Floods and those affected.

[Martin Evans]

Looks quite tight doesn't it.......like a race up Prescott. Having said that, two cars dod once "Race" up Shelsley Walsh, at the same time, in a pair of MGs (I think it was Hall & Eyston). Some nice looking stuff there.

Now how about steam railways........no, France didn't have a Dr Beeching, to close down a load of branch lines, that preservationists could take over or a Dai Woodham to "Store" the locos - http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/barry1.htm.

[arceye]

Martin, during my railway years on the West Coast there was an urban legend of a great stockpile of Steam engines that could be drawn on in the event of war....I've always imagined it is more myth than fact but then they say there is no smoke without fire.

Given there are what we called "war lines", disused lines that had to be kept in such a state they can be re-opened at 24 hours notice you do have to wonder.

Now imagine if these tales were true, it would be a Steam fanciers paradise wouldn't it. Have you any info on this legend / myth, it always fascinated me.

[Martin Evans]

I've never heard about that. If they are still there, I hope they are wood burners, as all the pits have closed It'll certainly be something I will look into but having been to Barry during the Summer of 1976, I can quite see why it took years to get locos back into steam when they were rescued (Even allowing for the fact that they were being bought by part time preservationists with limited time and money). They were all very rusty, having been left outside for years; don't forget that Barry is by the sea, so plenty of salt air

[arceye]

Yeah, the pits themselves would be something of a task to re open now, I'd imagine they will all be flooded. I remember the slag heaps around Wigan and the fight to keep the last colliery, I think it was Parkside, needless to say the campaigners lost

Nothing much to show the mining history around there now apart from the many idle hands and dying towns.

The rumours used to be about the trains being kept in sheds or dissused tunnels, but I imagine they were just tales and perhaps wishful thinking, given how trespass was always a big problem I think they would have been exposed by now..

[arceye]

A quick Google shows the tale is still alive and well, at least in this possibly far fetched link

http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/Oubliette/Boxhill.html

and perhaps a better one

www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread217309/pg1

[Martin Evans]

First apologies for this thread having deviated. On the subject of weather, the Met Office seem to be issuing forth with packs of often contradictory lies, in the hope that one forecast can be recorded as a success. If there’s anything more mendacious than a politician, it’s a meteorologist.

I’ve not heard about the Box Tunnel thing. My father was stationed at Rudlow Manor and he always had to get the train to Bath!! There is a Fred Dibnah programme where he talks about Box tunnel and how Brunell stayed at an inn, with a pair of mirrors that were disposed in a friendly manner and doors with big gaps all round, whilst he was supervising the building of the tunnel (Getting the Mail Train back to London etc).