Of guilty hellos
18th June 2017

As usual I like to start this blog with a thought-provoking commentary on an aspect of railways or our daily lives. But it's too hot.

Of converters, cards and composites

2nd August 2015

Even as I was writing up the blog last week, Andrew was hovering, finger poised, to bid for a couple of items on e-bay, and the first you will see depicted below (when you opt to 'Read more' that is).

Of the return of an old friend

19th May 2013

We have been in regular touch with the firm in Sheffield who are custodians of the 3 fan motors this week. With all due irony, the motor from D9500 is undoubtedly the best of the 3, and other than adding a "Speedisleeve" and replacing various seals and rings, having drilled out the corroded fixing bolts, the motor was in comparatively good order. But it has not been completed this week and so no progress can be reported on '901, more's the pity.

Of things that did and didn't arrive

24th February 2013

On Monday I was over at Briddon Towers for the morning but aimed to be back in Derbyshire in time to meet the lorry. I needn't have worried so much, for somehow the postcode for Rowsley directed the wagon's Satnav to somewhere near Mickleover, and by the time the driver had sorted out with me over the phone where he ought to be, he'd run out of hours and had to park up. So finally he arrived in Rowsley late in the afternoon, a 40ft flat trailer with an eight-wheel tractor unit sporting the biggest HIAB-type crane I'd ever seen. We'd lifted the generator set and sundries off when Andrew arrived, having dashed home from work and changed. Off came the casing top from the NB, the 6RPH Paxman was lifted out and secured to the wagon, and the casing top refitted.

Second Entry: Some good, some bad

7th August 2010

Saturday: Up until lunchtime on Friday, I was supposed to be on site changing the spring on an 0-6-0 for a client, so Andrew had arranged instead to go see his girlfriend. Then a phone call came through that the job had to be postponed so I was at a loose end.

Bank Holiday Rambles

30th August 2010

Andrew has this thing about the last weekends of the month being unproductive, so now seldom schedules major activities for them. As he is also spending some time with his girlfriend, it ended up that Saturday of the Bank Holiday weekend was “free”, but Mrs B had scheduled the Friday and Saturday to be “clear the office, replace the carpet and put it all back in tidily” days.