Friar Tuck

The Hamilton Falkirk aggregate score looks interesting Is that Gaelic for nah nah? BBC at 16:40 today

So, can we take it that's a clue that the first tender loco will be either a Beyer Garratt or a GNR Sturrock 0-6-0 with a steam tender.

At a more mundane level, the local blackbird seems to be getting very good at singing the tune to "Happy birthday to you". Only another 2 months for him to perfect it then...

I am always puzzled that Notts and Derbys are called the East Midlands too. Where does the North Midlands start then? Officially, they seem to be in both http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Midlands http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Midlands

Keeping a model railway up to date will always be a challenge. I am amazed that Royal Mail have not already come up with a trendy new corporate image, for example. Chiltern might get a new franchise holder in 2022. New trains, new liveries on old trains, new road vehicles all keep up the pressure! Sticking to a particular date that you already have good information about seems a very sound idea to me.

Sounds like the extra length would be very beneficial. I would go for it!

Try http://www.ehattons.com/67210/Oxford_Diecast_NFT005_Ford_Transit_Ford_Transit_Network_Rail/StockDetail.aspx Def more than 10 in stock - just ordered 2 myself.

Continuing the theme of strange turning arrangements, this was once the situation at Birkenhead Monks Ferry station, complete with quay, 3 turntables, a partial reversing wye, a track along the edge of the large turntable and 4 diamond crossings. Apologies if everyone has seen it before.

Waiter, there's a fly in my soup. But Sir, as demand is very erratic the chef has to make it on the fly!

Are these gauges to the above standard still, or have you tightened things up a bit, please?

The old Mansfield Railway runs very close to me too - but nearer the southern end, where hardly anything is still recognisable as an old railway line. We are very lucky around Mansfield and Ashfield to have so many old railway lines preserved through conversion into footpaths - plus historic traces of the Mansfield & Pinxton and a few early waggonways.

There is some very interesting trackwork on both images. Definitely not Peco-friendly! The north end would make a great layout layout on its own.

This is a common problem with large stations. It hasn't stopped people modelling the likes of Birmingham New St, Liverpool Lime Street et al. though. Personally I think it adds a touch of mystery and intrigue to the layout which actually adds to the interest.

More RCTS photos of Millers Dale this week http://rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?page=1&serial=18&img=67-019-23 and 3 others showing newly laid FB track

Men are getting very concerned about the demise of traditional male underwear. They have formed a new protest organisation - - the Why Front.