One for the train buffs.

[Gibbo2286]

For the oldies.

[Gibbo2286]

My train buff neighbour sent me this today:

[CitroJim]

Shows how long ago it was I last travelled anywhere by train...

This was its prime mover:

In the National Railway Museum...

I was lucky to take one of the last HSTs from Westbury to Paddington and like many, I mourn their departure. Their modern replacements are nowhere near as pleasant or fun to ride in..

And now it's stuffed and mounted in a museum

Shame it is fitted with the rather soulless MTU engine rather than the characterful screaming Paxman Valenta they were originally fitted with. The sound of them on full-chat as they accelerated away from a standing start was totally magical... Almost as magical of a pair of Maybach engines on full song powering a Western along at 100mph...

We have lost so much

Even the iconic BR advert they featured in...

[CitroJim]

A few railways-related bits at the Beamish Museum... As seen during our trip there on the 5th September...

A bit weathered!

In the coal mine area:

Rowley Signal Box:

[CitroJim]

Whilst in Somerset it would have been rude not to have paid a visit to this one:

Trains were running for driver experience days only but at least the cafe was open. They serve very fine cake

[Richard_C]

The BBC seems to be excited about trains for the 200th anniversary. Last night (Weds 24th) mid evening there were a couple of re-runs on BBC4 TV, including a very gentle and well filmed footplate ride on the Flying Scotsman on the Severn Valley railway. Not the usual stuff, really enjoyable slow television.

This morning (Thurs 25th) I was out and about and stumbled on Radio 4 Extra programmes, one about riding the freight trains in the USA and another seeking out 'notionally still there' UK train services.

On Saturday 27th Radio 3 is spending most of its day chuffing from Inverness to Kings X and presumably playing relevant music (even Petroc Trelawney cant talk for that long...can he?). I may mark the anniversary by playing the Big Train album by Winton Marsalis (on vinyl no less) while sippiing a suitably smokey whisky. Not sure any of the Highland Malts advertise "coal smoke" in the flavour profile though.

Also spotted in the Guardian that the Cleveland Bay pub in Stockton has been Grade 2 listed - the first purpose built Railway pub they say.

[myglaren]

Coincidentally, I have just read this:-
A restored replica of Locomotion No 1 will return to the birthplace of railways to recreate its first famous journey.

Tens of thousands of people lined the route on 27 September 1825 to witness history being made as the Stockton and Darlington Railway opened.

It was the first public railway in the world to use steam locomotives to carry passengers and freight, and was credited by rail historians for changing the way people traded, travelled and communicated.

[bobins]

I may mark the anniversary by playing the Big Train album by Winton Marsalis (on vinyl no less) while sippiing a suitably smokey whisky. Not sure any of the Highland Malts advertise "coal smoke" in the flavour profile though.

Hmmmmm...... It might have to be Different Trains - Steve Reich for me. That should distract my brain for a while
....or maybe Last Train to Trancentral - The KLF

[Gibbo2286]

On the Birmingham history forum there a page referencing newspapers.com this came up today:

No local additions this week. But, as might be expected to the anniversary, many of interest to rail enthusiasts:
3 completely new journals
Railway Press 1888-1898
Railway Servants’ Chariot and Companion 1881, 1886
Scottish Railway Gazette 1845-1846
and addition to a journal already covered
Railway Times 1837-1900

[CitroJim]

I spent a lot of last week all over the West Somerset Railway and was delighted to enjoy a lot of quality time with my all-time favourite locomotive: Hymek D7017 I've followed this locomotive's progress from virtual scrapper in the late 70s to the immaculate machine she now is...

Here she is, taken last Wednesday on a test/positioning run at Blue Anchor whilst her driver awaited the single-line token...

Her paintwork is so highly polished you can see the reflection of the level crossing gates above her headcode box

She makes very sweet diesel music too

And some nice 'clag' when she first gets under way after an extended period of idling

[mickthemaverick]

James posted this on the TV thread in case you missed it fellow train buffs: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/guy ... -the-world

[Hell Razor5543]

BBC Breakfast has just shown an article about Peter Ramptons' secret 'Collection X' steam engines. At this time that is not on their website, but it shouldn't be long before it is up. However, I found this;

[Gibbo2286]

It's a big one with lots of red suited ants seemingly wandering aimlessly about.

[myglaren]

Rather nostalgic

[myglaren]