Mike Knudsen said:

> I'll be at the Lambeth Conference at the Univ. of Kent, Canterbury,
> just south of London, for the second two weeks in July.  Can anyone
> recommend some museums, or exhibits worth making side trips to, for
> mechanical music?

Check out the listings on Mel Wright's Events page:
  http://www.melright.com/music/whatson.htm#jly2008

And the IMod listing at
  http://organ.10.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=7d91a38ee4e02ad24457ac538b235ef5

If possible, get to a _steam rally!_  That bunch is always dragging
along a few fairground organs.

Mike also asked:

> By the way, is it really as difficult as I hear to go from one side
> of London to the other?  Allegedly, the rail lines are oriented to
> get between the outskirts and central London, but not for going all
> the way through and out the other side.

It can be, but if you can find a man or boy who has memorized the trail
timetables, there may be a quick route.  (Such fellows used to exist!)

Of course, if your goal is to get "from one side of London to the other"
(not, say, from Brighton to Bristol by train), there is likely to be
a pretty good Underground and/or bus service, although you will have to
make some changes enroute.

Since rail disinvesture, selling the British Rail trains and routes to
private investors, a number of companies have developed routes between
major destinations which bypass the central London stations.

So the answer is the question, "Where do you want to go?"  If you run
your proposed expedition through Google, and/or the British railroad
ticket sites, you may find a route which is both convenient and
economical.  Based on your conference schedule, look for "cheap day
return" tickets.  If you leave after the morning business rush hour
and return the same day you can often get a very special rate.

Wallace Venable