John smiled as he at his dinner, salmon and potatoes with roasted bread.
"What's got you excited?" Sherry asked.
"Remember that girl I told you about?"
"Veronica? Yeah, why?"
"Told her how I'm losing my sight. She wants me and the rest of you to head down for a week in the summer to her place in New York."
Robert grinned.
"Nice. I'll see if I can fit my schedule around it."
Sherry told him she'd do the same. Michael just grinned.
"You've got a crush on her, don'cha?"
"I just might."
Brian grinned, sipping his iced tea.
Thanks to
@historybuff for the vignette!
...
September 23rd, 1971, Doncaster, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Dear Julia,
I’m sorry I haven't gotten in touch with you since I left to go on the tour, but to calm you my dear, we're all fine here in California but it has been quite trip. We had to meet up with Flying Scotsman in Canada and drive her and the train all the way across the Rockies and towards the west coast and I don't know how we did with the lack of money we had but somehow we managed to get there and to take an LNER locomotive that far across America, one built in our hometown for God's sake, is one hell of an achievement that no doubt Mr Gresley would approve of! Though we had some of these damn war protesters when we got there all over about England in Rhodesia or something like that, honestly I can't remember why we were there anyway.
I did get the chance to drive Scotsman across the West Coast and I've seen so many sights such as Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, cable cars and I'm yet to visit Hollywood though I'm hoping to twist a few arms, mostly Alan's [Peglar] arm for us to go there. Speaking of which, the best bit of the tour happened in which we went to Disneyland and would you believe the welcome we got out there, all that was missing was a red carpet! Apparently some of the Disney guys were saying that because Walt Disney was a big rail enthusiast himself he would've loved this had he still been alive, but alas I guess somethings aren't meant to be. I do feel bad that we couldn't take little John and Polly to Disneyland as they would've loved to be here and also as a thanks for our efforts in helping boost relations between British and American animation studios, we all got a sneak preview of their newest animated film, 'The Snow Queen', which does look good though I still like Pinocchio better if I'm being honest, my dear.
We have met some funny characters on this tour as many American rail fans seem to know everything about how an A3 works and all and I've come to the conclusion that no matter where you come from in the World, we're all railwaymen and woman and few of us have struck up a friendship with some of them and I will say those showgirls which we have on the tour have all had their fair share of lads wanting to date them. Poor Alan is pulling his hair out making sure we don't get a pregnancy out here as that won't look good!
As I write this, the tour will soon be finished and I'll be home before Christmas and I will show you a few photos from the trip plus I promise to get you and the kids presents while out here, though just to warn you, there are rumours going about that another tour of Japan and Australia is planned to carry on with trading and I'm worried that Flying Scotsman will be able to do it all over again and if there is money out there for it. Hopefully I'll get to spend lot of time with you when I get back but I can say that we have flown the flag for Britain and for the London and North Eastern Railway!
Regards,
Bobby (AKA your favourite husband)
Thank you to
@QTXAdsy for the magnificent letter! I for one can't wait to read more of his supplemental timeline to
BSiC about the Flying Scotsman and her adventures all around the world!

(Which you should all go read immediately if you haven't already)