GWSR Stanway Gloucestershire 22nd July 2023

Your wet hat wanted to take a look at the wet lanscape too !

So it did! :-))

Interesting Pete,...- what do you mean ? by,.. 'the cushions ?',.... Cheers from Dj.

Cheers David. It's an old railway expression. If a loco crew had to travel to pick up their engine or didn't have an an engine to return to the shed on they would travel in the train - in a compartment with cushions rather than the hard wooden seat on most steam locos! So anytime you come off the footplate and ride in the train you are "on the cushions". In my case only 4 people at a time are allowed on the footplate so when the cleaner came up I came off.

Thanks ! Pete,.. I am now enlightened,.. but one more thing,. > 'cleaner' is this the person who does actually 'clean' the train ? or just another expression ?,.. thanks from Dj.

My pleasure. David. A cleaner is on the first rung of the footplate ladder. Every fireman & driver started as a cleaner and yes he/she cleans the engines, cleans the ashpits, cleans the messroom, toilets etc! But after a fair number of turns as a cleaner they do get rostered as "third man" on the footplate which means they watch how the crew handle the engine, learn how to couple up to the train, take water & if they're lucky have a go at firing.

Great effect! I think that rain is really photogenic.

Thanks Edna. Better on the window than running down my neck!

A most unusual landscape but a most interesting photo which I like and appreciate. Well done.

Thanks for sharing with our UK Landscape Photography Group , Herb