Barcelona Heads Up Semis

[tikay]

Sigh...... Look, this is a serious matter. What on earth do schools teach these days?

The Flying Scotsman? No!

The Flying Scotsman was actually a train service, from Kings Cross to Edingburgh Waverley, it used to head North daily at 10.00am. It was hauled by a Gresley Pacific (named after Sir Nigel Gresley, who was a famous loco designer) &, eventually & unusually, they named the loco after the sevice, hence "The Flying Scotsman" was reincarnated as a steam Locomotive. Originally numbered 1472 when constructed, during the early twenties the LNER (London & North Eastern Region) renumbered all their motive rolling stock, & she was given the famous 4472 number. In fact, when railway nationalisation arrived in the late 1940's, she was renumbered 60103. In all, she covered in excess of 2 million miles, & her original construction cost was about 9,000. I believe she was eventually sold to one of the McAlpine family.

Her original claim to fame was the first non-stop journey from Kings Cross to Edinburgh in about 1928. For this purpose, a "walk-through" tender was fitted, to enable the crew to be changed. The 400 mile journey took around 8 hours. 5 or 6 years later, the same loco was accredited with the first ever 100mph+ running, whilst hauling a passenger service between London & Leeds. Starting life as an A1 Pacific, she was upgraded over the years to an A3, but never to an A4.

The Mallard? Grood grief man, NO.

The Mallard was in fact an A4 Gresley Pacific, built in about 1937, which had the (then) novelty of streamlining. She also ran on the LNER. In Mallard's case, she was actually painted a dreadfully poofty shade of blue. She achieved what was the then world speed record of 125 mph in 1938. Most railway historians show her speed that day as 126 mph, which was what the dynamometer car showed, but in fact this is wrong, as she only achieved 125.4 mph.

But THE most famous Steam Locomotive - you IDIOT - was King George V, footplate number 6,000. Built at Swindon - OBVIOUSLY - to run on Brunel's GWR, she was based at Old Oak Common (shed location 81A). Brunel, by the way, enjoyed the full name of Isambard Kingdom Brunel - how grand was THAT? Built in 1927, 6,000 was taken to America as an exhibit in The Baltimore Centenary celebration, & was fitted with a Gold Bell which she carried throughout her career on her front buffer bar. Oddly, it was only as a result of her trip to America that she gained the name King George V, as it was felt she needed a name representative of her native Britain. In the mid-fities, like all GWR King Class locos, she was fitted with a double chimney. Designed by C B Collett, under instructions from Locomotive Suoperintendant G J Churchward, the designs retained all the trademark GWR features - polished brass pop valve framings, copper capped chimneys, & of course 4-6-0 bogeys. She ran best on soft Welsh coal, but the harder Daw Mill coal (from the Daw Mill Coliery in the Midlands) was used to fire her up. She used up to 15,000 gallons of water on a single run, & could refill her Tender from water troughs without stopping. She never looked less than magnificent in her GWR livery of Brunswick green, the very epitome of what a steam loco should look like.She hauled the inaugural "Cornish Riveira Express" & "Royal Duchy" services, & headed the first passenger service through the Box Tunnel. No finer steam locomotive was ever built. I have some LP's (Great Western Steam Sounds, Series 2) of King George V hauling a full load up an incline - in stereo, great stuff - and a Video of her in service too, which have enlivened many a dull evening.

So worry not. If we ever get stuck in a lift which has broken down, we will have PLENTY to talk about.

I do not loan out my LP's or Videos which feature steam Locos, but you are welcome to my place to see & hear the ultimate steam experience.

[TightEnd]

Sigh...... Look, this is a serious matter. What on earth do schools teach these days?

The Flying Scotsman? No!

The Flying Scotsman was actually a train service, from Kings Cross to Edingburgh Waverley, it used to head North daily at 10.00am. It was hauled by a Gresley Pacific (named after Sir Nigel Gresley, who was a famous loco designer) &, eventually & unusually, they named the loco after the sevice, hence "The Flying Scotsman" was reincarnated as a steam Locomotive. Originally numbered 1472 when constructed, during the early twenties the LNER (London & North Eastern Region) renumbered all their motive rolling stock, & she was given the famous 4472 number. In fact, when railway nationalisation arrived in the late 1940's, she was renumbered 60103. In all, she covered in excess of 2 million miles, & her original construction cost was about 9,000. I believe she was eventually sold to one of the McAlpine family.

Her original claim to fame was the first non-stop journey from Kings Cross to Edinburgh in about 1928. For this purpose, a "walk-through" tender was fitted, to enable the crew to be changed. The 400 mile journey took around 8 hours. 5 or 6 years later, the same loco was accredited with the first ever 100mph+ running, whilst hauling a passenger service between London & Leeds. Starting life as an A1 Pacific, she was upgraded over the years to an A3, but never to an A4.

The Mallard? Grood grief man, NO.

The Mallard was in fact an A4 Gresley Pacific, built in about 1937, which had the (then) novelty of streamlining. She also ran on the LNER. In Mallard's case, she was actually painted a dreadfully poofty shade of blue. She achieved what was the then world speed record of 125 mph in 1938. Most railway historians show her speed that day as 126 mph, which was what the dynamometer car showed, but in fact this is wrong, as she only achieved 125.4 mph.

But THE most famous Steam Locomotive - you IDIOT - was King George V, footplate number 6,000. Built at Swindon - OBVIOUSLY - to run on Brunel's GWR, she was based at Old Oak Common (shed location 81A). Brunel, by the way, enjoyed the full name of Isambard Kingdom Brunel - how grand was THAT? Built in 1927, 6,000 was taken to America as an exhibit in The Baltimore Centenary celebration, & was fitted with a Gold Bell which she carried throughout her career on her front buffer bar. Oddly, it was only as a result of her trip to America that she gained the name King George V, as it was felt she needed a name representative of her native Britain. In the mid-fities, like all GWR King Class locos, she was fitted with a double chimney. Designed by C B Collett, under instructions from Locomotive Suoperintendant G J Churchward, the designs retained all the trademark GWR features - polished brass pop valve framings, copper capped chimneys, & of course 4-6-0 bogeys. She ran best on soft Welsh coal, but the harder Daw Mill coal (from the Daw Mill Coliery in the Midlands) was used to fire her up. She used up to 15,000 gallons of water on a single run, & could refill her Tender from water troughs without stopping. She never looked less than magnificent in her GWR livery of Brunswick green, the very epitome of what a steam loco should look like.She hauled the inaugural "Cornish Riveira Express" & "Royal Duchy" services, & headed the first passenger service through the Box Tunnel. No finer steam locomotive was ever built. I have some LP's (Great Western Steam Sounds, Series 2) of King George V hauling a full load up an incline - in stereo, great stuff - and a Video of her in service too, which have enlivened many a dull evening.

So worry not. If we ever get stuck in a lift which has broken down, we will have PLENTY to talk about.

I do not loan out my LP's or Videos which feature steam Locos, but you are welcome to my place to see & hear the ultimate steam experience.

a) In case we get stuck in a lift together, I intend to henceforth carry a cyanide pill on me at all times

b) thanks for the invite to your place, but my mum warned me about such things from men keen on steam trains

c) King George V may be the most famous engine for afficianados, but for the hoi polloi, I humbly submit that both the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard have a cachet/reputation and standing that leaves aforesaid George V in the sidings

d) I gather the domain names www.blondesteamers.com/www.blondesteam.com/www.blondeandboring.com are left on the shelves. I have just bought them in a fit of entrepreneurial madness. What do you offer?

[tikay]

Regarding c), you will be hearing from my solicitors unless you retract.

Do you wish me to explain at length? I could go on & on you know. I mean, not Ariston league, but enough to make your ears bleed.

[AlrightJack]

sorry to be a bit off topic, but has anyone heard anything from Barca today?

[tikay]

No, but they are an hour behind there, so they aint started yet. Still tring to figure how we got from Barca Heads-Up Semis to King George V. But if the Barca action is slow, I could do you an essay on British Railways Rolling Stock. Let me know.

[Ironside]

surely they are an hour ahead in spain

[TightEnd]

Somehow this developed into an all time classic thread. 

I'm out of here, everything retracted and back to poker!

[Colchester Kev]

Simon beats John and is in the final

[Colchester Kev]

seemingly they changed things around, and Simon and John were first on, in a quick match which both said they didnt care who won , as long as whoever did win goes on to win the final.

So Simon "The Edge" Nowab takes the first seat in the final.

[tikay]

Well well well, Nowab in the Final.

Well Done Simon, & hard luck John.

I am writing a piece for our Front Page today, about Simon Nowab's prowess as a Heads-Up player. You may be surprised at what I have to say.......

And yes, I got the time difference back to front, sorry! Body clock all messed up here.

[tikay]

And I have seen off Tight-End.......

Bore them to tears, that's the trick.

[tikay]

Second Semi-Final.

Dave having a tough time it seems. In trouble from the word "go", he somehow got deeper & deeper in the poo, before staging a mini-recovery.

At the break, he was down to about 20% of all the chips.

Come on Dave!

[tikay]

Text just in from Dave....

"lost".

I replied....."****"

More details later. Gutted for DC.

[ifm]

What a thread!!
Starts off as interesting and informative, goes on to the rediculous, then onto laugh out loud, a bit of perversion follows, then i fell asleep for a while......then a high note and finally a low.
Rivetting stuff
Ian

[tikay]

Yeah, it did go round the houses a bit, eh?