TheSignalEngineer

I used a self-storage unit some time ago, though not for my trains, the conditions would not have been suitable. As said above there was little or no heating so I didn't want to risk condensation damage. Regarding insurance, there was a basic amount depending on the size of the unit but it only covered general household items, clothing, etc. Additional insurance was offered by the warehouse owners but I would not have wanted to trust the security of a unit with anything of personal or financial value.

I was out in the area today and took three shots for comparison. The first is at the tunnel mouth, the others are about where the Class 25 is in George's first picture. Brinnington Tunnel by Charles Eric Steele, on Flickr Cheshire Lines Trackbed Looking West by Charles Eric Steele, on Flickr Cheshire Lines Trackbed Looking East by Charles Eric Steele, on Flickr

Besides locos sold into industrial use it was common to hire out to cover the absence of works locos. There are pictures of an L&Y Pug deputising for a Mitchells and Butlers Brewery loco at the connection with the Harborne Branch at Rotton Park Road. I have always wondered if this also explains the presence of a 4-wheel Sentinel at Monument Lane in the early 1950s.

In the 1950 Rule Book for Absolute Block Working it was covered by Rule 39A. If you hadn't got a Line Clear so couldn't clear the Starting Signal then the Home Signal was maintained at danger until the train was at or nearly at a stand. If a berth track circuit was provided this would extend 200 yards on the approach side of the Home signal and would have to be occupied by the train before the Home signal could be cleared unless a Line Clear had been given by the next box in advance. If there were more Stop signals between the Home and Starting signals the signalman would clear each in turn as the train got to it. The Driver's understanding of this action was that Line Clear had not yet been received and he was being allowed to proceed at low speed subject to being able to stop at the next signal.

Class 140 DMU approaching Spring Road

I remember the Midland 2F from Monument Lane which ran on the Harborne Branch around 1960/61 had the outline of its LMS number clearly visible through a thin covering of black paint from when it got its BR number

This close spacing is similar to what existed on Thameslink between Kentish Town and Farringdon when we improved the capacity in 1989, no-one having anticipated the popularity. We took the length of an 8-car 319, added the required overlap for the line speed, added a bit for standing back to give sighting if stopped and used that as the minimum spacing. For the sections where the speed was 30mph it worked out at about 300 yards, but even that is nearly 12 feet at 4mm scale..

I don't know what Garmin are like for SatNav these days, i only use their bike computers which pretty ggod and are adequate for my needs. I had a Garmin which came with a car in the early days. It was a right PITA. I decided to try it on some journeys I was familiar with, but it kept directing in ways which I knew from experience wern't the best, then kept telling me to do a U-turn or turn at the next junction them when i didn't kept telling me it was recalculating. It lasted about three weeks and is still in the garage. I went back to my trusted method of maps and research. I learnt to use an OS map in the 1950s, and the only thing I do extra is look at Google Earth to get an idea of the lie of junctions where I have to turn. If I need info when in the car, Google Maps on the phone tells me where I am and possible routes for where I am going.

I suppose most of us have done a dodgy repaint at some time where detail below the surface can still be seen. 42942 Rhuddlan 24.9.66 by George Woods, on Flickr Gricers a bit too enthusiastic with the cleaning? By withdrawal The LMS was almost completely uncovered.

Army 2-10-0 Gordon heading away from Longmoor Downs with a return charter to Waterloo on 5th July 1969. Photo C E Steele

The 140 prototype was even worse, it was bus width as well so 20% less seats than a 142. They put it on my Moor St - Stratford train when it was on trial. Fortunately after the first day the usual 116 ran to Shirley 5 minutes in front as a relief because the Lucas people from Spring Road going past there couldn't get on, it was F&S from Moor St. .

Searching your local library catalogue can reap rewards, I've currently got on loan a volume by J H Russell which hadn't been out of the Derbyshire Libraries Central Store for about 10 years. Cost me a small fee to get it sent to my nearest branch.

The RCH/Company and BR Rule Books are quite precise and logical in the context of the railway at the time when they were written. Unfortunately we now live in a 'txt spk' world where the correct construction and use of the language has largely disappeared. .

How about a footbridge from a footbridge. Taken in 1964 when New Street station was being rebuilt. The footbridge in the picture linked the station with the Bull Ring Centre. The picture was taken from the footbridge steps on the old Platform 9. The train is the southbound 'Devonian', 10.38am Bradford to Paignton, headed by a splitbox Holbeck Peak thought to be D23.

I saw gravity shunting used at the south end of Rugby station in the early 1960s. A train from Peterborough termination in the bay was shunted back up the Clifton Road flyover then the loco went to shed. The guard released the brakes and let the coaches roll back into the bay controlled by the handbrake in the van.

50% chance that the engine will run but the wheels don't go round.

Horntons opposite the bottom of Piccadilly Arcade used to sell model railways. I regularly used the one in Burlington Arcade, still have some of the stuff i bought from there. (and the bag)

The things some of us did for the railway, A site visit to assess the signalling works for the original Thameslink project, at the Holborn Viaduct end of the tunnel in 1985. If you are wondering about the 'Human' side rather than the vegetation, I've spotted at least three other S&T staff in the picture.

Likewise, Keith. I rode the Pershore Road and Bristol Road trams. went to the Theatre Royal in New Street for the panto (a young Max Bygraves playing Buttons), travelled to Dudley Zoo on the train, went to the BIF at Castle Bromwich........(cue wailing violin) Eric

Back 32 years ago I was handed the job of doing the signalling for the LMR end of the original Thameslink project at Farringdon. On my first site visit I noticed this stone in the wall of the GNR Goods Depot. There were several near to the tunnel towards Blackfriars where the recent extension of the station stands.

'Twas ever so. This is the first verse of a song written by local entertainer James Dobbs in the 1820s Full twenty years and more are passed Since I left Brummagem. But I set out for home at last To good old Brummagem. But ev'ry place is altered so Now there's hardly a place I know Which fills my heart with grief and woe For I can't find Brummagem. Harvey Andrews did a parody verse about trying to find his way from the City Centre to St Andrews Football ground after three years away in his 1960s song 'Good Old Brummegem'. The market Hall had gone, Nelson's statue had moved from its old position in the Bull Ring and Snow Hill station was in its death throes..

I wonder if this one is still there? It was about level with the stop blocks at the end of the Looe branch back in the summer of 1971.

The L&Y 0-6-0 was also doing solo runs along the whole line with a full length train. Fireman was beginning to look a bit worse for wear this afternoon.

Apparently Wells is poorly so the Crab is doing its turn today

Good Morning Larry, One from my old friend Stephen Burdett taken at Carrog yesterday Carrog Crossing. by Stephen Burdett, on Flickr