I've been listening to discussions on the local radio about how different people have left instructions about what should happen when they die. I'm old but not old enough to think about such things to much but I was fascinated by some of the bizarre instructions. In the same vain I thought a no fuss cremation and scatter the ashes on my favorite railway line (between Hook and Basingstoke). I doubt if permission would be granted and anyway I don't think windows or doors open any more ! Would the ash be a pollution concern ?

You'd probably need to be cremated in full hi-vis gear and have attended all the relevant courses on being dead

If you think permission will be refused, don't ask for it, just do it 

Personally I have had all the paperwork signed and witnessed a few years ago, to donate my carcass for educational purposes, so no funeral and no fuss 

cheers John.

Never too early to get your will written (did my first one when 21!), and then keep updated as circumstances change. Recent news article about what happens to your itunes or similar paid for music. If you don't give your family the log in password, your music is lost, as you only "hire" the music. And who gets your model railway???

Quote from: tutenkhamunsleeping on January 31, 2014, 12:13:33 PM
You'd probably need to be cremated in full hi-vis gear and have attended all the relevant courses on being dead

I hope it's a long way off, unless I get infirm or senile............oh, bugger, I'm already there
Seriously, I live on my own and have compiled a file for my relatives giving details of everything of relevance e.g. will, house documents, car documents, where the money is (Rails of Sheffield ), insurance policies etc with a notes page at the front of the file.
Note 1 - cancel all my pre-orders with Rails or you'll be getting packages through the post for the next 2 years!

A cheery topic for a dreary Friday afternoon! My dad died on Christmas morning in 2010 and after Boxing day I went to the local council offices to register his death. Due to council holidays there was only one person in the registrar's department. When I was eventually dealt with this bossy boots woman asked me (in a Basil Fawlty manner) if I'd made an appointment. I told her " I didn't know he was going to die" . The woman's manner changed from cold to ***** cold. Happy days!

ps I was arranging the funeral and at the local crematorium you only get 3 tunes played. I wanted one of them to be "The Panzerlied" from  the Battle of the Bulge movie, one of my dad's favourite films  but was over-ruled by the rest of the family. For may own funeral I don't want any of this "sad loss"', "greatly missed " guff, just someone to say good ***** riddance !. And no football shirts or colourful clothes which seems to be a la mode these days. Black suits, black ties  white shirts and  black shoes.

My will states that I am to be cremated (Most of my organs are shot anyway), my ashes to be put in the nearest dustbin (This is true, it is in my will) and everyone to have a great party at my expense, it won't be big because I am not leaving much!

Peter.

A friend of mine is a guard on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and they get (and grant) requests to put ashes in the firebox of steam locos. Sounds like a good idea to me. A last free ride. 

Quote from: Malc on January 31, 2014, 01:10:15 PM
A friend of mine is a guard on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and they get (and grant) requests to put ashes in the firebox of steam locos. Sounds like a good idea to me. A last free ride. 

The ultimate footplate experience!

Quote from: Malc on January 31, 2014, 01:10:15 PM
A friend of mine is a guard on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and they get (and grant) requests to put ashes in the firebox of steam locos. Sounds like a good idea to me. A last free ride. 

now is  that a cinder in your eye, or old uncle harry having the last laugh as you look out the open drop light on his celebration journey  :'(.

Quote from: BobB on January 31, 2014, 12:07:09 PM
In the same vain I thought a no fuss cremation and scatter the ashes on my favorite railway line (between Hook and Basingstoke).

The Basingstoke end has a  footpath running along behind The Hampshire Clinic where you could scatter the ashes from the cutting top-----when the wind is in the right direction.
Between Old Basing and Newnham there a several isolated bridges that you could scatter them from.
Whether it is legal or not I have no idea, but its a nice idea

Quote from: Malc on January 31, 2014, 01:10:15 PM
A friend of mine is a guard on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and they get (and grant) requests to put ashes in the firebox of steam locos. Sounds like a good idea to me. A last free ride. 

Or getting you prepared for the heat down below       

cheers John.

Nothing like the Morbid Express 

Two of our members (that I know of) have passed away unexpectedly in the last 12 months and the Grim Reaper can take any one of us at any time. Obviously I'll be beyond caring if it happens to me but I'd like to think I've taken as much stress/strain out of the situation for my relatives/friends.
Apart from that, there is always a 'graveyard humour' side to many folks wishes
Must admit I laughed out loud at Peter's wish for his ashes to be chucked in the dustbin

As a corollary to this: What will happen to our layouts after we depart?

My wife and I have had this discussion a couple of times and come to the conclusion that, ultimately (unfortunately), most model railway  layouts tend to be dumped/scrapped after the departure of the builder.  That's probably what will happen to my 'creations', although as one of them i of the 'micro' variety, it might survive.

The unfortunate fact is that layouts are very specific entities, and ultimately of interest mainly (sometimes only) to their 'creator'.  The 'children' are rarely as interested as the parent, and most spouses have little real interest in what has been built.  As widows/widower also tend to down-size their accommodation as they get older, ultimately the layout has to go.

So what happens to the layout? It can't be run, it can't be given away; it simply has no 'friend' to keep it 'alive'.

It can be stored, but for what ultimate purpose, and the local MR club will probably not be interested (they have their own layout/s that they have created).

So......?

It's worth considering.

Any thoughts?