An aside from my Mainline Charter Train.

The advantages of jetlag and waking up at stupidly early hours is the ability to play without guilt! Such was the situation this morning, when having arrived back home after two months, and catching up from a 22 hour journey and 9hr time difference, I took the opportunity to explore the goodies that had accumulated during my absence (From a railway perspective, this absence was poorly timed; Not only did I miss Bluebell 50, but various long awaited model releases started to appear days after leaving!)

So, here is the new lineup - Bachmann's stunning O4, Modelzone's superb 1960's Red TPO, a shockingly good shock open, and an unfitted 20t Brake (the latter obtained from the ever wonderful Hearns Hobbies on Flinders Street, Melbourne - no connection - satisfied customer).

For months I have had some Bachmann B4's on my shelf waiting for the TPO (why are they twice the price of other spare bogies?), and these have now replaced the B1s on the TPO, setting the vehicle in the preservation era. When paired with 63601, the preserved GCR suddenly appears on my table top (substituting 80301 (GCR) for 80300 (SVR)!)

From a performance perspective, the O4 is probably the best 'straight out of the box' loco I've had from Bachmann in years, and will be great after running in (improved after 10 shuttles up and down a 1m test track!)

Finally, the shades of Red used by Bachmann and Oxford Diecaast are commendably similar:

Happy Customer, but wondering why Hornby have not got a look in (nor do they with any of my outstanding pre-orders).