DIYbanter - England Trip Report

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England Trip Report

I got back from spring break late Saturday. We went to London to
visit my sister while my wife jumped back and forth from the
Netherlands and Germany (business). I'm home nursing a stinker of a
cold. Flying that long sucks. BUT...

I finally made it to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum. Very cool, they
were running the rotative engines on steam. Someday soon, I need to
get back when they're running the Cornish engines. The 90" and 100"
engines are monsters. They do run the 90". This museum was a
waterworks, so a lot of the engines and pumps are original.

I also got back to the Science Museum and Duxford. After Kew Bridge,
the steam engine floor at the Science museum is less awe inspiring,
although still fascinating. The main attraction for me are still the
ship model and engine model exhibits, which are still prominently
displayed. Also interesting is the first Babbage difference engine,
completed in the 1990's to his design, and another currently under
construction for an American museum. A couple of techs were working
on it when I was there.

Duxford has changed a lot since I was there a few decades ago. The
American Air museum is fabulous, and a huge new hangar / display for
the British material is under construction. There's a lot of very
active restoration going on in the middle hangars.

Dad flew out of Duxford in late '44 to the end. He got to attend the
dedication and opening of the American display in 1996 or so. All the
old vets in attendance got the treatment they deserve, including
shaking the Queen's hand, special tents, etc.

I'll post some pics soon.

Pete Keillor

England Trip Report

On Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:25:43 -0400, Pete Keillor
wrote:

I got back from spring break late Saturday. We went to London to
visit my sister while my wife jumped back and forth from the
Netherlands and Germany (business). I'm home nursing a stinker of a
cold. Flying that long sucks. BUT...

I finally made it to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum. Very cool, they
were running the rotative engines on steam. Someday soon, I need to
get back when they're running the Cornish engines. The 90" and 100"
engines are monsters. They do run the 90". This museum was a
waterworks, so a lot of the engines and pumps are original.

I also got back to the Science Museum and Duxford. After Kew Bridge,
the steam engine floor at the Science museum is less awe inspiring,
although still fascinating. The main attraction for me are still the
ship model and engine model exhibits, which are still prominently
displayed. Also interesting is the first Babbage difference engine,
completed in the 1990's to his design, and another currently under
construction for an American museum. A couple of techs were working
on it when I was there.

Duxford has changed a lot since I was there a few decades ago. The
American Air museum is fabulous, and a huge new hangar / display for
the British material is under construction. There's a lot of very
active restoration going on in the middle hangars.

Dad flew out of Duxford in late '44 to the end. He got to attend the
dedication and opening of the American display in 1996 or so. All the
old vets in attendance got the treatment they deserve, including
shaking the Queen's hand, special tents, etc.

I'll post some pics soon.

Pete Keillor
I visited senior son in the other London in 1999 and 2005 and got to
Kew Bridge and the Science Museum both trips, as well as Hendon, all
well worth the time spent. Sometime I would like to visit Crossness
and Greenwich as well as Duxford.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

England Trip Report

Pete,

Don't take too long to send the pix, ok? Don't be like greedy Don Foreman.
He was in England a while back and not nary a pix was forthcoming from him.
G

Bob Swinney
"Gerald Miller" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:25:43 -0400, Pete Keillor
wrote:

I got back from spring break late Saturday. We went to London to
visit my sister while my wife jumped back and forth from the
Netherlands and Germany (business). I'm home nursing a stinker of a
cold. Flying that long sucks. BUT...

I finally made it to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum. Very cool, they
were running the rotative engines on steam. Someday soon, I need to
get back when they're running the Cornish engines. The 90" and 100"
engines are monsters. They do run the 90". This museum was a
waterworks, so a lot of the engines and pumps are original.

I also got back to the Science Museum and Duxford. After Kew Bridge,
the steam engine floor at the Science museum is less awe inspiring,
although still fascinating. The main attraction for me are still the
ship model and engine model exhibits, which are still prominently
displayed. Also interesting is the first Babbage difference engine,
completed in the 1990's to his design, and another currently under
construction for an American museum. A couple of techs were working
on it when I was there.

Duxford has changed a lot since I was there a few decades ago. The
American Air museum is fabulous, and a huge new hangar / display for
the British material is under construction. There's a lot of very
active restoration going on in the middle hangars.

Dad flew out of Duxford in late '44 to the end. He got to attend the
dedication and opening of the American display in 1996 or so. All the
old vets in attendance got the treatment they deserve, including
shaking the Queen's hand, special tents, etc.

I'll post some pics soon.

Pete Keillor
I visited senior son in the other London in 1999 and 2005 and got to
Kew Bridge and the Science Museum both trips, as well as Hendon, all
well worth the time spent. Sometime I would like to visit Crossness
and Greenwich as well as Duxford.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

England Trip Report

On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 22:43:12 -0500, "Robert Swinney"
wrote:

Pete,

Don't take too long to send the pix, ok? Don't be like greedy Don Foreman.
He was in England a while back and not nary a pix was forthcoming from him.
G

I'm not greedy, Bob. I'm just mean and stingy.

Aside from that, I didn't take any pix nor do anything that would
interest anyone else. New granddaughter visit, bet you know how
that goes....

OK, I'm not really mean and stingy with everyone -- just with you! I
selflessly and generously, whattaguy, suggested to Mary that she
should just leave me behind the next couple of visits because then
she could stay as long as she wants. She knows (well!) that I get
antsy after a few days.

Then, with what I'd have spent on my ticket, I buy myself a
consolation tooltoy and a bottle of fine sippin' bourbon while
she's gone.

I'm taking her to the airport again on Wednesday. .Oddly enough, I
do have my eye on a bit of finely-crafted metal that I think I'd like
to try out on Thursday..... and I'll bet we'll have open water on
the area lakes by next week, think iceout crappies....

It's turrbull hawrd gettin' by on my own, but a guy's gotta do what
a guy's gotta do...

but hey, Bob, I can have Mary send you and Judy a postcard! Or baby
pix, yeah! Got a high speed link? 50 or 60 megs be enough? Little
Izzie is the brightest and most beautiful child born in the last 500
years, ya know.

She really is a cutie, but gawd I hate airports and long planerides --
and Lil' Izzie will be visiting here in June anyway, so I'll get to
see her before she goes to Stockholm in September to pick up her
Nobel prize... she hasn't decided in what yet, all things in good
time.

Bob Swinney
"Gerald Miller" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:25:43 -0400, Pete Keillor
wrote:

I got back from spring break late Saturday. We went to London to
visit my sister while my wife jumped back and forth from the
Netherlands and Germany (business). I'm home nursing a stinker of a
cold. Flying that long sucks. BUT...

I finally made it to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum. Very cool, they
were running the rotative engines on steam. Someday soon, I need to
get back when they're running the Cornish engines. The 90" and 100"
engines are monsters. They do run the 90". This museum was a
waterworks, so a lot of the engines and pumps are original.

I also got back to the Science Museum and Duxford. After Kew Bridge,
the steam engine floor at the Science museum is less awe inspiring,
although still fascinating. The main attraction for me are still the
ship model and engine model exhibits, which are still prominently
displayed. Also interesting is the first Babbage difference engine,
completed in the 1990's to his design, and another currently under
construction for an American museum. A couple of techs were working
on it when I was there.

Duxford has changed a lot since I was there a few decades ago. The
American Air museum is fabulous, and a huge new hangar / display for
the British material is under construction. There's a lot of very
active restoration going on in the middle hangars.

Dad flew out of Duxford in late '44 to the end. He got to attend the
dedication and opening of the American display in 1996 or so. All the
old vets in attendance got the treatment they deserve, including
shaking the Queen's hand, special tents, etc.

I'll post some pics soon.

Pete Keillor
I visited senior son in the other London in 1999 and 2005 and got to
Kew Bridge and the Science Museum both trips, as well as Hendon, all
well worth the time spent. Sometime I would like to visit Crossness
and Greenwich as well as Duxford.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

England Trip Report

Don, in one of his more gracious modes, sez:

". . . but hey, Bob, I can have Mary send you and Judy a postcard! Or
baby
pix, yeah! Got a high speed link? 50 or 60 megs be enough? Little
Izzie is the brightest and most beautiful child born in the last 500
years, ya know.. . ."

Great idea, Don! I would very much appreciate a picture of the beautiful
little grand child with any London scene as backdrop. Tell Miss Mary it's
for the admirer guy that argues with her husband. She'll understand.

Bob Swinney

"Don Foreman" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 22:43:12 -0500, "Robert Swinney"
wrote:

Pete,

Don't take too long to send the pix, ok? Don't be like greedy Don
Foreman.
He was in England a while back and not nary a pix was forthcoming from
him.
G

I'm not greedy, Bob. I'm just mean and stingy.

Aside from that, I didn't take any pix nor do anything that would
interest anyone else. New granddaughter visit, bet you know how
that goes....

OK, I'm not really mean and stingy with everyone -- just with you! I
selflessly and generously, whattaguy, suggested to Mary that she
should just leave me behind the next couple of visits because then
she could stay as long as she wants. She knows (well!) that I get
antsy after a few days.

Then, with what I'd have spent on my ticket, I buy myself a
consolation tooltoy and a bottle of fine sippin' bourbon while
she's gone.

I'm taking her to the airport again on Wednesday. .Oddly enough, I
do have my eye on a bit of finely-crafted metal that I think I'd like
to try out on Thursday..... and I'll bet we'll have open water on
the area lakes by next week, think iceout crappies....

It's turrbull hawrd gettin' by on my own, but a guy's gotta do what
a guy's gotta do...

She really is a cutie, but gawd I hate airports and long planerides --
and Lil' Izzie will be visiting here in June anyway, so I'll get to
see her before she goes to Stockholm in September to pick up her
Nobel prize... she hasn't decided in what yet, all things in good
time.

Bob Swinney
"Gerald Miller" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:25:43 -0400, Pete Keillor
wrote:

I got back from spring break late Saturday. We went to London to
visit my sister while my wife jumped back and forth from the
Netherlands and Germany (business). I'm home nursing a stinker of a
cold. Flying that long sucks. BUT...

I finally made it to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum. Very cool, they
were running the rotative engines on steam. Someday soon, I need to
get back when they're running the Cornish engines. The 90" and 100"
engines are monsters. They do run the 90". This museum was a
waterworks, so a lot of the engines and pumps are original.

I also got back to the Science Museum and Duxford. After Kew Bridge,
the steam engine floor at the Science museum is less awe inspiring,
although still fascinating. The main attraction for me are still the
ship model and engine model exhibits, which are still prominently
displayed. Also interesting is the first Babbage difference engine,
completed in the 1990's to his design, and another currently under
construction for an American museum. A couple of techs were working
on it when I was there.

Duxford has changed a lot since I was there a few decades ago. The
American Air museum is fabulous, and a huge new hangar / display for
the British material is under construction. There's a lot of very
active restoration going on in the middle hangars.

Dad flew out of Duxford in late '44 to the end. He got to attend the
dedication and opening of the American display in 1996 or so. All the
old vets in attendance got the treatment they deserve, including
shaking the Queen's hand, special tents, etc.

I'll post some pics soon.

Pete Keillor
I visited senior son in the other London in 1999 and 2005 and got to
Kew Bridge and the Science Museum both trips, as well as Hendon, all
well worth the time spent. Sometime I would like to visit Crossness
and Greenwich as well as Duxford.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

England Trip Report

On Wed, 5 Apr 2006 17:07:10 -0500, "Robert Swinney"
wrote:

Don, in one of his more gracious modes, sez:

". . . but hey, Bob, I can have Mary send you and Judy a postcard! Or
baby
pix, yeah! Got a high speed link? 50 or 60 megs be enough? Little
Izzie is the brightest and most beautiful child born in the last 500
years, ya know.. . ."

Great idea, Don! I would very much appreciate a picture of the beautiful
little grand child with any London scene as backdrop. Tell Miss Mary it's
for the admirer guy that argues with her husband. She'll understand.

Bob Swinney

Request duly forwarded. This could be interesting...

England Trip Report