Empire Gull. Farewell !

Sandy Mitchell · Nov 1, 2011

The siren had many comments made about it. On one occasion after testing the gear before sailing from Marchwood that had included the customary blast on the steam whistle and a whoop, whoop, whoop on the siren, there was a communication from the second officer on an L.S.L. on the other side of the jetty asking for the siren to be tested again because his wife liked the noise that it made.
Happy days.

garratt15a · Nov 1, 2011

Hi Sandy.....We would have been at Mwood at the same time. I used to drive the diesel shunters on the railway, and the preserved steam loco 'Waggoner' on the special days we steamed her. Do you remember ?
Andy

TARBATNESS · Nov 2, 2011

I recall that the hoist was "Going For A Song".

Sandy Mitchell · Nov 2, 2011

Hello Andy....We could quite possibly have been at Marchwood at the same time. I did two spells on Sir Tristram and one on Empire Gull. I remember the diesel shunters but do not remember seeing an old steam loco that would have been of interest to me.
Sandy.

garratt15a · Nov 2, 2011

Hi Sandy......OLD STEAM LOCO !!!! Cough-Splutter.....It was built in 1953, so was less than 25 years old !
We used to steam her for General's visits, Open days and at least once a month in the summers, on days when there was no ammo in Port.
She was kept in pristine condition thanks to yours truly. Now preserved on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Sandy Mitchell

garratt15a

TARBATNESS

Sandy Mitchell

garratt15a

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