The Pilotman

I recently acquired some Really Useful Boxes so that I could rehouse all of my rolling stock from the banana boxes I’ve been using up until now. In no time at all, one of the boxes was being examined for suitability as a new sleeping location….

Lovely image, that. Looks like a brand new Italian ferry wagon behind the loco.

Given the proximity of the house to the tracks, and the fact that double glazing was probably unheard of at that time, I’ll bet the occupants could hear the point motors from indoors every time they were swung over.

The 155 was a two car unit from new (as shown in both your pictures). Most became class 153s later when they were converted to have a driving cab at both ends to operate as a single coach unit.

That's a different type of wagon in that image; one of the Belgian registered versions.

I consider myself very lucky then when you lugged it (and yourselves) all the way to Utrecht!

But there is a service station there on the M5 if anyone’s interested…

I once drove from Perth to Shark Bay (850km) but split the journey by stopping the night in Geraldton which is about halfway. Even so, I found it very tiring indeed (much more tiring than London to Fort William which isn’t much shorter and which I had no trouble doing in one day) but that may have had something to do with the tedious ****hole with whom I was travelling 🙄

Thanks for that explanation, Richard. Ad suitably amended.

Definitely Reading. The old (down main) platform 4.

Not much to go on... It’s most likely to be a Bath Road loco so finding out which 31s were based there in the early 80s would be a start. If you’re that bothered about finding the number a trawl through Flickr looking for a loco with that same marking on the headcode panel is probably your best bet. Maybe someone is up for the challenge, but I’m not 😝

I have for sale a total of 30 of the N Gauge Society’s kit number 68 (NGSK0680) of the POA Scrap/Aggregates open box wagon as used by Tiger Rail Leasing, ARC and Foster Yeoman etc. Each kit is unstarted and features a Peco 15ft wagon chassis (NR-122), five plastic parts (base, two ends and two sides) plus etched ladders as shown. Transfers are not included but are available from the N Gauge Society (or elsewhere depending on which livery you wish to model). I would like to sell them in batches of six kits but would split into other amounts subject to interest. Earliest possible posting date is April 20th. Payment by bank transfer only please. £12 per batch of six kits (or £50 for all 30) + £5 P&P (will use Royal Mail tracked delivery service.

Grab yourself a complete prototypical rake of 20 Peco N Gauge China Clay hopper wagons (TOPS code CDA) in the original ECC International Silver/Blue livery. All the wagons were bought new and have rarely been used. All are in the original packaging in “as new” condition with no damage or missing pieces. I would prefer to sell as one complete lot but will consider splitting the wagons into smaller lots subject to interest. Earliest possible posting date is April 20th. Payment by bank transfer only please. £200 + £5 P&P (will use Royal Mail tracked delivery service)

More proof, if any were needed, that Star Trek was not a comedy.

I think we can safely say, yes.

Reading. The Inner Distribution Road goes under platforms 4,5 and 6 at the east end.

I don’t suppose anyone has an example from both manufacturers that they could photograph side by side for comparison? I’m sure any “undecided” potential buyers would find that very useful.

I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in staging this event. This was the first exhibition I’ve been to in the UK for many years and it was only due to a last minute change of plans that I was able to attend at all. The venue is, of course, superb and even on the Saturday morning I found it busy, but not too crowded. I was very impressed with the whole thing and it was very useful to be able to speak directly with several manufacturers (Accurascale, Revolution Trains, Bachmann and The N Gauge Society). It was also good to find some small enterprises who had, until now, slipped under my radar and I was able to pick up some useful bits and pieces. I thought the layout variety was good with my favourite being City Basin Goods; high quality modelling with trains being operated at realistic speeds and faultless operation (at least when I was watching). I was hoping to be able to personally thank @AY Mod for his contributions to the hobby but he was nowhere to be seen, and the same for @Phil Parker but he was busy every time I passed by. Many thanks to both gentlemen. And I only got bumped by rucksacks twice 😆

It was half a century ago. Get over it 🙄

How do you convert decimal currency into a Scottish city? I’d love to know.

Similar thread running here:

Click/tap on the image takes you to the original image on Flickr and the comments under it identify the coach and location.

This photo taken in 1991 shows red/yellow and red/white Freightliner containers. I certainly can’t remember seeing any of the red/grey types that late. https://www.flickr.com/photos/126693116@N06/35095235296/in/photolist-VtffKJ-2nV97yo-2ptiHYL-2puZPy7-2ix67SN-2oPp5mX-7T5XY3-2ovBYEQ-2kagJCx-7LdUnY-27E1BEn-aE9gPJ-yHaG1M-2iJfh72-2aoB2yC-S1aGSC-26h1KR7-brpZV4-2oQqUyf-8ZqfLu-2mzszMA-2iuMc6N-mHNdEe-2iuPJeP-9wbsuz-rV9rCR

When, rather than if, by the sound of it.

Class 90 electric locomotives