Edward Thompson: Wartime C.M.E. Discussion

Congrats! Let's hope further good news this time from a publisher is forthcoming soon

 

Congratulations!

This popped up on Facebook earlier, looks like it's out.

 

You mean you now have to add letters to your name?
Seriously Simon well done mate

 

An interesting read that augurs well for the book once it is published; my only niggle is that the Railway Magazine doesn't give Simonsufficient credit IMHO as that gores to Nicola Fox - presumably the freelance interviewer ?

 

Congratulations

Yes RM arrived today, I haven't started reading it yet but there is indeed an article on Thompson

 

The article includes thanks to Simon Martin and a mention of the upcoming book.

 

Freelance writer, and part of the SVR newsletter team of which I'm co-editor.

Patrick

 

I did an interview with Nicola last year and I’m satisfied with the credit I have received.

It’s her interpretation of my research - whilst there’s a few things I wouldn’t necessarily have written, ultimately Nicolas work does get the points across. It’s a great article and she should be proud of asking the hard questions of my research when she interviewed me.

I am still waiting on confirmation from a publisher - ultimately it’s a waiting game. Hopefully not much longer.

 

Pleased to be able to give an update on the book itself: once corrections are agreed and done in May this year, physical release by my publisher will be somewhere between June and July most likely. I will give an update closer the time. Exciting times!

 

Excellent news Simon! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

Richard.

 

Am I right in thinking that the following is a quote from your Facebook page?

I think I’d like to put the title “Mr Revisionist” in my book. It’s a badge of honour. It means I spent eight years researching Thompson and used evidence to showcase the stupidity of some people’s views on railway history.

 

It is.

But then you would know that if you had been there (I assume you have, of course? Why else would you post it here?)

It was written in response to a sensationally stupid series of posts written by a number of people who have described me as “Mr Revisionist” publicly and also posted some fairly unsubstantiated and awful things about Thompson.

If there’s anyone out there offended by my decision to use “Mr Revisionist” because of this - I would be amazed.

If you’re offended by this - I have to ask - are you one of those people who described me as “Mr Revisionist” - and if so, will you explain your decision to post this on this thread at this time?

It’s more amusing to see it than anything else, given it was posted quite a while ago.

 

For what it is worth I have a copy of the 1956 Trains Illustrated annual. The lead article is entitled 'The Gresley Touch' by Norman McKillop. It is 6 pages and the first couple of pages are devoted to talking about Cock of the North and his experiences with it, he also talks about Bantam Cock as well which he also did the testing for.

Interestingly he also talks about piloting and that his Spearmint did not like being piloted.

Unfortunately my copy is too fragile for me to scan otherwise I would.

 

Someone's obviously not so chuffed regarding the good news on a publisher... I however am, excellent news!

 

Burn the witch! Burn the witch!

 

No I haven't been there but the quote was sent to me a few days ago by a friend asking if I knew of this person.
When you mention 'Mt Revisionist' I do to have not the faintest idea what you are talking about, offended by it, no why should I be, but highly amused definitely.

What really gets me though is; "It means I spent eight years researching Thompson and used evidence to showcase the stupidity of some people’s views on railway history."
I can't believe that you actually made that statement, who are you to criticise the views of others on railway history with such breath taking egotistical arrogance, the mind boggles.

 

Apologies for post 4136 as I was typing it we had a power cut and my posting was added to 4136.

It should read as below.

I too can remember an article in I think Trains Illustrated by Toram beg, he was comparing trial runs between 2001 and 3401. He was very enthusiastic about 3401 particularly the coal and water consumption, and on arrival back at Waverley asking for a dipstick to be used to measure the water remaining in the tender as they did not believe the tender gauge readings.

As for trials on 2001 he was dissapointed writing " It did not run it mereley trundled ".

 

Surely if Simon finds that earlier writers failed to research original documents but simply regurgitated other histories / researched facts that confirmed their hypothesis he is well entitled to call them out. I for one am happy to confound critics especially if their criticisms have been especially pointed. In my employment I have been well known for not only criticising bosses for being wrong but then proving it; this obviously gained me a reputation which affected my prospects but - at least - I could sleep at night with an easy conscience.

 

It is extraordinary how it has felt like that at times! And now to the latest pitchfork...

I find this claim to be a weeeeeeeny bit dubious, given my Facebook settings, and knowing the post in question, and its privacy settings. I made those comments in December 2020 on my Facebook profile after a friend and a relative sent me screenshots of some things being written about me on a large Facebook group (that I am not a member of, and therefore cannot respond on).

You've taken it out of context (unsurprising, you have seemed to have an axe to grind with me here and elsewhere on Nat Pres). If you go back and read the original post in December you will see that some screenshots of a few people on Facebook - on a specific facebook group - were speaking ill of me and describing me as "Mr Revisionist".

"Some people" refers specifically to those (very few) people who:

• write absolute rubbish on Thompson publicly
• also target me (who has no access to said group and no right of reply)
• are absolutely verifiably stupid for being caught in their own public denigration of me by my own friends (and one absolutely distraught family member actually, who came across an incredibly aggressive and nasty discussion where "Mr Revisionist" was used - amongst other words)

This is one of the nicer posts that has been made about me on that specific Facebook group. There's been far worse, of course, but it's the tone and fact it is on a group that I have no access to (so no right of reply). Noting GDPR, I have removed the names and profile picture from the screenshot that I received at the time.

Your faux outrage on this is somewhat amusing, it must be said. If those really specific, small number of people have the freedom to be having a pop at me behind my back, I have the right and freedom to identify them for what they are - trolls. So I will make no apologies for an off the cuff, grumpy comment about those very few people who are effectively trolls, in December 2020.

Everyone else has been a delight to speak to and converse with on the Thompson book and my research.