Fabulous Friday

 Front End Friday aka #FEF 

It’s not generally known that the Highbridge line closed for a week in the early 1950s. This was due to an administrative error at HQ in that there London due to some faceless civil servant minion ticking the wrong box on some paperwork. In olden times such errors were frequent, much of it being due to the chaos caused by the aftermath of WW2.

However the little people weren’t going to suffer without a rail service, for no alternative bus service had been provided or for that matter even been thought of. More active communities keen to keep their rail service would frequently borrow an ancient engine from the local museum to keep trains running. In olden times most town museums had an ancient engine in fully working order just in case. It could be borrowed for up to 3 weeks using a library card. You could also borrow wagons and passenger carriages too, but failure to return on time could result in a 1d fine per day - that I believe is around 25p in today’s money, but I’m happy to be corrected. 

Here we are at Catcott Crossing as such a train blasts through with a healthy head of steam helped more than a little by moonshine drenched steam coal. Regulars of these posts will notice triplets Waving Wayne, Waving Wally and Waving Willy cheering the reinstatement of their rail service. Several of you I know have been missing Bob Geeza Cat and will be pleased to see his appearance on the locomotive tender. 

And finally, it’s believed that The Titfield Thunderbolt Ealing Comedy was inspired by activities such as this on the Highbridge line, but of course that might just be complete nonsense. 

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