The Empty Last Train of the Evening

A bit of nostalgia, a late night view taken in a Class 205 'Hampshire Unit' sometime in the mid-1980s - most likely between Salisbury and Southampton. Not that sharp due to available light and the inevitable bouncing along jointed rails.

Imagine the throb throb throb of the diesel electric power, the slight smell of wee, maybe salt and vinegar from the recently discarded fish chip wrapper left on the seat behind, all laced with the stench of secondhand Benson & Hedges.

 

Drinking Water

Here we are at Catcott Crossing again, for back in olden times very few of the level crossing cottages had running water. So to avoid drinking water from puddles, catching rain, drinking bog water or simply drinking, cooking and washing in cider, fresh water was regularly delivered in milk churns and delivered by passing engine crews. 

Pete and Dud wait for arthritic Arthur to swap an empty churn for a full one, but sadly he doesn’t have the strength he used to. Pete & Dud have offered to perform the task for him, they being a fraction of his age, but Arthur won’t have any of it as he mutters “I might be at least twice your age, but I’m as fit as a fiddle me, let me show you how it’s done you nippers!”

Meanwhile over in the distance on Mendip, summer storm clouds are gathering, so at least none of the water will need to be used on Arthur’s tired looking vegetable patch next to the line. 

And finally, look at Arthur’s new tractor which has been converted to run on moonshine, of which there is plenty around these parts and certainly a lot cheaper than red diesel. 

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George & George

On Saturday mornings, Rufus Hound loves to play pranks with members of the inch high. For they think they’re in charge of Rufus, but in fact it’s the other way around. 

But whilst Rufus is a bit full of himself, George, twin brother of George knows that Rufus loves a carrot, of which there are plenty here in the crossing keeper’s vegetable patch. 

Identical twins, George & George were both given the same name because they are so similar. The thought being that there was little point in giving them different names, for that would only cause more confusion. So in the event they are treated as one person, even though they are two. This is something that can cause issues around the dinner table, especially if too much cider has been consumed and there is only a place setting for one brother. 

Meanwhile, for safety reasons the 12.05pm service from Highbridge waits at the crossing for the antics to cease, the gentle summer breeze for a change blowing the smoke away from the laundry hanging out to dry just to the right of camera. 

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Where has all the Colour Gone Wednesday

 Where has all the colour gone Wednesday. 

Andrew and his Barclay loco potter around the sidings at Fountain Colliery, something that happens most days, unless Peter and his Peckett are on duty. Peckett is a make of engine, not a euphemism by the way, but if you want to imagine it as such, that’s fine of course. 

Deliberation Dave is on shunting duty, so will push and pull point levers and fiddle with 3 link couplings as required. Anyone who uses 3 link couplings will know that ‘fiddle’ is the official term, frequently followed by bouts of swearing from even the most mild-mannered. 

As always with shunting in the land of the inch high there is never much of a plan, with often empty wagons being dispatched for Lydney and full ones being placed under the loading screen. 

The siding nearest has a small crane which is used for loading and unloading ‘stuff’, and it’s rumoured that Bachmann based their ready to plonk one on this one. Of course that might just be nonsense, but is is popular with stag night pranks from the nearby pub with the groom-to-be, hung by the collar from it naked from the waist down whilst wild boar nibble at his feet and other exposed body parts. All innocent fun I’m sure you’ll agree. 

The same goes for the stone based water tower which inspired the popular Wills plastic kit, though it’s not so popular with boozy stag and hen do revellers. Though I’m sure over time they’ll work on ‘fun things’ to do with the water filler hose. 

Most of my B&W pics these days I tend to shoot on traditional 35mm film. Fomapan 100 being the stock of choice here, it having all old school vibe which suits the subject well. Nikkormat FT2, 55mm Micro Nikkor.

Toot toot!

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