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I'm the firestarter, twisted firestarter.

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4SRKT

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Your roving reporter 4SRKT bringing you the latest on a reign of terror sweeping Britain's railways.

While in human society it is young people who have brought shame to Britain by rioting, destroying property and generally being a massive nuisance, in the world of Britain's Broken Railways it seems it is the old timers who are rebelling and causing Britain major international embarrassment. Once again the world looks on in horror at delinquent behaviour, made all the more shocking by the advanced age of the offenders.

Today horrified younger trains such as HSTs, 91s and 365s could only look on in terrified disbelief as elderly locomotives went on the rampage, setting fire to everything in their path, and creating a trail of delay and destruction throughout Eastern England until eventually stopped on the ECML near Newark. One class 91 who wished to remain unnamed for fear of revenge attacks was interviewed at Leeds station, too frightened to leave on the 15:45 to Kings Cross. "I don't care if all my passengers end up 4 hours late at their destinations, I'm not venturing out there. Have you seen what's going on? They're out of control. I'm staying here and hoping it doesn't spread to Leeds".

The culprits' reign of terror was eventually brought to a halt, and they were identified by their 'shed' names of 'Sir Lamiel' and 'Oliver Cromwell', members of the infamous 'Kettle Gang'. Network Rail had initially tried the riot control technique known as 'kettling', but this is thought only to have made the problem worse. A spokesman who has studied these elderly locomotives all his life tried to give an insight into what might be going on here. "These locos have grievances" he said. "For nearly 150 years they ruled the rails and now have to endure being shut up in Institutions, or 'museums' as they are euphemistically called. Some of them are allowed out at weekends to crawl around at 25mph, but that's not enough for the more hardline ones, who form themselves into gangs and persuade Network Rail to let them out into mainstream society". Dressed in sinister liveries, with black hoodies instead of the more usual yellow ones that modern trains wear, they stalk the rails, breaking down, running too slowly, encouraging hordes of so-called 'kettle veg' to hang around platform ends, and today engaging in an orgy of wanton destruction.

Well readers, as the fires die down and frightened younger trains head for the nearest depot (almost certainly not the one any of them were booked to be at tonight) I think today that we can see the result of years of liberal policies towards these elderly delinquents, who have no sense of the values required to exist on a modern railway system. There will be calls for leniency from the usual suspects, but this time the calls for them to be dealt with harshly will be stridently heard in every TMD and stabling point in the country.
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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4SRKT, if you were a newpaper publisher who could produce such witty and well-written articles as this, you would have our order without fail and many others would follow.

The Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph have much to learn from you in respect of incisive reporting.
 

4SRKT

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Thank you very much. Maybe I am in the wrong job then....
 

Bittern

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You seem to have an obsession with the fact that a steam loco failed. This is not healthy.

Although this is media worthy as the media write a load of crap as well.
 

4SRKT

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Bittern, this is a 'satire', that is, a piece of fun. Do you honestly think what I have written is a 'load of crap' and meant to be taken seriously? If so, it is not me is is 'not healthy'. Possibly you are worried that Network Rail may take action against unnecessary kettle moves and you think that shooting the messenger (me) will help avert this?
 

4SRKT

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Bittern is entitled to disagree with me on the subject of whether LE kettles should be allowed on routes such as the ECML, but I welcome his analysis of what I have written as a piece of writing, independent of his views on the subject matter.
 

Kernowfem

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As a "Kettle" fan, i really liked your post, i thought it was very well written and did infact make me laugh..It's all in good fun.

However i'm still on "Team Kettle" No one can take away my love for them. I'd marry one if i could! lol.
 

4SRKT

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As a "Kettle" fan, i really liked your post, i thought it was very well written and did infact make me laugh..It's all in good fun.

However i'm still on "Team Kettle" No one can take away my love for them. I'd marry one if i could! lol.


If you could bring one of the pesky arsonists into line by marrying it then I'm sure we'd all like to come along to the ceremony!
 

AlterEgo

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I've only just seen this! Very good! Lol.

I don't like Kettles much <D Not my cup of tea.

Ohhohohoho....okay, I already have my coat!
 

ralphchadkirk

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Ironically, a 37 tour has just failed at Berkhampsted, caping the WCML. I am told that a window fell out due to pressure in the tunnels (Northchurch tunnel I presume?). Unfortunately, I am also told that the driver is injured. I wonder if 4SRKT will want all heritage diesels banned?
 

4SRKT

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Not rising to the bait in this pointless debate where I've repeatedly said I don't want all steam banned from the mainline, just pointless ECS and LE moves, but the hard-of-understanding are too stubborn to see this.
 

Kernowfem

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Ironically, a 37 tour has just failed at Berkhampsted, caping the WCML. I am told that a window fell out due to pressure in the tunnels (Northchurch tunnel I presume?). Unfortunately, I am also told that the driver is injured. I wonder if 4SRKT will want all heritage diesels banned?

You are correct. A good friend of mine was on that tour and was giving me regular up dates all morning. Very sad to hearthe driver was injured, i hope he will be fine.

As for marrying my beautiful kettles, i dare say with me at the controls they would behave....then again, you havent seen me drive!!! :D
 

MidnightFlyer

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You are correct. A good friend of mine was on that tour and was giving me regular up dates all morning. Very sad to hearthe driver was injured, i hope he will be fine.

As for marrying my beautiful kettles, i dare say with me at the controls they would behave....then again, you havent seen me drive!!! :D

I'm on it currently - driver's fine and has been discharged home. Currently still running 90 mins-2 hours late.

 

MidnightFlyer

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Putting 37s on top and tailing - it was double header until then. No Selhurst Depot run now, NR have just remembered there's no one on duty. A 92 took us Berkhamsted-Wembley Yard.
 

matt

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Putting 37s on top and tailing - it was double header until then. No Selhurst Depot run now, NR have just remembered there's no one on duty. A 92 took us Berkhamsted-Wembley Yard.

It was a class 66 that did the dragging
 
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