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Post by scorp on May 4, 2013 14:51:30 GMT
Not, of course, what it should be called - what we were doing was collecting Engine Numbers.
My local line was the LNER, the East Coast route of today. I well remember, he said. throwing back his head and boring the pants off anyone within earshot, the day when I was able to underline the last of the Gresley A4 Pacifics - I had seen them all, including, of course, Mallard.
I still think Gresley's locomotives were the prettiest, although Stanier's for the LMS were the most butch and rugged!
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Post by ARENA on May 5, 2013 10:04:35 GMT
Here, you're not him orf the telly ,are you?
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Post by scorp on May 5, 2013 10:14:42 GMT
Swelp me Guv, no! He used to drive a tube train, I believe. Won Mastermind. Not me at all...
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Post by ARENA on May 5, 2013 10:37:42 GMT
Swelp me Guv, no! He used to drive a tube train, I believe. Won Mastermind. Not me at all... Yeh but no but get him on about trains and............................
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Post by scorp on May 5, 2013 12:52:57 GMT
Strictly a steam fan, me.
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Post by thejanitor on Sept 9, 2013 15:30:40 GMT
Yeh, me too! Southern Railway/BR Southern Region for me though growing up on the south coast. I used to love those Battle of Britain/West Country Class - especially the un-rebuilt ones with that streamlining - and the Merchant Navy class, too. I think it was the names as much as the looks that attracted me as an aviation-mad lad - Spitfire, Hurricane, Sir Keith Park, 601 Squadron, Biggin Hill and, of course, Tangmere which, I believe, is still in steam. locoyard.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/2011-eastleigh-battle-of-britain-class-34067-tangmere.jpgWonderful stuff TJ
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Post by ARENA on Sept 10, 2013 8:46:54 GMT
My only early experiences of steam trains, was long cold journeys ( with frequent breakdowns) from London to Aberdeen, to visit my folks!
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Post by thejanitor on Sept 10, 2013 18:34:06 GMT
Sorry for the slight thread drift but my experience of travelling to and from Aberdeen was by car. I spent 6 months at Aberdeen Airport (Dyce) in 1971 and several times I drove from Aberdeen to Portsmouth and back for the weekend! It took me about 12 and a half hours each way, leaving Dyce on Friday afternoon (as soon as the boss had gone) arriving at Portsmouth in the early hours of Saturday morning, leaving again on Sunday afternoon to arrive at Aberdeen in the early hours of Monday morning ready to start work when the airport opened at 0600. Of course, I was young then and - needless to say - there was a girl in Portsmouth I was desperate to see. Now let me think - whatever happened to her? Oh, yes, I remember - I married her and she's still Mrs Janitor. TJ
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Post by scorp on Sept 16, 2013 21:08:26 GMT
Overnight journeys in the days of steam, from Liverpool to London - leaving at midnight - stopping gods knew where from time to time, so you would be woken by invisible railway workers out on the dark platforms - finally arriving at - Marylebone of all stations... What Philip Larkin called 'the reek of carriage cloth' sharp in your nostrils... Bloody terrible.
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Post by scruffyjake1 on Oct 8, 2013 6:41:09 GMT
My Dad was a driver on LNER for 45 years. When I was a kid we used to go to Hornsey shunting yards and play on the trains. We operated the turntable and drove most of the engines. I drove the flying Scotsman once when it came in for repair. It is now being rebuilt at York
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Post by ARENA on Oct 8, 2013 8:24:00 GMT
Hi SJ and welcome.
Many years ago I knew one of the drivers out of Old Oak Common and used to visit the club there for exceptionally cheap beer. I've been on the engine but never allowed to drive.
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Post by scorp on Feb 3, 2014 16:04:59 GMT
My Dad was a driver on LNER for 45 years. When I was a kid we used to go to Hornsey shunting yards and play on the trains. We operated the turntable and drove most of the engines. I drove the flying Scotsman once when it came in for repair. It is now being rebuilt at York Yet again... Did you see they had the six remaining A4s together there last year?
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Post by scorp on Feb 3, 2014 16:06:40 GMT
I remember going to Liverpool by Troop Train, to catch the MV Nevasa out to Cyprus... Troop trains are mentioned in the bible - 'The Lord made every creeping thing'.
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