[Maranellohouse]

At the end of this year I'll have worked for our company 30 years so I'm getting on now. Also this year the trains I cut my teeth on as a young 19 year old are being scrapped. They've been going since the 70's, 80 class DEMU's to give them their proper names.

Last week I asked the guys from our Mechanical enginering dept if I could have something from one of the 80's as a keep sake for memories past. Watching the lightening running along the track away from the train probably being the most memorable. During the bad troubles of the mid 1980's stopping the train along the line to check if the beer keg lying at the side of the track had wires coming from it, and sadly more than my fair share of fatalities on the line to deal with.

Well yeasterday the guys told me to bring the car in but make sure it was the ML Merc. I couldn't believe it. They (2 of them) lifted a piston an con rod from an 80 class into the car. It even has it ring still in one piece. It's huge and heavy and I don't care. I'm no train buff but it will take pride of place in the drive reminding me of some happy, and some very eventfull times.



My son with it. I had a tear in my eye after I seen the photo, It only hit me then how much has went on in my life and how much is ahead for my son.



And the only way I can move it on my own.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

My gawd !!! That thing is impressive, overprescribed with viagra ??? Seriously, simply amazing. Gotta be careful with that thing not falling and getting hurt. Now where would one display that thing is the issue. w/ smiles Jimmy

[Killer58]

That's fantastic! What a keepsake.

[Boxer]

How wonderful!

[t1fosI]

That is a very special memento.



I like the collage on the back wall!
.

[il Capolino]

Beautiful!!

Looks like from a Mirlees Blackstone, is it?

[Maranellohouse]

Originally Posted by il Capolino

Beautiful!!

Looks like from a Mirlees Blackstone, is it?

Its out of a class 80, one of these



Freezing winter, sweltering in summer, broke down everywere, and yet I look at that photo with a lot of pride. They were such an easy train to drive. I could sit at the keyboard all night and tell you guys stories of things that's happened and lifelong friends I've made.

Thanks guys for the kind comments. It genuinely was one of those moments were I took the photo and only when looking at it later it struck just how poinient it was to me. That piston has covered some miles and so have I, but my son has those miles to cover yet. Just looking at the photo again and the one of 98 actually has me feeling quite emmotional I'm turning into a big softie, , what a fool.
I actually don't know why I felt the need to share, but I'm glad I did.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Indeed, Maranellohouse. I was so taken with the size of that thing that I forgot to mention of your son there. He looks like one fine child. w/ smiles Jimmy

[JazzyO]

Fantastic, thanks for sharing the stories. The '80ies in Ireland were a roller coaster time, I'm sure there are a lot emotions attached to what that piston represents for you.


Onno

[Maranellohouse]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

Fantastic, thanks for sharing the stories. The '80ies in Ireland were a roller coaster time, I'm sure there are a lot emotions attached to what that piston represents for you.


Onno

They really were roller coaster times and wierd the way a hunk of metal that's past its sell by date can bring a lot of the memories back.

When I worked on the trains as a guard I was attacked countless times.
Trains I was on almost de-railed at least 4 times due to problems with the rails.
Almost run into by another train once, came to within a few feet of a bit of a mess.

In my Last role, lost count of incidents I had to go to of people being run over for one reason or another.

Endless security alerts. The building I work in being blew up 3 times, while my collegues and I were still working and once in another building that ended up having to be knocked down. Each time just pushing the debris off the desk and working on as if nothing really had happened because if we'd left the trains would have had to stop and the public wouldn't have got home from work.

They were the entertaining parts but the best parts were meeting my Wife who worked for the same place and gracing me with 2 fantastic kids and the stability I now have (the entertaining parts of the job and 95 hour weeks were starting to take their toll), and make a few true friends for life who look out for eachother in times of need.

Its ok I'll quit now bofore I bore all of you that you won't come back to FL for a week

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

No bore at all, Maranellohouse. We all love stories. w/ smiles Jimmy

[Barry]

Stu
How did I miss this thread? Great photo's and stories. Pity it's probably too big to make a matching coffee table for the other side of the sofa from the Irvine tyre!

Great pic with your son - he looks like a happy guy
Barry.