Old Is Good (We Keep Saying) As Steam Train Rescues Stranded Passengers

Electric trains running between Ashford and Dover came to a standstill today as cold weather in the area numbed the electric rail and left a hundred passengers stranded.

Until a Darlington-built Tornado - Britain's first mainline steam engine - announced itself with a cheery whistle and took the grateful passengers home "in style."

The weather-related disruption included three days of cancellations for Eurostar services through the Channel Tunnel.

Tornado, a £3m Peppercorn class A1 Pacific based at the National Railway Museum in York, was in the South East for one day, offering "Christmas meal" trips from London to Dover.

Its "Cathedrals Express" service, the last mainline journey in its first year of operations, was about to depart when staff heard about the stranded passengers.

About 100 people were offered free seats, according to Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust - the charity which built Tornado.

"It was a nice way to finish for Christmas, though I think some of the rescued passengers didn't realise they'd even been travelling on a steam train until they got off."

Mr Allatt, who was on the service at the time, said he only saw a handful of other trains between London and Dover throughout Monday.

He added: "If any of the train operators want to modernise their services by using steam trains, I would be happy to give them a quote."

Notch one for the "old days."

"Miracle On The Hudson" Pilot's Cap Passes Under The Hammer For $5,800

Whether you're tired of all the foofraw surrounding the helluva good job Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger did aboard U.S. Airways flight 1549 or can't get enough of the hero captain, it was interesting to see that Sully's flight cap was just auctioned off for $5,800 - on eBay.

The signed cap, stripped of its U.S. Airways insignia, passed this morning, with all the money from the sale promised to two local schools. The good captain is a class act and a local boy and we're glad things went well for him and his passengers that fateful day in January, but Antiqueswest thinks the least they could have done would be to throw in a bag of those airline peanuts to sweeten the deal.

Old Masters Prove Attractive Draw For New Money, Antiques Still A "Buy"

"No Wonder Grandma Was Always So Happy... And Hungry"

Antiqueswest has found some interesting things in old things that have come our way, including gold coins and an Imperial Russian jetton in an old desk; a very active rat in an old cannon tube, and some Confederate documents behind an old picture.

But this was an interesting find...

Hey, it happens. What are you gonna do?

Antique Pistol Used in Massachussetts Stickup

Two Springfield, MA teens were charged with using what turned out to be an antique pistol during an attempted robbery of a bicyclist Wednesday.

Tyriesse J. Jackson, 17, and a 16-year-old juvenile whose name was not released were charged with armed assault with intent to rob. Jackson also had an outstanding warrant.

A bicyclist told police two teens approached him and tried to rob him, displaying a pistol in his waistband. Police recovered the gun in the home of the 16-year-old and described it as an antique, single-action handgun of unknown make and caliber.

Sorry circumstances and Antiqueswest hopes Mssr's Jackson and "unnamed juvenile" get what's coming to them but we'd also like to get a look at that pistol!