CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[NewcastleFalcon]

I hope you get started with a little less noise and clag than this Jim

(Not in the original Inter-city 125 livery but the duller GNER incarnation) The Place....Newcastle Central Station, it passes the New Castle on its way. Interesting comment on the vid from a former driver

alex tilson
2 years ago
I have driven the HST for years and retired a few years ago, Pulling out of Newcastle if you was gentle you could do it with little throttle but if there was train enthusiasts then we used to open it up the sound of the engine and turbo's was fantastic the HST was and is so powerful and when its replaced it will be missed to drive this machine is electric its so powerful and very gentle at the same time!!!!!,

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

For those who want to know more here is the gen on the Inter City 125 in original livery:

[Zelandeth]

You've reminded me that I really need to sort the headlight aim on the Invacar properly. They're both quite low just now I suspect (I was doing it based on Mk I Eyeball looking at the beam on the far side of the street).

Dundee rail station used to be good for sound - I was lucky enough to hear one of the last HST departures out of there before the repowering was completed. Heading north you're on a slight uphill gradient, and the platform is essentially below ground level in a concrete box.

[CitroJim]

I hope you get started with a little less noise and clag than this Jim

You should see me just before I start my morning run

alex tilson
2 years ago
I have driven the HST for years and retired a few years ago, Pulling out of Newcastle if you was gentle you could do it with little throttle but if there was train enthusiasts then we used to open it up the sound of the engine and turbo's was fantastic the HST was and is so powerful and when its replaced it will be missed to drive this machine is electric its so powerful and very gentle at the same time!!!!!,

Ahh magic The sound of a Paxman Valenta on full chat is just heavenly, especially that turbo whistle

When they were re-engined with MAN engines they lost a bit of their charm... At least the Eastern Region maintained a bit of the old charm when they re-engined with the Paxman VP185

For those who want to know more here is the gen on the Inter City 125 in original livery:

Thanks Mick, I'll enjoy watching that later

I'm pleased to report Daffodil passed her MoT yesterday with just two minor advisories

I ended up being the MoT man's assistant so saw the test progress from start to end... I did the brake tests and after all my hard work I was delighted to see all brakes were absolutely perfect for both balance and efficiency

I also saw just how thorough the test was... No shortcuts and no favours...

The suspension shaker found very slight play in one strut top bearing; play a human wielding a pry-bar would never find!

New bearings are already on order...

And one tyre was approaching being marginal... I knew that and now I know the car is very sound, four new ones are on order from Black Circles...

The MoT tester was very complementary about Daffodil's overall condition

Here's Daffodil on the ramp and about to have her emissions tested...

Two Wrestlers, Paggers

The garage does not go in for flash MoT bays Strictly functional and hang the decor... That applies to the entire establishment and the buildings look derelict at first sight... Against that, they do an excellent job and have an enviable local reputation... Basic, down to earth and honest

And my headlight adjustments proved to be bang-on... Zel, you're welcome to come and make use of my garage door alignment marks now we know they are good

Yesterday I was beside myself with anxiety over this MoT test and worried myself ill Hence no posting on here for over 24 hours...

I'm OK now...

[NewcastleFalcon]

The garage does not go in for flash MoT bays Strictly functional and hang the decor... That applies to the entire establishment and the buildings look derelict at first sight... Against that, they do an excellent job and have an enviable local reputation... Basic, down to earth and honest

Excellent post Jim, I think your pic would grace the Garages Gallery thread Jim. Deserves to be given the world wide internet view.

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 39#p659639

Regards Neil

[Skull]

Well Done Jim and Daffodil

I do miss my previous MoT tester who always showed an interest in my old Citroens and always had a few pointers when we were under the lift.

[Gibbo2286]

Back in the fifties the factory inspector would have demanded that workshop be repainted or closed down, our workshop was a large corrugated iron barn, had to be repainted inside and out to satisfy the little Hitler.

[mickthemaverick]

Time to complete the set Jim?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-Citroen ... c4:g:sdAAA

[CitroJim]

I think your pic would grace the Garages Gallery thread Jim. Deserves to be given the world wide internet view.

Done and dusted! I've expanded the description a bit and added another picture

Back in the fifties the factory inspector would have demanded that workshop be repainted or closed down, our workshop was a large corrugated iron barn, had to be repainted inside and out to satisfy the little Hitler.

To be honest Eric, I do wonder sometimes how he gets away with it... The building where he has his office is now declared structurally unsafe and the walls of the MoT bay are very damp... One wall of which is part of one of the former and currently disused Aston Martin factory buildings. Happily, three of the old listed heritage Aston factory buildings are currently covered in scaffolding and look to be under restoration... Despite living close by I don't know what the plans for them are but I'd expect luxury flats...

Time to complete the set Jim?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-Citroen ... c4:g:sdAAA

And a nice white one too,... I could go for that if only I had the space Mick

But I couldn't stop there... For the full set I'd need an AX, BX, CX and a ZX.... One can dream

[mickthemaverick]

Well blow me down!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-CX-2 ... SwjYxf55MY

[CitroJim]

Well blow me down!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-CX-2 ... SwjYxf55MY

Jackpot

[mickthemaverick]

Here you go Jim, at least you can print and hang this one on the wall!!

My Dream Garage

[CitroJim]

Mick, that's absolute top quality magic

The smile on my face says it all

[daviemck2006]

My usual MOT station doesn't look that much different to that, and has not changed, apart from the upgrading of the equipment, in the near 40 years I have been using it, even the same tester all those years! He is fair, will point out things that are iffy but not part of the test, and he will do minor fixes during the test at no extra charge. And he mostly does just MOTs so is not failing things to generate work for himself. He also allows regular customers to use the spare two post ramp in the garage to work on their own cars. I have used it on a few occasions now.

[CitroJim]

That's a proper old-school MoT tester, just like mine Davie They should be made national treasures!

Mine has been charging £35 for an MoT for as long as I can remember... He could charge more but makes his living from repairing MoT failures... He tells me the first-time pass rate is astonishingly low for often stupidly small things but to him it's a good straightforward earner to fix them and charge accordingly...

He's done jobs for me in the past when I've been unable or just not wanted to - such as CV joint boots... I hate CV grease with a passion. It's evil stuff