THE MEN'S CORNER

Image: GWR City Class No. 3717 City of Truro just outside...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 13:36:59 -0500

Image: GWR City Class No. 3717 City of Truro just outside Toddington Station, being cleaned.

Steamy Talks No.21: City of Truro is not amused…

City of Truro: Oi you…! Mind the paintwork! I’ve only just got it…

Image: (From left to right) GWR Class 5600 No....

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:56:00 -0500

Image: (From left to right) GWR Class 5600 No. 6695 & LNER class A4 No.4492 Dominion Of New Zealand side by side at Swanage Station.

Steamy Talks No.20: An Engine’s Not So Secret Identity

No. 6695: So you’re Bittern, nice to meet ya, the names No. 6695 but everybody calls me Taffy.

Dominion Of New Zealand: What on earth are you talking about you silly tank? I, my dear follow, am Dominion Of New Zealand, not this Bittern you speak of. But you may simply address me as Dominion.

No. 6695: Yeah sure, and I’m the King George VI… Knock it off Bittern I know it’s you!

Dominion Of New Zealand: For the last time I am not Bittern! I am Dominion Of New Zealand, the pride of the LNER…!

No. 6695: Then why did your driver call you Bittern, hmm…?

Dominion Of New Zealand: (Gasp) Oh darn it… Alright fine, I’m Bittern all right! But since I’m wearing this guise, I would like to enjoy it while I can. So could you please call me Dominion, please…

No. 6695: Oh alright, Dominion… There, you happy now?

Dominion Of New Zealand: Splendid…

Image: (From left to right) LNER class A3 No.4472 Flying...

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:36:30 -0400

Image: (From left to right) LNER class A3 No.4472 Flying Scotsman & Class A4 No.4468 Mallard lined up at Carnforth.

Steamy Talks No.19: The Meeting Of Two Legends

Mallard: Ahhh… What charmed lives we live… Don’t you agree, my old friend?

Flying Scotsman: You can say that again.

Mallard: It’s not very often you and I get to see one another is it?

Flying Scotsman: Well we’re busy popular engines, so many people, but only two of us. We travel all over the place.

Mallard: I’m just glad to be running, it’s nice in the museum, but I’ve missed running on the mainline.

Flying Scotsman: Well I think you’re lucky, being part of the national collection. I wouldn’t mind having that sense of security of being part of the national collection, the financial troubles my previous owners have had… Sometimes, I really don’t know what will happen to me in the future…

Mallard: Don’t worry Flying Scotsman, you’re the world’s most famous steam locomotive. I’m sure even that someday you’ll join the collection, It was disgraceful that you weren’t part of it to begin with!

Flying Scotsman: Thanks, Mallard…

Mallard: Think nothing of it, old chap.

Image: (From left to right) King Class No.6023 King Edward II...

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:34:00 -0400

Image: (From left to right) King Class No.6023 King Edward II & No.6024 King Edward I lined up at Didcot.

Steamy Talks No.18: The Reunion Of The Two King’s

King Edward II: Well you’ve certainly been keeping yourself busy, haven’t you?

King Edward I: Well someones got to represent the King Class, and King George V had retired from mainline duties several years ago, but I would say I’ve done a pretty good job.

King Edward II: I certainly won’t deny that. To think we haven’t seen one another for almost 50 years. But now that I’m back, you’re going to have some real competion.

King Edward I: Ha, ha, I wouldn’t have it any other way… Although I’ll warn you chap, you have alot of catching up to do, if you want to have such a good reputation like me. Certainly since you’ve got just a single chimney.

King Edward II: Hmph… Will see about that…

Image: SR WC Class No.34007 Wadebridge at Ropley. Steamy Talks...

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:54:00 -0400

Image: SR WC Class No.34007 Wadebridge at Ropley.

Steamy Talks No.17: He Did…

Wadebridge: Ha, ha, haaa…! Well, well… I may be old… But at least I have yet to be caught in a embarrassing position like that!

Image: SR WC Class No.34046 Braunton at Minehead. Steamy Talks...

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:44:00 -0400

Image: SR WC Class No.34046 Braunton at Minehead.

Steamy Talks No.16: Caught Smoke Deflectorless!

Braunton: Eeeek!!! Do you have to take a picture of me now, while I’m smoke deflectorless! How embarrassing… I’ll be the laughing stock of the Bulleids… Please don’t show Wadebridge this…

Image: Numerous GWR Locomotives at Didcot. Steamy Talks No.15:...

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:27:18 -0400

Image: Numerous GWR Locomotives at Didcot.

Steamy Talks No.15: The Didcot Family

An Engine: Come on everyone, for the family album, say Great Western!

All Engines: Great Western…!

(This image belongs to http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/news/news_special.html)

Steamy Talks: Railways/Groups locomotive’s Bios Special:...

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:42:00 -0400

Steamy Talks: Railways/Groups locomotive’s Bios Special: Southern Locomotives Ltd: Part 4

Name/Identity: No.34072 257 Squadron

Design/Class: Battle Of Britain Class

Date Built: April 1948

Personal Profile: 257 Squadron is an engine who is well mannered with a charming personality, he gets on well with most engines, but does not take kindly to engines who make fun of others.

Best Friends:

Sir Keith Park, the two go way back and know each other very well, have much in common.
No.30053, has known him since he arrived, and have become good old friends.
No.80104 & No.80078, gets on well with them both but knows No.80104 better.

Likes:

Hurricanes.
Period themed events.
Visiting other railways (particularly the Bluebell Railway) on occasions.

Nemesis’s/Archenemies:

None

Dislikes:

Being stored out of use.
Seeing other engines in disrepair.

(This image belongs to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:34072_257_Squadron.jpg)

Steamy Talks: Railways/Groups locomotive’s Bios Special:...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:24:00 -0400

Steamy Talks: Railways/Groups locomotive’s Bios Special: Southern Locomotives Ltd: Part 3

Names/Identities: No.80104 & No.80078 (nicknamed when together “The Standard 4 Twins”)

Design/Class: Standard Tank 4 Class

Dates Built: (No.80078) February 1954 & (No.80104) March 1955

Personal Profile: Both engines share the same bio for a reason, they are completely inseparable! They are both friendly (but at times cheeky) engines with a lot of energy, and, occasionally, are very competitive with each other.

Best Friends:

Everybody!

Likes:

Pulling trains on the Swanage Railway, and occasionally on other railways.
Competing against each other and other engines.

Nemesis’s/Archenemies:

Nobody!

Dislikes:

Oher engines doing their jobs.
Being seperated.

(This image belongs to http://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/80078/80078_Preservation.html)

Steamy Talks: Railways/Groups locomotive’s Bios Special:...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:56:00 -0400

Steamy Talks: Railways/Groups locomotive’s Bios Special: Southern Locomotives Ltd: Part 2

Name/Identity: No.34028 Eddystone

Design/Class: West Country Class

Date Built: April 1946

Personal Profile: Eddystone is a grumpy, tough nut of an engine with hardened heart who’s always grumbling or complaining about something/someone, he is cheerful on rare occasions. Dispite all this, he likes running on the Swanage Railway and does care for his friends very much, but rarely shows it.

Best Friends:

Manston, despite his constant optimistic attitude to everything which (to him) gets tiring at times.
No.30053, been good buddies since he returned to service in 2003.
No.80104, same reason as No.30053, also works with him a lot.

Likes:

(Probably) grumbling about things.
Peace and quiet.
Relaxing.

Nemesis’s/Archenemies:

British Railways.
Lord Nelson, met once and, aparently, they didn’t get on (to say the least).

Dislikes:

The fact that he had the dubious honour of being the first rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific to be withdrawn.
Other engines who think their superior.

The Britania Class, always thought they were rip offs of the rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacifics (of which he is a member of).
The list can go on and on…

(This image belongs to http://www.l8developer.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=41087329)

Note: This is the first in a series of new, funny and innocent...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:31:00 -0400

Note: This is the first in a series of new, funny and innocent post features that I will do on ocasions. It involves doing Bios for each of the Locomotives that belong to a particular railway/group each time, the Southern Locomotives Ltd is first.

Steamy Talks: Railways/Groups locomotive’s Bios Special: Southern Locomotives Ltd: Part 1

Name/Identity: No.34070 Manston

Design/Class: Battle Of Britain Class

Date Built: November 1947

Personal Profile: Manston is a cheerful engine with a very optimistic attitude and look on things. He’s very friendly to any engine/person he meets/knows, usually the first to know when someone is feeling down and cheer them up.

Best Friend:

Eddystone, despite his constant grumpiness, he knows he’s good at heart.
No.30053, gets on very well with him and they can chat for ages.
No.80104, works with him a lot of the time, and therefore they know each other well.

Likes:

Pulling trains on the Swanage Railway and other railways.
Flowers.
Meeting now/old friends.
And the list goes on and on…

Nemesis’s/Archenemies:

None, perhaps birds that poo on top of his casing and even then, he only dislikes them for a short while…

Dislikes:

Very little, except for miserable weather…
And people with pessimistic attitudes.

(This image belongs to http://www.l8developer.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=41087328)

Image: SR WC Class No.34007 Wadebridge (left) & No.34046...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:16:00 -0400

Image: SR WC Class No.34007 Wadebridge (left) & No.34046 Braunton (right) at Minehead.

Steamy Talks No.14: Views Of One’s Past

Braunton: Its hard sometimes for me, at time, to remember that I used to look just like you, it seems so long ago now; But I suppose everything’s changed really, don’t you think, eh old Wadebridge?

Wadebridge: You know our ages are not that far apart from each other, so you can drop the “old” part right now thank you very much.

The Merchant Navys are older than me, so when you see Port Line or any other Merchant Navy class member at some point, call them “old”.

(This image belongs to http://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/2941891877/)

Image: (Left) LNER A3 Class No.4472 Flying Scotsman and (right)...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:11:00 -0400

Image: (Left) LNER A3 Class No.4472 Flying Scotsman and (right) GWR 1361 Class No.1368 at Didcot

Steamy Talks No.13: Big Guest, Little Host

Flying Scotsman: I know this isn’t one of Didcot’s busy days, but I still would have thought that their would have been a few more people and engines to greet me.

No.1368: Yeh, sorry about that, their all asleep in the shed…

(This image belongs to http://www.mdrs.org.uk/localpreservation.htm)

Image: (From left to right) GWR Hall Class No.4965 Rood Ashton...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:54:00 -0400

Image: (From left to right) GWR Hall Class No.4965 Rood Ashton Hall, Castle Class No.5043 Earl Of Mount Edgcumbe, King Class No.6023 King Edward II & Castle Class No.5051 Earl Bathurst lined up at Didcot.

Steamy Talks No.12: A Tale Of A King: Part VI

King Edward II: All this attention just for me?! I suppose us kings must be popular these days…

Earl Bathurst: Well of course you’re popular! You kings are biggest and most glamorous of locos after all, and I would say your return has been a long time coming.

King Edward II: Why thank you very much Earl Bathurst, you’ve been keeping me company for all these years while I was being restored.

Rood Ashton Hall: All you kings really speak so posh all the time don’t ya?

I just hope your not as arrogant as King Edward I is at times, he’s a nice guy most of the time, but he does get a bit cocky at times.

Earl Of Mount Edgcumbe: Says the engine that bragged about consuming less coal than any other engine at Tyseley, and even betted that he could consume less coal than me while we pull a railtour here! Which by the way I won.

That reminds me, since you lost Rood Ashton Hall, you have to do your part of the deal, since you lost.

Rood Ashton Hall: Oh fine! (clearing throat) ALL HAIL KING EDWARD II! LONG STEAM THE KING, LONG STEAM THE KING, LONG STEAM THE KING!

King Edward II: Why thank you very much, Rood Ashton Hall…

Earl Bathurst: Were not finished yet! Three cheers for King Edward II!

All Engines except King Edward II: HIP, HIP, HARAY; HIP, HIP, HARAY; HIP, HIP, HARAAAYYY!!!

The End…

(This image belongs to http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk)

Image: GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II in steam at...

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:46:00 -0400

Image: GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II in steam at Didcot.

Steamy Talks No.11: A Tale Of A King: Part V

King Edward II: Now this is more like it! Royal blue livery is this not? Well this livery is perfect for my “re-coronation” as I would call it.

It’s so nice to be running again, I feel a bit stiff though, I’ll need stretch my wheels a bit.

To Be Continued…

(This image belongs to http://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/5585872190/)

Image:GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II nearing completion...

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:27:00 -0400

Image:GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II nearing completion at Didcot.

Steamy Talks No.10: A Tale Of A King: Part IV

King Edward II:Ahhh… It’s nice to be out in the sunshine and get some fresh air.

I’m really feeling complete again now that I have all these new parts fitted, something I haven’t felt like in many years.

By the way, I was wondering if I could have a different livery from the typical great western green, It’s just I would like something a bit different to wear when I return to steam.

To Be Continued…

(This image belong to http://www.6023.co.uk/photo_gallery/Cladding/source/p8300034.jpeg.html)

Image: GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II at didcot receiving...

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:39:00 -0400

Image: GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II at didcot receiving it’s chimney during restoration.

Steamy Talks No.9: A Tale Of A King: Part III

King Edward II: Ah! Is that a nice new chimney for me you have there? Splendid!

I have to say, with the new set of rear driving wheels and now this lovely new chimney, I’m really starting to feel like a proper engine again.

But you know, I’m just happy to be back at Didcot after all these years and to be able to finally steam again in the future, here at Didcot…

To Be Continued…

(This image belongs to http://www.6023.co.uk/photo_gallery/Historical%20Photos/source/602da4~1.jpeg.html)

Image: GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II at Bristol. Steamy...

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:53:00 -0400

Image: GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II at Bristol.

Steamy Talks No.8: A Tale Of A King: Part II

King Edward II: I was wrong… It can…

To Be Continued…

The next few Steamy Talks will be dedicated to the recent launch...

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:58:00 -0400

The next few Steamy Talks will be dedicated to the recent launch into service of GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II. A 20 year restoration project that people once dubbed as “mission impossible”; How wrong they were…

Image: GWR King Class No.6023 King Edward II at Barry Scrapyard.

Steamy Talks No.7: A Tale Of A King: Part I

King Edward II: (sigh) Well… I never thought one’s dignity could go down to such a low, but it has…

Just look at me, they’ve taken all my parts, stripped me bare, most likely for King Edward I; I don’t mind that too much, at least he’s safe and will be restored, good for him… But did they have to write on my tender “we can’t save this one…”, I mean I could still be saved… Maybe?

Well it doesn’t matter whether I’m saved or not, I will be brave and keep what bit of dignity I have left… And I suppose, it can’t get any worse…

To Be Continued…

Image:SR BoB Class No.34073 249 Squadron Steamy Talks No.6:...

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:12:00 -0400

Image:SR BoB Class No.34073 249 Squadron

Steamy Talks No.6: Defiant but Tired Bulleid

249 Squadron: Do you have to take pictures of me? It’s just I’d prefer not to be seen like this. Oh never mind, take your pictures if you must.

You know… Alot of my parts have been taken to help my fellow Bulleid classmates, so at least I’ve been useful for something… But I’ll get restored some day… Just you wait! I’ll be the envy of all my fellow classmates! I just know I will, some day… By the way, if you see Tangmere, tell him he still owes me a oil bath that he took a couple years ago, and I would like to have a new one from him! He’d better, or they’ll be scrap to pay!

(This image belongs to http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1073526)