remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: GUEST,JP2
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 05:33 PM

Is that Barrie Roberts from Coventry that used to sing with Lee Solomons in the 60's?

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: akenaton
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 06:00 PM

We havn't had much to say to each other since I joined Mudcat Catspaw, but that was one of the nicest posts I'v read on this forum ...Ake

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 09:45 PM

One of my relations lived in Canada and drove a train or worked on the trains there and he was known a The Poet of the Prairies. I think he was a Kelly - related to the man my Mum's sister married.

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: Terry K
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 02:23 AM

Last weekend during the beautiful weather I was lucky enough to be enjoying a certain outdoor pursuit (not popular with folkies) on the clifftop at Sheringham on the north Norfolk coast.

The thrashing about and cursing, that this particular pursuit gives rise to, was mollified not only by the pleasant 5 mile walk with stunning views of the sea along the cliffs and the beach, but on the other side by the beautifully restored steam train which puffed up and down along the coast. I don't know how far it goes - maybe to Cromer - you listening Jon?

I did notice that its number started with a 6 which I think from my days trainspotting at Darlington means it was a fugitive from the old LNER (London North Eastern Railway).

cheers, Terry

Subject: Lyr Add: MOUNTAIN SHAY (John Warner)
From: jack halyard
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 05:20 AM

G'day folks,
            I'm a train fanatic from way back, Garratts, shays, Orrenstein and Koeppel, Heisler or Krauss, apart from the Hunslets and Kerr Stewarts, I remember them very fondly. For all you Shay worshippers, here's a children's song I wrote that fits the standard 12 bar blues. Feel free to fit it as you will.

The song celebrates the Wolgan Valley line that worked through the blue mountains near Sydney in the 1909- 1950's period. The line moved shale-oil and kerosene that was produced at Newnes. Still magnificent country, there's a tunnel that's become a glow-worm cave. An extinct line well worth exploring.

Mountain Shay. John Warner. 1996

Listen a while, 'cause I've things to say,
About a steam locomotive they call the shay,

Shay's coming round the bend,
Shay's coming round the bend,
She's a slow old loco,
Shay's coming round the bend.

Gleaming pistons thrust and pound,
But the wheels on the track grind slowly round,
Shay's coming round the bend etc.

Logs from the forest, coal from the mine,
She drags them slow round the mountain line,
Shay's coming round the bend etc.

It's a heavy old train she hauls behind,
The bogies grumble creak and grind.
Shay's coming round the bend.

Cliffs glow red as the day turns pale,
She's far away, hear the whistle wail,
Shay's comin round the bend.

The last verse refers to the towering, vertical cliff faces above Newnes which take on dramatic colour changes late in the day.
Australia has a mighty railway history in a magificent landscape.

                   Your good health folks,

                         Jack Halyard

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 03:20 PM

No, this aiont Barrie Roberts from Coventry who used to sing with Lee Solomons. This is Barrie Roberts from Walsall, who used to sing with Mike James, Steve Parkes, Ernie Nield etc, etc.

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: GUEST,Auggie
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 09:13 PM

You said it so well, Catspaw.
Thank You

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: GUEST,Fidjit
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 07:04 AM

My first guitar case was made out of a dark green, British Railways carriage window blind (That fell off a lorry). It had BR embossed on it. I used to say that ment, Barrie Roberts!

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 09:00 AM

I used to have a guitar case with a crack in the neck, caused by British Rail when an enthusiastic porter closed a door too quickly and caught the end!

Glad to hear news oif Don Bilston, but sorry he's affected by deafness. Must be all those evenings spent in folk clubs!

Incidentally, the railway line I referred to above was the principal freight line in 1943/4 for the run up to D-Day, supplying all the depots in southern England. In the Great War there was a US camp on the Berkshire Downs, served by what was then called a 'halt'. In the wake of the War, numbers of the lads waiting for demob there died in the great 'flu epidemic. I have seen a grim photo of waggon-loads of coffins waiting at Blewbury Halt to be loaded for shipment home.

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 11:22 AM

One of the fond memories which I always had of the old I-O-W steam trains was the sound of the Westinghouse brake cylinder on the side of the O2 and Terrier locos. You could nearly always tell when there was one waiting in the station by the CLINK - CLANK - CLINK - CLANK as it pumped up the brake vacuum.

Many of the carriages were still emblazoned with V.R. - Victoria Regina - going back to the days when a special royal train would take her from Ryde to Whippingham station as part of her journey to Osbourne House.

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: GUEST,Hen Harrier
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 08:01 PM

Sorry Dave, the Westinghouse pump was for air brakes, not the usual vacuum. IOW Rly was one of the few pre 60's services to have them. They had the one-pipe system, BR eventually opted for the 2-pipe system which was faster acting on longer trains (usually freight) but even so, the 1-pipe system was a lot more efficient than vacuum. Continental rlys had air braking for yonks before BR decided they had better spend some money on improving things.

Subject: RE: remeber the old steam trains,fondly ok
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 02:05 PM

Grew up next to the N & W. Remember riding the Powhatan Arrow. Still awed by its beauty.