Phill Dyson
Western Thunderer
I guess that Steph and I might have been there but had tickets for the last night of the Monty Python show at the O2.P'raps we can make it next year?
Brian
Luck so & so's
Larkrail
- Thread starter Simon
- Start date
Luck so & so's
Dikitriki
Flying Squad
You're lucky, it's always raining at HeysideNot a cloud in the sky over Withercombe today
queensquare
Western Thunderer
Yep! And jolly good too!
Great to hear that this show was such a success. I guess that Steph and I might have been there but had tickets for the last night of the Monty Python show at the O2.
Brian
But Larkrail was Saturday, last night of the Pythons was Sunday - Kim and I went. Not that it matters.....its not the Spanish inquisition!!
Jerry
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
OOps! But with being so late home on Monday morning I'd not have tried to do Larkrail on the same weekend. It's unlikely there'll be a repeat performance next year!
B
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Firstly - thanks to everyone for their very kind comments on Maiden Newton - I just wish it had moved on further than when it appeared at Larkrail last year. Maybe there will be more progress to see next year - if I'm invited again! However the single section of the layout proved to be a talking point and I learnt a few new facts about the station and the Weymouth line and met one or two people who previously had been just names. But at least the Grange was new - last year it was still in the Hornby box in as bought condition!
I had a very enjoyable day indeed - albeit feeling rather tired from the lack of sleep the previous night due to the fantastic thunder and lightening! I was pleased to be able to make it to the pub afterwards for a very welcome pint of London Pride but due to my daughter visiting I had to forgo the barbie!
I only caught a glimpse of the Lodekka once and I would have liked a closer look. It took me straight back to 1973/4 when I was - shall we say "resting between jobs" - and I did nine months working as a bus conductor in Weymouth. There the operator was Western National of course - had been Southern National before the advent of the National Bus Company - and the majority of Lodekkas in use were the FLF type front loaders. But Weymouth depot still had a couple of back loaders and I always enjoyed working on them especially on an open platform on the beach road to Portland. One of them had brakes which had a terrible squeal and I well remember coming back in to Weymouth from Wyke Regis and the brakes screeched all the way down the hill past the Sidney Hall! Happy days and I hope to catch up with the Lodekka again.
Thanks again for organizing the day Simon and for the invite - I am delighted that it was a success but then I always knew it would be! Well done.
Gerry
I had a very enjoyable day indeed - albeit feeling rather tired from the lack of sleep the previous night due to the fantastic thunder and lightening! I was pleased to be able to make it to the pub afterwards for a very welcome pint of London Pride but due to my daughter visiting I had to forgo the barbie!
I only caught a glimpse of the Lodekka once and I would have liked a closer look. It took me straight back to 1973/4 when I was - shall we say "resting between jobs" - and I did nine months working as a bus conductor in Weymouth. There the operator was Western National of course - had been Southern National before the advent of the National Bus Company - and the majority of Lodekkas in use were the FLF type front loaders. But Weymouth depot still had a couple of back loaders and I always enjoyed working on them especially on an open platform on the beach road to Portland. One of them had brakes which had a terrible squeal and I well remember coming back in to Weymouth from Wyke Regis and the brakes screeched all the way down the hill past the Sidney Hall! Happy days and I hope to catch up with the Lodekka again.
Thanks again for organizing the day Simon and for the invite - I am delighted that it was a success but then I always knew it would be! Well done.
Gerry
Dan Randall
Western Thunderer
A rear entrance Lodekka eh? Not sure I've been on one of those - all the Thames Valley or Southern Vectis ones I travelled on seemed to be the front entrance version.
Forgot to say, Maiden Newton looks excellent!
Regards
Dan
Forgot to say, Maiden Newton looks excellent!
Regards
Dan
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Working as a Bus Conductor was a "rest between jobs"...???
It's certainly a new definition of the phrase "resting between jobs"... Glad to see you're keeping up with the Forum, Colonel.
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Here's a Southern Vectis Lodekka I shot in about 1957 or 1958 at Ryde on the IOW. I don't know for sure whether it's the version you are talking about here and I don't know a lot about buses but still maintain my small collection of photos.
Brian
Working as a Bus Conductor was a "rest between jobs"...???
"Resting between jobs" being the euphemism for unemployed - I made one visit to the Job Centre - although I don't think they were called that in 1973 - and found it so dispiriting that I swore I would never go in one again! I heard that WN were looking for bus conductors and went straight round to the Edward St. depot, had a brief interview with Mr Buckingham, the Local Traffic Superintendent, and started the following week. After one week training I was out on my own!
It was certainly not a rest though and such was the shortage of crews that I often did two shifts in a day - I was only 21 with no responsibilities so didn't have anything much else to do. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially in the summer but I certainly didn't see a future in it and in due course I moved on. I managed to avoid the Job Centre until September 2010 when my job " went down the tube" - I once again had to make a visit where I found it just as dispiriting as before - not too many jobs for a 59 year old in the depths of a recession - and I have been self employed ever since.
Sorry to have gone on a bit - I've got a bit of a "bee in my bonnet" about it all!
Steve Cook
Flying Squad
A few more snaps from the show, delayed somewhat by my reluctance to leave friends, good weather and large trainsets in Bath.
In the order in which they have uploaded:
Llawryglyn by Richard Loydall
Number 4 by Roger Bird
Pearley by Alan Henham
Richard and the ever happy and smiley Ted Olney (right)
ARSE by Simon Thompson
The Brothers Brown with Bob looking resigned and already plotting revenge whilst Rich carries on eating
Castlederg by Andy Cundick
Then in the one of the other rooms, working around the walls
Laurie Griffin and Barry Norman
Steve Harrod
Dave Easto
Charlie Castens and Dennis Lepper
Apologies to those I missed, on the couple of quick walk arounds I squeezed in I spent too much time talking and not enough time taking photos. My day as a demonstrator was rather flawed if productivity is used as a measure, all I manged to do was to cut out two pieces of plasticard for the GBL roof
The whole day was good fun though and the G1MRC coach provided an interesting talking point. The BBQ was excellent and we ran trains pretty much until the light went, roll on Larkrail 2015
Steve
PS - Watch out for that Harrod chap, sitting near him results in lots of enthusiasm and inspiration for hydraulic things - having recently bought back a Phipps Warship kit my original intention to sell it on again is waning...
Lovely Jubbly
In the order in which they have uploaded:
Llawryglyn by Richard Loydall
Number 4 by Roger Bird
Pearley by Alan Henham
Richard and the ever happy and smiley Ted Olney (right)
ARSE by Simon Thompson
The Brothers Brown with Bob looking resigned and already plotting revenge whilst Rich carries on eating
Castlederg by Andy Cundick
Then in the one of the other rooms, working around the walls
Laurie Griffin and Barry Norman
Steve Harrod
Dave Easto
Charlie Castens and Dennis Lepper
Apologies to those I missed, on the couple of quick walk arounds I squeezed in I spent too much time talking and not enough time taking photos. My day as a demonstrator was rather flawed if productivity is used as a measure, all I manged to do was to cut out two pieces of plasticard for the GBL roof
The whole day was good fun though and the G1MRC coach provided an interesting talking point. The BBQ was excellent and we ran trains pretty much until the light went, roll on Larkrail 2015 Steve
PS - Watch out for that Harrod chap, sitting near him results in lots of enthusiasm and inspiration for hydraulic things - having recently bought back a Phipps Warship kit my original intention to sell it on again is waning...
Lovely Jubbly
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
I spy an EMD Geep on Dave Easto's table!! (GP15?)
And, ignoring how it's managed to be posted like that in the first place, can we* have the full title that the acronym "ARSE" stands for please...??
* "we" as in ones like me who haven't been paying attention & may have missed it elsewhere...
(GP15?)And, ignoring how it's managed to be posted like that in the first place, can we* have the full title that the acronym "ARSE" stands for please...??
* "we" as in ones like me who haven't been paying attention & may have missed it elsewhere...
Steve Cook
Flying Squad
You do Darkside stuff at Larkrail
Acme Refinery and Steel Establishment. ARASE doesn't quite have the same ring to it
Darkside stuff at Larkrail Acme Refinery and Steel Establishment. ARASE doesn't quite have the same ring to it
lancer1027
Western Thunderer
I do like that Warship
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
Does anyone know whether Barry Norman does a mould for those hopper wagons
John
John
Steve Cook
Flying Squad
I don't think so John, he was scratch / batch building them from plasticard.
Steve
Steve
Simon
Flying Squad
I do like that Warship
So do I - happily my friend Andrew just up the road treated himself to one and guess who is his nearest track....
Bee-Barp!
Especially when we hook up Alan's originals from "Active" to the compressor
Simon