PhilJ W

Evening all from Estuary-Land. An enjoyable evening at SEERS tonight. Though it was test track night I didn't take anything, just as well as it was a bit busy and time on the test track was limited. Thats it for now, be back later.

I have a book with a pic of a bonneted Guy bus described as an FBB, obviously an error then. The bus in the photograph posted here is forward control and therefore an FBB.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Black Rats mentioning of Corona cream soda reminded me that we used to get a glass of cream soda and disolve an ice cream in it. The ice cream was not the sloppy 'soft' ice cream but one of those bars served up between two wafers or in a special rectangular cone. The ice cream was usually broken up with a spoon and stirred in to the soda. SEERS track night tonight, I might take a couple of items to play with test.

I too remember that, the Woolpack in Romford still sold beer like that until the early 70's. Weights and measures legislation killed the practice off. They continued by offering measurable containers of plastic with screw lids but party cans killed it off altogether. The Woolpack is still there (its a listed building) but has now been converted into flats.

That reminds me of when I visited the Sittingbourne & Kemsley railway back in the long hot summer of 1976. The car park was some distance from the railway as there was redevelopement going on, in fact the car park was a very dusty recently cleared site. The heat and dust had made me thirsty but en route to the railway I spotted a pub sign in the middle of a terrace of small houses. I decided to have a pint so I proceded down the street but got to the end of the terrace with no sign of a pub. I looked round and the pub sign was behind me so I retraced my steps and found it was one of the houses. There was only one room, the front room of the house with a diminutive bar in the corner with an equally diminutive old lady serving drinks. The only beer on tap was Shepherd & Neames mild so I settled for that. Alas the pub was part of the redevelopement.

It will certainly make their eyes water.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Not a lot to report, things to do so be back later. What are the dimensions of the pack? (in case you need some help.)

Goodnight all.

And why not? it reduced costs and it made it easier sourcing spare parts. Fords used to go for the cheapest components irrespective as to whether they were suitable and Vauxhalls used to switch component makers back and forth. I had a Vauxhall Chevette that was new to my father which had a mix of Bosch and Lucas electrics.

Come to think of it those door handles were used on most Fords in the 1960's, Anglias and Cortinas as well. It was quite common for cars of that period and into the 70's to end up with small components from completely different makes. Handles, wing mirrors and rear light clusters could often be seen on makes for which they were not intended.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. No bread pudding in Tess Coes today but I am reliably informed that there will be some available tomorrow or Wednesday. A brief history of Deolali here >> https://www.gaebler.info/2013/04/the-madness-at-deolali/ My dad was in the XIVth Army and passed through there on his way to Burma and back again.

They look a lot like the door handles from a Ford Corsair.

It is an Austin K8. It was built in 1950 for Armstrong-Whitworth (later Hawker-Siddeley) for their aircraft factory at Baginton for transfering staff airside, hence the offside door. The body type is FC18F builder unknown. It was sold on to Aston's of Coventry in the 1960's.

Looking through the link posted by Runs as Required I found this oddity >> Its possibly a K8 but the wheels suggest a heavier chassis. Also note the full length sliding door on the offside.

Would it work as a 4-8-0?

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Happy birthday to Ian A and many more of 'em. Still a bit overcast this morning but predicted to clear later on. I have now ceased to have my milk delivered. The dairy announced that they were going to go cashless three months ago. That was OK by me as I was quite happy to pay by direct debit. However when I tried to set up a DD via their webshite, as they said I could do, once I'd entered my name and address, nothing! It didn't ask for my customer number or acknowledge that I was even a customer. I clicked on the 'my account' button but all I got was a message saying 'You haven't placed an order yet.' I then typed into the search 'direct debit' but nothing happened. I then tried their 0345 number where after listening to all the other options it got to number 5 which was to set up a direct debit. I pressed number five to hear an automated message saying that I'm in a queue and I will have to wait 20 minutes for someone to answer, no way am I going to wait 20 minutes when I'm paying for the call. Thats my rant for the day, now for a Muggatee, be back later.

Goodnight all.

The FBB was made from 1922 to 1930. It was a normal control chassis but some may have been converted to forward control. The solid tyres and lack of front wheel brakes would have meant withdrawal by 1932 at the latest.

Evening from Estuary-Land. Where has today gone? the simple answer to that is I've spent the latter half of the afternoon on eyelid inspection. Managed to nip into town earlier to find that a small car park that had been closed has been re-opened. Not many people seem to be aware of it (yet) so it was only half full. Thats it for now, be back later.

I found this on Google. Its not the same, its normal control but is otherwise very similar.

It is indeed Bowleaze Coveway climbing out of Overcoombe. The large house behind the bus is still there and not sustantially altered but is now surrounded by newer builds and mature trees and shrubs. As for the bus, I am certain that I have seen it or an identicle bus in a book or magazine. I am still searching for it but I have a lot of books and magazines.

It looks like a Guy FBB. Note the solid tyres and toastrack seating.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Bright and sunny at the mo so I might pop down into the town later. Muggatee to be drunk first though, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Still blowing a hoolie outside but fortunately little if any rain. Arthur Itis isn't predicting any either. Time to put the kettle on, be back later.