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Good evening Stephen, Will this do? It's certainly big and (very) ugly, in the form of Thompson A2/2 60504 MONS MEG (Crownline/Wright/Rathbone) hauling a train made by Ken Wilson. Ken and his (real railway) driver mate, Andy Swan, popped down from Newcastle today for one of their twice-yearly visits to operate Little Bytham. They always bring things with them they've made; things of great interest, and today was no exception. Interesting things such as......... This Buffet Car built by Andy. And this scratch-built M&GNR wagon; Andy's work, and a gift! Some of the vehicles made by Ken included............ His BR version of the same Buffet Car. This 12-wheeled Kitchen Car. A steel-panelled Gresley BG. And this suburban pair. Thank you gentlemen, for your tolerance of my operating incompetence, your hospitality at lunchtime, the gift and for your donation to CRUK. I'll leave it up to Ken to describe the models above. Regards, Tony.

Tasmanian Huon pine has a very high oil content, methyl eugenol, which renders it impervious to insects, and it is waterproof. It grows only in the Southwest forests of Tasmania and is not actually a pine and is the only member of its family. It grows extremely slowly, averaging just 1 millimetre in girth per year, so is not viable as a plantation timber although specimens have been found that are 2,500 years old so it could be a very long term proposition. The felling of green Huon Pines stopped completely in the 1970’s after a consensus that it was neither sustainable nor prudent to cut down trees that were 1000 years old. However, a careful stockpiling operation was begun when trees were felled and collected prior to the flooding of several valleys to create dams for hydro electric schemes. For decades these logs were tied into huge rafts and left to float unperturbed on the water until needed. The stockpile created when Lake Gordon was flooded in 1972 still supplies the majority of logs released for use each year. Only 3 sawmills are licensed to process the logs. The retrieval of stumps left over from old logging is another source of salvage timber and led to the discovery of tons of ancient buried Huon pine logs, some dated at 38,000 years old and still intact despite being buried in the damp earth all that time. In addition, perfectly millable logs are being recovered from the bottom of Macquarie Harbour where they were lost due to capsizes and mishaps when it was being cut down and transported by convicts in the late 1700's and early 1800's. It also smells amazing when cut or worked.

Oh my! The rmweb fakir!

My next effort is to reproduce the loading dock, as seen in this plan, below the weighbridge: According to Railway World, "The goods/end loading platform possessed sleeper walls and a gravel/black grit surface." I haven't come across any close up photos though it does feature in one of the photos kindly posted by Mike @The Stationmaster a few pages back, to the right of the signal post and alongside the turnout in the Up Relief: Sleeper construction seems to have been unusual for GWR loading docks so I have used the halt platform at Didcot as a guide: Sleepers laid horizontally on their edges, restrained by vertical ones positioned at 8' 6" centres, with the platform edging formed by more horizontal sleepers, laid flat. I have started by cutting strips of balsa to form the platform walls, then scribed these horizontally: I also cut small pieces of 1/16th inch thick balsa for the verticals. This thickness is roughly equivalent to 5" depth of a normal sleeper.

Well, that's nothing like mine: I don't subscribe to any channels, though. Is this something the channel owner has done?

Double Fairlie 'Livingston Thompson' is service at Glanfa Fach as Quarry Hunslet 'Elidir' pushes some slate wagons into the exchange shed.

Its been nearly a quarter of a century, I wonder if he's still trying... 🤔

... I have spent all day on record checking and correcting. I’m ready for the weekend! So ready! ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/the-various-viruses-im-a-luddite-record-checking/

Two from me. Mainline cat 37084 GWR Green 0-6-0PT #5764. Both chassis halves completely disintegrated. Mainline cat 37090 GWR Green 2-6-0 #5322. Both main chassis halves completely disintegrated. Both models had been stored in good conditions in their boxes from new but were unusable when tried.

Same here, my house insurance became due in February. They more than doubled the premium and put the rebuilding costs as £600,000, on a house that had been only recently valued at £300,000! It seems that they took one look at the postcode* to calculate their figures. I did no more than shop around and got a deal for less than the previous years premium for exactly the same insurance. *Some houses in this area are worth a million apiece or more.

Cricket was umpired. It was very cold.. Baz at Headingley. The ground was quite soft.. but.. as we left.. they were watering the square. All club cricket has been postponed around here..... Baz

Bear here.... I tried on the new strides this evening - two pairs, both identical - except one is 34W (my norm) and the other is 32W (wishful thinking). But..... After all Bear's d**t antics over the last few months it seems the 32W are most suitable. Result - a Very Happy Bear 😁....so long as they don't shrink much in the wash..... I can't recall the last time a pair of 32W fitted - I think it was when I was helping some bloke called Noah to launch some boat or other. BG

Rant Incoming: House and contents insurance. Last year £230, this year £647. WHAAAAT! On a rock where there is hardly any crime, away from water courses, pit heaps, etc etc. So the story is they now use 'blanket cover' in areas, and the value of our house is taken as a million.........I wish. £330k more like it, it's tiny. Tried three other companies, same story. (Probably same underwriters). LV came to the rescue at slightly under £230, with Civil Serpent Motoring Club membership. So why this stupid blanket cover lark, while there are houses in the village with that sort of value (and one of ten times that) why should we be paying their costs? /rant.

Just scrapped Athearn GP38-2 Ontario Northland No. 1800 (catalogue number 77147.) Bought 9/12 but not run in recent years. Serious distortion of Mazak chassis frame resulting in seized drive and bogies. Beyond repair. My first North American Mazak rot victim. (CJL)

Does Puppers recall what Lathes & Mill they are? And if all else fails then https://Homeworkshop.org.uk is rather useful - fixed price (no "best offer" etc. - that's Ebay) and no fees either. You can specify that buyers must be prepared to move/load etc.

ION: I ate the TimTam. Special treat. It was nicer than a Penguin, no contest, very tasty. Therefore it was probably full of Anti-iD stuff......to survive the 'strine climate I suppose. I won't be having another due to previously mentioned diabetes, shame really as it was nice.

Evening! Puppers went to see the widow of my good mate (and ex-work colleague) and to collect the foam cutter this morning. Try as I might, the two inverted U shaped main frames would not fit in Monty even after removing all of the mechanism parts. I had hoped to keep them intact for the time being (even though it is unlikely that it will be used as a foam cutter again) but it was not to be and they had to be cut-up to get them in the car. It was a strange, uneasy feeling fiddling about in his garage, using his tools to dismantle something that we'd discussed and worked on many* years ago. More than once I asked him where I'd find a screwdriver or Allen Key! At some point there's a vertical mill and two lathes to dispose of and that's going to be interesting. I do hope that his widow doesn't end up calling in the "We'll get rid of them for free Madam" merchants and that we can find recipients who want and will appreciate them and also won't mind giving at least a token amount in return. Those recipients will of course have to be "strong old boys" though because they'll have to remove them from their lair! * Hard for me to believe it's very nearly 20 years since we built our first foam cutter On my return this afternoon the stack of bits that is the scaffold tower was moved to a more appropriate position. Its owner is away walking for a couple of weeks so I've got to hang on to it for a bit. We don't want to be tripping over it every 5 minutes🤣 Now, I wonder what the weather is going to be like in the morning? There's talk of a run over to Woburn to Pure Triumph tomorrow which reminds me, a friend has two tickets for a trip around the Triumph factory. Looks like I'll be driving up the M1 next week! 😀 TTFN

Plus one. When faced with becoming a higher rate taxpayer, I made certain choices to reduce my income to avoid that. Partly economic self-interest, partly political. Definitely a well screwed up system, I thought it was a great shame but if society will not put a system in place to reward hard work and success then it can't complain when people say '* it - why should I bother?'.

Another case of a common language causing division and confusion. 'Corned Beef' in England comes in tins and in the words of several americans, is 'stuff we wouldn't feed to our dogs'. 'Bully' beef is not used, though I occasionally encounter it in my reading. 'Salt' beef is what elsewhere in the world is called 'corned' beef - a beef joint, often but not always brisket, boiled in brine and cured. It's a favourite of mine, particularly accompanied by freshly baked bread and boiled carrots and onion. I've never been able to get pastrami other than in plastic packets and thinly sliced but I can see how that could also be very nice.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. They didn't find any cyst's this afternoon but I do have an enlarged prostate, fortunately no evidence of of cancer. I am now on a course of tablets and I have been told to come back for an ultrasound test in a years time. While I was waiting for the prescription I had sausage,chips and peas in the cafeteria, it cost all of £4. I was offered a picture of the inside of my bladder but I turned it down.

https://www.nme.com/guides/gaming-guides/heres-the-wordle-answer-for-today-3171240

My parents were kind enough to buy me, Jeff Wayne’s musical version of War of the Worlds, back in 1979. I had fallen under its spell, after my then teacher, Mr Beasley had played it to the class over a four week period. I last played it three years ago, it terrified my wife and daughter! Paul

The Jeff Wayne version used to give me goose bumps when I first heard it. I haven't listened to it for a while, perhaps it still does!

Cricket Ball shaped rather than Hockey Puck by any chance? Yes, the sound is better. Note to @PupCam Puppers - see, Bear isn't a total Luddite after all.....

Hi Ray, No, all blanking plugs are not faulty. It was mentioned above that one customer was having an issue and a replacement blanking plug solved the issue. I merely suggested that it may solve an issue another user was having. It must be remembered that we make thousands of models, so one component could end up faulty in one loco, or one in three locomotives over the production run. It doesn't make all of them duds. A swallow doesn't make a summer after all. As reported elsewhere above, other users on DC have had excellent slow speed performance too, so it's not one hard and fast rule. As for the term "reach out", I promise I'll stop using it if we can promise not to turn a specific problem possible diagnosis and suggested test remedy into a "this specific part in every locomotive must be faulty as Fran said; try that" hyperbole post in response? I think that's a fair deal. If it's on and off, as in intermittent, perhaps it's something to do with the circuitry, but Simon is much better placed than me to answer, so I would suggest emailing us at support again to see if he has any further thoughts? Cheers! Fran

The Amazon van came just after I pressed "Submit Reply" on my previous post. For once it was a real Amazon van not a plain white one. The new Echo is now set up and working, having carefully made a note of my internet password it decided it didn't need it. It has a lot better sound quality than the old one, which is now in my bedroom and is working properly. Polybear's advice to switch it off and on again has worked. I have to admit that most of the time I use Google nests but it is sometimes useful to have Alexas handy. Tea included some "wonky" raspberries from Aldi - they were all the right shape and delicious. My gut complained quite violently yesterday evening, I eventually worked out it was the bread containing sunflower seeds which came as a substitute with my groceries. I think the bacteria in my gut like to decide what I can eat, they seem to think they own my gut not me. To be honest most of the food issues I have stem from two rather long causes of antibiotics for dental problems well over ten years ago, since then I have changed my dentist and have had fewer tooth issues. Obviously the antibiotics affected my gut bacteria which have never recovered. David

It's black over Bill's mother's. The view just now from our front door.

Then to finish off the Manor set of photos, it is seen here on the turntable at Henley-on-Thames. This one seems to be running ok - it defiantly is a different loco to the original one. I am hoping to get a complete day in the railway room tomorrow and should have the loco running round all day. Assuming everything is ok, I will add the crew and coal. Then change the speaker for a better one. Hopefully that will make it louder.

Apparently, I missed National Banana day this week! For my own celebration of all things Banana, how about a GWR / AEC railcar - built in 1936 by Gloucester RCW. Or how about a GWR 4-6-0 Castle class loco. This is no 5076 Dryslwyn Castle seen outside the signal box at Henley-on-Thames. This loco was built in 1938 and later named Gladiator in 1941, it was the second loco to be called Dryslwyn - the first one was built in 1936 and was 5051 - but was the renamed just over a year later to Earl Bathurst. The latter loco is now preserved at the GWS Didcot. I have recently been reading the "Castle class 4-6-0 locos 1923-1959" book by David Maidment & Bob Meanley, Im almost finished and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Bear has five such gadgets - I find that every now & then they misbehave; an executive reset** usually sorts it. ** Power off, wait ten seconds then on again

Typical rivet counters spoiling a good story!

I thought they published BackTrack.

Yes - that's the most weirdly "human" thing about it. Very "lifelike".

Today's second set were taken around Gonalston crossing which is just east of Lowdham on the Midland Railway line from Nottingham to Newark and Lincoln. Gonalston crossing 25121 up p w Jan 76 J5046 Gonalston crossing Class 47 down oil Jan 76 J5047 Gonalston Crossing Class 120 Lincoln to Crewe Jan 76 C2580 Gonalston Crossing Class 114 Lincoln to Nottingham July 76 C2856 Gonalston Class 120 Crewe to Lincoln Jan 80 C4944 going away David

I think Guy Fawkes has a certain ring to it and was carried by a Class 47 for a while. Hope it didn’t catch fire! I can’t find any reference to a steam loco with the name, but I think a lot of these historic names, good guys or bad guys help to keep the history of this place in people’s minds. One should never forget history.

I don't think names on locomotives matter very much in the great scheme of things, there will always be some people who will disapprove of a name no matter who it is named after. To me it is much better for the names of people in history to be remembered, no matter what they may have done, good or bad. If we try to erase them then there is always a risk that their bad deeds will eventually be forgotten and not used as a warning to us now. I often wonder what will be said about names of (say) politicians from the whole world not just the UK of the late 20th and early 21st century in a hundred years time and what will be said then if locos or building are named after them. David

Socially unacceptable perhaps to those indoctrinated in trendy political "correctness", but not unacceptable to all. maybe not even the silent downtrodden older majority.

Indeed, here's Tug 46 going the other way with a loaded Tytherington train this morning. Woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep so made the most of the sun. I didn't expect to have to scrape the ice off the car today! DC Rail's 60046 approaches Keynsham working 6Z51 Tytherington - Appleford. Not something I do often, but a telegraph wire has been edited out. Jo

Backstreet Boys ..

Still appearing here...empties to Tytherington

GBRf 60047 Scafell Pike heading west along the Calder Valley towards Brighouse in the early evening on 17th April 2024 with 6M09, Drax Power Station to Tuebrook Sidings, empty IIA-D biomass hoppers.

Another day on the Teesdale way: the drystone waller was a bit miffed.

Spent all of about 2 minutes fitting the full deflector plate onto my 66001, this is a fantastic idea I was dreading fitting all those pipes and couplings so to have two fully made up alternative ends ready to go is fantastic! Take the lid off. Unscrew the original deflector plate with NEM coupling. Add new full pre fitted deflector plate: What a beauty, seems a shame to weather it really, roll on batch two and some more plain Jane EWS versions.

I'll just leave this here... 😍 'As the sun comes down on a late September evening in 1999.'

Pure gold! 😄 Absolutely loved watching the young ones 😎

Hi Steve, As our Stephen says above, yes we will have spares. However, as some of the areas of the 66 are completely redesigned (bogie area around axleboxes and caps etc) as well as body to chassis arrangement, not all parts will be compatible with the Hattons model I'm afraid. Cheers! Fran

Yes, we're actively working on a spares website.