A once a year day!

It only happens once a year and that is my birthday! Age is unimportant I say but whilst mentally I still think I am in my 20's the reality physically is a little different! However I did start the day with a bike ride, which is always a good way to wake up, to the local CoOp to buy a paper. The shop is 3 miles away but todays ride was a round trip of 17 miles bringing my total for the year up to 4020! The bike ride was great but the day just got better. As I was paying for my paper I suddenly noticed several of the CoOp staff around me. Gulp! What had I done? The manager than announced that today was a day of 'Small Acts of Kindness' and I had randomly been chosen to receive a little something which were the two boxes of mints in the picture below. I was quiet taken aback but it really made my day so a big thank you to the CoOp staff and thank you to them to for carrying on as they have over the pandemic.

Back at WMD HQ Mrs. Woody gave me a fantastic train related card, two pairs of cycling shorts (very much needed as I think my present ones are just about worn out) and this DCC sound chipped GT3 00 gauge locomotive manufactured by KR Models and a beautiful piece of manufacturing it is too! Thank you Mrs. W - You are wonderful!

There is a detailed history of this unusual locomotive here but in summary it was built in 1958 and although looking like a steam engine it was actually powered by a gas turbine engine hence the GT name. It was not as successful as hoped but despite having potential it was eventually scrapped in 1966.

Carrying on with a railway theme the afternoon was spent at the Nottingham Heritage Railway at Ruddington just outside of Nottingham following a Subway sandwich. Never been before and despite no trains on the main railway running at the moment there was a lot to see. Firstly there was a small classic car show with a few cars I have not seen on the roads for years.

Two nice Mercedes but the convertible TR7 is my favorite in that group. Apparently Mrs. Woody had always wanted one in her younger days but then she met me and could then never afford one!

Three Citroens showing the development of the original 1950's DS into the modern day version. On the left it looks like a Wolsey 6 and then a modded Morris Minor which had Minilite wheels, lowered suspension and probably a few modifications to the engine - nice!

This rather nice 1972 Triumph Dolomite Sprint caught my eye in its very 70's yellow paint.

A Rover 400 I think. You just do not see many of what was a common car back in its day.

Something I have not seen for many years an original Daimler Dart looking very nice.

Still on road transport there is a collection of buses most of them local to the Nottingham area.

This City of Nottingham bus dates from about 1978 if the number plate is correct but looks more modern.

Much older is this bus from The Felix Bus Services fleet which operated out of Stanley in Derbyshire between 1921 and 2012. It is probably a Bedord chassis with a Plaxton body. The destination board is small and what would have been Ilkeston has been abbreviated to its colloquial name of Ilson.

Barton Transport buses operated in Nottinghamshire between 1908 and 1989. It was sold to Trent Buses and the new company is known as Trent Barton.

Old meets new! One of the bues undergoing restoration.

There are pieces of history all over the site such as this road sign. Many years ago the motoring organizations such as the RAC and AA put up road signs such as the one above as part of their service to motorists.

If you want some inspiration for heavy weathering on a model vehicle you could not do better than this old JCB.

It just cries out to be modelled.

There were also a few old lorries which look as though they are restoration projects. This old Scammell 8 legger probably looks better than it really is because the cab is aluminum and looks relatively solid but the chassis is highly corroded.

Another Scammell, probably a Highwayman, from 1962 is in even worse condition.

The original Ministry of Transport test certificate shows it was last tested in March 1969.

Railway wise there was a lot to see although in this first photo all you can see are some coaches. However there are two power cars for an HST and with theses coaches that would make a great train to bring back into service.