One for the train buffs.

[Rp0thejester]

I missed it

[NewcastleFalcon]

Roughly exactly now it is due to stop at Stevenage on its way back from Lincoln

On the return journey, it will leave Lincoln at 3.48pm, stopping at Stevenage at 7.09pm and Potters Bar at 7.30pm before reaching London King's Cross shortly after 8pm.

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

I could make Potters Bar for 7.30 but I don't want to miss Villa beating Arsenal!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bit of train buff trivia about that particular locomotive 44871 The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Stanier Class 5 4-6-0, commonly known as the Black Five.

It was one of the locomotives which hauled the last mainline passenger train hauled by steam locomotive power on 11th August 1968, before the introduction of a steam ban that started the following day.

The Fifteen Guinea Special

The fifteen guinea special, was a rail tour excursion train organised for the occasion from Liverpool Lime Street via Manchester Victoria to Carlisle and back, and was pulled in turn by four steam locomotives during the four legs of the journey (with two engines sharing the third leg Carlisle to Manchester Victoria). The black fives 44871, and 44781 double-headed this journey.

The Fifteen Guinea Special passing Spring Vale
Alan Murray-Rust / The Fifteen Guinea Special passing Spring Vale

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

A near miss for the March random selection on the "Picture(s) of the Day Random Review of 2023" thread. One post out on the random selection.

viewtopic.php?p=783266#p783266

SR N15 Class N0 777 Sir Lamiel 2 (8519265034)
Martin Stone from Reading, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Quite a gorgeous gallery on Wiki of photographs from the Mid-Hampshire Line aka the Watercress line where the Sir Lamiel was pictured above at Medstead and Four Marks station.

a couple of examples caught my eye...
Gallery https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cate ... cress_Line


Funnily Enough I Can't Get A Signal
www.mgaylard.co.uk and thanks for looking, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons


Class 55 "Deltic" D9009 "Alycidon" at Ropley - another close-up
tawalker, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Signal box homage latest,

60 fence boards turned into 240 18" x 6" roof shingles to give a "slate" finish to the already waterproof roof.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Excellent Neil Looking good!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Thanks Jim, recently much rain has stopped play, now replaced with a good deal of wind, but took the opportunity to finish that job yesterday and today, while we had a little window of rain-free weather.

Neil

[CitroJim]

A festive locomotive

Reindeers now redundant and put out to grass (or snow?)

Wonder if Santa will go electric next year?

[Armidillo]

I think he should - but what about robot reindeer? Half-a-dozen of these should do the trick!

OK - I concede it's not a train - what about a steam/electric hybrid?

[NewcastleFalcon]

Well two for this train buff, limited interest to others granted; but an evocative pic of an old Northumberland railway poster, and thanks to Chester Library this withdrawn for sale special interest book which is precisely what is says on the cover

Neil

[CitroJim]

Excellent Two treasures there Neil

[bobins]

Historic railway signal box at Par to close after 144 years

"The oldest working signal box in Cornwall - built 144 years ago at Par - is to close in spring 2024.
Network Rail said it would close along with signal boxes at Lostwithiel and Truro as part of a digital upgrade.
The signal boxes at Par, built in 1880, and Lostwithiel, built in 1893, are Grade II listed by Historic England - meaning they must be preserved.
The fate of Truro's box is yet to be decided, but there are no immediate plans to demolish it or for it to have a mysterious fire, managers said."

More at the Beeb: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-67762610

[Rp0thejester]

Spotted this at Kingston train station. Can someone enlighten me as to what it means please.

it's on the westbound platform