpKNKA1_kUw&feature=player_embedded

The first vehicle on the train is an A55/60 pick-up, the others are mostly JU(250?) vans, a lash up of the old J2 vans in an attempt to compete with the Transit.

There was a 1/32 Avro Vulcan kit available a year or two back.

Yes its a Raleigh or Reliant. Trojan vans of the period where 4 wheelers.

Back in about 67-68 when I was a teenager a mate of mine worked for a car repair shop close to the A12/A127 junction. His boss allowed him to use the workshop 'hack' a rather battered 2 door mk. 1 Cortina, one of the other employees had an accident that resulted in the entire nearside of said Cortina being ripped open from the door back. His boss said never mind we'll repair it when we get the next written off Cortina in the shop. This they did, only the donor car was a 4 door. Consequently we were driving about in the only 3 door Cortina mk. 1.