Part 1 - Tickets from the 1960's

In the late 50's and early 60's my route to the GCR at Nottingham started on the Great Northern line from Derby Friargate (see tickets below). For years the Thompson 2-6-4 L1 tanks from Colwick worked this line, to be replaced in the last years as the Midland region took charge by Ivatt 2-6-0 "Flying Pigs" (Well, you only had to look at them...!)

On one memorable journey a Teddy Boy entered our (non-corridor) carriage at Ilkeston. He was wearing red drapes, drainpipe trousers, and snakeskin winklepickers. My friends and I gawped at this strange garb, to the annoyance of the wearer. After a while he glared at me and said, "Are you taking the piss out of my boots?" Right: A veritable "sty" of "Flying Pigs"! Ivatt 2-6-0's at Colwick, April 1964

Having never heard this expression before and naively taking it literally I nervously stammered "No thank you!" - and then trying to sympathise - "It's a nuisance when you can't reach a toilet when you need one, isn't it?" Oh dear, I quickly learned when not to be helpful and when to shut up!

Part 2 - Breakvan Permit; Nottingham Victoria, North and South