Search results

Sitting in my pushchair while travelling in the guards compartment from Enfield Town to Bush Hill Park behind an GER L77/LNER N7 running bunker first, about 1959. Later on travelling on my own up to Liverpool Street aged about 9 to go train spotting (Who would do that now!). I remember the...

I've done a few diesel driving experiences - at Mid Hants (DEMU), GWSR (DMU) and Llangollen (1 x DMU, 1 x Class 47), undoubtedly the best for me was Llangollen, as you get a whole line return trip as driver on your own on a 25 mile round trip on an interesting line with banks and tunnels...

Standard gauge was based on a the gauge of some of the pre existing plateways in the North East. The gauge for some of these was based on the width of the wheels on carts in common use in the area. These in turn were based on the width of the pre-existing ruts in the surviving Roman roads...

Earley (Reading - Waterloo line) certainly had the "main" station sidings in place (if not in use) into the 90's. A second siding just off the end of the down platform served a small oil depot. That was in use until the mid, maybe late 80's

I'd agree with the previous 2 responders. Didcot definitely has the feel of a "proper" steam shed. There's a much better range of loco's to see. The café is pretty reasonable and not expensive. Even though it's a "static day", there's always the chance of shunting moves taking place. The...

and if you decide to go to Chinnor (which is a really nice little railway), there's always Didcot Railway centre only a few miles further on (20 or so in fact)

Luncheon vouchers as far as I recall were a way of "paying" your staff more without them paying tax. LV's up to 25p per day were tax free to the employee so many employers added them (or included them), into the wages of their staff as a "perk", and at the time I had them (in the late 70's -...

It's a question the reason for being there. Access to the airport environs (and this would presumably apply to HEX/LUL Tunnels), is legally restricted to those with specific business on the airport (i.e those working at, flying in or out, or those delivering people or goods to the airport). It...

If you strictly apply the criteria, I guess the standard gauge Fawley Hill Railway qualifies. It's definitely not a heritage line, being built by Sir William McAlpine in his "garden" at Fawley Hill near Henley.

I went about 2 years ago and it was a good supplement to doing other things in the area. We did a ride on the Mersey ferry first which on a nice day is also worth a go

Speaking as someone who worked at the airport for nearly 20 years, I suspect the Aviation Security Acts and general security considerations would make any such railtour a non starter!

Mustn't forget Sir Bill McAlpine's Fawley Hill Railway. (Technically and slightly awkwardly named the Fawley Museum Society Ltd). It's a full 4'8 1/2 inch gauge and a couple of miles long with the steepest bank of any "normal" railway in the UK (and possibly Europe) at 1 in 14 increasing to 1 in...

The narrow gauge Denver and Rio Grand Routes in the Southern Rockies in Colorado (US). I've ridden some of the surviving heritage lines such as the Durango and Silverton and Royal Gorge and would love to experience the whole line say in the late 30's or maybe early 50's

From my experience, Pickering is the best place, lots of eateries, not as "touristy" as Whitby. I would heartily recommend the "White Swan" about halfway up the main street up the hill towards the church. Their Ploughman's is the best (and biggest) I have ever had - mind you, you will need a...

1965, watching the loco's on shed at Worcester from the famous "Railway Walk" vantage point, seeing, if I remember rightly Halls, GWR Panniers, the odd Black 5, at least one Jinty 0-6-0 and even a couple of BR Standards. Happy days!

Watching trains at Worcester Shed from Railway walk, in about 1965, seeing from what I recall, some Black 5's, assorted Halls, Prairies and a couple of Jinty's. Or earlier (around about 1959/60) travelling in the guards van (in my push chair), from Bush Hill Park to Enfield on the...

I remember riding in some sort of LNER stock behind N7 tanks in the late 50's on the Enfield Town Branch (whilst in my push chair)