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Recent content by brstd4260

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    Hopetown Darlington & Locomotion Shildon also Beamish

    We visited all 3 sites over 2 days last week. Beamish is definitely a full day and even then we had to miss out a few bits. The new 1950's town is good and pretty accurate from what I remember from the early 60's. More places to eat and all the chippies had queues. We were hoping to do the...
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    Dining Trains

    Afternoon folks Has anyone used the WSR 's Quantock Belle. Any observations as to quality /Value for Money Thanks Andy
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    TRIVIA: Trains you regret NOT going on before they were retired

    The Red Dragon Cardiff to Paddington, when it was being hauled by a 9F. Similarly the Pines Express Bath GP to Bournemouth with a 9f or an S&D 7f piloted by an LMS 2P
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    Your first solo trips?

    I guess I was about 7 or 8. We lived at Bush Hill Park, close to the Enfield Town - Liverpool Street line and I remember travelling fairly regularly up to Liverpool Street on my own on the weekend on what I now know to be a Class 305 EMU to spot the remaining steam Locos on the old Great...
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    Setting up my own Heritage Railway, a dream that will never happen or a very ambitious project?

    I volunteer at Fawley Hill nr Henley on Thames, (the late Bill McAlpine's "garden railway"). We run a short standard gauge line that's probably around about a mile in total length running through the deer park . The line is fully signalled. It also has the steepest bank on any non rack line in...
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    30 longest heritage preserved railways in the UK

    The incline at Fawley peaks at 1 in 14 with a short stretch at 1 in 13. We operate the 03 as stated but most of the time it's an Hudswell-Clarke 0-6-0T ( McAlpine 31). It does make an impressive sight (and sound) coming up the incline at full blast, albeit unsurprisingly not very fast
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    SVR Taw Valley Steam Locomotive to be painted purple for Queens’ Jubilee

    Well, I think it looks OK. I'd happily ride behind (or on) it!
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    TFL & "Managed Decline"

    ....and that's a problem because...?
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    Chingford / Enfield Town before electric services

    I lived in Bush Hill Park and remember travelling from there to Enfield and Lower Edmonton (as it was' Edmonton Green now) in my pushchair in the late 50's. N7 0-6-2T on the front, but "ordinary" not Quad Art coaches. In the early days we had to travel in the Guards compartment as it was easier...
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    What train encapulates your childhood?

    A N7 tank on the Liverpool Street - Enfield train chugging through Bush Hill Park station before the station was (partially and horribly) rebuilt. Travelling in the guards compartment of the same trains even earlier whilst still in a pushchair. Later catching a class 305 (in green) on the way to...
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    DCMS Heritage Grants

    Does anyone know when the £1m+ grants are due to be announced?
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    Experiences of heritage railway operations post lockdown

    Visited the Bucks Rail Centre at Quainton today. It was well organised with an effective one way system around most of the site. 95%+ of the site was open. Numbers reasonable but plenty of space for social distancing (except around the miniature railway, open for the first time since lockdown)...
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    A bit of a stretch but any idea where in the Reading area this might have been?

    I'd be surprised if it was Pond Head Lane. It is and has been level with the railway since at least the late 20's / mid 30's when the current houses were built. The other side of the railway/A3290 is a good 20' lower than the Pond Head Lane side so I doubt a proper level crossing would have been...
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    Most demeaning cascade

    At least they've been saved and are looked after and they are there for our (small number of) visitors to see

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