I was very saddened this week to learn of the passing of Mike Notley. Since I first made his acquaintance at Stratford upon Avon station back in 2005 we always had a chinwag about things - railway related of course. He always had time to talk to people and to relate his detailed inside knowledge of the workings of the British railway system.

I particularly enjoyed travelling back from London's Marylebone station to Warwick with him on 6th April 2013. This was when 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe was considered too big a fire risk to run back to Birmingham on the Inter City Express. A diesel pilot was attached - 47245 - and Mike and I jumped on board the next Chiltern train heading north. I even offered to pay the business class upgrade for him not knowing he had a golden railway pass - Go anywhere 1st Class! We talked non-stop all the way and the time flew by. I almost missed the Warwick stop!.

I'm sure I'm not the only person to say. RIP Mike. You WILL be sadly missed.