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Happy New Year everyone! I’ve written off January to clear & tidy the basement and office all of which look like a demolition sites. (see pics) Having applied this treatment to my newly spotless workshop (see other pic!) I’m cracking on with building the 10 Heljan MPD depots for the fiddle yard. Going to super detail these, how I’m not sure at the moment. However the fiddle/marshalling yard will have working ground signals on all 35 roads, (inc dead end siding) 5 of the working 1m high lighting gantries I’ve mentioned, various foot gantries for the staff, dummy point motors, about a ton of ballast (god I hate ballasting), walkways, portacabins, offices, concrete trunking and more signals. This will be the fictitious area of the layout and not to be confused with a slice of Healey Mills to the east of it. I really enjoyed watching the long MGR’s pulling into the yard whilst another one next to it started to slowly trundle away. I’m even mulling over adding a new section going forward with 3 giant cooling towers (these would have to be at least 3 metres high) and a working MGR unloading facility. To make room for this I’d have to use the idea of building onto trolleys which roll up to the side of the layout. Couple of years away this to be honest .. Anyway the copper & brass has arrived for the lighting gantries so best get cracking with the blow torch

A visit to the Yorkshire Dales Railway (now the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway) at Embsay in April 1990 this morning. The photos show some infrastructure and stock, nothing was running that day. I'd been to the funeral of a relative and had called in on the way back to Northumberland to have a quick look round. Embsay 11th April 90 C14289 Embsay 11th April 90 C14291 Embsay 11th April 90 C14292 Embsay 11th April 90 C14293 Embsay Hunslet 11th April 90 C14298 Embsay Hunslet Wheldale 11th April 90 C14286 Embsay MD&HB No 36 11th April 90 C14300 David

And here's Launceston Castle coming through the down platform at Stoke C. I quite like this angle looking across the station. John C.

6697 heading West. A loco from the Welsh valleys pulling at least a couple of grain wagons from Scotland into the West Country......

As mentioned a while back my north to west train is about to take a rest for a while to free up a storage loop for the Wolverhampton train with its refurbed restaurant car. Here are a couple of shots of it heading west to north behind a Star...... ... and another pair of it returning towards Plymouth the following day with Launceston Castle in charge. Those Stanier coaches were unlikely to have been seen on such a train pre-war, I know. Probably even less likely to be seen coupled to a GWR carriage still in the 1928-34 livery, but the Hornby Staniers are nice models and I like to give them an outing occasionally in place of the Bachmann period 1 vehicles. (I guess some ancient LNWR vehicles would be even nearer the mark?) John C.

April 1993 at Lucker in Northumberland now. The photos were taken from the overbridge to the north of the site of Lucker station. RMWeb had a glitch when I uploaded the images so they are not in quite right order. Lucker 37689 and ano down April 93 J13782 Lucker 56095 up April 93 J13833 Lucker Class 47 down freight 7th April 93 C18408 Lucker DVT up 7th April 93 C18410 Lucker Class 90 down Kings X to Edinburgh April 93 J13780 David

Awake at stupid o'clock, left knee throbbing, it gave way once on sitting on a trailer wheel yesterday, then again when I attempted to get off the sofa to make the bedtime muggachoccy. It went again, on attempting to come down stairs for some pink pills, I sat rapidly on the top step and had to do the one step at a time routine very slowly using the right leg to bend every time .. I'm not going to try to go back upstairs again, so its the sofa for the night with Ben gently snoring in the background. No sure what I'm going to do today, but it won't be on my feet much.. Goodnight again

Work underway on the cattle dock. Gone for side conversion of the loading bay, I understand it was a local project....! Buffers moved back to give room for one cattle wagon only at a time. Concrete base added to form an area for run off for......well you can guess!!...into central drainage channel. Metal gate to be fitted where shown with a another gate & fence at top of ramp where the mock up had decided to lean over just as I took the picture. Existing fence will have additional bars to look like it has been strengthened. A bit of a hybrid really but it does give me reason to run cattle wagons into LM.

Yet another shot of the A1. Well it is a very nicely cleaned Top Shed engine, after all.

Greetings My sleep was interrupted again last night by cramp in both legs. It took me a long time to get back to sleep afterwards so I am not at my best this morning. Should it be possible it would be a good idea to spend the day quietly. How quiet is quiet? The Radio Times tells me that there are two Paddington films on TV this morning so that will be a good start. Oh, it's Paddington BEAR. Never mind. I shall spend some time going through the honours list line by line. Oi! Who are you calling a sad b*st*rd? Chris

Army loco 'Llanddewi No. 1' shunting in Bethesda Yard, prior to working back up the Light Railway to Llandewi:

Next time I go to Sainsbury's could see me doing a subtle rearrangement of the shelf

Father-in-law was an enthusiastic amateur photographer - or so we thought until we started the house clearance when he went into a care home. 37 cameras of various descriptions from Box Brownie to Canon digital SLR. None had been used for at least 10 years since he had a stroke and a friend offered to test and list them ready for sale to a dealer. However almost every one that contained a battery ended up on a scrap pile as the battery had leaked and corroded the internal contacts etc. He said that the time it would take to clean them up and get back into full working order was not worth the effort as the cameras had little value in the first place. .

A few days ago I started building three Peco/Parkside container wagons – the current discussion on wagons was the kick I needed to get going again with them. I had, many months ago, started the preparation – filing off the flash, drilling holes etc – but I got distracted. There was also some good inspiration on RMweb (a thread on Conflats from 2013 – sorry, don’t know how to make a link) much of the imagery by jweallans, and his pages on The LNER Encyclopedia website. On mine, the bulk of the work is done: L-R, a Conflat A with FM container, Conflat A with BD container and a Conflat S with DX container. I will add weight to the containers as opposed to the wagon undersides. The DX container will likely be sheeted as I’m unsure what load could easily / successfully hide the lead weight that I’ll use. There’s nothing particularly special or noteworthy about them. I do like to carve off much of the brake shoe moulded detail and replace it with brass, such as the Bill Bedford brake safety loops and I like to put in the various brake rods and levers. On the Conflat S there will also be safety loops on the brake shoe cross shafts. I have added loops to the containers corners and wagons bases for the securing chains. I have made up vacuum pipes, screw couplings and I’ll fit Gibson sprung buffers once painted The securing chains are based on Roxey shackles and hooks. These are them being made up. The shock/spring absorber (I’m assuming that’s what it is) is made from 1.5mm OD tube with wire loops from soft brass wire (untwisted picture hanging wire) to secure the hook and shackle, all carefully soldered. They’re a bit overscale but they’ll do. I had no chain and am waiting on the arrival of some cheap super fine stuff from the far east to finish them off. Kind regards, Iain

Greetings all from Sidcup where it is grey and dry, but also mild. today should have been a day when we entertained my parents- but first we heard FiL had tested positive after we had spent a week with him and then Elder Lurker tested positive yesterday afternoon- so the visit was cancelled and I have taken him for a PCR test. The rest of us were negative and again this morning. Elder Lurker thought he had had a return of the heavy cold he had a week before Christmas. FiL is of course dying. He told us this Christmas was his last- but then he told us that for the last several years. He’s got cancers you tend to die with, not of. anyway I hope everyone else remains well and enjoy your day

Who? But Bear can cook a Din Dins that (a) tastes yummy (to this Bear, at least) and (b) doesn't create thoughts of "Oi, where's me f. dinner?" followed by "HOW MUCH??" sorry, that should be "HOW MUCH??" The bald bloke? A Greengrocer turned radio presenter, apparently. So that qualifies him as an expert on scoff. Hmmm... As for that John Torode bloke, well no doubt from his cv he knows a bit about cooking but I find his manner somewhat annoying (I was going to write something else but decided to be diplomatic....) Forsaking two movies starring one of the greatest film stars EVER in favour of the New Year's Honours List? Help is on it's way, hang in there Chris.... In other news.... Bear has decided that a bit of wall preparation work is do-able today - there's just a small area in the hallway (which is to be plastered at the same time as the lounge) left to do, as the lounge walls are all now de-painted/washed/scrubbed/washed again

Tony Here's a taste for you of 10000. These were taken before I started to play around with it. The detail in the unusual cab is most impressive. Since then I've removed the troublesome steps and have refitted them below the valence and further in from the edge. I also removed a small amount from the top of the step fittings and reduced the depth of the actual steps. On one side I've also chamfered the edges. Its all a bit of trial and error to see what works best before I decide whether I need to make some from brass. I'm also likely to remove the moulded handrails on the steps and replace with wire but I've left them there for strength at the moment. I've reduced the overall width from 44mm to 40.6mm. It doesn't interfere with any of the platform edges on my layout now. Andrew

Your shackles look rather nice Iain. I think I will have a go at adding the shock absorber next time on mine. For what it's worth, here are my efforts. The conflats and BD container are parkside kits and the 'a' type insul container is from Bachmann. Shackles are from Roxey I made it fun for myself by fixing the container to the bed before making the shackles.

Back from opticians. Virtually no change from 2 years ago to prescription. No sign of any of the age related degenerations Eyesight is good. Didn't need new specs for the prescription but bought them anyway because of mechanical fatigue as I don't want them falling apart on me.

Good deed done today At the local Tesco check out I was in a queue behind an old lady. Her bill came to £56.83 but when she counted out all her change she only had just under £10, I thought she was probably someone’s Nan and I’d like to think someone would have helped my Nan out when she was alive, especially around Christmas. She didn’t want me to help her but I insisted, and in no time at all we had all her shopping right back on the shelves. At Christmas, I usually get terrible presents for my wife that she doesn’t actually want, but this year I found her Christmas list and I've got everything on it Eggs Milk Bread Butter Bacon Sugar Toilet roll She's going to be well impressed Chris Rea and Mark Knopfler are collaborating on a Christmas charity single this year. They are calling themselves Dire Rea. I hate Christmas shopping for the wife, I've just wasted two hours in a queue to discover Poundland don’t do gift vouchers. Can I just ask everyone for a big favour? Those of you who are planning to place Christmas lights/decorations in your garden can you please avoid anything that is red or blue and flashing? Every time I drive by I think it's the police and have a panic attack. I have to take my foot off of the accelerator, toss my wine, fasten my seatbelt, throw my phone on the floor, turn the radio down, push the gun under the seat and put my clothes back on. It's too much drama. Thank you for your cooperation & understanding. My favourite Christmas story Mary had given birth, she was tired after the delivery, both she and the baby were sleeping peacefully. There was a quiet knock on the stable door, Joseph answered and there stood three shepherds. "May we come in to see the baby?" They asked. Joseph replied, "Yes, but please be quiet, they are asleep" The shepherds crept into the dimly lit stable. One of the shepherds, unwittingly, stood on a rake which shot up and hit him in the face. "JESUS CHRIST" he shouted in shock and pain, waking Mary and the baby. "What a nice name" said Joseph, "We were going to call him Norman. I got a Womble pepper grinder for Christmas. It's rubbish. Everything is either underground or overground. There are 357 days until Christmas, and people already have their Christmas lights up. Just a reminder to anyone who had a book from me for Xmas, they are due back at the library on 13th January.

Good Afternoon Mugs with letters on were always a favourite of mine to mess with in shops it had to be a swear word of course. This morning I took advantage of the weather and changed the gas struts on the car boot it had been nagging at me but it was a fairly straightforward swap with new OEM parts fitted the only difference was the clip to secure them onto the studs on the body work. The clips had to be threaded through a small hole to secure. The cost was just short of £40 for 3 including delivery from Germany. The cost from a Volvo dealer was £70 Each! The parts are identical except for the Volvo branding. Cookery shows I don't normally watch. If I do watch Nigella I don't really notice what she is cooking

From 1955 to 1963 we lived on a road above but not in sight of the Plym, and incidentally, within sound of the GW main Line. On Good Friday morning it was a tradition for motorcyclists (prior to the days they were called bikers) to travel along the (then) A38 to Plympton where a bakery produced fresh hot cross buns. We used to hear them every year, lots of them.

Morning All! Well, what's on the cards today then? While it's dry I might get the AJ out and try a small bimble round the lanes. I'll start it whether I go out or not, as it's been standing for a couple of weeks I need to get the oil out of the sump and back in the tank before it's too late! Then I'm going to take photos and dimensions of the Beeza's crank and conrod "as-is" before removing the peening on the big-end nuts so that the nuts can be removed and, fingers crossed, the crank separated without the need for a huge hydraulic press! I thought I'd put the crank up between centres on the Myford (the throw is just big enough!) and see what the run-out was. Not that it's helped much as I'm distinctly lacking in the "this is what it should be" information department! Finding such information seems quite tricky. I joined one of the BSA Owners Club who promised access to lots of technical information on a whole range of bikes. When it came down to it there seemed to be naff all information available on Pre-war machines. One kind chap did provide the parts book for my year which is absolutely invaluable and has helped me determine that what I actually own is a pile of random parts that hang together(ish) in the form of an old bike! Still, I think it's got lots of character even if it didn't leave the factory like it. It will be even better when the (an?) engine runs reliably in it. Anyway, here's the crank in the Myford for your interest or boredom* * Delete as appropriate

Ey up! Apparently it is Sunday. Christmas tree and decorations will be taken down and stored in their spot in the loft.. at least the decorations will be.. the tree is being collected by a local charity for recycling on Wednesday .. a small price to pay to make sure it is turned into a useful product. After hammering,banging and drilling all day yesterday I was woken by pea brains son inthe night. He was hammering and banging and turning switches on and off at 4 am. Luckily I got back to sleep! @pH a great story.. welldone to them all. One for spotting Italy two for believing in the text made. Time for my mugatea methinks! Enjoy your day! Stay safe! Baz

Or on the tube station. Beautifully juxtaposed ….. In other news have you seen the price of Pigs In Blankets lately???

Good morning all from a bright, breezy and slightly cooler Hill of Strawberries. Let’s see what the day has in store This evening has our standy-by seadonal dinner in store - the turkey / stuffing / veg etc which I had ready in case we were unable to go away last week. The question is whether or not we also make a start on the Heston-at-Waitrose “hidden orange” pudding mountain. There’s Cornish clotted cream available. Or there’s this …..

Morning, le Rock is dry and windy, amazing given it is an archery day - normally rains. 9 of those c's. Those cookery programmes are up there with the soaps in this house, Mr Barrowboy and Mr Corrode can keep their pretentious bo££ocks for us. Little of it has application in a real-world domestic kitchen. Oh that may have been a little rant-let. In a better tone of 'speech', the day will bring a gathering of archists to sample the changes we made to the course, always controversial as some of them get 'used' to the range and positioning of targets - totally missing the point of field archery, which is supposed to mimic the more original used of a bow in hunting to survive. So the animal (foam rubber or a painted target in our case) wouldn't be in the same place every time you walk through a wood! It is supposed to be intuitive shooting, hence barebow with no sights or balance aids. Mrs H will be on one today, there was a lot of arrow checking and bow adjustment going on last night.....be afraid.....

Owned by my friends, Matt Jackson and Phil Simpson, who have very high standards of food, drink, and general decor and cleanliness as well as brewing some of the best beers this side of the Pennines - they could not get beers to a consistently high standards from their suppliers, so they started to make their own. Lancaster brewery is now very successful.

Hello Dave, my son bought me a Mercian Models kit in 7 mm for my birthday, some years ago. He asked me to build it and make it go but it was for his son, who was six months old at the time. It was nice to build, and in the kit were included parts to build either open or closed cab. I built the open cab version, and finished it in plain black, and to 0 gauge fine scale standards. It was compensated and runs very well with its Mashima motor and gearbox. Being a fully paid up Yorkshireman, I couldn’t waste the additional parts, so a part kit, part scratchbuild appeared with full cab, compensation and big Mashima and gearbox. I finished it in crimson lake, which puts it running prior to 1911? Here are a couple of pics. One shows the open cab version behind. I note they are gathering dust. Derek

When light is so scarce, I have to take more pictures of the same things, as time to put together more trains is limited. So here is more of the same, but at least featuring two locos rather than just the one.

Mr Winslow needs to duck - Debs scored 353 today, female course record, beat her PB by 38. A shame Debs won't enter competition outside of the island, she shoots for fun rather than as a competitive sport, of course the stress of competing at an international level may well cause a very different score! The guy that cheats is off in a huff, as he got nowhere near that score today. Quelle amusant! iD, may I suggest you are far from the average home cook? I can see the relevance to you, but not to the 'Average Modeller Cook'. Not this one for sure, although I do manage a little above 'Bear Pizza' when pushed.....

Tony, Yes, there are more! Here is another selection from 2016/17. To finish a couple of trainspotter type views circa 1958; The first one highlighting what so often happened at the lineside being distracted by something else. When on hearing a loco whistle, a fast run towards the lineside fence was attempted, but still too slow to see the complete loco for identification purposes. The second one captures a trainspotter in the deep south in a state of joyous disbelief on copping PAPYRUS hammering along. Did this really happen with it being so far from home? Eric

There's always Arsenal shirts in a sports shop

I can never look at brandy butter in the same way again.

Thank you all for your kind comments regarding Leysdown. See below a photograph of pull-push fitted SR Class D1 0-4-2T No. 2605 hauling SR Pull-Push Coach Set No 756 at the station. Given the earlier discussions in the thread, the model of the locomotive was originally constructed by John Taylor from a etched Albion Models kit for his now dismantled Dyke Station P4 layout (MRJ 111). The locomotive has had a few changes over the years including conversion to DCC sound. Happy New Year.

Well aged, surprisingly nuanced and subtle with overtones of oak and an exotic finish…. ….and the whisky looks interesting as well…

Thanks for all the kind comments, and yes the 68 does sound rough (but kind of nice!) a few from today, Doncaster to ratcliffe and back Shunt driver posing! Waiting at hexthorpe, colas locos passing by And empty in ratcliffe Back into decoy 66789 passing by Keep saying I should model these ex 507 barrier vehicles Freight 321 unit and the Cemex 66 which appears to have had a good wash! Back in Monday for a basford hall to bescot and back job

I've never seen that film before. By 1974 I'd been in the RAF eight years, done a tour on Hunters in Singapore, a tour on ground attack Phantoms in Germany and was starting work on the air to air missile test establishment at Valley in Anglesey. I was once in a short recruiting film about Phantoms that was made when I was doing the conversion in 1970 but have been unable to find it again on the internet. I've tried posting it on TNM but the file is too big and I'm not tech savvy enough to figure out how to get it sorted out. If anyone knows how to go about it I could send them the file on wetransfer to get it done. Dave

One of Bruce’s fave toys is a piece of string, that gets licked to death. BeRTIe

A while back, some of the supermarket chains redesigned their herb pot labels so the initial letter was very large. Rearranging them became quite popular, until they were changed again. https://metro.co.uk/2011/03/22/rude-herb-facebook-crew-terrorise-asda-tesco-and-morrisons-supermarket-aisles-646017/

Afternoon Awl, since the sun is over the yard arm, a bottle of white dating from 2010, has been opened in today random bottle use.. Little has been done today, some sorting of documents, from a training course in 2000, lots of buzz words on that one, only one person knew what they meant. He'd done the level 1 course, all the rest of us were sent straight onto the level two course as we were already supervisors.. however we only spoke English.. Any way it was three piles, writing paper, scrap paper to write on the back of. And bin. The folder and paper work holder are useful though. Been researching overcoating the VCtar2 seemingly I have 14 day during which I can recoat without sanding between.. Also found, more books out of the to be repurposed spare bedroom. wondered where they'd gone, they are still to be sorted yet. The boat cover was put on earlier, a bit of a struggle in the wind, I see they've put us on yellow alert for wind and rain later.. After some pink pills I've hobbled down the lane with Ben, he didn't get his full route for obvious reasons. We were passed by a learner plated motorcycle, semi scrambler. I thought illegal on the bridalway, but I followed the sound and it stopped by the sheep field and the farm that running the sheep so I guess it's a farmhand. Bye for now...

Good morning all, Breezy and dry here but rain is expected later. Mild again at 11°C. Up later than usual as I was watching a film until 2.00am. I change the batteries on our smoke alarms at the beginning of each year and it's on this week’s to do list but I've got to get some first. Today we're off to Nicki's for Sunday lunch and she has arranged transport as she has assumed I'd like a couple of drinks while we're there. She's right of course! Rugby on TV this afternoon will have to be recorded for later consumption. Breakfast has just been offered so I bid you farewell for now. Have a good one, Bob.

I’m really sorry to hear that, Rick. I tend to disregard anything I read about the coronavirus in the popular press: very few newspapers (if any) are able to resist writing sensationalist headlines and alarmist articles. Diphtheria still kills, rubella still kills, influenza still kills - but alarmist stories about diphtheria don’t sell newspapers or get clicks… Let’s be very blunt here: unlike what the headlines imply coronavirus infection does not automatically lead to symptomatology; symptomatology does not automatically lead to hospitalisation and hospitalisation does not automatically lead to intensive care treatment and poor outcomes or death. I think that the omicron variant is a reason for cautious optimism: the data so far suggest that for the majority of people who have been vaccinated the omicron variant will cause little and tolerable symptomatology (if any). Yes, there will be a few that will get very ill despite vaccination - but this is true of all viral diseases (including influenza which regularly culls the elderly). BUT If you are not vaccinated, then all bets are off! The problem for the health services around the world is although the omicron variant results in a very low percentage of serious cases, because it is so infectious and highly transmissible, even a small percentage of a large population is still a number that most health services will struggle with. SARS-CoV-2 is here to stay but with new treatments and vaccines that can be quickly modified to cope with new variants (“quickly” in the drug development sense), Covid-19 will become just another viral respiratory disease that will cull the elderly and the genetically unlucky - like influenza - but leave the majority of the population mostly untouched. Time to get on with life - even if it’s not quite the same as before the pandemic.

A much more enjoyable ride today in the same area as yesterday. This time the youngsters were coming so we were descended upon at the crack of doom, got parked easily in our favourite spot and started the ride an hour earlier. The main collection of the great unwashed with their inbred ugly dogs didn't start to appear until we were threequarters of the way round and those going the same way as us were quickly overtaken. When we arrived back at the cars people were queueing to get into our places when we left. We got finished before lunch and a few minutes after arriving back home it started chukkinit darn so the latecomers would have had a nice soaking getting back to their transport. The rain finally stopped after lunch in time to get the gear cleaned up and stowed away before dark. I see that there is the usual enthralling evening of TV on offer so I have two choices, either hide in the Railway room and try to reduce the Strategic Kit Reserve or spend a couple of hours editing some videos.

Afternoon/Evening All Mucho late today, and not all posts read or rated - however, it is my second visit - I got as far as reading about the breakfast pizza - responded, and was then "asked" if we could visit GB Antiques where 30747 didn't buy anything, but I found a few railway books that I didn't have, including a pristine copy of Donald Binns' "Little North Western" which is fairly short, but then so was the line relative to those nearby like the Midland main, and the WCML. I think that a fiver was a pretty good price, as I only ever saw one copy in the past, and that was tatty and eight quid. Anyway, should get a visit in tomorrow after I've been to the parcel shop as I had an item closed on Ebay yesterday - it had been rolling over so much that it went relist on Christmas Day, and then was finally bought on Friday, and closed on New Year's Day. Generic greetings Regards to All Stewart

I don’t think I have been so confused about which day of the week it is as during the present holiday week. Odd things like mail (special Covid test last week) arriving on a Sunday and model railway items being delivered today. I ordered some 009 points last night from a local retailer and as he was passing he dropped part of my order off to me. We had a nice chat especially as his van then wouldn’t start and I managed to park a car near enough to jump start it. Fortunately the Fiesta was quite adequate as getting to the battery in a modern Land Rover requires removing a plastic cover. The cover is not as I thought to keep moisture away from the battery but to keep it warm. Anyway I am just keeping myself to “is it bin day?” or “are we expecting any deliveries today?” instead of proper days of the week now. Tony

… with the added challenge of finding other examples to rearrange too. I think you will struggle to beat randy butt I look forward to being proved wrong - with photographic evidence of course.

Renumbering a lot of my Pre-tops O Gauge Locos into early Tops around 1976-79. 37054 is the first.

This morning Veronica had a Pilates session so in a spirit of goodwill I took her there by car rather than leave her to grapple with the vagaries of the Sunday bus service. That left me 45 minutes before I needed to pick her up and Bunnings is only 10 minutes further away, so... I went to see whether they'd got any 9mm marine ply and yes they had! Moreover, the nice chap with the saw was able to cut it for me so I came back with three pieces of wood, two big ones that will go to Pentowan in due course and one smaller one that, together with some offcuts I already had, will finish off the Polperran baseboard top. Success! After lunch I cut the Polperran tops and their supporting joists to size and laid them in place to check the fit. All was well, so I fixed the joists to the baseboard structure. I left the joists over-length pending the final design of the Pentowan approach and scenic sea wall/beach/sea area. Easier to chop them back later than to add bits on. Separately, one of my ancient Mainline/Bachmann panniers stopped working a while ago. I opened it up last night and found that a couple of wires had snapped off the decoder - not sure why, so I tried soldering them back without success. Today I removed the decoder from my old Mainline/Bachmann Mogul (which, having been replaced by the Dapol one, is now enjoying a second life as a useful source of spare bits for split-frame chassis). I'll change the decoders over and reprogram the replacement so that 7715 can go back into service.