Back to being a simple DC locomotive I have decided to finish as much as I can and then take him back to England for a brief visit. Today I added coal, made fireman's tools, painted and fitted driver and fireman figures, added smokebox number plate and so on. All that remains is to add transfers and fit the sprung couplers The cab roof also needs to be glued on.

So, with any luck, Dobbin will visit Hillingdon Model Railway Club for a test run on Sunday, December 19th. The "luck" part assumes that he will be allowed on a flight from Paris to Birmingham and that he survives the Parisienne and Brummie baggage handlers! Don't worry, he will be carefully wrapped for the journey. The first leg will involve three French trains, TER, TGV, TGV to Paris, then a Cross Country service to Leamington Spa. I think he's tough enough for the journey. The question is, will I be?

Here is a view of Dobbin on my new test track - straight plus reverse curves at 6ft radius - sat upon a rather messy Legge Lane II layout to be. Polyphemus is keeping his distance from the lower species!