Sam*45110*SVR

My DC Bradley Manor has arrived today in a nice lined green box. Will add pictures shortly. Edit: pics added

Just received my 7812 this morning, sadly despite the hefty packaging, the chimney has broken off at the glue line, several drain cocks have broken off and vanished and the rear tender footsteps are bent back. 😥 But apart from that it's fantastic! Edit: I submitted an exchange request and it was approved and a return label sent in just 3 minutes!

I thought I hadn't either, but I'd somehow missed it. The email is titled "Bradley Manor Models Have Arrived!" I received it from info at keypublishing dot com on 28th July at 12:45 Hope that helps.

I could not believe my eyes when I read that Hornby are re-releasing the 8F for £249.99! The tooling for it dates back to 2002 and yet it's being sold for £40 more than the far more detailed new 2023 tool B17/5, 2010 castle or the 2017 streamlined merchant navy! You'd expect a new tool to go with the Black 5 for that kind of money.

I've also just got a Britomart. Runs very badly with a tight spot up to about half speed but above that smooths itself out. No improvement after running in. I'd like to return it to Bachmann for repair, but I've lost the receipt! Will they still take it?

Surprised this hadn't already been posted, but Hornby had a prototype with a 3D printed body of the Caprotti valve gear fitted model on display. I've attached a picture I took of it.

Here's my MG ZS 180, I bought it just before lockdown as my first car and I'm very glad I did! Looking a bit mucky here after a drive into the peak district.

Tonight a pair of 323s became the first EMUs to reach Bromsgrove and climb the Lickey Incline. Pictures on Facebook. Also, the new timetable gives details of cross-city services to Bromsgrove, along with a note saying the start date is still unconfirmed and until then Bromsgrove trains terminate at Longbridge. 3tph Monday to Saturday, 2tph Sundays. Only 1tph stops at Barnt Green though, the others go fast to Longbridge. Sam

Route learning trips between Barnt Green and Bromsgrove for cross city drivers are scheduled to start on Monday 16th. There are quite a few trips up and down per day according to realtimetrains. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/BMV/2018/04/16/0000-2359?stp=S&show=non-passenger&order=wtt&toc=LM Sam

I've caught a 172 into New St. I think it was last summer, before the new Bromsgrove station opened. Only seen it that one time but the 172 was noticeably quicker up the Lickey incline than the usual 170. I assume it was due to a failure of the booked unit and the driver luckily had both route and traction knowledge to allow a 172 to be used.

Thanks Gilbert, a lovely pair of pics ! Amazing to think that when 41157 was built by the LMS in 1925 as one of their main express passenger locos, the LNER had a fleet of A1 pacifics and the GWR had a growing fleet of castles ! Thanks, Sam

Hi Gilbert If I'm not too late, my request (if it isn't blasphemy ) is for a midland interloper (that isn't an Ivatt class 4), hauling more of your wonderful "everyday" stock through PN. I went through Peterborough on a HST just before Christmas having never visited or seen a picture of the new station before. I was quite shocked at how much had changed because I've seen so many pictures of your model of PN in 1958 ! Thanks, Sam

What is that post in front of the 37 for ? It's got a signalling ID plate on the front but what is that square head for ? Thanks, Sam

So how do other countires cope with it, do they run equivalent RHTT trains, or do they have other methods ?