Page 2 of Bill's August 12th 2011 Newsletter...................

'TEFSLOS' ('TEFS' LEFTOVERS - or LOST SOULS)

The WERNIGERODE. RE-UNION June 01-05 2011 went well. 36 made their own
way from Alderney/Austria/Finland/Germany/UK/USA to Hotel Altora opposite the
Steam Depot. Brilliant British sunny warm weather for the whole extended Weekend.
Westerntor Works visit was a delight. The day excursion to Mt. Brocken aboard the
Traditionszug found unlimited visibility at the summit - beer, sausages & soup were
available at remarkably reasonable prices. Wernigerode Steam Shed & sidings access
was totally hassle-free, & there was plenty of free time for individual travel on the
network of lines, sightseeing in the splendid old Town & the chance to sample the
local brews. Steam locos draped with branches celebrated Father's Day, & the whole
Weekend was a Public Holiday with extra steam workings, some with motive power
not usually appearing in Wernigerode.
I had worried there was insufficient organised content in the Weekend. In fact, folks
expressed pleasure at having free time to do their own thing, then return to the Hotel
Altora for a delectable Dinner as the sun went down. Each balmy evening ended with
chatter/drinks on the Hotel terrace overlooking the Depot, or (for more adventurous
souls) visiting the Town's many drinking establishments to sample different brews.
Then came that question @ "Where will next year's "FINAL RE-UNION' be?"
Since Llangollen Final Re-union No.1, there have been ten more, like the LAST
CHINA TOUR series [see enclosed programme for what WILL be the final one],
but Sylvia's heart operations series & more recent cancer treatment, plus my own
tempus fugit, means the last FINAL RE-UNION organised by me has taken place.
Several participants made individual pleas for "one more time" (a familiar cry on the
'Swiss Secrets' Tours!), even 1-day to enjoy the spread Sylvia & friends provided at 5
Chester Close (twice), but this is out of the question. Sylvia is in lots of trouble as was
self-evident to those who came to Wernigerode.
This answer was unacceptable to many. Having been on Overseas Tours, or joined
Re-unions, they wished to keep in touch, maybe even occasionally run a Tour. I could
take no role in this, particularly as contact would be mainly email, as well as by post.
I remain a dinosaur/luddite, surviving perfectly well without a computer, email etc.
Peter 'Dud' Smith offered his email address, to create a contact data-base, with
'TEFSLOS' as the proposed title ('TEFS Leftovers", though 'TEFS Lost Souls" is an
alternative suggestion! 16 contact emails are listed so far. Angela Beer [maybe better
known from her 'Essex Girl' days as Angela Ashley of Clacton, now resident on
Alderney with Peter? - she declared "it took me 18-years to get Peter to propose"] has
offered to help. 'Dud' sent an 29 June email to all whose details he had at that date.

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and from page 4.....

• • • • POSTSCRIPT • • • •
Isn't 'LIFE' strange. You strive three-score years & ten (if you're lucky),
hopefully learning from your mistakes &, by example to the next generation
trusting they avoid the same pit-falls (but of course they won't); then, at your
absolute peak of experience, the GrimReaper brings your chapter to a close
In Railway terminology, I had a long time on the main line (of Tour Operating),
retiring into the scrap siding, but re-appearing on special occasions (Wernigerode)
or when another engine failed (the return to U.K. of someone else's Tour)
Now I await the scrapman's torch, when my constituent parts will not be
re-cycled into paper dips, but probably spread among the garden gladioli
IT HAS BEEN A GOOD LIFE - THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO IT
Bill Alborough 14/8/2011