Copping Mallard

I WAS reading through the July issue of The Railway Magazine and found on page 55 the letter ‘Streeeak’! by

Mel Thorley of Stockport, and the date September 3, 1960 rang a bell with me. I was 15 at that time.

I got out my old trip books and found that was the same day I and two friends from Sutton Coldfield travelled to Doncaster, the first time to an Eastern Region destination. And lo and behold

No. 60022 Mallard was our first cop of an ‘A4’. What a coincidence!

I remember that the platforms were full of train spotters and the great roar at the sight of Mallard passing through. I have no record of the trains we travelled on from Birmingham New Street to Doncaster and return, but we did walk between the two Sheffield stations, Midland and Victoria, to reach Doncaster. Bill Wise Lichfield

Excuses, excuses…

I WOULD like to claim a ‘world record’ for excuses on my trip from Angmering to Mortlake and back on August 16.

Outward the 10.22 train was cancelled owing to driver sickness and I had to travel via Brighton. Trains to London were delayed due to problems at Selhurst; trains delayed for defective track and speed restrictions outside Brighton; Three Bridges, delays owing to power supply problems; Clapham Junction to Mortlake delayed owing to power supply problems.

On the return, Three Bridges disruption on the Brighton line owing to power supply problems between Peterborough and Hitchin; Christ’s Hospital signal failure; Barnham points failure; Barnham shortage of crew.

Thanks for an excellent magazine. Malcolm Griffin

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