Seen in the News

[Stanley]

See THIS Guardian report on the news coming out of Iran that the Morality police are being restrained and changes are being considered in the laws pertaining to head coverings.
Early days but it looks as though the protests have worked.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report that the RMT union has rejected an offer from the group representing train companies which sought to stop strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
Why did they think that an offer of 8% over two years , effectively a pay cut, would be persuasive enough to end the strike threat?
The same applies to all the other pay demands in the pipeline. Accusing workers of 'supporting Putin' and appealing for a rethink don't cut it. I saw a report that if all the pay claims were paid income tax would have to go up. That's right, you have got away with paying under the rate for years and it has to end somewhere!

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report. News that the Democrats have won the key vote in Georgia which means that the Democrats control the Senate and the committees. Biden gets more wriggle room and this is another blow to Donald Trump. Good!

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on a statement issued bfrom the COP15 conference in Montreal. (I get confused by COPs with different numbers!)
The United Nations' biodiversity chief says global talks under way in Montreal are the "last chance" to reverse the destruction of the natural world. "Biodiversity is the foundation of life. Without it, there is no life," Elizabeth Maruma Mrema told BBC Radio 4's Inside Science programme. But she is worried about the amount of work still needed for the 196 countries to reach an agreement.
I am pessimistic. If our performance in limiting greenhouse gases is anything to go by the animals have no chance. What an incompetent uncaring lot we are....

[Tripps]

Odd that COP 15 should follow COP27. I think they are in a different series of international jollies for the top people. One for Climate Change and one for Diversity. Both will achieve nothing.

I remember when COP meant either a policeman or the first sighting of a new 'namer' to be entered in the train spotting book. Simpler times.

[Stanley]

Oh David you brought back such memories with cops and namers....
I always get annoyed when I hear people denigrating 'collecting train numbers'. I think you may think the same David. We read all we could about the railways and were incredibly knowledgeable about the engines. In my day there were many pre-war locomotives still earning a living particularly the smaller goods locos.

[Tripps]

I won't apologise for showing this list again. It still fascinates me.


From Ian Allan ABC part three. Published 1948.
London Midland Region.
Scottish (ex LMS) Region.


PATRIOT CLASS

45500 Patriot
45501 St Dunstan's
45502 Royal Naval Division
45503 The Leicestershire Regiment
45504 Royal Signals
45505 The Royal Army Ordnance Corps
45511 The Isle of Man
45512 Bunsen
45514 Holyhead
45515 Caernarvon
45516 The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
45518 Bradshaw
45519 Lady Godiva
45520 Llandudno
45521 Rhyl
45522 Prestatyn
45523 Bangor
45524 Blackpool
45525 Colwyn Bay
45526 Morecambe and Heysham
45527 Southport
45530 Sir Frank Ree
45531 Sir Frederick Harrison
45532 Illustrious
45533 Lord Rathmore
45534 E. Tootal Broadhurst
45535 Sir Herbert Walker K.C.B.
45536 Private W. Wood V.C.
45537 Private E. Sykes V.C.
45538 Giggleswick
45539 E.C.Trench
45540 Sir Robert Turnbull
45541 Duke of Sutherland
45543 Home Guard
45546 Fleetwood
45548 Lytham St Annes


JUBILEE CLASS

45552 ` Silver Jubilee
45553 Canada
45554 Ontario
45555 Quebec
45556 Nova Scotia
45557 New Brunswick
45558 Manitoba
45559 British Columbia
45560 Prince Edward Island
45561 Saskatchewan
45562 Alberta
45563 Australia
45564 New South Wales
45565 Victoria
45566 Queensland
45567 South Australia
45568 Western Australia
45569 Tasmania
45570 New Zealand
45571 South Africa
45572 Eire
45573 Newfoundland
45574 India
45575 Madras
45576 Bombay
45577 Bengal
45578 United Provinces
45579 Punjab
45580 Burma
45581 Bihar and Orissa
45582 Central Provinces
45583 Assam
45584 North West Frontier
45586 Mysore
45587 Baroda
45588 Kashmir
45589 Gwalior
45590 Travancore
45591 Udaipur
45592 Indore
45593 Kolhapur
45594 Bhopal
45595 Southern Rhodesia
45596 Bahamas
45597 Barbados
45598 Basutoland
45599 Bechuanaland
45600 Bermuda
45601 British Guiana
45602 Britis Honduras
45603 Solomon Islands
45604 Ceylon
45605 Cyprus
45606 Falkland Islands
45607 Fiji
45608 Gibraltar
45609 Gilbert and Ellis Islands
45610 Gold Coast
45611 Hong Kong
45612 Jamaica
45613 Kenya
45614 Leeward Islands
45615 Malay States
45616 Malta G.C.
45617 Mauritius
45618 New Hebrides
45619 Nigeria
45620 North Borneo
45621 Northern Rhodesia
45622 Nyasaland
45623 Palestine
45624 St Helena
45725 Sarawack
45626 Seychelles
45627 Sierra Leone
45628 Somaliland
45629 Straits Settlement
45630 Swaziland
45631 Tanganyika
45632 Tonga
45633 Aden
45634 Trinidad
45635 Tobago
45636 Uganda
45637 Windward Islands
45638 Zanzibar
45639 Raleigh
45640 Frobisher
45641 Sandwich
45642 Boscawen
45643 Rodney
45644 Howe
45645 Collingwood
45646 Napier
45647 Sturdee
45648 Wemyss
45649 Hawkins
45650 Blake
45651 Shovell
45652 Hawke
45653 Barham
45654 Hood
45655 Keith
45656 Cochrane
45657 Tyrwhitt
45658 Keyes
45659 Drake
45660 Rooke
45661 Vernon
45662 Kempenfelt
45663 Jervis
45664 Nelson
45665 Lord Rutherford of Nelson
45666 Cornwallis
45667 Jellicoe
45668 Madden
45669 Fisher
45670 Howard of Effingham
45671 Prince Rupert
45672 Anson
45673 Keppel
45674 Duncan
45675 Hardy
45676 Codrington
45677 Beatty
45678 De Robeck
45679 Armada
45680 Camperdown
45681 Aboukir
45682 Trafalgar
45683 Hogue
45684 jutland
45685 Barfleur
45686 St Vincent
45687 Neptune
45688 Polyphemus
45689 Ajax
45690 Leander
45691 Orion
45692 Cyclops
45693 Agamemnon
45694 Bellerophon
45695 Minotaur
45696 Arethusa
45697 Achilles
45698 Mars
45699 Galatea
45700 Britannia
45701 Conqueror
45702 Colossus
45703 Thunderer
45704 Leviathan
45705 Seahorse
45706 Express
45707 Valiant
45708 Resolution
45709 Implacable
45710 Irresistible
45711 Courageous
45712 Victory
45713 Renown
45714 Revenge
45715 Invincible
45716 Swiftsure
45717 Dauntless
45718 Dreadnought
45719 Glorious
45720 Indomitable
45721 Impregnable
45722 Defence
45723 Fearless
45724 Warspite
45725 Repulse
45726 Vindictive
45727 Inflexible
45728 Defiance
45729 Furious
45730 Ocean
45731 Perseverance
45732 Sanspareil
45733 Novelty
45734 Meteor
45735 Comet
45736 Phoenix
45737 Atlas
45738 Samson
45739 Ulster
45740 Munster
45741 Leinstaer
45742 Connaught.

"ROYAL SCOT" Class

46101 Royal Scots Greys
46102 BlackWatch
46103 Royal Scots Fusiliers
46104 Scottish Borderers
46105 Cameron Highlander
46106 Gordon Highlander
46107 Argyll and Sutherland Highlander
46108 Seaforth Highlander
46109 Royal Engineer
46110 Grenadier Guardsman
46111 Royal Fusilier
46112 Sherwood Forester
46113 Cameronian
46114 Coldstream Guardsman
46115 Scots Guardsman
46116 Irish Guardsman
46117 Welsh Guardsman
46118 Royal Welch Fudilier
46119 Lancashire Fusilier
46120 Royal Inniskilling Fusilier
46121 H.L.I.
46122 Royal Ulster Rifleman
46123 Roya Irish Fusilier
46124 London Scottish
46125 3rd Carabinier
46126 Royal Army Service Corps
46127 Old Contemptibles
46128 The Lovat Scouts
46129 The Scottish Horse
46130 The West Yorkshire Regiment
46131 The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
46132 The King's Regiment Liverpool
46133 The Green Howards
46134 The Cheshire Regiment
46135 The East Lancashire Regiment
46136 The Border Regiment
46137 The Prince of Wales Volunteers (South Lancashire)
46138 The London Irish Rifleman
46139 The Welch Regiment
46140 The King's Royal Rifle Corps
46141 The North Staffordshire Regiment
46142 The York and Lancaster Regiment
46143 The South Staffordshire Regiment
46144 Honourable Artillery Company
46145 The Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding)
46146 The Rifle Brigade
46147 The Northamptonshire Regiment
46148 The Manchester Regiment
46149 The Middlesex Regiment
46150 The Lifeguardsman
46151 The Royal Horseguardsman
46152 The Kings Dragoon Guardsman
46153 The Royal Dragoon
46154 The Hussar
46155 The Lancer
46156 The South Wales Borderer
46157 The Royal Artilleryman
46158 The Loyal Regiment
46159 The Royal Air Force
46160 Queen Victoria's Rifleman
46161 King's Own
46162 Queen's Westminster Rifleman
46163 Civil Service Rifleman
46164 The Artists' Rifleman
46165 The Rangers (12th London Reg't)
46166 London Rifle Brigade
46167 The Hertfordshire Regiment
46168 The Girl Guide
46169 The Boy Scout
46170 British Legion

"PRINCESS ROYAL" Class

46200 The Princess Royal
46201 Princess Elizabeth
46202
46203 Princess Margaret Rose
46204 Princess Louise
46205 Pricess Victoria
46206 Princess Marie Louise
46207 Princess Arthur of Connaught
46208 Princess Helena Victoria
46209 Princess Beatrice
46210 Lady Patricia
46211 Queen Maud
46212 Duchess of Kent


"PRINCESS CORONATION" Class.

46220 Coronation
46221 Queen Elizabeth
46222 Queen Mary
46223 Princess Alice
46224 Princess Alexandria
46225 Duchess of Gloucester
46226 Duchess of Norfolk
46227 Duchess of Devonshire
46228 Duchess of Rutland
46229 Duchess of Hamilton
46230 Duchess of Buccleuch
46231 Duchess of Atholl
46232 Duchess of Montrose
46233 Duchess of Sutherland
46234 Duchess of Abercorn
46235 City of Birmingham
46236 City of Bradord
46237 City of Bristol
46238 City of Carlisle
46239 City of Chester
46240 City of Coventry
46241 City of Edinburgh
46242 City of Glasgow
46243 City of Lancaster
46244 King George VI
46245 City of London
46246 City of Mnachester
46247 City of Liverpool
46248 City of Leeds
46249 City of Sheffield
46250 City of Lichfield
46251 City of Nottingham
46252 City of Leicester
46253 City of St Albans
46254 City of Stoke-on-Trent
46255 City of Hereford
46256 Sir William A. Stanier F.R.S.
46257 City of Salford


Born to be mild
Sapere Aude
Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine
Top

Born to be mild
Sapere Aude
Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine
Top

[PanBiker]

Having a cul-de-sac branch line station in Barlick didn't really lend itself to any kind of train spotting or collection of numbers and marques. I and a few mates wrote all the numbers from 1 to 999 in small notebooks and we ticked them off when we found them on car number plates, this was late 50's early 60's. Favourite spot for me was on the bend of Wellhouse Road with the junction with Valley Road, 50 yards from home and on the main run for many that worked at Rolls. At the time it was only those and a few others in town who had cars. It soon became apparent that we very quickly ran out of new numbers to spot as the same cars came past the vantage point every day on their way home from work. Changing the venue only added a few dozen more and by then we had probably collected every car number plate in Barlick and some from further afield. Never completed the book!

[Tripps]

I have reached the belated conclusion that everyone is somewhere 'on the spectrum'. Some are further 'on' than others.
We only tried for 1 to 99 - never achieved it though.

Ther's a wealth of knowledge in those names, and a book for someone with some energy.

Just at random - Bellerophon

or perhaps nearer the intended target - HMS Bellerophon

[Stanley]

The original Bellerophon on the Keighley and Worth Valley line after being rebuilt by the Trust in the 1980s. The work was financed partly by the Science Museum fund that my late friend John Robinson controlled and he used to invite me to go with him as expert witness when he was inspecting progress.
I scanned your list David and the ones that struck me were 45702 Colossus, 45703 Thunderer and 45704 Leviathan.

[PanBiker]

I have reached the belated conclusion that everyone is somewhere 'on the spectrum'. Some are further 'on' than others.
We only tried for 1 to 99 - never achieved it though.

I can't eat square toast which is how the majority of sliced bread comes out of the toaster or grill. It just doesn't look right! I have to cut it into triangles or rhomboids. I usually cut sandwiches made in flat bread on the diagonal as well. Apart from that I am perfectly OK.

[Tripps]

Thanks for the photo -

A bit disappointing if truth be told. More Thomas the Tank engine than a mythical slayer of monsters.

I have one of train spotters at Victoria Station - but of course can't find it at the moment. Mention of 45704 Leviathan has triggered the very faintest of half memories. I think I 'spotted' it at Victoria. perhaps it was a regular at the place?

I can't eat square toast

Apart from that I am perfectly OK.

We used to have fights as children who got the square half and who got the round half. Perfectly normal behaviour I'd say.

[Cathy]

I think square crumpets look strange, crumpets should be round.
I always cut bread corner to corner.

[Stanley]

David, that was the original Bellerophon. I have an idea the one in Ian Allen Jubilee Class was a later version. 191 locomotives were built between 1934 and 1936.



Bellerophon taking on water at Nottingham Victoria in 1963.

[Stanley]

See THIS for an explanation of the 'Reichsburger' movement in Germany estimated to be over 20,000 strong. Arrests were made earlier this week but now the German authorities are acting to confiscate weapons held by members regardless of whether they have acted illegally or not.
I've been watching this for a few days and at first it all sounded far-fetched, a self proclaimed German King in a castle and armed attacks contemplated on the government. However it turns out that this is a serious and credible threat.
It brings back memories of the falling of the Weimar government in the late 1920s and the rise of fascism and a certain Herr Hitler. Disturbing to say the least!

[Stanley]

Later.... We are told that there is no guarantee that the expected peak demand for electricity this evening can be supported. There is a chance of power cuts. (-15.6C in Scotland last night at Braemar and colder expected today.)
(That's funny, they told us not long ago that to warn of these things was scaremongering.)

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report of the latest in the dreadful case of the lads falling through the ice in Solihull. I can't think of a worse way to start Xmas for the families involved. The actions of the first officers on the scene was heroic and I hope it is recognised.
I also hope that the politicians who are starving the public services of funds read this and recognise that some things are more important than others.... But I don't hold out much hope for that.
See THIS report by the BBC.
"The Bahamas police have arrested Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, the country's attorney general has said. He will appear in a magistrates court in The Bahamas on Tuesday, authorities in the Caribbean country said. Police said Mr Bankman-Fried was arrested for "Financial Offences" against laws in the US and The Bahamas."
See also THIS claim that Fusion has been accomplished in the US with a significant net gain. It is said to be a 'breakthrough'.

[Stanley]

Heard actually, I've just listened to Mick Lynch taking Mishal Husain to task for parroting right wing propaganda and I have to agree with him. She was looking for 'shock horror' quotes and wasn't interested in Mick Lynch's presentation of where his members stand.

[Stanley]

Heard in the news. The interviewer trying to get the spokesman for the college of emergency medicine to say that the strikes will cause deaths in patients because of delays. Give him his credit the spokesman refused to be drawn and said that it wasn't possible to attribute deaths to individual causes. However he did say that the obstructions due to social care were a serious factor.
I get the impression that the BBC is avoiding being associated with any criticism of the government. One eye on any future decision about independence and funding?

[Pluggy]

I get the impression that the BBC is avoiding being associated with any criticism of the government. One eye on any future decision about independence and funding?

I absolutely agree with you here. Lets face it, if the writing was on the wall, for the old beeb regardng the licennce fee, and you or I had a say in the matter we wouldn't be ruffling the feathers of the hand that feeds it (don't you love mixed metaphors ?) I'm pretty neutral on the licence fee, it did give us a relatively unbiased (probably controversial, the hard line conservatives won't like the 'soft' left leaning stance) view of the world when its funding wasn't in doubt but it is effectively a tax for a service you may or may not actually use.

[Tripps]

Wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion on BBC One. The Animal Park, Let's Go For A Walk and Countryfile host had never had any dance lessons before taking part, but soon became the bookmakers' favourite. Born in Sudan on 22 February 1990, Yassin moved to the UK aged eight, not knowing any English. He is also dyslexic.


I read an article before the final in which it was said that the BBC had invited him on to get him more widely recognised as they were grooming him to be the sucessor to Sir David Attenborough. He sounds ideal - certainly ticks all the BBC's required boxes. Of the three finalists the judges placed him third - but what does that matter? It's not as if it's a dancing competition.

He won the 'popular vote'. I seem to recall someone else making that claim. He lives in Ardnamurchan and cut a fine figure in his kilt.

[Stanley]

Who's that David, I am intrigued.....

See THIS BBC report of the extent to which troops and civil servants are going to be used to try to alleviate the effects of strikes on the NHS.
"Unions say military staff are not "sufficiently trained" to taking on ambulance roles."
And a prominent member of the General Staff has said that troops should not be regarded as 'spare capacity' to plug gaps in public provision. He said they should be allowed to focus on their core roles.

[plaques]

"Unions say military staff are not "sufficiently trained" to taking on ambulance roles."

Our Andrew Stephenson MP. is a volunteer first responder.

Mr Stephenson said: “Community First Responders are volunteers who have been trained in the skills required to attend 999 calls received by the ambulance service, and to provide basic life-saving skills until the ambulance arrives.


I wonder if we shall see him in his strike breaking role?

Andrew Stephenson 3 .jpg

[Tripps]

Who's that David, I am intrigued.....

I speak of POTUS 45. The son of Mary Anne Macleod of Lewis in the Hebrides.
He seemingly did get most votes, but that pesky Electoral College did for him.

[Tripps]

He lives in Ardnamurchan and cut a fine figure in his kilt.

I heard it's the McFlurry tartan. Kilt