Ted’s Quiff

The sky looks like it might storm over Combwich shed. That’s one of Templecombe’s ex GWR pannier tanks simmering after having recently arrived with the 6.03 am service from Templecombe. 

Meanwhile trespassing Ted, part time Teddy Boy and French polisher from Bromsgrove surveys the scene, before passing his comb through his huge quiff. Hopefully it’s well loaded with Brylcreem, for if it storms it will hang down to somewhere just below his groin.

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Sunday Shine

It’s a lovely Sunday morning in late July, as the 5.32am Chilcompton to Frome goods snakes between the colliery and the rear of The Pedant & Armchair pub, hauled by Templecombe shed’s former GWR tank engine number 4631. Today Wee Willy Winkle and Wobbly Wilfred are in charge of the engine, you can just about see Wee Willy in the cab, he’s a shy soul, and hates being photographed. 

Over on the left, multiple pub owner and moonshiner, Shamus O’Shandy, accompanied by Bob Geeza Cat, stand next to their still enjoying the soft morning sunlight next to the brew house at the rear of the pub. Shortly they’ll be firing up the still for another intoxicating 180% proof run using liquor from fermented apples, turnips and anything else that they could find like Nasal Nigel’s underwear. 

In addition to ‘shine, the beer brewed here is said to have psychedelic qualities due to the water being drawn from the stinking orange mine-water contaminated pond. The ‘psychedelic’ aspect is more likely due to a huge depth-charge of moonshine being added to the fresh beer at the barrelling stage, purely to extend the shelf life of course. 

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Computer Glitch

Due to a computer malfunction, for even when computers were made of polished mahogany, brass, Welsh marble, lithium crystals and powered by pigeons, things could still go wrong. 

A computer controlled signalling error at Neasden Junction has resulted in a shiny red museum-engine from that there London Transport ending up at this little known railway served dockyard on the North Somerset coast. And due to further errors, it’s even ended up being rostered onto the works train. 

Double Denim Dancing Dando brings the little red loco and coach to a halt at Brew Street, and word must have got around, for even Dizzy Lizzie & Awkward Teresa have left their gins in The Kettle Inn to witness the spectacle. DDDD is of course performing a footplate shimmy, something that he’s able to do anytime of night and day, his magnetic tap shoes giving him a firm grip on anything made from iron and steel. 

Meanwhile Barry Bullhead from The Ministry of Misery mutters to himself “heads will roll for this almighty glitch”, whilst his snivelling sidekick Neil takes the knee to examine the fine wheel flanges. 

And finally, Oh My Gawd Oliver and Bob Geeza Cat look on in awe at the shiny red beast, as well as balancing the composition of this photograph. 

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Canal Aged Moonshine

Sunday morning down at the wharf, and Clive has just arrived with a milk churn full of ’canal aged’ moonshine. Meanwhile Douglas, who was formerly known as Doug, because he no longer has a shovel to lean on (the delicate 3D printed shovel broke), and pub landlord Shamus O’Shandy have arrived to collect the order of moonshine for The Kettle Inn. 

You’ll note that Templecombe shed’s 3F number 43216 has been carefully positioned so Stroppy Syd (half cousin of Waving Willy) the local jobsworth can’t see the illicit exchange. Anyway, he’s more Interested in the photographer taking this photo as he shouts “Do you have permission to be here? If not you’re contravening railway trespass law 73492a section ii, and I’m going to report you to Barry Bullhead at The Ministry of Misery!”

And finally, wheezing old 58072 which is soon to be withdrawn, sneaks past Stroppy Syd, the crew having a secret plan to take the engine to an undisclosed location the other side of the Bristol Channel deep in ‘The Forest’ so it can evade withdrawal. 

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Return of the SS Canberra from the Falklands Conflict 11 July 1982

 42 years ago today as a whippersnapper, I was standing with Dad’s camera on Weston Parade, Southampton witnessing the return of the troops from the Falklands conflict upon the SS Canberra. 

Whilst the focus was in the ship which I recall was covered in rust streaks, pointing the camera the other way captured possibly equally interesting cameos of those who’d come out to witness the spectacle on this calm, hazy sunny day - 11 July 1982. 

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