TheSignalEngineer

I've used them a few times though not recently. Goods usually arrived two days after order placed, unless it was placed late on the day or after hours.

I was working on the coal wharf at Selly Oak one afternoon c1962 when a Met Cam set from Redditch arrived behind Bromsgrove's Jinty.

Same here, and that's the woman!

My Grandad used to tell people new to working on track that you've got eyes for many reasons. Most important is survival. All other things are less important. He had managed to survive the whole of WW1, including over three years on active service in France.

When I was in the cadet force at school my Dad who had ended his army service as a CQMS in the Military Police taught me that method. First time I turned up for parade in them the CO swore that I had used varnish to get the shine.

I've used their satin varnish with good results. Beware that some artists varnishes remain water soluble after drying. I've also used a Valspar one which gives a harder surface. For Matt varnish I have a bottle of a Daler Rowney product that my son happened to leave unattended about 20 years ago when he had been experimenting with acrylics for pictures. When well shaken and stirred it brushes on to a beautiful flat finish and I have never had it go white.

Not just with the crew. One box I used to do jobs at had been reduced to a crossing frame slotting two signals on a PSB. Around noon each day the length walker would come into the box to eat his sandwiches and have a brew. Meanwhile the signalman would go over the road to the Station Hotel. When the annunciator sounded to warn of train approaching the lengthman would put a red flag out of the back window and blow a lookout horn. The signalman would go over to work the crossing and when tranquillity was restored return to finish his pint.

Those Stones vents are making me jealous. I'm just doing three P1/P2 opens for excursion stock and they look rather smart compared to my plastic efforts so far, most of which are now landfill.

Voyagers used to get a bit over-ripe, especially when I travelled on the last train of the day to stockport just after they were introduced.

I've had a case of orange peel today. Spraying up a couple of etched sides with Halfords burgundy red. Finish came out awful even though I got a nice smooth finish from the same can last week so I analysed what was done different. First job was an old Bachmann plastic coach which had a grey primer and came out smooth. The only difference this time was that I used a can of Halfords plastic red primer which I keep for the inside of steel body wagons as a weathering base. A second pair of etched was waiting primer to become blood and custard. A third pair was still in Halfords plastic etch primer awaiting a decision on final livery before undercoating. The etch primer was perfectly smooth, as was the white where the cream top coat was to go on, but the red had a very rough feel. I tried brush coating a little Railmatch crimson on one of the panels and even that gave a tough surface. They've been stripped back to the brass now ready for another start tomorrow weather permitting.

This one is a bit longer. https://www.anistr.com/-/galleries/photos-of-british-railways-1948-1968/photos-of-br-standard-steam-locos/br-standard-4mt-class-2-6-4t-steam-locos/-/medias/ad52f984-993e-4096-be05-ac6251998393-standard-4mtt-80139-southampton-central

Another on the Southern https://www.anistr.com/-/galleries/photos-of-british-railways-1948-1968/photos-of-br-standard-steam-locos/br-standard-4mt-class-2-6-4t-steam-locos/-/medias/8154d3b3-2e74-4888-ba36-b57fb78f1444-standard-4mtt-80016-pokesdown

Report that Northern will not be able to meet deadline for withdrawl of Pacers. https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2019/07/15-pacers-now-set-to-stay.html Will DaFT grant a derogation against the requirements which become law at the end of this year or are we looking forward to a lot of short-formed and cancelled trains. Many peak services on Northern are already loading over capacity. Chaos looms on the horizon

I stand mine in warm water for about 5 to 10 minutes especially on cold weather.

I remember an article many years ago about growing square tomatoes to make them easier to use on sandwiches. Never caught on fortunately.

Seccotine was a fish glue, fine for paper and card. IIRC the original Croid was a 'Hide' glue. Before we went over to Cascamite I remember using the hot glue pot for woodworking when I was at school. If diluted it was good for sizing fresh plaster before wallpapering.

12112 was one of the Darlington batch originally on the ER. Eventually came to the LMR to end its days allocated to Saltley and Bescot.

Depends on how much you can sell the chassis for on Ebay. (unfortunately can't find a 'Tongue in Cheek' emoji) Eric

Just seen a Twitter message from London Underground shared on a FB group. Apparently there was a serious near miss at 0250 today near Turnham Green.

Safety Brief from Network Rail https://safety.networkrail.co.uk/safety-advice-nra19-08-systems-of-work-requiring-touch-lookouts/?fbclid=IwAR2EdTAkohlwfp9sJnKw3W766WIRyZAyZpbsjubDmTe1NS44jarFnod1Pjo Work requiring touch lookout now needs another level of sign-off.

Not uncommon to see two or three 4Fs coupled heading north for Saltley. One occasion I remember which resulted in unbalanced workings was a planned guards strike On the Sunday before it was due to happen I was working at Langley Green. We had about 15 unscheduled freight trains Birmingham bound and nothing outwards except for some groups of coupled light engines.

A few of us have already had our say.

Not a Standard but their Stanier ancestors were known to work the Dudley parcels from New Street at times. And the LMS in their wisdom had 100 built with steam brake only. Why provide vacuum gear when only being used in a Shunting yard?

Returning to the subject but not in the same area,, it was not unusual to get multiple light engines out of Birmingham during the summer 'coal stacking' season. Surplus coal from the pits was moved to Washwood Heath for distribution to gas works and power stations in preparation for the increased winter demand. This sometimes resulted in multiple light engines and crews returning home together when there were no empties waiting to go back. It was also common for local shed to yard moves, there's a nice old Ben Brooksbank one in Edinburgh with a V2 leading a WD 2-8-0 and Scottish Director.

I found it a bit confusing when I visited Australia and the sun went the wrong way across the sky.