I will be back on the 12 inches to the foot scale railway on Friday .
Stunning looking creation . One turned up at a Towcester Racecourse Classic Car meet back in 2021 . Like many others at the event I was entranced !!Took a young lady to her prom last night in the C7 and then went to to the Locksheath Classic Car Club meet where one of these turned up!
1931 Bentley
1931 Bentley "Blue Train" Special by Bob Petersen Engineering for sale at RM Sotheby's Amelia Islandrmsothebys.com
Bet she's got lots of boyfriends? Or will have after last night?
A couple of pieces of the cylinder cladding panels also got the same treatment then it was on to stripping down the battery box that holds a series of wet cell batteries that power the Automatic Warning System that was an early form of train protection system fitted to steam locomotives in the latter years . Originally fitted with old fashioned rewireable fuses it now has modern Miniture Circuit Breakers . Come the time to ` book off and f*** off ` as we say on the railway I had to walk past these two black beauties just being lit up in readiness for the weekend service trains . Only a the barest wisp of smoke of the chimneys but oh that wonderful sulpherous smell of coal smoke .
Actually the full phrase is " Hook Off , Book Off & F*** Off " which basically means Uncouple the loco from the train , run the loco onto the loco depot , sign off duty and get off home . Usually via a couple of quick pints in the nearest pub to quench the thirst .First time I’ve heard that saying, but I love it.
I well remember the scene as a boy at the turn of the 1960`s . The footpath entrance to Northampton Steam Loco depot was directly opposite the Working Men`s Club in Main Road , Far Cotton and my aunt lived in the house next door . I spent many a weekend staying with my aunt and a full week every school summer holidays and `train spot ` to my hearts content . Ironically the loco 48305 in the photo today was allocated to Northampton Depot in those days and I have fond memories of seeing either `on shed ` or hauling freight trains in our area . My aunt and uncle would take me for pop & crisps down the ` The Workies Club ` of an evening and the entrance lobby was full of loco drivers and firemans caps and jackets on the peg rails while they were propping up the bar slaking their thirsts and washing the coal dust down . Happy days and needless to say from that day on I was hooked on steam locos .Actually the full phrase is " Hook Off , Book Off & F*** Off " which basically means Uncouple the loco from the train , run the loco onto the loco depot , sign off duty and get off home . Usually via a couple of quick pints in the nearest pub to quench the thirst .
I was there that night. Simply stunning
Indeed you were , it`s a pity they stopped hosting those events at the racecourse .I was there that night. Simply stunning
I hope you are right but it`s a week away and the weather can turn on a sixpence in this damned country . I am just keeping fingers crossed for a decent day for our club display at Kimbolton Classic tomorrow .
Some other interesting American there too . The general opinion was that the show was not as good as previous years ( it`s been running a long time ) with fewer classic cars , not a high quality of trade stands as past years , and much less going on in the show arena as in the past which was a pity because it was always a high quality event . Less Joe Public too it seemed . We all still enjoyed a very social day though and even had a guest appearance from the CCCUK Mascot - see if you can spot which one of three it is ! 
