28th April 2019

Duchess in Devon
David Tozer, Trevor Tremethick, Jon Morley , Roger Winnen.

A classic picture at a classic location. 6233 passes Cockwood Harbour at 14.21 on the 27th April .2019 Copyright David Tozer

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 LMS 4-6-2 Pacific 6233 'Duchess Of Sutherland' makes a fine sight as it passes through Newton Abbot with the 1Z20 08.05 Paddington - Plymouth "Great Britain XII". Annoyingly a cloud passed over just as the tour came through. Copyright Clive Smith

190427a 46233 Duchess of Sutherland is seen passing through Totnes. Copyright Roger Winnen

190427b Making a run for Rattery Bank the foot of it starts from Totnes Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

Trevor Tremethick captures 6233 at another favoured location. 6233 passing Laira 27th April 2019, down 'Great Britain XII. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

6223 stands at Plymouth resting. 27th April 2019 Copyright Jon Morley

6233 running round its train prior to berthing at Plymouth station. 27th April 2019. Copyright Jon Morley

190427c The train is seen stabled at Plymouth Platform 7. Copyright Roger Winnen

190427e Broadside of the Duchess of Sutherland. Copyright Roger Winnen - Copy

190427f Class 47746 Chris Fudge 1970-2010 departs with the empty stock to Hackney Yard Newton Abbot. Copyright Roger Winnen

6233 and support coach having been turned retire to rest overnight at Plymouth station. 27th April 2019. Copyright Jon Morley

190427g 46233 Duchess of Sutherland is seen stabled in Plymouth No 2 Dock. Copyright Roger Winnen

Paul Negus at
Bristol Temple Meads

43093 at Bristol east end. 23rd April 2019. Copyright Paul Negus. Note the rarely used sidings at the east end of the station.

The changing scene at Bristol Temple Meads as more buildings appear. A Cross Country set departs heading north. Note neatly marked Ground Frame. 23rd April 2019. Copyright Paul Negus

Many thanks Paul

Nothing on bus circuits and then three come together!
​Bus Circuits
Colin Burgess

Dear Keith,
Not to outdo Tony, but merely to add to my piece, I attach illustrations of old and newer telephones that reside in my little exhibition at Christow.

The button at right was used to ring the code and the red "special" key got the exchange; I think the polarity was reversed to bring up the light on the board. If you kept ringing, someone would pick up out of curiosity, April 2019. Copyright Colin Burges.

To most moderns, a telephone with a dial is antique enough; would they know what to do with two buttons? As can be seen, there was room for two more buttons, usually different colours and for a direct line. The "automatic" has a standard connector and can still be used, although it would be no good having them all around the house because it has a "ringer equivalence" of one and B.T. only allows four on a line; modern phones are far less demanding. The old phones sound hollow now. I remember the technician unscrewing the earpiece and gently sliding in a new steel diaphragm when the old one had lost its springiness. Copyright Colin Burgess

Tony will recall when the engineering notice would include "telephone to be provided at (mileage)." A box with phone and batteries would be left and the lineman would shin up the pole and attach two wires to the bus circuit line.

So there we are: teleconferencing and mobile phones, nothing new!!

                     Colin                Many thanks Colin