Tim Hall

Interesting! I lived in Redcar from 1985-2000, owning a house over the road from the line, just east of Redcar Central signal box. I used to travel past the steelworks on my way to and from Middlesborough and beyond.

Is anyone who's got a Genesis coach going to Hackett about?

I went to sample the beastie last month:

Indeed, I was on the verge of preordering one (or possibly two) four coach rakes. I'll wait until they're in stock now. If I can't get exactly what I want, I'll give it a miss completely.

Weren't 47xxs regularly used on Summer Saturday extras? Also, they were painted in BR lined green, suggesting a mixed traffic role.

I was there a couple of weeks ago, good fun. Not sure what's running this weekend, 2999 has just returned from SVR, but here's one I prepared earlier:

I probably should have added: "If that is what is actually happening".

Had same slightly foggy message. Surely, it would be easier to say it's been/ is being dispatched?

Just received two identical emails saying that they've got my order...... As Mrs H hasn't yet got me anything for my impending birthday, that could work nicely.

I think the same was true of 31s at times.

Even BR staff used to get confused about which locos could provide ETH/ AC. (ETS these days). Riding behind 40150 on Mk2 air cons from Preston-Blackpool North on a hot day, the bashing fraternity wedged all internal doors open and ensured all droplights were open to get a flow of air, as the 40 couldn't provide AC. The guard came round closing them again until it was pointed out quite forcibly that we would cook. He wasn't aware that the loco couldn't provide AC. A few weeks later, on a Salop-Whitby excursion, behind a 47/4, it was distinctly cool, and on arrival at Sheffield, a loco change ensued. The guard confidently told us that we'd warm up now...No chance, a 47/3 was provided, which never had any form of train heating. There were doubtless 1000s of similar instances up and down the network over the years.

I had 33047 Exeter St D to Basingstoke 16th Feb 86, and some bashers were quite excited because it was reputed to be "no heat" at the time, and therefore not supposed to work passenger in the winter. Sadly, I can't remember whether the journey was chilly or not. I'd always thought I'd remembered it wrong about its lack of ETH, so good to see it mentioned here.

Midsomer madness! I was down there recently for a spot of Kitson haulage:

Have a look through this thread: Back in the day... | RailUK Forums (railforums.co.uk) Which for some reason isn't coming up as a link...but it does exist and shows you the extent of no heat workings.

Don't forget the daily use of 2x20s from Derby/ Leicester to Skegness in summers during the mid/ late 80s, and their use on Derby-Llandudno a few summers later. No heat 47s were certainly common when I was doing various rovers in the mid 80s, as were 45/0s with boilers isolated. Even in 2019 it was possible to ride behind a no heat 37 on a service train. 37025 was on hire to ATW for the Cardiff-Rhymney rush hour services when units were in short supply. As I live about 2 miles from Heath High Level, it had to be done!

I wonder which of those is heading here to Loftshire? Very exciting!

No, not railly.

They're at the National Garden Railway Show this weekend, with Saul allegedly travelling in style.....

Just checked by Rails account, which states that they've taken the balance, which is a relief. Thought I'd forgotten something else to that value.

Money for two locos ordered via Rails left my account a few days ago, but no email yet. So I hope it is them and not some other forgotten expense 🙀.

Enjoyed riding on Manx Electric stock in 2017 using a contactless ticket long before it was an option at home on the buses.

I understand that some people run locos (and coaches/ wagons) with different numbers on either side, thus appearing to increase the size of the fleet. So IF the two sides of the Fell model ARE different and therefore representing different periods, then surely that's of benefit to those of us who don't base our layouts and fleets on one individual day/ year/ month?

I've been very tardy with my blog this year, but there has been some activity in the attic. The scenery is pretty much finished, just got to finalise the station and platform signs, can't quite find anything convincing. Added some LED light strips as well, very pleased with them. So here's a few snaps and a link to a YouTube film:

37648 doesn't exist, should be 678, and "Gartcosh "was 884, not 784, There may be others I didn't notice in a quick skim through.