All aboard the Potter Express
QUESTION
How many passing points are there on the West Highland railway line from Fort William to Mallaig?
FORT William to Mallaig is a 41mile (66km) section of Scotland’s West Highland Line known as the Mallaig Extension. It is a single track with rounding facilities at either end and crossing loops at Glenfinnan and Arisaig stations.
The line runs from Glasgow to Fort William and onwards to Mallaig, a tiny fishing port and terminal for the ferry to Armadale on the Isle of Skye.
There’s also a branch to Oban, the ferry terminal for other islands. Much of the line is a twisting, single-track railway through remote Highland scenery.
The West Highland Railway Company was established in the late 19th century and built the line through difficult terrain in two stages. The section from Craigendoran to Fort William opened in 1894, with a short extension to Banavie on the Caledonian Canal opening a year later.
The Mallaig Extension opened in 1901, and runs through some of the most scenic mountainous and seaside terrain in Britain, requiring 11 tunnels and six viaducts over its short distance.
These concrete structures were built by Robert McAlpine, including the stunning 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous worldwide when it featured in the Harry Potter films.
Since 1984, passengers have been able to travel on the line on the superb steam-hauled train The Jacobite.
Jack Sumner, Carlisle, Cumbria.
QUESTION
Does the term undermining date from the days of castle warfare?
BEFORE the advent of standing armies, fighting men would be recruited from local farmers and tradesmen. The skills of miners would be put to good use against the enemy.
There were two kinds of conflict: a battle, where armies aligned themselves in anticipation of a charge from the enemy; and a siege, where a stronghold, usually a castle or fort, was attacked.
During a siege, miners would dig tunnels under the timber walls of a fort or the thick stone walls of a castle.
From the early 1300s, the tunnels would be filled with explosives, hence undermining the enemy. The Wycliffe Bible of 1382 refers to such siegecraft: ‘That most broad wall of Babylon shall be undermined with undermining.’
In a battle, miners would dig a pattern of holes or mines in no man’s land, containing water or spikes covered with straw, as a surprise strategic defence against cavalry and infantry.
There is evidence that the minefield was also used by the Roman army. In BBC2’s The Celts, presenter Neil Oliver visited the site of Avaricum (Alesia in Burgundy), a Roman city held by Versingetorix, the Celtic leader in Gaul.
His 80,000-strong army was defeated in 52 BC by Julius Caesar, using mining skills. It is said that in only six weeks, Caesar’s troops built a nine-mile (14.5km) fortification ring around Avaricum and a 13-mile (21km) outer ring to stop reinforcements reaching the Gauls. These fortifications included many holes or mines to thwart the advancing Celtic army.
During World War I, mining methods were still being used. Hundreds of miles of trenches were dug to hinder advancing cavalry and infantry.
The figurative use of undermining dates to the 16th century. In John Aylmer’s 1559 work An Harborowe For Faithful And Trewe Subiectes, a defence of a female monarchy under Elizabeth I, he wrote: ‘These... be... the pikaxes to vnder mynde the state.’
Lyn Pask, Blackwood, Gwent.
QUESTION
Does anyone still have a pet rock?
IN 1975, US advertising executive Gary Dahl was sitting in a bar listening to his companions complaining about their pets when he came up with the idea of a hassle-free companion. He decided a pet rock wouldn’t need to be fed, walked or groomed, and would be obedient.
Dahl sold pet rocks on a straw bed in a cardboard box modelled on a pet carrier with a 32-page official training manual, The Care And Training Of Your Pet Rock.
Various commands were listed to teach to the pet. While ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ were effortless to accomplish, ‘roll over’ required effort, as did ‘attack!’
Pet rocks were a hit in the Seventies and made Dahl a multi-millionaire.
JE Adams, Warwick.
MY pet rock was bought in a shop in Cornwall 50 years ago and named Peter, after me.
It still plays an important role in my family life, such as propping open the back door when my wife takes out the washing.
In these difficult times, it’s nice to be able to give Peter a hug and a pat.
Peter Hayward, St Austell, Cornwall.
QUESTION
My family still use Dick Emery’s catchphrase: ‘Ooh, you are awful. But I like you.’ What were the once popular, now forgotten, catchphrases from comedians of yesteryear?
FURTHER to a previous answer, your correspondent quotes Wilfred Pickles as being host of Worker’s Playtime. Wilfred Pickles was in fact the host of Have A Go.
Workers Playtime was a lunchtime show visiting factories, etc, with a variety of artists.
Also, I do not think that Wilfred Pickles comes under the heading of comedian.
Terry Wetherald, Ballymote, Co. Sligo.
QUESTION
What can I learn in ten minutes that will be useful for life?
FURTHER to previous answers, I was 14 when a schoolmate taught me four bass chords in the key of E flat on his parents’ piano. To my delight, I discovered they fitted perfectly with my dance band favourites, The Way You Look Tonight, Someone To Watch Over Me and At Last. I am 86 and play the keyboard for an hour every day, looking back on the many happy memories of my days in the music business. How thankful I am that I took ten minutes to learn those four basic chords and discover the gift of music.
Desmond Jones, Sidcup, Kent.
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