Driver H. Potter's Wombledon Park Picture Page

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Why does re-opening formations abandoned in the 1960s suddenly make sense during a recession, but not during an economic boom? Could this be part of a brave effort to create a stronger brighter Britain ready to face the coming global economic recovery?

Or is it just a load of bollocks designed to help us all forget facts like:

the West Coast Mainline is in worse shape now that it's been rebuilt than it was before Network Rail started,
the Curse of the East Coast Mainline has struck again (this time it's National Express's turn)
all the current TOCs have gone cap in hand to the DfT because their franchise commitments are starting to look a bit Northern Rock?

Thought Two:

Which genius decided that plasticine would be a good substance to assemble 455 brakes from?

Thought Three:

How does South Eastern trains have the unmitigated gall to trumpet the start of their High Speed Service to St Pancras, while and at the same time slowing down the direct services to and from Charing Cross, Victoria and Cannon Street? Is it just me, or is this the biggest load of double-think scheming bollocks? Or do I sense the dead hand of the DfT behind this?

Nope - I was right; it's just bollocks...

Thought Four:

When is the Fact Compiler going to get properly angry again? I miss the carefully targeted ranting...

Thought Five:

Micheal Jackson - should we blame it on a heart attack? Personally I do blame a heart attack. After all I don't blame it on the sunshine, I don't blame it on the moonlight, I don't blame it on the good time and I don't blame it on the Boogie....

Thought Six:

The Brighton Belle. It's a nice idea, innit?

That's it - nearly time for lard-arsed trainees to turn in. But before I go, further congratulations are due:

Driver J. North, Wimbledon Park.

Nicely done, Jim.

05:02 on tomorrow morning, folks. So it's off to slowly poach in bed for me...

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July 01

Fireworks, Western-style.

What price a wheel slip light on the console?

For the benefit of nervous P-Way types who are joining us from Railway Eye, I should tell you that according to sources no rails were hurt during the filming of this video.

EDIT:

No wheel slip light on here, either...

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June 25

A Little Show of Pride

In addition to an absence from the Blog-o-sphere owing to banging my head against the Network Rail Modular Rule Book, and of course the odd bit of train driving (65mph on a 455 whilst singing the Monty Python Accountants Song - why did I get the two DIs at Wimbledon who could be confidently expected to indulge my sense of humour? Am I that easy to read?) I'm now off to Glastonbury for the festival that takes place therein. Marvellous. But before I go, I wanted to give you a little explanation as to the latest additions to the picture gallery.

As you'll see, it contains two pictures, both of which involve a little yellow badge. The badge has the letters "WD" on it. WD is the old NSE depot code for Wimbledon. One of our drivers had a batch made, purely for Wimbledon staff and out of his own money; don't get me wrong, he's selling them on, but he's not making money out of it. I just thought I would share this with you because it proves something that I've mentioned from time to time on this blog; people are happy to work at Wimbledon Park.

And it's a pleasure I'm fortunate to share in. Keep an eye out for the badges, folks. They are worn with pride.

Now, I'm off to Somerset to get rained on....

Peace, y'all!!

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June 22

Part God-Knows-What in the Potter Guide to the Easy Life...

This latest piece of advice has been sent to me via email from Leeds United Football Club (honestly). I believe it will of invaluable use this weekend when I sally forth to the Glastonbury Festival for my brothers Stag weekend. Whilst I would love to stay and write lots of pithy and fun stuff about choo-choos, I will leave you with this. Oh, and with the news that I dealt with my first proper incident last night - question; when they train you, why is there not a module entitled "What to do when a drunken and probably high example of South-West London pondlife starts threatening people with a Hammer?"

Anyhow, anon!

THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamon

THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Specificity
2. Anti-constitutionalistically
3. Passive-aggressive disorder
4. Transubstantiate

THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. No thanks, I'm married.
2. Nope, no more booze for me!
3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.
4. No thanks, I've never liked kebabs.
5. Good evening, officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight?
6. Oh, I couldn't! No one wants to hear me sing karaoke.
7. I'm not interested in fighting you.
8. Thank you, but I won't make any attempt to dance, I have no coordination. I'd hate to look like a fool.
9. Where is the nearest bathroom? I refuse to pee in this car park or on the side of the road.
10. I must be going home now, as I have to work in the morning.

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June 18

Congratulations....

Driver M. Turner, Woking

Driver C. James, Bournemouth

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Guestbook

Although I didn't realise until 5 minutes ago that it had disappeared in the first place, it's the Potters Webpage Guestbook Widget. Please use it or I'll end up forgetting about it all over again....

Add a comment

	gavinwrote: merseryrail purple are you mad potter? its clearly silverlink metro purple. Gav. May 28
	stephenwrote: Potter Potter Potter "I would also like to point out that I have got dirty hands. I’m an electric train driver. We don’t do running and we don’t do dirty. I shall have to speak to the Union about this. Dirt is what fitters are there for…" I quote this, why didnt you call me out if u dont like getting your hands dirty?! lol Stephen May 28
	gavinwrote: ok potter i'll take you five points for platform. i believe you were on platform 9 at waterloo. Gav. Apr. 15
	The G Man -wrote: Steve, your Space shows a perfect example of the variety which can be found on WLS. Apr. 12
	stephenwrote: Evening potter! or not so potter now as i deserve the title! Dont know if youve seen the picture on facebook of my head but i thought it was about time you had a name changed so i decided i would nick harry potter from you :D Basically i smashed my self in the head with a starting handle from a petrol engine and no i have a harry potter scare on my forehead :( Kind Regards Stephen "your quick fit fitter aprentice trainee" Trower Apr. 1
	benwrote: Ahh, so putting the old headcodes (with where the trains is going via (as on the 455's)) on the Desiro's does get noticed. I did wonder Feb. 25
	steve wrightwrote: The Training reports are a true reflection, don't put yourself down! Thanks for the KESR post, i'm going to have to put together a list of names for dispatches Feb. 17
	No namewrote: Ahh Potter Well done nice Bit of pruse prosse pr oh bugger it writing made me chuckle, and i see your getting all types or flea bitten waifs and strays in here now. Billy putting his two penneth worth in, and i hope you noticed that he cant punctuate either, Its a Fleet Problem spanners were good at writing and stuff well not so good at. You realise that you will need to disinfect the whole blog now Billy has got the worse kind of galloping knob rot Bucky Jan. 26
	john smartwrote: Yo Harry, I just had to make a couple of comments, unusual for me, i know, but now that you're out in the big world driving. I may start driving up from the coast knowing it'll be safer. The other thing, now we've got "bucky's bell" back where she belongs, we need to keep our mits on her. She also looked good when she arrived at Eastleigh with our friendly PM shouting abuce at me, or was it the other way around, anyway, just like old times! Be good & don't break any of my trains Billy Jan. 24
	No namewrote: Ahh Potter My punctuationals is wonderfulls ill have you knowings and my spellings is just as good:,, // maybe thats one to many slashes oh err missus in my best Kenneth Williams voice Right cut to the chase as they say ,not sure who they are? but they are very important that i do know. One more dig at my very stylish haircut and its curtains for you floral ones if i can afford them which i cant as im only a poorly paid Production Manager type with £2.67 in the post office. My haircut has now managed to drag kicking and screaming itself into roughly 1996 ish give or take a month here or there whereas your weird facial hair is firmly stuck in 1876 where the rest of you should be grrrrrrr ,and Bruce Forsth is and icon its got to be true the Daily Sport says its so So BACK OFF remember to put your braincells into gear before cos one more word and ill rip your toenails out with my bare teeth i aint pretty when im angry thats for sure love kisses and all thats stuff Bucky and i cant be arsed to punctuate it rebel with out a cause me !!! Jan. 21
	No namewrote: A BIG THANK YOU Ahh potter sorry to hijack your blog for a moment, but id like to say a BIG thank you to all that have given feedback on 3417 at East Grinstead, Its nice to feel that all our effort at Wimbledon Park have been appreciated It Takes an awfull lot of work and energy to keep ther old girls bits and bobs in the right places and its all the Depot staff who took a great interest in her even those with no Railway interest whatsoever sos once again your comments have been very touching Chris Bucky 3417s dad!!! Jan. 20
	No namewrote: Ahh Potter Your fav Production Manager calling still aint sussed you out on the mainline then we are thinking about getting ride of your seat you know the one ,where all the springs have gone and one of the legs is broken where you sat on it to hard Any way have to say aint seen that you tube vid and trust me i such the internet for pics of my old girl love it as it goes into the distance flashing and banging from the shoegear like any PROPER mainliner should do shows shes alive and very much kicking brought a tear to my eye shows that Brian was warming her up!!! im sure the grids aint rusty after that one he he Any way Potter keep your head down sit at the back and maybe they wont notice you dont now what you are talking about ahh the problem sitting at the back of the classroom with you is that you would take up all the back of the classroom, never mind you will just have to blag it . The lads have forgotten about you well nearly, theres always the odd comment like god aint it good now Potters gone we can get things in the fridge, Larrys recycling has gone right down the pan i think your old sweet wrappers where keeping him in buisness, and the p way want you back as you saved them untold hours work tamping the track , as you done most of the work for them when you drove over there track any way got to go happy handle winding Bucky Nov. 11
	caz bike chickwrote: hiya my son loves harry potter and so do i as i am a wicth shhhhhhhhhhh Oct. 15
	No namewrote: Perhaps..... and I'm just throwing this on the table to see if anyone smothers it in mayonaisse, rather than using scumble , we should use a miniscule amount of Wow-Wow Sauce. Too much may well cause any type of mechanical engine to either explode or, more probably, melt as if it had been parked a few million miles too close to the sun. HOWEVER!! Just think of the 'kick' it would give! I can just imagine a 'punter' asking whether this train goes to e.g. Weymouth. The reply may well be, 'Yessir! It did. Would you like to go on the round trip again?' 0-60? There hasn't been a stopwatch invented that measures time in small enough pieces. While scumble might make someones first words after trying some be .... 'Wztflktg? Tlb Blztzzg?' At least it doesn't cause the earwax to gently dribble onto your neck from the merest whiff! Hmmm, maybe Wow-Wow could be a leetle tooo strong. Perhaps the new barriers at Waterloo we are all in muted anticipation waiting for, should be equipped with Scumble 'misters'. Spray the fare-dodgers with a fine mist and by the time they had worked out what the long things attached to their hips with a foot at the end were actually for, they would be in a lovely holding cell awaiting persecution. :~} Aug. 6
	No namewrote: Potter my rapidly expanding soon to be mainline driver with dodgy face hair and compulsive disorder for eating anything chocolate or to be honest anything not locked away or nailed down I have to agree with you though that really hurts but i have to agree with you that image is everything tacky bright color scheems which seem really good to kindergarten teachers have no place in the railway scene I may be banging on here about SWT but i thing they have it right please argue the point, but their colour branding has to be one of the best in the country. Look at some of the up "t" north colours and i think its a case for banning beer north of Watford junction. The one excetion was GNER. Classy full of nostalgia and bang up to date. Mercedes Benz the car people you must know of them Potter they are great in building cars for transporting large ugly people full of their own self importance about you need to own one tkae that which ever way you want!! But i know my english teacher said never start a sentence with but . But there catch phrase is "Look backwards to go forwards celebrate the past but look to the future" And the sense of history sells what are cutting edge cars. My point is and its taken a long while to get there, is BR blue and grey (spec 81)( if any one wants the cat No' s im sure i can dig them out) Wasnt that bad had a sense of corprate identity was easy to clean , sorry the Production Manager comes frothing to the top and i got to say looked really classy . Well that the rantings from a maxed out beered up Production Manager with bad haircut and even worser spelling and punctuatio,n i cant spell its true but i can change a traction motor faster than W H AUDEN (look him up ) the fact thats hes dead has no realation to the speed i can change a motor honest guv Well there we go im sure that didnt make sense ill wake up in the morning and look at this and think, wow people are going to think im some really good drugs and to be honest i am you got to try double sanatogen is a buzz man well thats it from me Potter eat more expand more you will end up looking like the boy in Willy Wonkers Choclate Factory i know its a fantasy for you but curb the urge My Daughter said hi by the way "Is that Harry" she said when we was on the phone "Can i talk to Harry" she said No you cant hes a bad fat person who dribbles and talks rubbish i said You have to keep away from people like him they have a tendancy to offer sweets to you but then eat them therselves LOVE YOU LOADS AND THERES A LOT TO LOVE TRUST ME Your Fav Production Manager Bucky July 30
	No namewrote: Ahh Potter my fav choclate filled driver or as it was the other day, Guiness filled driver actually you remind me a lot of a Guiness Full Body AHH yes thats the phrase.Anyway Potter as i havent abused on line for ages ever since the sinister camera adventure i thought it was about time i put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard as it were to poke fun at your very large frame strange face hair and anything else that takes my fancy and take my fancy doesnt include you id rather walk hot coals or chop my left leg off or both. Nice pictures of Eastleigh i got to say apart from the fact that they didnt have any of the good looking boy wonder with a dodgy haircut and fantstsic bruce forsyth voice in them they were ok . As in the words of one Driver Jones and you can do the voice much better than me "Whers all the trains dont want all that f**** Potter arty farty S* of point handles and stuff" i think i took that qoute word for word So Potter more trains less point handles and a good smuttering of me window licking VEPS or my adopted sibling CIGGYS. Well thats it from me for this episode stay tuned for the next thrilling episode of Haircut and me Your Fav Production Manager oh im still very fed up thats the nice way of putting it about the window B******* AAAAAAAAAARGH Ive booked my therapist and the padded room good rates as well for regular customers And i think just think i may have spelt it all right and added the odd full stop here and there you Uni beer fest err education may be rubbing off on me as long as your eating habits dont !!! love you loads Bucky July 22
	No namewrote: The Doctor is in. Whilst I may drive these clanking monstrocities upon slowly oxidising strips of industrial grade steel, I have to say that my enthusiasm is pretty much non-existant. My view is "It's a train, woop di doo". Having slammers back in some form of passenger service is however, a nice idea. I, for one, actually enjoyed being at the controls of all of the 57's and 63's that I drove (with the exception of the 57 that would apply the emergency brakes as you raced to get the controller in the correct position) As for the 2 YouTube vids, I watched them both. After having a couple of illnesses that put me breaking my fingernails in order to prevent Thanatos from dragging my unworthy sole (it has a strong *grip* on life :~}), off to whichever Hell happens to be available, I can wholeheartedly agree that life is most certainly there to be lived. For the Pratchett fans amongst you, when someone was dead they asked Death why they hadn't seen their life pass in front of their eyes, he replied that they had, it was the bit before they died. (meaning the bit that started at birth at concluded with the cessation of breathing - sometimes something subtle has to be explained in further detail) Well done Steve, this is actually a well thought out and designed site. Even the pics are worth a glance for curiosity value if nothing else. Following this example, I may design my own and let the world know about my sad interraction and obsession with old bones. From the Saltopus to the Sauroposeidon to the Argentinosaurus. Mainly the species of Ardipithecus thru Australopithecus to Homo. As an ArcheoAnthropologist I find the development of Humans to be fascinating. Enough of that. Keep up the excellent work Harry, and (when you fight your way through the intensive mainline training), are loosed upon the completely unsuspecting Public (they will never know what hit them!), then all it remains for me to say is Welcome to the world of the Main (and Windsor Side). NEVER FORGET, the customer is seldom correct and has an average IQ of a half-brick. :~} June 25
	Mark wrote: http://mark849.fotopic.net/p50363038.html Out of the three sets out on the Saturday the Vep was the most popular. 3+2 seating completely filled on most trips! May 12
	No namewrote: Ahh Potter my choclate filled latex friend yes you on the mainline is a very scary thought we have extra fitters on order as we speak to fix the large amount of extra broken trains i know theres going to be. Mainly suspension me thinks, ok having a Potter in the cab at 5mph not bad , at 90mph thats a lot of kenetic enegy going up and down on those poor springs the designers didnt think they would actually put a Potter in the cab it was the design team did calculate the weight and mass put then threw it in the bin as it onte of the desin team stated " Lads Lads listen nobady that big could get into our cabs they would tip the unit up lets forget about it and pop down the pub for a swift shandy" and thats where it ended I do have to question the sanity of the interviewing panel or was there large amounts of £5 pound notes being wafted under there noses cos a Potter out in the big wide world its scary, ok when the keepers can keep you locked up in Wimbo but your going to have to meet the public and stuff and you aint been housetrained, and its going to be very embarresing at Waterloo when you start wrapping yourself around womens legs i think you need to be nutered first that will do it and a muzzle for the first 6 months and how we are ging to weed you off the Bonios god only knows Any way got to go got to get warmed up for some VEP dribbling and my anorak deffo needs a wash and you need to find your camera remember its only Thursday so start looking now!!!! Your Fav Production Manager who grants leave and stuff remember that at Swanage beer is a great armtwister and i still aint sent that e mail so lots and lots of beer till im munching grass and twaddling on how the worms aree really cute and im now best friends with one im sure Gwill will be right alongside me !!! were mates we fall over together right eat more choclate Potter like you need telling Bucky May 4
	Samantha Marshwrote: OOOooo.....I just love an argument/debate/discussion... Mr (no name), you're cracking me up! Big hello's from Surrey A peanut sat by a railway track His heart was all a flutter The 10:15 came steaming by TOOT! TOOT! ....he's peanut butter.... BB xx Apr. 20
	chris bucklandwrote: Potter my chocolate filled friend you must give those family size mars bars a miss the mess room is getting smaller mainly cos your expanding into it!!!,anyway i digress your blog makes me out to be a dribbling anorak i take exception to that, cant see how anybody saw me with said blanket in hand i was very carefull to ensure nobody saw me tucking her in and anyway if they did i want there names im sure they should have been doing something else Back to the VEP (Buckies Belle) see Priscillas pics she needs love and cuddles that only a dirty fingernailed fitter type person can give her not your namby pamby soft handle winder and any way Potter you couldnt fit over the traction motors to change the brushes like slim good looking me to be honest you have trouble fitting in the pit always wondered why 10rd was cracking up you must have jumped down there to retrieve your camera or something oh no thats not right it lives in the garage opps must have been one of those many choccy bars you secrete amongst your person if you get the munchys which is usually ever 2 or three minutes .Do cadburys send you xmas cards ? any way got to go Happy handle winding Potter and say hi to the camera for me xxx Apr. 10
	Joolswrote: Just passing through and noticed your space. I like your photos - what I've seen so far. Mar. 25
	No namewrote: Hello potter there is no hiding place you can ignore the phone calls and delete the texts but the comments on here are for everyones consumption!!!! Any way how is the camera safely tucked away i hope like it normally is!!! im sure bob will be adding his comments soon and my fingers are just warming up he he he oh this is the best thing to happen all year no decade no millenium what joy and fun im going to have telling everyone who wants to hear and everyone who dont love you loads potter hope you love me back xxxxx Mar. 17
	gordonwrote: Desert Chicken. I think you will discover that your Uncle Doug served with the 8th Army or similar. Mar. 7

Worthy Links of an Anorak (and Normal Person) Nature

Some of the sites I regularly visit...


Railway Eye Online home to The Fact Compiler - pricker of egos, sniper at idiots and caster of a finely cynical eye over the events and personalities surrounding the railway industry.

Railnews Online The online version of the national paper for railway staff - Railnews.

Railway People Railway Jobs, Railway News and Railway Services all on one site.

Railway and Travel Photographs by Paul Bigland Full of splendid railway pictures, and the odd South American Indian thrown in for good measure.

UK Railpics from James Mayl Railway-flavoured photography from James Mayl - well worth a few moments of your time.

Neil Dinnens Irish Railway Site Ah yes - young Master Dinnen. A captain, nay, a Guiding Light in the world of Irishmen travelling the country, getting drunk and being far to enthusiastic about railways. And better yet he understands the Might and Majesty of the 3rd Rail. Top chap!!

Railway Pictures by Mark Jamieson & Mark Pike Lots of stuff here - have a gander at the Swanage Gallery in particular!

South West Trains Official Website Look - they employ me. What else can I say?

The Southern Electric Association They put a link to my site - it's only good manners that I return the favour.

Google The ONLY search engine worth bothering with.

Damon Cox's "Little bit of Everything" Railway Site All the railway stuff you could ever want. And even if you don't want it, it'll still be there! Browse and your leisure folks. I was particularly impressed with the "Rail Work Experience" section.

The Bluebell Railway One of the best known private steam railways in the country, and the owners of Wimbledons celebrity unit 3417.

YouTube - Online Videos Videos on almost every conceivable subject, from making Coke bottles explode to how to blend an iPod (no, really - if you don't believe me then check.)

Lawrence Hill the Bristol PSB Bear No really; Lawrence was talked down from a signal post by a friendly signaller, and now lives at Bristol PSB. And he has excellent taste in theme music and holiday destinations. Have a a look, folks. You'll laugh. I did.

BBC News Online Invaluable if you want to know what Sky News were reporting half an hour ago...