First Caption Comp of 2009

[sovietsong]

Where are the winners shown?  I dont think i've seen any last year.  Must be looking in the wrong place! 

Sigh, do pay attention, please!

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=39128.0

Brilliant.  Tikay, which is your fave steam train?

[tikay]

Where are the winners shown?  I dont think i've seen any last year.  Must be looking in the wrong place! 

Sigh, do pay attention, please!

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=39128.0

Brilliant.  Tikay, which is your fave steam train?

"Steam train"? I assume you mean Steam Locomotive.

A "train" is the Locomotive & Rolling Stock (carriages, in the case of a passenger train), combined, whereas a Locomotive is the tractive power unit - what you might call "the Steam engine".

A "steam train" would, in days gone by, be a "named Express", or a "Headboard Express".

The GWR had many - The Fishguard Express, The Torbay Express, SR had "Brighton Belle", & LMS had "The Flying Scotsman".

Here, to answer your question precisely, is the best of both. GWR Loco King George V1, with the "Cornish Riviera Exprress" Headboard, easily the most famous, & best combo, ever. I travelled on it many times, a great thrill, and my Dad, & my Grandad (Grandad Angell) both fired it, & drove it, & on several occasions they were rostered together, as Driver & Fireman.

There is quite a story behind that gold bell, clearly seen below.

[sovietsong]

Where are the winners shown?  I dont think i've seen any last year.  Must be looking in the wrong place! 

Sigh, do pay attention, please!

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=39128.0

Brilliant.  Tikay, which is your fave steam train?

"Steam train"? I assume you mean Steam Locomotive.

A "train" is the Locomotive & Rolling Stock (carriages, in the case of a passenger train), combined, whereas a Locomotive is the tractive power unit - what you might call "the Steam engine".

A "steam train" would, in days gone by, be a "named Express", or a "Headboard Express".

The GWR had many - The Fishguard Express, The Torbay Express, SR had "Brighton Belle", & LMS had "The Flying Scotsman".

Here, to answer your question precisely, is the best of both. GWR Loco King George V1, with the "Cornish Riviera Exprress" Headboard, easily the most famous, & best combo, ever. I travelled on it many times, a great thrill, and my Dad, & my Grandad (Grandad Angell) both fired it, & drove it, & on several occasions they were rostered together, as Driver & Fireman.

There is quite a story behind that gold bell, clearly seen below.

Tell us then, dont be such a tease!

[tikay]

Where are the winners shown?  I dont think i've seen any last year.  Must be looking in the wrong place! 

Sigh, do pay attention, please!

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=39128.0

Brilliant.  Tikay, which is your fave steam train?

"Steam train"? I assume you mean Steam Locomotive.

A "train" is the Locomotive & Rolling Stock (carriages, in the case of a passenger train), combined, whereas a Locomotive is the tractive power unit - what you might call "the Steam engine".

A "steam train" would, in days gone by, be a "named Express", or a "Headboard Express".

The GWR had many - The Fishguard Express, The Torbay Express, SR had "Brighton Belle", & LMS had "The Flying Scotsman".

Here, to answer your question precisely, is the best of both. GWR Loco King George V1, with the "Cornish Riviera Exprress" Headboard, easily the most famous, & best combo, ever. I travelled on it many times, a great thrill, and my Dad, & my Grandad (Grandad Angell) both fired it, & drove it, & on several occasions they were rostered together, as Driver & Fireman.

There is quite a story behind that gold bell, clearly seen below.

Tell us then, dont be such a tease!

OK, you force me......

She was built at GWR's famous Swindon Works, in 1927, & then immediately shipped to America, for a big exhibition, a sort of "Centenary". Grandad Angell went with her, as Fireman. Both returned, but remained closely associated. She was based at Old Oak Common (OOC had, & still has, the UK''s most iconic Shed Code - "81a"), in West London, near Paddington. She retired from main Line work in 1962, & was purchased, & has been restored & preserved, by Bulmers, I believe. She travelled nearly 2 mllion miles in GWR Service, many of them with Grandad Angell as Fireman or Driver, ditto with a guy called Jimmy Kendall. My Dad.

Oh, the Bell. Well the Ameicans presented the Loco (!) with that commemorative Bell, & she is often referred to as "Bell" to this day by anoraks.

It bears this inscription.....

"Presented to Locomotive King George V, by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, in commemoration of its centenary celebration, Sept 24th - Oct 15th 1927"
 

[tikay]

Here she is, in action, on the Paddington to Snow Hill Birmingham Line, now defunct I assume.

The pic was taken at Acton Wells Junction, where I lived as a boy, & also I went to Acton Wells school, barely a mile from Old Oak Common shed.

Acton Wells Railway Junction runs alongside the LT Central Line at this point, alongside & parallel, but not through, North Acton Tube Station.

I'd stand on that station with my schoolmates after School, on my way home, & now & then my Dad would drive a Steam-hauled train past, & blow the whistle & wave. Can you imagine how proud that made me? "Look, that's my Dad". Never happier, never prouder.

I went googling to find this pic, & it's made my day.

[tikay]

No idea where this was taken, but I'd hazard a guess at Gloucester.

[tikay]

The Bell was always shiny bright, polished so you could see your face in it. That was the Fireman's first job, on reporting for Duty, to shine the Bell. Then they'd bunker the Loco, go round it with an oil-can & some cotton-waste, & once the steam pressure was up, off they went. They were always "fired", the fires were never allowed to go out when "on Shed", as the contraction & expansion caused by heat variation caused problems.

A Loco on which the Fire was out was known as "dead".

I better stop now, I've hijacked snoops thread, & if Kiv or bolty see this, there'll be a ruck.

[Colchester Kev]

Oh, I have seen it allright ... I am now removing all sharp objects from easy reach in case the urge to self harm gets too strong.

[tikay]

Oh, I have seen it allright ... I am now removing all sharp objects from easy reach in case the urge to self harm gets too strong.

Sheer jealousy, imo. You'd have loved to be told to shine your bell.

[Colchester Kev]

Oh, I have seen it allright ... I am now removing all sharp objects from easy reach in case the urge to self harm gets too strong.

Sheer jealousy, imo. You'd have loved to be told to shine your bell.

I dont need telling !

[Karabiner]

I always remember my dad referring to the train from London to Sheffield as "The Master Cutler".

I would guess that was one of the express trains. Damn fine breakfast in one of those posh 1st class dining cars too.

[tikay]

I always remember my dad referring to the train from London to Sheffield as "The Master Cutler".

I would guess that was one of the express trains. Damn fine breakfast in one of those posh 1st class dining cars too.

That is such a good call Ralph. "The Master Cutler" & a BR Breakfast sreved off a sliver tray, were synonmous. It was a wonderful train. St Pancras was the London end - St Pancras as was, not as refurbed.

[sovietsong]

TY Tikay, very interesting stuff.  Seems some members of the forum dont appreciate your tales about steam engines, more fool them!

[HaworthBantam]

TY Tikay, very interesting stuff.  Seems some members of the forum dont appreciate your tales about steam engines, more fool them!

Indeed.

Have you ever visited my home village of Haworth, Tikay ?  http://www.kwvr.co.uk/events/index.htm

[gatso]

TY Tikay, very interesting stuff.  Seems some members of the forum dont appreciate your tales about steam engines, more fool them!

ban plz