NEWS of one of Britain's most historic steam locos, the Haydock-built Bellerophon, comes clattering in from former Haydock foundry worker Ken Turner. Now living in Larkfield Road, Liverpool, he reports: "It is at present based at the Foxfield steam railway at Blythe Bridge, near Stoke-on Trent."

'Owd Bell', as the ancient colliery loco was affectionately known to generations of Yickers during her long working years, is still owned by the Vintage Carriages Trust.

"The engine has been re-painted in green, as during its last days at Lea Green Colliery, but is now awaiting boiler examination and repairs," adds Ken, evidently a keen steam buff.

Here's hoping the old girl, built in 1874 and one of the oldest working locos in Britain, will soon be chugging along as the coal-fired showpiece star on various rail enthusiasts' routes.

Ken also harks back to a couple of flashback photos, appearing on this page recently under the heading 'Blast from greasy overall era'. One featured a bunch of his old workmates at Haydock's Richard Evans foundry, and he recognised them all. He should have! For he now reveals that this snap was taken with his own camera, some time around the autumn of 1949.

"We had just moved into our workshop from the main foundry", explains Ken. "Working conditions were pretty grim - freezing in winter and roasting in summer - with no nearby canteen, toilets or drinking water". Yet, he recalls: "We all enjoyed working there. I left in 1957 but still have many happy memories of the underground mechanisation department".

AN amazing number of readers responded to those flashback photos. My thanks to one and all!