Well after nearly two months our insurance claim has at last fully recuperated our losses from the flood. We were on a new for old policy, normally this means they 'recommend" several retail outlets that will reimburse you with a like for like or similar replacement of damaged goods,,this is fine for our Bosch white goods as we have a currys electrical two miles down the bypass, however things get difficult when it comes to specialist HO models but now all is settled

Ive purchased five new locomotives, four have arrived already and the final loco is on the way, i was very lucky in obtaining the one loco as its been out of production for a couple of years but there was one on a second hand list with an online retailer in Sweden, any way here is some quick photographs of the four here with a brief description.

TOP-- Hobbytrade NSB Di6, built as a order for 12 locos by Siemens in Kiel inn 1996 by 1999 they had been returned to Siemens as 'nonoperational" with a plethora of faults ,they they became part of the Disspolok lease pool and served with CFL and NOB in Northern Germany and the problems now seem to have been resolved, some of series now classed 2700 have now returned to Norway and operate with the freight operator CargoLink.

BOTTOM-- NMJ NSB/CargoNet Di8, built as an order of 20 locos again with Siemens at the MAK factory in Kiel with Caterpillar engines these were slightly more reliable than the Di6 locos but they havent been without their problems, they now operate within the CargoNet pool but 10 of these locos now operate in the UK with GBRf ,,now dont go looking for them on the WCML as they wouldnt get as far as the next bridge as the large Berne loading gauge means they can only be used within Lackenby and Redcar steelworks. I'm not sure of the colour scheme they operate in the UK.

My next two locos come from neighbouring Sweden and can be seen operating in parts of Norway, modellers license is used here!!

TOP-- JECO Models , a limited edition of 100 models of the RC3 loco in the now bankrupt open access operator Oftobanen who were based in Narvik Norway, this loco is my only loco with DCC sound. Jeco models are mostly highy refinished Roco models but they are gradually introducing their own range of models.

BOTTOM-- Hobbytrade TGOJ class MZ, TGOJ were a famous Swedish operator now part of SJ and Green Cargo, these former GM Danish MZ class locos have become popular second hand buys in Norway and Sweden and can be seen with many operators a claim to fame of TGOJ was the pioneering use of GM 'Class 66" locos in Scandinavia , which will be available this year in HO scale,

I will add a blog entry on some interesting items of rolling stock in due course.