NXEA!

Didn’t know that, thanks! The 2MT’s always seemed a bit of an odd allocation, what with steam on the GE being in its death throes, the small number of 2MT’s allocated, and the fact that 15’s and 16’s were doing all the light passenger and freight work by this time. The only thing I can think of is that their allocation at Stratford was to hasten the withdrawal of the remaining elderly ex-GE machines.

With respect, that comes across a little presumptive. Links: http://brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=9700&loco=9700 http://brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=9701&loco=9701 I’ll leave others to debate the validity of the source, but I have had no reason to doubt it - on the contrary, I find it very useful.

Ah you're the person that put that document together! It's both a blessing and a curse as you could use it to justify all kinds of weird and wonderful traction that you don't actually need... It appears its a typo - having just checked the same source, condensing Panniers 9700/01 were based at Stratford from 1950-1963/61 respectively. I assume they were based there for working over some LT lines - I doubt they would've worked onto the Central Line as that was a J15 job, so I suspect they were shedded there for Smithfields-Stratford/Temple Mills transfer freight (only my supposition). Why Stratford I don't know, as the others were based at either Old Oak Common or Southall. To be honest, I'm not sure there was any direct freight between Smithfields and Stratford, as I'd always understood freight from Smithfields went via the Circle Line to the Western, and there's no obvious route between the two. Getting a bit off topic now!

First time I've seen mention of Pannier's allocated to Stratford - not doubting you, just new to me! What were they used on? Only previous mention I've seen is of a 94xx that was trialled at Temple Mills. There's doubt as to whether those 2MT's actually did anything as they were there so briefly. I've only ever seen a shot of one light engine at Stratford Low Level.

I’m sure it’s been mentioned that the BR version is being delivered last - now I’ve said that it’ll be the next variant to turn up...

Which by the looks of it from Google Maps, is a residential street. That doesn't explain why a shop purporting to be in Swindon is registered in Paignton, though. Some very keen prices as has been said, the B12 is tempting.

http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=class&id=601407&type=S&page=alloc This should help. If the link above is anything to go by, almost all of them ended their days at Stratford. Ignoring ones allocated off the GE at outposts such as Colwick, Annesley, Hatfield etc, a few seem to have been sent to the countryside around 1957, and ended up at Cambridge, Lowestoft and Harwich Parkeston Quay from this period onwards. I would hazard a guess that they were displaced by brand new BTH Type 1/Class 15's which entered traffic in 1957, and the N7's would've then displaced the last F5's and F6's, and maybe some of the remaining E4's. Some non-London depots always had a small allocation of N7's throughout the BR period - Colchester for the Walton branch, and Kings Lynn for the South Lynn shuttle for example.

Some good suggestions there from GC4946 and The Stationmaster. A Taff Vale O1, O2, or MSWJR 2-4-0 would sell very well I would’ve thought. Wrong region for me, but I would buy one of the latter.

Another Stratford machine please!

And another review here: It looks superb, and might be Oxford's benchmark going forward. I can't wait to get my hands on mine!

It could be an LMS loco. Their first locomotive releases have been GWR Dean Goods, SR Radial, LNER N7, so something from the LMS is only fair I'd say. Maybe a new 2P?

Any minor errors aside, it looks like an N7 to me, and personally that's good enough for me. I just hope that it is a good runner, and as someone who has ordered a sound one, I hope the sound file is of good quality and authentic. When the first people get their hands on the GER version, please post photos and videos! I have a BR one on order which is the last version due to arrive and I'm itching to get my hands on it.

When I said there was nothing for me, I lied. Didn’t realise until I looked later that Hornby are doing a TTS chip for the B12. Not sure of the quality of TTS chips as I’ve never bought one before but as it’s £40 vs £100+ from a third party supplier, it’s definitely worth trying out.

Nothing in the range for me (although I may get one of the open-cab Peckett W4's), however I'm ok with that as I have two J70's and an N7 to pay for imminently! This looks like a very ambitious and exciting programme covering practically every interest, with big pacifics, middle range tanks, industrial locos, and lots of lovely coaches and wagons and lots for the modern image modeller too - the Romanian 92 is particularly interesting! I really hope they pull it off and that they make a bucket of money off of these, they deserve it for being so ambitious and we all want a healthy Hornby. Lots are due in the next few months too which makes it more exciting. They have played their hand well as the items that are going head to head with others such as the Terrier and Prairies are due before their competitors, so it should get some much needed cashflow through the door quickly and providing the results are up to their usual level, should be the option of choice for most modellers, and at a lower price to boot. The Mark 2f's are a surprise, although if they stick to liveries that are not being produced by Bachmann they should be ok - some Anglian and Virgin ones would sell well I would've thought - they could even churn out some Virgin, ONE, and FL/EWS 90's to complement them. The one potential misstep I can see are the 66's, I think that is a strange move and in doing 9(?) different liveries, unless they are in limited quantities, will take up valuable production space for other models. Top marks from me overall!

I agree with that adage, I have more J15's than I really need. Lovely effort, how did you fashion the sheet rail if you don't mind me asking? I'm also desperate for an E4, would definitely have a couple of those if one was made!

Didn't know one was painted green! That would be a strong seller, surely.

I say it every time a manufacturer has an announcement coming up, but I'm hoping for the LNER E4. They've got the tender for it, and there's a potential joint commission with the NRM for 62785. Also the last 2-4-0 in traffic with BR.

Had no idea this project existed - shame it's in limbo. From the link, it doesn't sound like it'll even require that much money to run!