The Bay o' Thieves, nonetheless. Home to speculators, gougers, and those passing on parcels that they found left by postie in my apartment block foyer.

But, occasionally....

I've been looking, on and off, for the three Pullman carriages to complete my Hornby 1934 Brighton Belle. After this time, they're like hens' teeth.

But a recent visit to 'bay led me to R4512/13/14 for a mere £190. I don't know what they retailed for originally, the retail stickers were removed, but at a time when Bachmann are asking £85 for a birdcage, and the RRP* for a standard Hornby Maunsell coach is £45, ca. £60 for a Pullman with lighting doesn't seem at all bad. 

OTOH, other vendors were asking £70 each, £100 each, and, in one case, £365 for the set! 

And this is why people might feel that they have the preorder.

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* yes, 15% retail reduction applies!