Parkinsons Walks Friday Vlog + Swindon STEAM

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

Good Morning, Ron. Standing at the back, for ‘matters arising’ ready to depart for Cheltenham and Deb’s last Chemo. Should be all over by about two o’clock. Another enjoyable round of comments and best wishes to all those who are a bit under the weather. A very enjoyable film this week, which has set me up for the drive into Cheltenham. Take care folks. Ron

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Tell Debs we are thinking of her Ron. Hope it goes well. Ron

[@JimNicholls]

Very interesting, Ron. I was born (in 1940) just up the road from Lancing Carriage Works, in Sussex, and they used to have an open day once a year when we could go and gaze in wonder at all the work that went on there. I remember one time they showed off some double-decker carriages they had built, but as far as I know they never went into use. The works closed in the 1960s and I think many of the workers were moved to Swindon. During the war, they were a target for German bombers, and there was an air-raid warning at the time I was being born. The midwife couldn't get out, so my grandmother delivered me and, so the story goes, managed to drop me on my head, which explains a lot!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Lovely post Jim, ah those memories, nice to revisit now and again. Keep smiling. Ron

[@philippankhurst6680]

@@ParkinsonsWalks The Bulleid Double Deckers built at Lancing were used - two 4 coach sets were built and used on the SR Charing Cross/Cannon Street to Gravesend line. They were a disaster - uncomfortable with appalling ventilation on the upper floor - the windows were fixed. They took twice as long to load and unload passengers at stations. My dear old Mum caught one from Charing Cross to Gravesend during the summer in the '60s. Sadly she had to go 'up top' and fainted. She was helped out and left in a daze on a bench at Dartford station. She never travelled by train again... The DDs remained in service until 1971 - two coaches are preserved somewhere.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@philippankhurst6680 Great info Philip, Thank you. Ron

[@petepaine5331]

Morning Ron. such a good museum. Didcot is well worth a visit too. The are some amazing aerial images of Swindon from the 1920s and 30s. on line. It was massive!. Pete Tanya and Syd

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Pete, I have been to Didcot but not filmed it. I have a book of the Swindon works, as you say amazing. Take care of everybody. Ron

[@westcountrywanderings]

Good afternoon Ron - I managed to make it on a Friday. This was a really wonderful vlog - really enjoyed this, apart from hearing that so many of the Parkinsons Walks family are suffering ailments, operations and accident injuries at the moment. I do hope all affected recover soon. Great to hear everyone's news - it always feels a very special place on your channel. Loved your take on STEAM in Swindon - it was the first time I had been there for a while. If you have three KZbinrs with the same camera, and the same place, you'll still end up with three very different videos - which I think is great, and it is what makes KZbin a fabulous place. No managers, directors or companies executives telling you what you can and can't do, and how they want it done. Complete freedom, which is what I love about it. Yes, one of the reasons that I decided to start my channel too Ron is because of my love of photography. That's why I like to mix the formats up and sometimes do 'stills only' videos. I used to make little slide shows with a projector synched up to a portable cassette recorder to add narration and music back in the early 1980s. Occasionally a slide would jam, or pop up on screen the wrong way around, or upside down! Ah, those were the days before the technology that we have at our fingertips today. Really great work, and well done. Hope you have a good week. Take care, Paul

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Paul, I think we are very lucky with the 'family', they are a great group of people. You were certainty an early adopter in the film and photo world. I loved your memories of trying to project slide shows. I remember it well. Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Ron

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Great video of a magnificent museum commemorating a whole way of life based upon the technology of steam locomotion. As revolutionary in its day as today's internet, based upon the technology of the microchip. Very interesting and enjoyable. I must pay a visit one day. Looking forward to your visit to Leckhampton church. Thank you.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Malcolm it is a wonderful museum well worth a visit and as you say it shines a light on an important point in our industrial history. Take care. Ron

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Good morning Ron. This is the 4th film I've seen of the Steam Museum this year. Yours beats the rest by a wide margin. I visited back in the Spring and I noticed a few things had changed from the time of your visit. I didn't see that railcar either. I liked the way you concentrated on minute details, plus your knowledge of the controls and working parts of a steam locomotive. I suppose they are constantly changing things around. The old Queen Victoria wasn't in her coach either, but she may have had to go to the Ladies before I passed by. I didn't go into the shopping outlet but now I wish I had, seeing the interior of the original workshops. A really splendid piece of filming, Ron.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

You are very kind Lionel, thank you. I think that museum is one you can visit more than once, you will always find something you missed before. I think you should expect an apology from Queen Vic for leaving her post. Disgraceful!! Take care of you both. Ron

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Ron. Greetings from Poland In my opinion, one of your best vlogs for a long time. Full of news, opinions and facts from around the world. Matters Arising - pine trees at GWR stations and why were they planted there? My theory is because the station staff didn't have to brush all the dead leaves up in the autumn and the excuse that the train was late because of leaves on the line, wasn't necessary. Superb film this week from Swindon Rail Museum. Brilliant exhibits, giving an insight of not only the works in full production, but what went on at all the different sites around the GWR region. Thanks so much for the mention. My thoughts and good wishes go out to all members of P W family members who don't feel too good or are recovering from illness. Get better soon

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Lovely post there Michael, your take on the pines sounds about right. Stay well and look after yourself. Ron

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

This from an old GWR Forum. Pine trees were planted as a GWR policy to help people locate rural railway stations. I guess that is still a useful feature for locating lost railway stations today🤷‍♂️

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@abandonedrailwaya2470 Bit difficult in places like the Forest of Dean Ron

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

@@ParkinsonsWalks I think the maintenance reason is more plausible. They do drop lots of dead needles, but those needles don’t blow all over the place like broadleaves. Therefore easier to gather up and remove!

[@Rickwardful]

The best thing about you Ron, apart from your fascinating videos, is showing us where to go for a great day out. Thanks so much for that. Another great place to take my mad-on-all-trains Grandson.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

He will love it Rick, it really is 'hands on' great place for children. Have fun. Ron

[@ngaugeonashelf4417]

Morning Ron, why do I feel every Friday morning I've stepping into an episode of Last of the Summer Wine? Perhaps it's my advanced years? Anyway, I love a good church. I'm reminded of the gentleman who used to do readings from the Old Testament at Brockworth St Georges Church. Old Harry loved putting the fear of God into people reading the juicy bits. Rest easy Harry, you were part of my youth.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Last of the summer wine indeed, I agree. By the way, are you off work today? After a run of clear days, ig has started raining again. Stay dry. Ron

[@ngaugeonashelf4417]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Yes I am off. This is week 5 so I get friday and next week is week 1 so I get monday. I've had enough of this year, I think I have webbed feet.

[@davidberlanny3308]

Afternoon Ron, Always good to hear whats going in the group and then get the updates in the comments. Wish everyone good health but especially Ron's wife. Nothing to report stone wise one way or the other from me!! Very much enjoying seeing these vists to STEAM this is third one I've seen recently and they all make it look a great visit. First time I've seen the shopping area it looks like they have done it quite tastefully, at least the building survived. Also great to see was the traversing table, I'm not sure I've seen a real one before. That said I have seen one in the shipyard where I work (or used to work now that I work from home). It was always amazing to see whole ships out of water and all marshalled about on railway lines too. We did get a sprinkling of snow last Saturday but it lasted as long as the sun took to get up from behind the clouds, I cant see the high mountain from out house although we can just make out one of the peaks this is because we are very near to the foothills, as soon as you get a couple of miles away it all comes into view. Last weekend I found an interesting walk called the "pavilla" following an irrigation channel around the mountain further south. The name comes from the phrase "pelando el pavo" literally pealing the turkey, the meaning though is flirting so this walk was a place where courting couples would go!! Anyway, have a great weekend, all the best!!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi David, always good to hear from a senior family member! If you are ever in the area, STEAM is worth a visit, Sounds like winter is closing in where you are, stay warm. I take it there is no risk of flash flooding along that irrigation channel, were you actually in the channel or by the side? Seems you can't be too careful these days. Keep smiling. Ron

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@ParkinsonsWalks That's a good question Ron, I'm about the same age as Simon (but I'm still on a five day week). Maybe James is the youngest here? Well, sometimes you can't be sure what's happening high up. This summer there was a cloud burst very high up sending all kinds of detritus down the Trevelez river. Fortunately a shepherd saw what had happened and phoned down to the village of the same name and all the people bathing in a natural pool on the river were able to escape. As always this was caught on video, maybe it's on here. You don't have much time to react. To get to last weekends path I had to skirt to round the mountain and could see it was totally clear all around. The dry river beds are the worst as it gives you a false sense of security. Worst I've seen was a motorway bridge that got partly swept away we weren't travelling it that time.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@davidberlanny3308 Hi David, I hope James doesn't read this, we'll never hear the last of it. Ron

[@barryc1968]

Ron, pine trees marked out country stations and they made less mess than native deciduous varieties. My local Waitrose (yes posh) has to employ somebody nearly full time to deal with the mess in autumn from a horse chestnut tree. So you can imagine why clean trees were a necessity. Take care. Oh P.S. you don’t want the wrong types of leaves on the line. Your knowledge of engines was very impressive.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Barry, your take on the pines is good. My knowledge of engines probably came from a crip sheet by the exhibits !! Take care. Ron

[@marilynbalderstone696]

Good morning Ron the trouble is we are all getting older but you won’t catch me up as I’m older. Very best wishes to everyone with much worse conditions than me. How terrifying to be knocked off your bike like that. My husband always said the GWR planted Scott’s pines was so passengers could find the station in the country and see it at a distance? I expect you will get some other answers. What a lovely Friday morning treat to hear all the comments and then have a very detailed tour round the Swindon Museum. The GWR did look after their passengers as did most of the railway companies. I often wonder what they would think, especially Mr Brunel, of the bus shelters we get nowadays with a curious sloping bar you have to perch on. Very interesting to see the signals. Has anyone read Adrian Vaughn’s book Signalman’s Morning, one of my favourites?. I think he worked in Uffington box which we saw a glimpse of. One signal looked like a LSWR one with the lacy construction but I’m probably wrong. Those broad gauge ones are pretty substantial and amazing. We used to go to railway and auctions and I learnt about the way everything was stamped with the company initials especially the GWR. Even padlocks! Adrian Vaughn tells how he had his interview for signalman at Swindon by a man with a GWR carpet. I think it was at the station rather than in the museum area. A lot of wonderful old preserved steam engine and amazing to be able to walk underneath one through the pit. A lot to think about today and will be watching your vlog again over my coffee. I had a trip out this week via Stockport to Delamere where the station is now a wonderful cafe with and extensive menu. A real family place with children and dogs everywhere all off to explore Delamere Forest on the Manchester to Chester line and breaking for lunch and snacks at the cafe. I worked out if I buy a ticket to Chester two stops further on I can get back on the train where I got off instead of making quite a long trek round to the other platform. Bit more time to enjoy lunch and get the same train back. Sorry Chester. I’m not lazy just very slow at walking. Trees were beautiful colours. See you best week.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Marilyn, you covered lots of stories this week, and a peek into your world, what a lovely read, I'm sure everyone will agree. Wishing you safety on your travels. Ron

[@jamesweekes6726]

Hi Ron.Taking the mickey out of me has improved my outlook immensely, thank you...with friends like you, who needs doctors? Boston went well, one boat (the four) did very well. The other, an eight..well let's just say at least they didn't hit any bridges or other boats.On a whim, I bought OVM a small pop-up tent, set it up in the dining room and put a cushion and some of her favourite toys in it. She spends a lot of time in there now. Experiment complete, I'll now pack it away until next summer. I'll report on whether there is any confusion associated with it's removal. Leckhampton Church!?!? I lived in Leckhampton in a room in a house on the Old Bath Road when I taught at Pate's and I know that church well...(admittedly, only from the outside). I'm really looking forward to that. Off to bed, thanks Ron, have a good week Ron.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi James, sounds like a little more training required on the rowing. Nearly there. Teasing OVM with tent up, tent down, will have consequences, you will pay later. Sweet Dreams. Ron

[@Sharron-Idol]

Hello again Ron. The book, of over a quarter of a million words, hasn't been going down very well with the forty or so agents that I've contacted about it. I think it's probably too big. I've been concentrating more on my KZbin channel this Spring and Summer: - writing songs (Mainly political parodies with a Right-wing bias.), generating music and singer's voice with AI, and publishing the result after attenuation and often some editing Etc. I'm probably going to end up self-publishing the book in three sections, as three unique books - consecutive parts of the whole - on Amazon or similar next year. It doesn't appear that agents are after my style of writing currently. I'll let you know when I've properly decided upon another definite plan of action.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Sharron, I noticed your music production went into overdrive. Hang in there with the book, I'm sure you will get there. Fame and fortune awaits. Ron

[@davidberlanny3308]

Mornin' Ron, Just a quick note to let you know that we are ok here. Heavy rain, thunder storms hail and snow. Other parts of Spain not so fortunate. My sister in law in Valencia is trapped in her flat, shes on the 5th floor so otherwise ok, the chalets nearby have been abandoned they live nearby to the estuary of the river Turia, which is itself a diverted river following the floods in 1957. There you go the sun has quite literally appeared at my window!!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks for that David, reading the news this morning I did wonder. I hope your sister-in-law will be fine. Stay dry. Ron