The Flickr Moralee Image Generatr

Brake van and guard's van are terms used mainly in the UK, Ireland, Australia and India for a railway vehicle equipped with a hand brake which can be applied


Their name comes from earlier days when many trains ran with un-braked wagons with only the locomotives brakes stopping the train. One or more brake vans would typically be attached to the rear of the train and the guard would operate a handbrake at the rear to assist the braking power of the locomotive.


West Somerset Railway; Spring Steam Gala 2025.

West Somerset Railway.

No its not lens distortion - these old carriages do curve in at the top. When they were built no one expected people to be travelling standing in the corridor.

A swift and possibly irreversible punishment for making the speaker the target of ridicule.

Some people just have "that look".


West Somerset Railway, Spring steam gala 2025.

Steel veins stretch across the dawn,
Steam sighs where the dark has gone,
Engines pulse with iron might,
Coal-fed hearts in morning light.

Old men board with hats pulled low,
Eyes like windows, soft and slow,
Hands of leather, soot and toil,
Dreams long buried in the soil.

The whistle wails a ghostly tune,
Underneath a yawning moon—
Past the fields and factory gate,
Time rolls on, but they still wait.

In clattering rhythm, work begins,
Where smoke and memory softly spin.


West Somerset Railway, Spring steam gala 2025.

Train travel is often considered the most civilised mode of transportation because it combines comfort, efficiency, and environmental friendliness in a uniquely human way. Unlike cramped air planes or stressful car journeys, trains offer spacious seating, freedom to move around, and the opportunity to relax, read, or work while watching the landscape unfold. The rhythmic motion and quiet hum encourage reflection and conversation, fostering a sense of calm rarely found in modern travel. Moreover, trains connect city centres directly, avoiding the chaos of airports and long security lines, making the entire experience more dignified and enjoyable.

West Somerset Railway, steam gala 2025.

Some days you think you don't know your partner at all.

You can never be sure you know a person.

Team GB entry in this years senior "Haggis wrangling" contest.

West Somerset Railway Spring steam gala - Bishops Lydiard station, Somerset, UK.

In the shadow of the camera.

This week's events will be one of the last big public moments of recognition for the diminishing number of veterans from World War Two.

These veterans are now in their late 90s and older, commemorating an event which took place when many were still only teenagers.
Many of those who cared for others are now reliant on carers for themselves.

It's a different kind of battle.

Joyce Wilding, aged 100, remembered the celebrations in London on VE Day: "We went to Piccadilly where there was a stream of people singing and dancing, there were soldiers up lampposts, it was extraordinary.

"We were outside Buckingham Palace and you could hardly move there were so many people cheering and singing."


"Lest we forget"

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word—
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!

Source: "Recessional" is a poem by Rudyard Kipling. It was composed for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, in 1897.

Steam trains attract "all sorts" - young boys to old men - Those with a vague romantic interest to "Hardcore" experts.


West Somerset Railway spring steam gala 2025. Minehead station, Somerset, UK.

He waits alone where shadows creep,
On rusted tracks where secrets sleep.
His eyes are fog, his breath is dust,
His suitcase filled with broken trust.

No whistle sounds, no lantern's gleam,
Just silence thick with shattered dreams.
He boards a ghost of steel and grime,
A relic lost to death and time.

The seats are bare, the windows blind,
Each mile peels back a fraying mind.
No end in sight, no soul to care—
The last train rolls through cold, dead air.

He fades like smoke, a name unspoken,
A ticket punched, a man long broken.
No stars to guide, no place to go,
Just wheels that turn, in darkness slow.

--------------------------
West Somerset, steam gala, Bishops Lydiard station, Somerset, UK.

Young boys often want to grow up to be train drivers for a few key reasons:

1. **Trains are big, powerful, and exciting** – Trains are loud, fast, and dramatic. They captivate children's imaginations in the same way as dinosaurs, fire trucks, or rockets.

2. **Simplicity and visibility** – Trains follow tracks, and the role of the train driver is clear: they make the train go. This clarity makes it easy for kids to understand and aspire to.

3. **Media influence** – Popular children's shows like *Thomas the Tank Engine* or *Chuggington* portray trains as friendly, adventurous, and important, often casting the train driver or controller in a heroic light.

4. **Love of vehicles and control** – Many kids are drawn to the idea of being in charge of a big machine. Being a train driver gives a sense of control and responsibility in a very visual and concrete way.

5. **Romanticism of travel** – Trains represent journeys, discovery, and adventure, which are naturally appealing to young minds.

It’s a mix of awe, influence, and a desire for agency. Would you like insights into how this compares to other childhood dream jobs?


West Somerset railway, spring steam gala 2025.

A snack on the run.

West Somerset Railway, Spring "steam gala" May 2025.

And another Cornish pasty disappears forever - Watchet station, Somerset, UK.

2025 Spring Steam Spectacular, which this year runs between Friday 2nd May and Bank Holiday Monday 5th May. Experience a feast of steam action, with locomotives and attractions to suit enthusiasts and families alike.

This year, the event is particularly special, with it being a major part of the Railway 200 celebrations, a nationwide event celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.

West Somerset Railway will be hosting a wide range of different locomotives of different ages and from different railway companies to celebrate this big anniversary.

Multiple visiting locomotives will join the home fleet, all working hard hauling a variety of services through the Quantock Hills and along the Bristol Channel.


Minehead WSR station, Somerset, UK.

A woman from Surrey has become the oldest person in the world, at the age of 115 and 253 days.

Ethel Caterham, who lives at a care home in Lightwater, reached the milestone following the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, aged 116.

Ms Caterham was born on 21 August 1909 and is believed to be the last surviving subject of Edward VII.

Celebrating her 115th birthday in August 2024, she said she "didn't know why there was all the fuss".

She said the secret to her longevity was "never arguing with anyone, I listen and then I do what I like".

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy0zxzpdd4o


Seems like a good outlook on life, (who needs megapixels?)

Her pet cat has a GPS tracker -- apparently it was on the train when it left this morning. According to the GPS app its on its way back now.


Minehead Station; West Somerset Railway

Minehead Station is located close to the sea front and a short walk from the town centre.

Minehead station was opened in 1874 when the original West Somerset Railway was extended from Watchet. The original station was quite small, with a single platform 400ft in length, a small goods shed and yard on the sea side.

Facilities were gradually extended as the holiday traffic grew and included the addition of a bay platform, an extension to the station building and the extension of the main platform to its present length in 1933.

A signal box, loco shed, turntable and sidings were added in the yard on the town side, now the council car park, and the signal box was replaced and relocated as the station grew. At the far side of the car park is a small brick building which was once the stables for railway horses used for distributing goods to the local area. Latterly it has been used as a boxing club.


Minehead, Somerset, UK.

An old man with a beard so wide,
Stood licking his ice cream with pride.
The sun was hot, the scoop was tall,
But gravity came — and so did the fall.

It plopped on his beard with a splat and a sploosh,
Turning his chin into minty mush.
Kids pointed and laughed, "Look, a dessert face!"
He grinned, “Beards are storage — just in case.”


Minehead, Somerset, UK.

A day at the seaside.

Violence and sexual offences - Seaside towns have 34% higher crime than the UK average.

Criminal damage and arson - Seaside towns have 29% higher crime than the UK average.

Public order - Seaside towns have 14% higher crime than the UK average.


I suspect its the same the world over - vacations, excess alcohol, lots of people. (Or are the British just worse on holiday).


Minehead, Somerset, UK.

The glowing oval under this runners shirt caught my eye.

I assume its some form of heart monitor; presumably linked to an "app" on his watch or phone.

I must be old - I remember when all you needed was a pair of trainers (called plimsolls or running shoes back then).


Minehead, Somerset, UK.

A cowboy, a sailor, and an idiot walk into a pub in London .
The landlord says, "Blimey, you lot look rough."
The cowboy says, "Lost a duel."
The sailor says, "Lost a ship."
The idiot says, "Lost 20 million in public funds and still got re-elected."


Many a true word spoken in jest.

The use of newspaper to wrap fish and chips in Britain largely ceased in the 1980s. While the practice was initially outlawed in 1875, it remained common until concerns about food hygiene and potentially toxic ink led to its decline.


Minehead, Somerset, UK.