He came from the army post-1918 for a job on the railway at Mexborough - from the rolling Nottinghamshire fields near the Trent.
Lodged with the family where he met and married my grandmother. He rode a single cylinder motorbike in the fifties, which he was forever tinkering with in the shed - where I watched him constantly. His nickname came from the way he rode his bike. Nobody ever went on the pillion twice, apparently. I like to think I get my mechanic skills from him, and he would have loved the Morgan. Such a shame when we are deprived of family like that. Just think of the stories he could have told me. My grandmother had two brothers also on the GCR. And we had a cousin who was a stationmaster in London. He lived overlooking Lords. So many lost opportunities eh? Dave _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 19 July 2012 20:33 To: mogtalk2 Subject: RE: [mogtalk2] NON MOG Woodhead petition - For rail buffs Gosh, what a story! Railways are my 1st love from about aged 5. The Woodhead line runs near my home and I can just about remember steam expresses passing through my local station (Newton for Hyde, still open) before it went all electric in 1954. Even after that a lot of local shunting and freight was steam. The aroma drifting over from the locos was beautiful! WDs were supposed to be really rough above about 20mph and the K3s were rough too at express passenger speed, so your granddad must have been tough! David. _____ From: Dave Wellings [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 19 July 2012 19:12 To: mogtalk2 Subject: RE: [mogtalk2] Woodhead petition - For rail buffs Unfortunately I was only seven when my grandfather died (at 60yrs), after a life on the GCR/LNER. I would like to think I might have managed a footplate ride or two, had he made it another five years. I can remember him coming in from work, having been offered a job at Wath yard on the electrics, and contemplating whether it would be for the best. He must have really loved the WD's and K3's!!!!!!!!! (at Mexborough shed). Railways are therefore in my blood from the year dot. I still have the calipers they made for him at the shed, engraved "Fearless Fred", and his carriage door key T bar stamped "LNER". Dave _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 18 July 2012 22:08 To: mogtalk2 Subject: RE: [mogtalk2] Woodhead petition - For rail buffs I can remember being taken for a ride on the new electric train to Penistone by my dad in 1954 when it was opening. _____ From: Dave Wellings [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 18 July 2012 19:30 To: mogtalk2 Subject: [mogtalk2] Woodhead petition - For rail buffs Rail buffs will understand without further clarification. The best trans-Pennine route, my grandfathers old stomping ground, should never have been closed..... http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/19823 Dave. View posts on The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ <https://www.listbox.com/member/?&;> Modify Your Subscription <http://www.listbox.com> _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5139 - Release Date: 07/18/12 View posts on The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ <https://www.listbox.com/member/?&;> Modify Your Subscription <http://www.listbox.com> View posts on The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ <https://www.listbox.com/member/?&;> Modify Your Subscription <http://www.listbox.com> _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date: 07/18/12 View posts on The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ <https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; 7> Modify Your Subscription <http://www.listbox.com> ------------------------------------------- View posts on The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ [http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/] Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=22459785&id_secret=22459785-4a39ddf8 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
