Monday Mini-Blog

 Master Cutler - a P.S.

The train (from yesterday's blog) was a relative newcomer to the named trains game. It first ran in October 1947 between London Marylebone and Sheffield Victoria calling at Leicester Central and Nottingham Victoria and using the Great Central main line. Its normal loco was an A3 pacific but occasionally a "streak" would appear.

With the run-down of the Great Central, the service transferred to Kings Cross running non stop to Retford and then to Sheffield. By then it was diesel hauled.

In the mid sixties, the train gained Pullman Coaches as remembered by correspondent Andrew.

At about the same time this poster was seen around.

Of course, wearing a trilby and an umbrella were compulsory! Less well known is that the stock did an extra run to Sheffield and back off peak.

The Cutler then took two hours and 45 minutes, which was faster than the three hours (plus) on the Midland Main Line.

The name disappeared for a while and then reappeared as an ordinary HST running between Sheffield (Midland) and St Pancreas, calling at Derby and Leicester.

Now that the HSTs have gone, the name is carried by a bog-standard 7 car class 222 leaving Sheffield at 0734.

Apart from the name, hardly highlighted in the timetable with just a code M, business travellers from Sheffield (nowadays without trilby and umbrella - shame) complain about a lack of First Class seats.

Although other trains are exactly the same in level of ordinariness (no cooked breakfast with silver service - double shame), the named train still has some cachet for the expense account passenger from the steel city.

It doesn't even carry a headboard.

Triple shame.

For the record, the (human) Master Cutler is appointed by the noble Company of Cutlers on an annual basis as an ambassador for Sheffield industry. The Master Cutler need not have any connection with what is left (very little) of Sheffield's once thriving cutlery industry.

Seaton Bus Depot - a P.S.

This view appeared yesterday.

Here is a similar picture from Western National days. fbb does not think the buildings on the Sea Front were The Mariners Hotel back then.

This is the hotel today.

Looks posh ...

... and does a good brekkies!

But back to the bus depot in the 1970s. Here are a couple of single decks parked beside the workshop. Note the large window ...

... and Axe Valley buses parked similarly in the recent past.

Nothing much changes at Seaton!

The 213 was the bus of choice between Colyton and Seaton for little (?) fbb on holiday with granny 70 years ago. Some journeys ran via Axmouth which was a great delight for the lad. He always hoped to see a train to/from Seaton station.

He never did. One was never timetabled to match the passing 213!

How is Your Gemology?

The fbbs'  Fellowship meetings were looking at Heaven and, in particular, the visions from Revelation Chapter 21. A mini quiz required the "congregation" to identify the precious stones envisioned as the foundations of the "holy city", foundations that illustrate the richness and glory of God's eternity.

How many can you identify?

Answers tomorrow. Well, it makes a change from buses and trains!

And, if you rush to Revelation Chapter 21 to look them up, please bear in mind that different translations of the Greek New Testament may indicate different stones. The above are from the easy to read, easy to understand Good News Bible.

How Long? Why So Long?

This on-line article has many flaws and misunderstandings - it is typical of the press' attitude to accuracy. Nevertheless it does have a valid point.

For once the MP seems to have got the right idea!

Solomon's Palace ...

... was just a touch bigger than the GWR station at Theale.

The original footbridge looked like this - and probably still does!

The old booking "hut" was hardly impressive.

 Next Variety blog : Tuesday 9th January