Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Oswestry Cambrian Railway building restoration wins national award In "Railway History and related topics" [368990/31212/55] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:20, 5th December 2025 |      |
From the BBC:
Building work was carried out between July 2024 and May 2025
Work to restore Oswestry's Cambrian Railway building has been recognised with a national award.
The work on the building, headed by Shropshire Council, was done between July 2024 and May 2025. Improvements included fixing the building's exterior, removing asbestos tiles, painting and installing nest boxes for swifts in the eaves and bat roosting tiles along the roof.
The project won the BAM Nuttall Partnership Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards on Wednesday. The works were funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Shropshire Council, with the work carried out by local building conservation specialists Phillips and Curry Ltd.
The building, which is Grade II listed, opened in 1866, and has multiple uses since it ceased operating as a railway station in 1966, Shropshire Council said. It served as the local railway station and the Cambrian Railway headquarters, key in connecting Oswestry and north Wales.
The authority took possession of the building in 2023 after years of neglect, and storm damage the year prior. Now, the building is let to local railway charity Cambrian Heritage Railways.
"This building holds significant cultural value for our community, and these essential repairs will ensure it remains safe and usable for future generations," said Roger Evans, cabinet member for finance.
"Shropshire Council took possession of this historic building, to help secure a viable long term use for it. We're committed to maintaining the heritage and integrity of this important site and we look forward to finding a suitable use for it so that it can continue to serve the community for many years to come."
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368989/31189/30] Posted by Ralph Ayres at 10:16, 5th December 2025 | |
Dang. I was hoping for full details and background re. the Sudbury & Harrow Road one, but I see the guy who put it on Facebook didn't even know where it was!
| Re: Cars getting bigger - is this a concern? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368988/31190/5] Posted by LiskeardRich at 09:47, 5th December 2025 Already liked by GBM | |
The standards of driving seem to have deteriorated a lot too. I’m driving around 100,000 miles a year I worked out, and I’m definitely thinking “what are you doing” a lot more!
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368987/31211/30] Posted by brooklea at 09:32, 5th December 2025 Already liked by grahame | |
6. Is a Victoria Line train, and the only one of those you are likely to have been on is parked at the LTM’s Acton Depot. On that basis, 20th September.
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368986/31211/30] Posted by Western Pathfinder at 09:00, 5th December 2025 | |
11. Pread st Paddington in the summer .
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368985/31189/30] Posted by PrestburyRoad at 08:55, 5th December 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Wow. I've seen pictures of horses providing motive power on railways - trams and shunting wagons; and I've seen pictures of big dogs pulling child-sized dog carts on estate roads. But I never thought that I'd see dogs used as motive power on a railway.
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368984/31211/30] Posted by matth1j at 08:45, 5th December 2025 | |
9. A350 underpass near Melksham station, er... no idea, March?
12. looks like Trowbridge, but again, no idea when - February?
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368983/31211/30] Posted by PrestburyRoad at 08:42, 5th December 2025 | |
6. On the Piccadilly line (blue grab poles); maybe at a signal stop between stations (the doors are closed but the freestanding chap in the vestibule has not braced himself for stability); and underground (no daylight outside and there are clear reflections from the windows). Spring or autumn, from the wide range of clothing layers.
| Re: Cars getting bigger - is this a concern? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368982/31190/5] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 08:38, 5th December 2025 | |
That's what de-icer trigger sprays are for.
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368981/31198/30] Posted by ellendune at 08:25, 5th December 2025 | |
5 is not the Route numbers but the stands they leave from in the bus station U, V, W and X so the next is Y from where the No 9 goes to Wroughton.
That's the sequence I found, but stop Y was not in those maps and lists, no doubt because they were produced by Swindon Bus Company. Route 9 is a Stagecoach one, so it only appears in maps made by the council. So you need a bit of local knowledge ...
I have the advantage that I live on Route 9
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368980/31211/30] Posted by Timmer at 08:22, 5th December 2025 | |
7 Penleigh Park foot crossing over Westbury avoiding line. I’m going to say January.
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368979/31189/30] Posted by grahame at 08:14, 5th December 2025 Already liked by PrestburyRoad, Mark A | |
And to add another of the ilk of No. 4 ... print labelled with location and date this time - shared from here
| Re: Historic black and white pictures - where were they taken? - 3.12.2025 In "The Lighter Side" [368978/31189/30] Posted by grahame at 08:08, 5th December 2025 | |
As promised (or threatened) here are my sources
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=25624144567183377&set=gm.2641251962902897&idorvanity=711170475911065 - Sudbury Road and Harrow
https://www.facebook.com/groups/177808113032034/posts/2013784489434378/ - Leek - this one not identified by members
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2919589211574696&set=gm.26196769553244142&idorvanity=1390742637606844 - Hunstanton
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1307583721403990&set=a.602528495242853 - Denton
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122163702326605836&set=gm.1930569121674440&idorvanity=440570830674284 - Crainlarich
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10241723147399923&set=pcb.2013570269455800 - Masbury
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1730959503584733/?multi_permalinks=33823163800604220&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen - Melrose
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2610935075926555&set=gm.33830088169911783&idorvanity=1730959503584733 - St Lawrence, Ramsgate
https://www.facebook.com/groups/410016829130481/?multi_permalinks=3386880974777370&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen - Mission, British Columbia
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/melksham-goods-yard-undated.jpg - Melksham
| Re: AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368977/31211/30] Posted by bradshaw at 08:08, 5th December 2025 | |
1 Chetnole, month possibly May as the hawthorn is flowering
More specifically May 10
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=30256.msg361453#msg361453
| AQ - 5.12.25 - A year in the life In "The Lighter Side" [368976/31211/30] Posted by grahame at 07:53, 5th December 2025 | |
Here are a dozen pictures I've taken this year - one in each month of the year. Can you place them, and work out which month they were taken in?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
| Re: Cars getting bigger - is this a concern? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368975/31190/5] Posted by CyclingSid at 07:49, 5th December 2025 Already liked by Mark A | |
Having been out on the bike early this frosty morning, I am reminded that most SUV drivers can't reach the whole of their windscreen to scrape the ice off. Reply on commenting on this to a member of the ambulance service, you don't have to tell us about this, unfortunately.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368974/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 07:18, 5th December 2025 | |
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09
Facilities on the 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09.
Toilet facilities are reduced.
Additional Facilities Information
No accessible toilet available.
Facilities on the 05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09.
Toilet facilities are reduced.
Additional Facilities Information
No accessible toilet available.
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368973/29726/18] Posted by TaplowGreen at 06:25, 5th December 2025 | |
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368972/31198/30] Posted by grahame at 23:35, 4th December 2025 | |
5 is not the Route numbers but the stands they leave from in the bus station U, V, W and X so the next is Y from where the No 9 goes to Wroughton.
That's the sequence I found, but stop Y was not in those maps and lists, no doubt because they were produced by Swindon Bus Company. Route 9 is a Stagecoach one, so it only appears in maps made by the council. So you need a bit of local knowledge ...
Here is the display in one of the bus stops ... and my source ... been to the boulevard a number other times already.
As regards the two companies ... I have seen it worse, but still concerned at things like 2 buses from Swindon to Marlborough 5 minutes apart then an hour to wait for the next one. Granted one went on to Tidworth and the other via Pewsey. Saw that same doubling up on the way back.
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368971/31198/30] Posted by stuving at 23:09, 4th December 2025 | |
5 is not the Route numbers but the stands they leave from in the bus station U, V, W and X so the next is Y from where the No 9 goes to Wroughton.
That's the sequence I found, but stop Y was not in those maps and lists, no doubt because they were produced by Swindon Bus Company. Route 9 is a Stagecoach one, so it only appears in maps made by the council. So you need a bit of local knowledge ...
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368970/31198/30] Posted by grahame at 22:55, 4th December 2025 | |
I'm thinking we should put together an "Only Connect" team ...
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368969/31198/30] Posted by stuving at 22:51, 4th December 2025 | |
Obviously these are forum threads - or topics, in technical terms. The last one if you look at it contains a post from Graham saying "I have just noticed - we have reached a milestone - this is topic number 25,000!". So that's a basis for a sequence, isn't it? And the topic numbers are 31,000 29,000 27,000 25,000 23,000.
The post also contains this: http://www.passenger.chat/25000. That syntax does provide a way of quickly finding a topic from its number. However, I did not spot that at first, and when I did it didn't work first time (I find it's rather hit and miss). Fortunately 23,000 happened to be on the board I looked on first!
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368968/31198/30] Posted by ellendune at 22:39, 4th December 2025 Already liked by bradshaw | |
5 is not the Route numbers but the stands they leave from in the bus station U, V, W and X so the next is Y from where the No 9 goes to Wroughton.
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368967/31198/30] Posted by ellendune at 22:37, 4th December 2025 | |
5 something to do with Swindon bus routes?
That's what I worked out too. But the sequence of four that best matches the clues has no fifth member!
Yes I have been working on that if they are routes from the bus station
ah yes its Wroughton
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368966/31198/30] Posted by Oxonhutch at 22:34, 4th December 2025 | |
That's what I worked out too. But the sequence of four that best matches the clues has no fifth member!
2, 14, 1, 11, x
I have heard of platform zero, but not a bus.
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368965/31198/30] Posted by stuving at 22:23, 4th December 2025 | |
5 something to do with Swindon bus routes?
That's what I worked out too. But the sequence of four that best matches the clues has no fifth member!
| Re: Lengthy train, 03/12/2025 In "London to the Cotswolds" [368964/31194/14] Posted by jmc85 at 22:23, 4th December 2025 Already liked by Witham Bobby | |
I was on the 1757 PAD - WOF tonight and it was showing as 18 cars on RTT, but in reality it was only a normal 9 car train (GWR were correctly showing it though)
| Re: AQ - Which is next in the sequence? In "The Lighter Side" [368963/31198/30] Posted by bradshaw at 22:04, 4th December 2025 Already liked by grahame | |
5 something to do with Swindon bus routes?
| Re: Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2025 In "TransWilts line" [368962/29726/18] Posted by grahame at 21:54, 4th December 2025 | |
I see GWR are advertising an additional 21 services for Bath Christmas Market on Saturday.......I wonder if this will impact the Transwilts service?
So do I ...
| Re: Cars getting bigger - is this a concern? In "Buses and other ways to travel" [368961/31190/5] Posted by Western Pathfinder at 21:52, 4th December 2025 Already liked by grahame, johnneyw, Oxonhutch, Timmer, matth1j | |
One of the major problems with the increase in size we find ,is the lack of ability of the drivers to cope with the size of the dam things,
