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Mark Thompson's Recent Activity

  1. Mark Thompson liked Streetert's post in the thread Rother Valley Railway.

    Further update on the Station building https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2025/07/station-building-291-late-jun-25.html [ATTACH]

    resizecom_DJI_0721.JPG resizecom_DJI_0721.JPG Jul 3, 2025 at 1:45 PM

  2. Mark Thompson liked mikehartuk's post in the thread Rother Valley Railway.

    You asks about the various rails we will use, and have in stock, for the 3.4km long ‘missing link’ at RVR - all of which will be 113lb flat bottom rail laid on concrete sleepers with Pandrol fittings. The 970 track metres of new 113lb rail we...

    Jul 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM

  3. Mark Thompson liked paul1609's post in the thread Rother Valley Railway.

    The rail for the Bodiam Extension was as is often the way with the K&ESR very complicated. The existing rail at preservation from just outside of Northiam station to Mill Ditch bridge (about 2 of 3 miles) was still S&ECR 91 1/4lb rail which...

    Jul 3, 2025 at 12:57 AM

  4. Mark Thompson liked D1002's post in the thread Rother Valley Railway.

    [ATTACH] [ATTACH]

    IMG_1136.jpeg IMG_1135.jpeg Jul 2, 2025 at 4:21 PM

  5. Mark Thompson replied to the thread Rother Valley Railway.

    Its great that rail produced and rolled at the beleaguered Scunthorpe furnace has been used, and a good piece of PR, as well. I seem to remember that when the Bodiam extension was laid, the rail had to be procured from Poland. Stunning pictures,...

    Jul 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM

  6. Mark Thompson liked Dead Sheep's post in the thread Rother Valley Railway.

    Rails come to the Rother Valley. Sounds like an important act, symbolising the change....

    Jul 2, 2025 at 2:32 PM

  7. Mark Thompson liked The Gricing Owl's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    Thanks for the heads up on that. 31065, 32636, 34059 and 80151 looks to be rather good and no sign of a WR loco :). Even better if 80151 is hauling the four Maunsells without anything else on the back, or on the front as the BR 4MT is chimney...

    C-08-532a-80145-Hurst-Green-Jctn-East Grinstead-line.jpg Jul 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM

  8. Mark Thompson liked 5944's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    There's loads of room on a Terrier for a couple of extra passengers. Assuming they stand outside the cab and the loco doesn't need firing at any point!

    Jul 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM

  9. Mark Thompson replied to the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    What you say bears out my experience riding behind it the other week; the safety valves seemed to spend a noticeable amount of time lifting, and that exhaust certainly commands attention! It also felt very strong and sure-footed, although with 5...

    Jun 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM

  10. Mark Thompson liked andrewtoplis's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    First proper go firing Beachy Head yesterday (for one trip before we had to swap engines!). I was told "fire it like a Bulleid", which I'd modify to "half a Bulleid", because it steams like it is going out of fashion and we blew off a fair bit....

    Jun 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM

  11. Mark Thompson liked Jamessquared's post in the thread Rother Valley Railway.

    Nothing would be a start. Tom

    Jun 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM

  12. Mark Thompson liked Jamessquared's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.

    Happy birthday Camelot! This photo, from the Camelot Locomotive Society archive, shows the brand-new No. 73082 ex-works being steamed for the first time at Derby on 27 June 1955. Note the lack of shedplate on the smokebox door. Out of sight but...

    IMG_3545.jpeg Jun 27, 2025
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