Mike Oliver

There are still adverts for paid staff jobs, I hope they did due diligence to see if any of those to be dumped could fill some of the vacancies.

From what I read "us" are diminishing quickly and "them" are increasing every week. If they are making the main diesel man redundant I fear for the future health of the home fleet. The report of the long serving driver seems strange, all he would have to do would be to volunteer on fewer days.

The firehole doors, as well as being open for coal to be put on the fire are used to admit secondary air. Secondary air helps to promote efficient combustion including alleviating excessive black smoke. The firehole doors are partially open a lot of the time. When a round of coal is put on the fire black smoke is produced and allowing air through the firehole door cuts down the smoke, as the coal is burned less smoke is produced and the secondary air can be reduced by slightly closing the doors. When there is no smoke it's time to put another round on the fire.

Regarding the sound do you mean the noise from the cylinder drain cocks? I don't know about GWR pannier tanks but on every loco I have driven the steam escaping through the cylinder cocks is very loud.

I installed a Dapol LMS home Signal last week. It worked fine for a few days but has now failed, seems like a mechanical problem in the control box with the arm jammed up. What is other peoples experience with these O signals?

Please excuse me butting but could anyone steer me to made up transfers for my 7mm Slaters BY van in BR revenue service.

I like the look of the work stained Class 40, especially the elecricity warning signs on the front.

Thanks for the pictures. I am intrigued as to what those chaps are up to on the platform at Lanwick Halt.

It is intended as entertainment for the general public not a documentary for railway enthusiasts. It is also priceless free advertising.

I believe today is Model Rail publication day? Looking on their website still shows issue 255 December! They must try harder.

Thank you, very helpful.

Is there plenty of car parking on site?

I was instructed never to hang a loco coupling on the drawhook. There is a danger that another coupling gets hooked over the first coupling. It's easier for that coupling to ride up the hook and uncouple as it can't be in the bight of the hook. The pull of the coupling is on a weaker part of the hook and may damage it leading to inadvertent uncoupling.

The Rolling stock releases on page 11 initially got my hopes up, Sir Edward Elgar in O gauge for £169.99? Who does proof reading?

Thank you for that info Hroth. It seems impossible to get information from the Peco website and the Facebook page is not much better. Are Peco really so complacent about attracting sales?