Victor & Albert

Templecombe shed’s 3206, a former GWR engine, rumbles over Ankle Bend crossing on the outskirts of Combwich with the daily goods from Evercreech. The first wagon behind the engine is a milk tank, but regulars of these posts will know that the contents are likely to be quite different. 

The weekly boat from Flat Holm in the middle of The Bristol Channel arrived a short while ago with a bulky supply of moonshine, moonshine being produced on the tiny island. Those with a vivid imagination I’m sure will put two and two together, but of course we must remember to ignore such local tittle tattle. Until 1952 the island was known as High Holm, but due to the numerous moonshine plant explosions over the years, the island was renamed to that of Flat Holm. 

As usual the loco crew on this turn is Victor and Albert, not because they’re always rostered, but because they’ll regularly swap shift just to do it. Victor says that the salty sea air is good for his ageing joints, and Albert says that the sea breeze is soothing for his adenoids and make him sound less like a bus spotter. 

Celebrated pipe smoking and Bentley driving average photographer Ivan Locksmith took this delightful photograph. To achieve the elevated view he attached his new Nikon F filled with Kodachrome II to a long pole and fired the shutter with a long cable release. The composition probably could be better, but considering it was all guesswork, getting the angle is more than passable I hope you’ll agree. 

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