Fresh air & photos

[Martin Wynne]

When I were a lad you had to build the blinking computer before you could even program it.

(There's a photo somewhere. I'll post it if ever find it )

@AndyB @Guinea_Pig_Tester

Hi Andy, Rob,

The first computer on which the beginnings of Templot ran (1980) was a Rockwell AIM-65:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-65

I built a backplane and several home-made expansion boards -- all home-etched on the well-known international size of 16" x 4" which was the size of PCB sheets which I had in stock for making the 85A Models track components.

The AIM was used to drive a Bridgeport miller which we converted to CNC control for machining turbine-blade tooling. The great thing about the AIM-65 was that it came with a full circuit diagram and a full listing of the embedded source code. I learnt a lot from a close study of that. It was still working fine 10 years later, to make the tooling for the Hunslet:

The PCB sheets were cut to size for me by Crossley & Bradley in Leyland, Lancashire, and it seems I'm not the only one who remembers them:

https://forum.leylandtown.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=639

https://web.archive.org/web/20090926132818/http://www.crossley-bradley.co.uk

And still going strong:

https://www.ccieurolam.com/en/contact/uk


The punched cards 8 years before the AIM were for programming an IBM System/7 computer, controlling chain welding machines:

https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/system7/images/5407PH04.jpg

https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/system7/system7_tpress.html

Still in my pocket as I write this is a penknife given to me on a visit to the Wafios factory in Germany in 1972.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Phil O]

Hi Martin,

Did you work for Parsons on the Worcester Road?

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Phil O

Hi Phil,

All gone. Long since sold off for peanuts to:

http://www.chaincom.com/en/about/c/15816.html

The main customer by far was the National Coal Board. Also long gone of course, along with the entire coal mining industry.

The site is now occupied by OGL Computer, but the Old Farmhouse on the corner is still there, visible on the left:

https://goo.gl/maps/i4awjAn8Sz7ekXw38

It was the training centre and Director's Dining Room.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Phil O]

The Navy had some anchor chains from them, back in the day, but it's not often that the chain needs replacing and we don't have much in the way of a navy these days. During the Christmas leave period there were more ships alongside, in Devonport than the navy now has in the entire fleet and I include RFA ships in that.

 

[Martin Wynne]

 

[Martin Wynne]

 

[Martin Wynne]

 

[Justme Igor]

does this count?
A railway switch from around 1900!

You can see that the footplate under the point is replaced (around 1963)for some more use

An extension around 1960 on the original station, see the two different rails

Yes from around 1900

Yes from around 1900.
You can clearly see at the frog that there was some derailment due to age of the frog

I am sorry i did not make more pictures, apparently i was on privet property.
The running line is owned by a Steam Museum, the station next to the line incl some of this old track work is privet property.
As a well mannered "young boy" i apologised and went away.(They did not really mind as i showed them my pictures and i explained why)..
With best regards

 

[Justme Igor]

Some how this one did not came into my post

 

[Martin Wynne]

Some how this one did not came into my post

@Justme Igor

Hi Igor,

This forum software limits the total attachment size to 15MB. Maybe you went over the limit? It's easy to make a separate post if you need to upload more.

Thanks for some great pics.

p.s. English department: You meant "private" land. This is privet on the right -- the bushes making an ornamental hedge:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privet



Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

Long time no report.

The fish pass is now finished and in water:

But no fish in the time I spent watching.

The clean new concrete and shiny galvanised railings won't be looking like that after a few floods. If whoever did the numbering had realised the piles would remain on view forever, they would have got a proper signwriter to do it.

Millions of pounds of public money spent, but no public access. Just the usual barbed wire and padlock:

It's the same everywhere in the countryside now. Every day a new fence.

To be fair, they are providing a public viewing gallery down-river at Diglis.

Martin.

 

[Rob Manchester]

Hi Martin,

Good to see it finished, maybe the fish haven't figured out what it is for yet Maybe they should have a fish counting device installed - like an axle counter on the railways - so they could see what the use was like.

Too many health & safety risks with letting the public go near anything like this. One of the Canal and River Trust guys told me that suggestions had been made to put barriers around canal locks to stop people falling into deep water when the lock chamber was full. How did we ever manage to stay safe in the old days ??

Rob

 

[Martin Wynne]

One of the Canal and River Trust guys told me that suggestions had been made to put barriers around canal locks to stop people falling into deep water when the lock chamber was full. How did we ever manage to stay safe in the old days ??

@Guinea_Pig_Tester

Hi Rob,

A lot of my childhood was spent playing with friends around the local canal basins and locks in the 1950s. I don't remember any of us falling in, or anyone else.

But in recent years someone fell in the lock and had to be rescued by passers-by, and tragically a young lad fell off his bike into a lock and drowned. Putting safety barriers around the locks would destroy the timeless atmosphere of the canals, but if it saves a life perhaps we should accept it. Hopefully a safety railing is not the same thing as a 6ft fence with barbed wire on top.

Here's a picture of a lock, still looking the same as it did 200 years ago. For now.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Rob Manchester]

Hi Martin,

Thanks, that is Belan lock on the Montgomery if I am not mistaken. I walk and fish on the section north of Maesbury which is very quiet most of the time. Mind you there have been plans for a while to reopen the whole canal north through to Frankton junction where it joins the Llangollen canal - don't hold your breath though.

Rob

 

[Martin Wynne]

Hi Martin,

Thanks, that is Belan lock on the Montgomery if I am not mistaken. I walk and fish on the section north of Maesbury which is very quiet most of the time. Mind you there have been plans for a while to reopen the whole canal north through to Frankton junction where it joins the Llangollen canal - don't hold your breath though.

Rob

Hi Rob,

Yes, well spotted. Belan Top Lock.

Here's a drawing of the Buck horizontal paddles, used only on the Monty.

Martin.

 

[Justme Igor]

. How did we ever manage to stay safe in the old days ??

Commen sence?

 

[Matt M.]

Actually, traditionally people just fell in and drowned.

It becomes an issue for authorities when you can be sued.

Time moves on and what was acceptable becomes unacceptable.
We do expect some improvements in safety.

Seatbelts in cars; collapsible steering columns; designs that move your head away from the
windscreen header; anti torpedoing seat design; the list goes on and on.

Just watch Russian dash cams for old Lada cars built from late 1960's Fiat designs hit modern cars.
The difference in survivability is very educational.

The same reasons that steam locomotives are an OH&S nightmare compared to a modern diesel.

Matt M.

 

[Martin Wynne]

Sat in the churchyard to eat my boiled egg today.

Martin.

 

[John Lewis]

And that is the village lockup?

 

[Rob Manchester]

No John, the grill over the door is to stop you falling down the stairs....a H&S requirement.

Rob