Recent content by markindurham

Several books on the subject have quoted this, both the demise of steam and the backtracking on closures. Face it, the railways have been a political football for many years; a game played with enthusiasm by all sides...

You can also add BR 4MT 2-6-0, Ivatt 2-6-2T and Stanier 2-cyl 2-6-4T to the BR era steam list - the former infrequently, & on Scarborough services from the Tees/Wear area, the latter as a one-off, as far as we know, as a pilot engine on a "Scenic Excursion", running in a scheduled path. She was...

The 502s certainly did have starting bells. What wonderful sets they were too...

Bear in mind, too, that the Wilson government of 1964-70 - the one elected on the promise of stopping many of the Beeching Report closures that were planned, but instead accelerated the process - was wedded to having the UK at the forefront of "The White Heat of Technology", and steam was...

The Jacobite operations don't usually have diesels involved either - including the shunts at Fort Bill...

Indeed so. The other thing to consider is that her hull plating had become so thin in several places that some major reskinning, at huge cost, would have been required before she could float again. In fact, perforation had already occurred in the worst affected areas. (Look at the hull of...

Actually, as a professional seaman, compared to some of the monstrosities to be seen these days, she looks to be quite neat. That covered foredeck takes some getting used to; my own employer's latest liquid gas tanker is also so fitted, and was a cause for much discussion at the time. Mark

I offer Blue Peter, Durham, October 1994. It was reckoned that the wheels were turning at the equivalent of 140mph during her uncontrolled slip - the valve gear was destroyed and one driving wheel slipped on its axle...

I understand that there's an engine problem. Broken cylinder head stud or the like?

Yes, I've had her on the front out of Whitby an a few occasions. FWIW, 5428 was recently delayed returning to Grosmont-Whitby duties after maintenance whilst paperwork was dealt with.

Scalby viaduct, on the Scarborough & Whitby line, can also be walked over. As can Slapewath viaduct, just east of Guisborough

19/11243 is now operational - superb work by all concerned.

The whole vehicle had to go to the engine shed if maintenance was required, which would have made keeping the passenger compartment, both inside and out, a bit of a nightmare! Such movements will have been kept to a minimum. The units could, as has been said, run equally well in either...

My respect & condolences - not something that will ever leave you, I suspect. As for the St Edmund - I did 2 northbound & 1 southbound Falklands - Ascension trips on her when she was HMT "Keren", joining/leaving my own ship that was 'down South' as a STUFT. *shudders*

What's the railway equivalent for a silver crucifix, garlic & sunlight? <D