Railway Forum - Dibnah discount code

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Fox Phil (Post 76018)

Firstly hello and welcome to the forum Brightershade. I am a great fan of Fred and have a good respect for the man. He was a fantastic ambassador for all things heritage especially anything and everything steam.
Good man
Enjoy the forum and best regards
Phil

Hi Phil & Syd, your old message regarding Fred Dibner brought fond memories flowing back. I first met Fred when i was 19 years of age at a working mans club in Little Lever Nr Bolton, where he used to live he heard a group of us talking about Agecroft and Patricroft sheds,and he started to talk to us,by the way long before he became famous. We bought him 3 or 4 pints but he never offered one back,we later found out he was a miser,so no chance of a pint from him. However i became very friendly with him and he asked me what was the chance of a footplate ride,so i asked my driver Maz and he said OK, two weeks later he arrived at Manchester Exchange for our 5.10 Windermere Club train,all he required was a hat as he had his own overalls on, we were always booked for a 5X / jubilee so he had the thrill of express workings,at Preston he had someone to meet him,then again on at a later date on the 11.20pm Glasgow,as he said to me he always wanted to go on a double headed train,we were the train eng and Newton Heath men hooked on with a Black 5 as far as Preston,Feds taxi was waiting outside the station,we were 7 minutes late leaving Manchester yet on time at 12.03am at Preston, Freds remarks were exceptionally noisey and fast as we are usually in the late 80s across part of the L& Y,and of course the west coast mainline to Preston.
By the way their was a saying about Fred,when his wife said to him it is either me or his engines, he said i will have the engines,soon after,Divorce ,but wherever he may be God Bless him as he was very interesting to talk to and a very clever man in his own right.