Not Captain Kernow

That small compartment in 1st Class was the smoking section. When converted from 319/1 to 319/3 the 1st class was removed, as were the tip up seats. The 3+2 sections all became 2+2, but the seats were all the standard class 319 seats that had been removed from the Connex Class 319/2 conversions. So although the 319/3 became 2+2 throughout the seats were still the same narrow seats as previously used, but it did give a wider aisle as a result.

A bit of "useful" additional information from the Hornby website... Product Info 43025 was built in 1977 and has been named City of Peterborough at various points over its service life. As of 2020 43052 is in storage at the Longmoor Military Railway wearing the East Midlands Trains Livery awaiting it’s fate, it has been suggested that this unit is likely to be scrapped. Before Storage, it was based out of Neville Hill in Leeds. 43022, constructed in 1976 still sees regular service on the Great Western network, and is based out of Laira as of 2015. 43022 currently wears the GWR green livery, while previously wearing the First Great Western and Intercity liveries. I must pop down to Longmoor to have a look!

An oversight by the person who does the data import at Kernow meant he forgot to change the year that is automatically added to the expected month date. 31-442 was only announced today and is expected in Feb / March 2022. No doubt when the person responsible has finished his lunch and reading this he will correct it!

But we are not talking about 207, we are talking about 182. As I said, I have a picture of 182 in the Southern Olive livery with the reinforcing plate. I will PM you with it, perhaps then you will believe me!

Yes it should have the reinforcement, I cannot post the Copyright picture but it definitely has the reinforcement. It was on the original batch as well, albeit as K2103 number 30182 in BR livery.

Given they only emailed this information out in the last 20 minutes or so I am sure the website update will soon follow.

I believe you need the DCC version as the DC versions do not have the lighting.

The Hornby fans were linked with a band to the motor and turned as soon as the loco moved, and turned in the wrong direction when the loco was reversed! The video shows that the fans on the Class 47 will start and stop randomly, so they have to be powered by a separate motor. In fact, while typing this I thought to check the Bachmann website and it clearly states "Rotating radiator fans, driven by an independent motor and gearbox, operated via a DCC function, or randomised when operated as part of the sound project on DCC and Analogue control (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)" If you don't want the fans, just don't buy the deluxe version.

The longer I am involved in this hobby the more I am convinced that some people get the most pleasure out of just how badly disappointed they are and then telling everyone all about their disappointment! Personally I love this announcement, not just for the surprise value or the subject, but the way the video has been done in the style of a British Transport Film. Proper job Bachmann!

The caption does not mention Crewe anywhere! It is definitely Exeter St Davids.

We came very close to getting BR Business Systems to call their new combined train timing and diagramming system Totally Integrated Timing System. It was a good 18 months in development before someone rumbled it and it was changed to Protim (Professional Timing).

That would be the Train Operated Warning System, or pee-wee as known by many staff. When switched on it makes an intermittent sound so you know it is operating, changing to a continuous sound when a train is approaching.

Three months!

Back in the late 1990s to early 2000s I used to hire an 8 car 319 to the Vauxhall Pensioners Association for their annual outing. Each June we would pick up at Leagrave and Luton around 0800 and take them to Brighton for the day, returning from Brighton around 1800 ish. We used the same driver (who took his own family out for the day on the train too!) with me as a steward and we charged them £5k. The track access charges were about £2k from memory, which Railtrack (as it was at the time) used to do at a discount for goodwill. They always had around 500 people on board, so it worked out around a tenner a head and always had a great party atmosphere! One year I could not make it because it clashed with my wedding, so one of our Control Managers went in my place. Just before the return journey the driver spadded at Lovers Walk with the ECS and derailed blocking the station and you can image the chaos caused. It was so bad that even in Cornwall at my wedding (which had about 20 Thameslink ops staff attending!) we heard about it on the news! It also reminds me that when I used to phone the Vauxhall Pensioners office they had an answer phone. The message, recorded by the lovely secretary Doris De'Ath, said "Thank you for calling the Vauxhall Pensioners office. Doris is not here at the moment, but please leave your number after the bleep............. now I just press this button here don't I?" followed by the bleep!

Like this you mean?