petes blog

Today at the Blue Bell Railway was the last gala of the season and a wet one it was but it was packed and a good day was had by all.

Kevin Wilson sent me a photo of one of our Dynamometer car. I have to share it with you. It is one of the most exquisite coachs I have ever seen. It was built by Kevin painted by Dave Studly, hand sign written byAlan Brackenborough and weathered by Martyn Walsh. This has got me going to get mine done and also to get the Directors saloon out. Can I  just thank Kevin for leting us see this and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The Minister for the North West  Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East visited Crewe to start off the WHRT training scheme.  He had a guided tour, spending time  chatting to the apprenctices and

then onto the foot plate of Crewe based 6202 Princess Elizebeth.

Along with Pete and the Minister were Edward Timpson, MP for Crewe and Nantwich,  Councillor Jamie Macrae of Cheshire East Council and Steve Latham MD of LNWR Heritage Co Ltd.

The Minister watched a demo of hot riviting and then met Bill Andrews who has few days more until he retires from his 60 years as a BR driver.  He started on the foot plate way back  in 1950. We believe this might be the longest time for a footplate man in the history of the railways.  He’s going to be 75 in March next year.

Photos are courtesy of Keith Langton of Heritage Rail Mag.

As first announced on this site last March, the 2 ft Beyer Garratt has arived today at Crewe. Number SAR 109 will be fast tracked so that it can join the Welsh Highlands’ Garratts. It was built in 1939 in Manchester for SAR and numbered SAR 109. The work is part of a project for training. Over the next year, in unique partnership involving national and local government, 20 young unemployed local people will be employed by the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust completely to re-build the engine. Working as a team, these young people will learn valuable engineering skills through a structured program of practical on the job training supplemented by off-site training provided by a local college. This is a real community initiative, involving many local companies. A full update will be posted in the near future and you will be able to keep up-to-date with the project through regular updates and photos.

Can anyone give me a web site that gives loco shed allocations for the 50s? I’ve serched every were. I feel there must be one ! I need the LM Div Birmingham and Rugby Area 52 till 61.

This is gala season so today i was boing my book signing at Loughborough. This is one of my old stamping grounds. Great to help the GC and see so many frends.

Just poped down to see the Warship and ask a few questions!

http://anoraksia.ukgeeks.co.uk/c89553_1.html Here’s a sight that you might find intresting. This will help you along the way.

Here’s  some of my photos of the 4F inside motion.

Yes i was at the West Somerset Gala doing my book thing. Thanks chaps we did get them a few bob for the WSR

. For all the people who think that the railways worried about buffer hights look at the shot of 5029 and 7802 both main line locos.