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In Sept 1977 I had 5 locos on the Stirling to Brockenhurst motorail (without a car). 47053 to Mossend, then 82003 to Coventry, then 86205 to Willesden WL Jct, then 08535 to Willesden SW Sidings, finally 33023. All were scores for haulage except 86205.

Fom all I have heard, they do not really want this stop, and serve it under duress.

The need for a lounge pre-boarding applies especially if yourconnecting train is due well before departure, and you do not wish to freeze on the platform.

Back at the start of 1971 there were fairly regular Sunday diversions in the Wigan area because of major reconstruction at North Western station. One such involved a diverted train calling at Earlestown from about 1100 to 1122, then doing the Whelley lines to reach Preston. I arrived about 1105...

I remember one Friday afternoon about 1980 hoping to have a look round the very busy South Lambeth goods yard, and possibly cover some track if I found a friendly driver. Enquiring at the gate, I was taken to the boss's office, so I assumed it was game over. It turned out that he was completely...

In its origins the Station Hotel was close to Ashton Park Parade station, on the GCR line between Guide Bridge and Stalybridge. Park Parade closed a long time before the pub got its signal, so it was not that locally sourced. Just up the road, Stalybridge station buffet has a good collection of...

Some more unacceptables (now), all from the LNER family: 60043 Brown Jack, 62440 Wandering Willie, and a whole batch of names named after Hunts (i.e. fox hunting societies).

Any shed must have been open on its last working day, so logically it was closed on and from the day after. The same method of counting already applies for stations, but the closure date is the first when it would have had a service. For example, if a station with no Sunday service runs it last...

Even when there is no disruption I have turned up too early for my advance ticket train, and asked the conductor for permission to travel earlier. Most times the answer has been yes, "but only because you asked me first".

I do not see how TfW can say that all their replacement coaches are fully accessible. The ones I see on the North Wales coast all involve climbing a set of steps to reach the seats.

Pull it slightly upward and firmly toward you (out of the clips near the floor), then stow it securely near the window. Just do the reverse in the morning before vacating your cabin. I think the sign is possibly a safety concern in case the loose ladder falls on you, but if you leave the ladder...

I was at Leeds earlier this month on an Intercity 225 to KGX, and the live announcement told us first class at the rear, standard at the front. Five minutes later the same person told us the correct info, first class at the front.

Last summer I was going to Newark, and was surprised to find trains from Crewe terminating there (Castle station).

Small correction- Gresty Lane shed was on the North side of the Nantwich line. It was the one shed at Crewe which was easy to visit (I was never refused entry).

I think Gresty Lane was for steam only.

My earlier post was done in haste, and I erroneously said late 1960s for a Warship being based at Crewe North. I should have said early 1960s, and it was more a short-term loan (for training) rather than re-allocation. I cannot pin down the date or loco number unfortunately. They then became...

Crewe North signed them, as they had at least one allocated there about the late 1960s.

I had D135 (later 45149) piloting Jubilee 45682 Trafalgar from Burton to Derby on Sat 27/01/62. The train was the Devonian. I can also recall seeing a steam loco piloting a Western into Birmingham Snow Hill (from the South) sometime early 1960s, and I think this type of thing was fairly common.

The only reason that there were enough 08 numbers was that quite a lot of locos had been withdrawn before TOPS renumbering started.

Straying slightly off theme, there was an occasion while class 46s ruled on the Trans Pennines, and a friendly member of staff at Stalybridge informed the local lads that a new 46 was due through that day. They were already on the lookout for this, but knew that the loco was actually kettle...