Sir Nigel Gresley - The L.N.E.R.’s First C.M.E.

If you’d got an hiatus hernia, you certainly would have heard and known about it. For what it’s worth, I’m aware of both uses of the word.

 

A hiatus hernia is a problem with the diaphragm between the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity in which the upper part of the stomach moves into the chest cavity causing some problems. Now, back to steam locos.

 

'Hiatus' is more grammatically correct in this context - surely we're not advocating "dumbing down"?

(As it happens, I am aware of hiatus hernias as my late mother had one and so do I.)

 

Hiatus is often used, nowadays, when rock bands break up - they are said to be 'on hiatus' because everybody knows most bands get back together again eventually.

 

I have taken the decision to end posting on Nat Pres, and as such will no longer be sharing my research, views or work on the forum.

My signature includes details of how to get in contact with me, if you have any questions in relation to the work done and shared on the forum.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the many participants in the Gresley, Thompson and Speed Record threads, over the years. We did a lot of good towards furthering academic discussions of those topics.

Thank you for reading.

 

Yes ditto Simon. Thank you very much for your threads on Gresley, Thompson and speeds. I learned a lot. I will raise a glass to you when (hopefully) travelling behind SNG in two weeks time.

Best, Peter

 

Thank you for writing
Good luck in whatever medium, social or otherwise, you inhabit from now on.

 

Very sorry to see You go, many thanks for You contributions to Nat Pres, I'm sure that your absence will be noticed, Best wishes for Your future.

 

I am sorry that we should be losing one of our wiser contributors.

 

A sad loss to the forum. I would like to think that you may in time return.

 

All the best for the future Simon. I will miss your contributions here.

 

I’ve popped back in just to say “thank you” to everyone who has commented. I appreciate greatly the kind words and support for my work.

Nat Pres has been instrumental in developing my views on the wider subject of railway history and I will always be grateful for that.

Fundamentally, it has been a force for good in terms of advancing the academic debate and it’s why I have always been a supporter of the open debate, robust argument and evidence based approach that we took in the Thompson and Gresley threads.

That needs to continue to be its strength going forward - you could call this “first amendment thinking”, perhaps!

Again, thank you for the kind words of support.

 

Simon,

Any chance you could show your email as I cant get the contact to work

Thanks and sorry to see you go

John

 

Your a good bloke mate, I used to follow you on insta until I gave up on that for similar reasons… Simon, whilst I’m not whiter than white, there are various people on here I’d cross the road to avoid, there are also those who I’d be happy to have a pint and a chinwag with
Please get in touch if you ever fancy doing something regarding EE Type 3’s

 

Sad to hear of your departure; for those of us less knowledgeable regarding the history and mechanics of steam locomotives the various postings on both Thomson and Gresley were enlightening hence encouraged the purchase of the 2 books concerned - well worth the cost ! I hope your decision has not been caused by those keyboard warriors who would, to quote someone describing my mothers demeanour - "cause a row in an empty house". Please be assured your efforts have been much appreciated hence wishing your future efforts equal success.

 

Try this link John: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/659qbf/mr-simon-martin

Likewise. Please do get in touch (I do love a good “tractor” - !) - it would be interesting to discuss the class 37’s role in the modernisation of Britain.

That’s most kind of you to say Fred.

It’s been a combination of factors, for sure, but yes, it has been largely down to repeated behaviour on some forum members. To be frank, my time is precious, my work is important to me, and though I have really appreciated being able to get the peer review here, my mental health is far more important.

So for me, this really must be the last post - ! Thank you all for your further kind words and support.

Contact details are here: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/659qbf/mr-simon-martin

 

Well, that link is impressive.

Doing that on top of a day job and life in general

 

Just noticed you are/have left the forum, sorry to see you go, very informative content, not being all that well up on the Eastern, learned a lot.

good luck!

 

As for their reliability, refer to paragraph 3 of #1848. I cannot find anything in French accounts that doubts their reliability. Is it just English people looking at their short lifetimes and making unjustified assumptions? Some of the frames were 45 years old. This is what the French account in Wikipedia has to say:

Despite requests from the North and West regions for a transfer of the machines, these locomotives were demolished in 1952 , like the 5-240 P 1 to 25 elsewhere, for reasons which had nothing to do with technology or wear ! …

From: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/240_PO_4701_à_4712

Perhaps there is a connection between their early withdrawal and the dearth of preserved Chapelon locomotives in France?

http://www.martynbane.co.uk/2003Trips/Brienzetc/museum3.htm