You talk of lost opportunities and it is interesting to reflect that the proposed electrification of the ex Midland main line from London to Sheffield is not dissimilar to the scheme originally proposed by Sir Edward Watkin. In his capacity of Chairman of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, he had visions of running continental (loading) gauge trains from Manchester London Road direct to Paris Gard de Nord. The digging of a channel tunnel was started but stopped in the interests of national security(!)
I suspect, but others will be able to say, that the route between Manchester and Sheffield was through the Woodhead tunnel. What goes around........ Richard. Spotmog. On 19 Jul 2012, at 21:04, Dave Wellings wrote: > He came from the army post-1918 for a job on the railway at Mexborough – from > the rolling Nottinghamshire fields near the Trent. > Lodged with the family where he met and married my grandmother. > He rode a single cylinder motorbike in the fifties, which he was forever > tinkering with in the shed – where I watched him constantly. His nickname > came from the way he rode his bike. Nobody ever went on the pillion twice, > apparently. > I like to think I get my mechanic skills from him, and he would have loved > the Morgan. > > Such a shame when we are deprived of family like that. Just think of the > stories he could have told me. > My grandmother had two brothers also on the GCR. And we had a cousin who was > a stationmaster in London. He lived overlooking Lords. > > So many lost opportunities eh? > > Dave > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 19 July 2012 20:33 > To: mogtalk2 > Subject: RE: [mogtalk2] NON MOG Woodhead petition - For rail buffs > > Gosh, what a story! > > Railways are my 1st love from about aged 5. The Woodhead line runs near my > home and I can just about remember steam expresses passing through my local > station (Newton for Hyde, still open) before it went all electric in 1954. > Even after that a lot of local shunting and freight was steam. The aroma > drifting over from the locos was beautiful! > > WDs were supposed to be really rough above about 20mph and the K3s were rough > too at express passenger speed, so your granddad must have been tough! > > David. > > From: Dave Wellings [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 19 July 2012 19:12 > To: mogtalk2 > Subject: RE: [mogtalk2] Woodhead petition - For rail buffs > > Unfortunately I was only seven when my grandfather died (at 60yrs), after a > life on the GCR/LNER. I would like to think I might have managed a footplate > ride or two, had he made it another five years. > I can remember him coming in from work, having been offered a job at Wath > yard on the electrics, and contemplating whether it would be for the best. He > must have really loved the WD’s and K3’s!!!!!!!!! (at Mexborough shed). > Railways are therefore in my blood from the year dot. > I still have the calipers they made for him at the shed, engraved “Fearless > Fred”, and his carriage door key T bar stamped “LNER”. > > Dave > > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 18 July 2012 22:08 > To: mogtalk2 > Subject: RE: [mogtalk2] Woodhead petition - For rail buffs > > I can remember being taken for a ride on the new electric train to Penistone > by my dad in 1954 when it was opening. > > From: Dave Wellings [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 18 July 2012 19:30 > To: mogtalk2 > Subject: [mogtalk2] Woodhead petition - For rail buffs > > Rail buffs will understand without further clarification. > > The best trans-Pennine route, my grandfathers old stomping ground, should > never have been closed……….. > > > http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/19823 > > > Dave. > > View posts on The Mail Archive > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > Modify Your Subscription > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5139 - Release Date: 07/18/12 > View posts on The Mail Archive > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > Modify Your Subscription > > > View posts on The Mail Archive > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > Modify Your Subscription > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date: 07/18/12 > View posts on The Mail Archive > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > Modify Your Subscription > > > View posts on The Mail Archive > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Modify Your Subscription ------------------------------------------- View posts on The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ [http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/] Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=22459785&id_secret=22459785-4a39ddf8 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
