The Coffee House

Did I seriously never cross-post this ? 
http://s1.zetaboards.com/The_Coffee_Hous...2620355/1/

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the "Farewell to Steam" special train, which ran on 4th August 1968 to mark the end of steam trains on British Railways. There was one more special train after this - the "Fifteen Guinea Special" on 11th August 1968 was the very last one before all steam trains were retired - but because no normal service trains ran after 4th August 1968, this date is often taken to represent the "end of steam".

Okay, here's one that's sure to make some people feel old: 

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, turns 30 today.

September 18:
1850 – The United States Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which decreed that all runaway slaves be brought back to their masters.

1066-William the Conqueror starts his invasion.

• 1978 – After reporting contact with an unidentified aircraft, Frederick Valentichdisappeared in unexplained circumstances while piloting a Cessna 182L light aircraft over the Bass Strait to King Island, Australia.
  

Creepy.

Yeah, I wonder what happened to him ? 

Anyway, a few of the events of today: 
 

• Gulliver's Travels was published on this day in 1726;
  
• Bill Gates is celebrating his 63rd birthday today;
  
• Poet Ted Hughes passed away on this day 20 years ago.
  

Since it's still 3rd November in the States, I might as well post this one . 

On this day in 1957, Laika, a stray dog taken from the streets of Moscow, became the first dog to go into space. However, the technology to de-orbit didn't exist at the time - so, there wasn't a happy ending to her journey .

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Lockerbie bombing, which claimed the lives of all 243 passengers and 16 crew aboard Pan Am Flight 103. A further 11 people on the ground were also killed, taking the total death toll to 270: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s...d-46620288

May they rest in peace .

Silent Night - one of the most recognisable Christmas carols - is 200 years old today. It was first performed on this day in 1818, in what was then the Austrian Empire:

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/ana...-1-9504592

In 2009, a fire destroyed Longford's 19th-century St Mel's Cathedral, considered the "flagship cathedral" of the Irish midlands.

Also, George Michael's untimely death, two years ago today