Gents,

JRT,

We hit Crewe station on Wednesday and were treated to a brief stop by Tornado on its way south to some event with just a single coach of the restoration group. Completely unexpected - she just happened to be passing through.

How evocative of the old steam days were the sight, sounds and smells of that great locomotive.
Tornado was built up from scratch and completed 2 years ago for the express purpose (npi) of taking 'specials' around the British railway system. We had intended to seek it out at one of the many events and appearances around the country but we don't have to now.
Luckily, my friend took his camera and got some good pics.

Her departing whistle was loud enough to make us jump but the steam exhaust was a tearing cacophony that vibrated the old eardrums - then off she went, through that great cloud of steam.

Made our day.

Folks,

Another serendipitous occasion that is clearly cause for celebration me thinks...away to the officer's club say I. Yes, I know we only just last night celebrated C51's latest haircut but we must not let this event pass because it may be several months before anyone visits the barber again or buys new shoes or finds a neat prize in a box of Cracker Jacks. These salubrious events deemed worthy of a good booze up can be devilish hard to come by.

Alas though the ACL tracks divide our city into two counties right down the middle of main street we never see any old puffers pass through these days. Back in the days of WW2 troop trains steamed through here regularly before the less expensive to operate diesels came along.

I can remember seeing steam engines on spur tracks headed to and from our cotton mill. People who lived quite near one of those tracks used to have to bring in their laundry when a train passed lest the whites become sooty.

Folks,

Dux:

I chanced to walk down one of those old spur track beds the other day headed from town NW toward the old mill which was strategically situated upon the Tar River for its power source. The rails and tithes are gone now yanked up to be used somewhere else or scraped. If you look close there is plenty of evidence of those long years of train service. I found the ground under the vegetation covered in small particles of coal. There was a little creosoted wood here and there remnants of the wooden tithes and I spied several completely rusted railroad spikes.

We boys used to wander along those ribbons of steel on our way to the river for fishing and swimming. We'd walk one foot placed before the other atop the rail falling off and getting back on all the way to the river bridge. Further down river below the mill's dam is where we built and launched our first wooden submarine. No, it was supposed to be a raft but no one told us green wood might not always be relied upon to float.....

I suppose it is still there.

JRT,

If you haven't already checked out Tornado, this is the address:

www.a1steam.com

The same company is proceeding with a P2 Cock o' the North, possibly two with different valve gear. With sell-out railtours it seems a promising venture. Perhaps, a limited 'new age of steam' awaits us!

Folks,

Dux:

Tornado-"The Cathedrals Express". What a beauty she is too. I especially like the night time illuminated bridge photo. Her green and black livery is spot on and quite striking. What a project! £500,000 sounds a bit steep for a time when all Britons are apparently expected to tighten their pantyhose a few notches past being able to breathe comfortably but worth every bit if they can raise it.

I do hope that this means there will always be steam on the mainlines of Britain. Indeed, I would enjoy the sight, sounds and smells of that myself but sadly I am having to cut back a bit in my advanced years and the long swim is particularly difficult in winter.

Gents,

I don't know if you follow the BoB AAR forum closely but looking in there this morning, I was struck by the fact that it looks a whole lot like an entire forum devoted to HWH Squadron!

BoB AAR

Folks,

MG:

That's great!

To be truthful I wasn't aware of their existence. Thanks for the heads up. There does seem to be some similarity. I doubt anyone would actually copy us of course for that would Just show very poor taste on their part to say the least. Certainly my own writing would never be worthy of copying.

SNAFU's concept goes a bit further in that HWH is also a "flame-free zone" and it is not copyrighted of course. Copying even if it is not entirely spontaneous is always flattering. I see our old pal Heinkill is amongst that happy throng. The writing is good from what I read so the more the merrier I say. Of course they would also be welcome to post here.

Gents,

Tonight I'll be watching a slightly different "Battle of Britian": Two British boxers, David Haye and Audley Harrison, will contest the WBA World Heavyweight title in Manchester. Info

Folks,

MG:

I don't keep up with boxing these days. I don't even know why the Brits and Canadians observe Boxing Day. Here is what little I know about the fight tonight.

"The Haymaker" David Haye will defend his WBA crown against, in some people’s opinion, a less than deserving Audley Harrison. Does anyone deserve the beating of his life; I wonder? General belief is that the outcome is a foregone conclusion although they have both been European champions. Oh well, regardless of the outcome for either fighter, it will probably be good for British boxing.

Although Audley may claim this is his destiny, I tossed about a few entrails and sheep bones and if stink means bad then the omens are definately not looking good for him. I don’t think anyone outside of his own team is giving him much of a chance at standing up for very long much less winning. Defeat for Harrison should signal the end of his career so he has quite a lot at stake here. Defeat for Haye would be a catastrophe for boxing as he is seen as the golden boy and saviour of the division.

When he wins...make that should Haye somehow manage to triumph over a lesser opponent then there will be new talk about a showdown with the Klitschko (SP?) brothers whom some say he has churlishly shirked.

That controversy is reminiscent of the Lennox Lewis brouhaha when he ignored Unified champion Evander Holyfield in favor of fighting and defeating the unknown Phil Jackson. Lewis then lost his title in London to McCall. Of course Haye has a bigger mouth if not muscles than the soft spoken Lewis who never called anyone out before ignoring them as far as I know.

Gents,

What was that JRT? Did you say something? Bit quiet at the moment.

Just as well really because I am busy getting together an acceptable wardrobe for the forthcoming special event next year. It's only a matter of time before the invite arrives but one needs to be prepared - what!

I have been thinking of a large radio-control scale model of Sea King ASR 'his and hers' helicopter which would be a most appropriate wedding present don't you think? They could while away those boring honeymoon hours honing their pick-up skills just as soon as the 'practising' in other directions has been satisfactorily achieved.