Model Rail 242 December 2017

[Budgie]

I picked up my copy of Deember's Model Rail from my local Sainsbury's this afternoon.

[The Stationmaster]

My subscription copy arrived several days ago and it's quite a good issue.

 

However I do take exception to the nonsense (I'm being extremely polite using that word) in the Class 92 prototype notes about the demise of the ENS overnight sleeper services (the so called 'Nightstar').   They were cancelled for commercial reasons - end of story (although fortunately said cancellation meant the anticipated technical problems on 3rd rail would never emerge).  And the totally inaccurate and nonsensical comment that 'EPS' (which didn't exist by then anyway) new operator (sic) London & Continental lacked the clout to get the new trains running over a fragmented railway' is exactly that - a load of grossly inaccurate nonsense.

[micklner]

Nice GER O gauge layout therein.

[Graham_Muz]

Following a very pleasant afternoon , as mentioned above, spent with Chris Nevard back in September, the results of his efforts an article on my little shunting layout Canute Road Quay can be seen and read about in this issue. 

 

 

As the inspiration for the layout was mainly due to the release of the  Model Rail commissioned USA tanks, it was therefore only right that first published article about the layout was in Model Rail Magazine. As a slight departure from other model railway publications the article is in fact written by the Model Rail their in-house staff writer, following a telephone interview rather than the layout builders own words. I did however provide some written text before the interview to ensure that much of the content that I wanted to be included got suitably covered.

 

More information can be found on my blog at  https://grahammuz.co...ublished-today/ or my layout thread here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114980-canute-road-quay

 

 

[Legend]

My subscription copy arrived several days ago and it's quite a good issue.

 

However I do take exception to the nonsense (I'm being extremely polite using that word) in the Class 92 prototype notes about the demise of the ENS overnight sleeper services (the so called 'Nightstar').   They were cancelled for commercial reasons - end of story (although fortunately said cancellation meant the anticipated technical problems on 3rd rail would never emerge).  And the totally inaccurate and nonsensical comment that 'EPS' (which didn't exist by then anyway) new operator (sic) London & Continental lacked the clout to get the new trains running over a fragmented railway' is exactly that - a load of grossly inaccurate nonsense.

EasyJet and Ryanair killed the European sleeper service and the Eurostar services to Glasgow etc

[dibber25]

My subscription copy arrived several days ago and it's quite a good issue.

 

However I do take exception to the nonsense (I'm being extremely polite using that word) in the Class 92 prototype notes about the demise of the ENS overnight sleeper services (the so called 'Nightstar').   They were cancelled for commercial reasons - end of story (although fortunately said cancellation meant the anticipated technical problems on 3rd rail would never emerge).  And the totally inaccurate and nonsensical comment that 'EPS' (which didn't exist by then anyway) new operator (sic) London & Continental lacked the clout to get the new trains running over a fragmented railway' is exactly that - a load of grossly inaccurate nonsense.

 

The writer wouldn't have made this up, so he must have picked it up from research. It's out there somewhere, on the record, right or wrong. I wrote the couple of sentences about the disposal of the 'Ren' cars to VIA Rail, so I know that to be correct. (CJL) 

[The Stationmaster]

The writer wouldn't have made this up, so he must have picked it up from research. It's out there somewhere, on the record, right or wrong. I wrote the couple of sentences about the disposal of the 'Ren' cars to VIA Rail, so I know that to be correct. (CJL) 

 

The VIa Rail bit is of course absolutely correct but I don't know where the other bit came from Chris as it is total nonsense (sorry to use that word yet again).

 

While we're veering away, in some respects, from the thread about the mag's modelling contents It might help if I explain the real situation as opposed to that imagined by someone or other.

 

 All UK timetable paths for ENS services were contracted at its vesting with Railtrack and included in Eurostar (UK)'s Track Access Contract so apart from any technical issues or resourcing problems there was nothing to stop ENS services running on the Railtrack network.  The Class 92s were very thoroughly tested for interference issues - as is standard with all new trains - and while they were 'lively' in some places (as effectively in many respects a Eurostar power car with similar interference characteristics) they were cleared as quite safe to operate between London and the Tunnel. In fact during trials on the WCML the various recording instruments went crazy on one occasion while the train was stationary - which revealed that a passing Class 90 was far worse than a 92! The Class 37s and generator vans were cleared to operate where ever they were required to operate and crewing contracts were in place for sections of route where they would not be driven by Eurostar Drivers.

 

The trial half set of ENS stock was similarly tested, very extensively, on the European mainland as well as various runs on Railtrack - the only problem encountered was a 'domestic' water pipe which fractured during the climatic test in Vienna.

 

There were a number of technical issues which have never been aired in public but they would not have had any effect on the ability to introduce the trains and were in any case almost wholly within ENS/Eurostar control and they would not have delayed the planned introduction of the first service which was to be London to Frankfurt.  When it took over London & Continental carried out a thorough review of what had basically been the 'political' parts of Eurostar (i.e. Regional Eurostar) and ENS and - as 'Legend' has said above - it was obvious that the anticipated markets were rapidly vanishing due to the rise of cheap airline travel.   Work continued during that review but in the end L&C decided they could not afford to commercially support either Regional Eurostar or ENS;  the debut of 'shadow' services of the former was cancelled barely weeks before the first trains were due to run although a number of alternative uses for the trains were examined subsequently.  

 

The end of ENS was more complex as it was an international concern and although based in London it was a joint venture by BR (as it had been, latterly Eurostar (UK), SNCF, NS, & DB. (Originally SNCB had also been a partner but they had withdrawn some years previously).   In London ENS had a very small core staff of people from DB and Eurostar(UK) but a lot of work was carried out for it by Eurostar(UK); non UK commercial work was in the hands of the relevant Railways although Eurostar (UK) represented ENS at the European Timetable Conference.  In addition of course ENS faced the major problem of disposing of its rolling stock (locos belonged to the partner Railways) - you know what eventually happened there.  

 

I do wonder if the full, accurate, story of ENS will ever appear in print as all the documents held by Eurostar (UK) were ordered to be destroyed when ENS was cancelled (although some no doubt survived in personal archives).  Various 'stories' have appeared over the years since its demise but most things which I have come across have contained inaccuracies - in some cases gross inaccuracies - hence no doubt the comment which appeared in the piece in December's MR.  Back to model railways.

[rue_d_etropal]

bought a copy, blind, in local ASDA. It had a copy of 'Build a model railway' included ,which I found more interesting, apart from Nigel's article on how the magazine started and Paul's layout planning article.As it is weekend of Pendle Forest Club exhibition, it was interesting to find out he had been a member. And there are still members in the club from then! It did surprise me as Nigel had talked more of growing up in Burnley(visiting Rose Grove) so would have expected him to have been a member of Burnley club(some have suggested that club had not then started). 

 

One thing that worries me about many of the current magazines, is that they are not breaking new ground as happened when Model Rail started. Trouble with being a ground breaker is that you have to keep up coming up with something new and I am not sure if that is now happening. Model Rail rocked the boat 20 years ago, but the water is now a bit too calm!

[Poolelad]

Sadly, MR has hit the "buffers" with the traditional 'Repeat every year' syndrome. Last year had a 'Water' special, same again this year. Becoming very samey.... Loosing it's prowess of being different I feel..

[Legend]

I wouldn’t single our MR for this, I think it’s true of most of the Model Railway Mags .

[dibber25]

Interesting that no one seems to have noticed the radical overhaul that the magazine has received over the last three or four issues. True the new content has been phased in over several issues but perhaps, in trying to avoid the jarring 'redesign' or 'revamp', we've been too subtle. Some subjects are perennials that warrant the occasional repeat (and water is one of them) but we are certainly not operating a 'repeat every year' syndrome. (CJL)

[ColinK]

I've noticed the overhaul and think it has improved the magazine. Changing things over several issues is a good idea as it avoids alienating existing readers by a radical change which they may not appreciate. Indeed MR has improved considerably over the last 9 months or so to the point where I've been buying every issue. Several of us had a discussion about the modelling mazines at Wakefield last weeked and all thought MR had improved considerably. In contrast, other magazines seem to be just ticking along, but no complaints.

 

MR also seems to be more on the ball than other publications, for example, in an email to them I made a very brief reference to my chocolate factory layout. Very soon I had an email back asking for some pictures and words about it.

[Jongudmund]

I dip into the magazines on an irregular basis but generally find Model Rail to be the one with something quirky to interest me most.

 

Bought this month's in Asda to get the free bookazine that comes with it. Not see this in any other shops. If I'm right there was another freebie bookazine deal in a different supermarket a couple of months ago. I guess it's a useful way of shifting the bookazines and boosting sales.

[dibber25]

I dip into the magazines on an irregular basis but generally find Model Rail to be the one with something quirky to interest me most.

 

Bought this month's in Asda to get the free bookazine that comes with it. Not see this in any other shops. If I'm right there was another freebie bookazine deal in a different supermarket a couple of months ago. I guess it's a useful way of shifting the bookazines and boosting sales.

 

Yes, there was. I think it was Tesco last time. I'm not involved in marketing but I understand that sometimes the supermarkets and big stores ask for exclusive deals for just one issue. It's handy for us as it offers the potential to pick-up different readers. It also contrasts with the regular High Street newsagent which charges extra to have your magazine at the end of a shelf, or in some slightly more prominent position. (CJL)

[Legend]

It’s in Tesco too . £4.99 for the two mags .

[Butler Henderson]

Pretty unique fact no 9 in the Top Ten Facts S&D on page 7 and pretty weird how 1870 translated into 1954 - hardly a single digit typo.

[dibber25]

Pretty unique fact no 9 in the Top Ten Facts S&D on page 7 and pretty weird how 1870 translated into 1954 - hardly a single digit typo.

 

No idea. Don't have a copy here, so I can't check what's gone wrong - something from another line maybe? A mis-read correction or a bounce-out? (CJL)

[The Stationmaster]

No idea. Don't have a copy here, so I can't check what's gone wrong - something from another line maybe? A mis-read correction or a bounce-out? (CJL)

 

I think it might be a 'constructional error' in the sentence, which reads -

 

'When it opened in1954, the S&D station in Bath was called Bath Queen Square,  it was then renamed Bath Green Park'

 

Whereas it might have been meant to read -

 

'When it opened the S&D station in Bath was called Bath Queen Square,  it was renamed Bath Green Park in 1954' 

Edited November 22, 2017 by The Stationmaster

[BMacdermott]

Hello everyone

 

I haven’t yet seen the current issue of Model Rail in relation to the noted ‘S&D facts’ but thought you might like to see the following which has kindly been supplied to me by fellow S&D historian, Mike Arlett.

 

The Midland Station at Bath

The Midland Railway opened the 10-mile branch from the main line at Mangotsfield to Bath on 4th August 1869. The terminus was used from this date although not fully completed. There was not, as some have claimed, a ‘temporary station’ on the west side of the River Avon. S&D services started to use the station from 20th July 1874.  Officially, the station was titled just plain ‘Bath’ but many referred to it as ‘The Midland Station’. It appears the unofficial title ‘Bath, Queen Square’ was bestowed by Bradshaw, to distinguish it from its GW counterpart (for which Bradshaw created the name ‘Bath, Manvers Street’). As from 18th June 1951, British Railways introduced the more geographically appropriate title for the Midland Station – Bath, Green Park – for which the station is now best remembered. Indeed, it still goes by this name in its fully restored condition and serving as ‘a thriving venue for local life & culture; home to flourishing markets, independent shops, restaurants and café’.  

 

Mike went on to say that the courtesy title ‘Queen Square’ might have found its way into just one official public timetable but, if so, the mistake must have been noticed, because it never appeared as such again!

 

Brian

[Pint of Adnams]

Yes, there was. I think it was Tesco last time. I'm not involved in marketing but I understand that sometimes the supermarkets and big stores ask for exclusive deals for just one issue. It's handy for us as it offers the potential to pick-up different readers. It also contrasts with the regular High Street newsagent which charges extra to have your magazine at the end of a shelf, or in some slightly more prominent position. (CJL)

Chris and other posters,

 

It would be very nice if this sort of information were shared close to publication rather than after copies had been purchased elsewhere. Same price but different contents can easily cause resentment.

 

Oh and please remember that many of us live where there is a limited choice of supermarket and that e.g. (and in alphabetical order) Asda, Sainsbury's and Waitrose are miles away.

Edited November 23, 2017 by Pint of Adnams

[Pint of Adnams]

I was very disappointed with the poor quality of the various sketches that accompanied Paul Lunn's article on using 'setrack' for layouts. They reproductions were far too feint and the accompanying hand-scrawled notes were illegible.

Edited November 23, 2017 by Pint of Adnams

[dibber25]

Chris and other posters,

 

It would be very nice if this sort of information were shared close to publication rather than after copies had been purchased elsewhere. Same price but different contents can easily cause resentment.

 

Oh and please remember that many of us live where there is a limited choice of supermarket and that e.g. (and in alphabetical order) Asda, Sainsbury's and Waitrose are miles away.

 

Unfortunately I don't get that information. As a part-time member of a very small editorial team (3) there's a limit to how much I can do. I'm currently awaiting a lift to take me to Warley for the weekend. Earlier this week I was busy with the next issue which HAS to go to press on Christmas Eve or else we have to work through the Christmas-New Year 'holiday'. Much as I might like to stay on top of all the marketing initiatives, I'm afraid it just isn't possible to do that and my regular job as well. Most of my posts on RMweb are (like this one) done in my own time. (CJL).

[BMacdermott]

Hello again everyone

 

Further to post 19 above, Mike Arlett has kindly contacted me to say that the LMS public timetable dated 5 May 1941 gave Bath as (sic):

 

Bath (Q.Sq.)(L.M.S.)

 

It may well have been abbreviated as such due to there being very little column width for the station names. We wonder how many people - apart from locals - would have known what 'Q.Sq.' stood for!

 

Brian

[Butler Henderson]

Intrigued by Paul A Lunns comments re the Setrack Y; if only Peco were a bit progressive then it strikes me it would be the obvious thing to do it as a Streamline point with finer clearances and live frogs (or unifrogs as now seems to be their way forward). Always thought it was strange the extent of the difference in the two streamline Ys.

 

Also noted that its not a overly sharp curve but gauge narrowing that is the problem with the curved points. I would suggest there is a clear opening for someone to produce a better 2nd-3rd curve point and a 3rd-4th one as well.

Edited November 25, 2017 by Butler Henderson

[Budgie]

It may well have been abbreviated as such due to there being very little column width for the station names. We wonder how many people - apart from locals - would have known what 'Q.Sq.' stood for!

Surely Q. is a standard abbreviation for Queen.

Edited November 25, 2017 by Budgie