Ian Hargrave

By coincidence,I’ve just been leafing through my newly acquired copy of South Wales Railway Gallery ( Stuart DavIes,Pen & Sword 2022 ) bought on the recommendation of CK of Brent Parish. There is a photo in it of a Geest banana train ( unloaded at Barry Docks ) from Cadoxton to Crewe,taken in 1963 by John Hodge at Cadoxton hauled by Jubilee ( yes ,you read it right ) 45651.It’s a long train of vans.:in fact a Shovell load of bananas all apparently steam heated to aid yellowing/ ripening . So to replicate that will require significant investment. Excuse the pun but I’m just entering into the spirit of this exchange. The book is a must for all GW/WR enthusiasts.

This Valley’s boy wholeheartedly endorses your recommendation. Wonderfully evocative of my childhood and youth.

Ah,that’s in Scotland isn’t it.So maybe a dash of malt in that tea ?

You must be joking.These days the average hotel bedroom has the minimal possible lighting. ….except for the bathroom.

Many thanks for the warning,duly noted.Thus far,a Hornby Peckett,a Rapido Hunslet and a Planet Victory have each managed my Chaldrons with West Hill NEM mounted couplings without any difficulty. So that’s disappointing news.

Just an idea that’s going through my mind. How about Lion with some Accurascale Chaldrons ?

Nicely featured also on YouTube. My thanks to all who have made their videoed material available .I couldn’t go,so it’s the next best thing.

l’ll take a shed load 👏

Which bits ?🤭

Thanks Jenny for your YouTube video of it just released.

I should say that one post ( at least ) has been removed. There has been some personal stuff flying around.Not nice.

To return to matters GW ,my pair of Toads arrived,shortly after a delivery of the colourful film prop W&U tramcar and an EFE SR 10T covered van. Adding a 14XX ( Hattons/DJM) from stock,apart from substituting the van for the film’s cattle wagon,I have put together the first ( wrecked by Pearce & Crump ) Titfield train. Well it’s a film so I can maybe deviate a little. The little buffet car is simply gorgeous and the now three vehicles and the loco make a train of character. Thanks to Simon ( Not Jeremy) for the inspiration.

The thread which was started by Jenny Kirk this morning has now been locked due to the aggravation it has generated. It does not make good reading and honestly doesn’t reflect well on certain forum members I regret to say.

See mine and another post above.

As maybe. But I’ve just attempted to access the Collectors Club online which quickly developed into an excursion into thin air.

One of the very few genuine bargains on offer this weekend. I ordered both GW and BR variants. Hattons Sale is remarkable.But they’re not going to the NEC nor for that matter are Rails. And I too have opted out. Rail travel will be rammed as it’s a pre Xmas weekend. Driving isn’t an option although my journey would be relatively straightforward but with M42 traffic and the hassle and cost of parking,it’s not a prospect to be relished.To cap it all,I can’t in any case drive as last Saturday I fell over on the outside step and now my wrist is in a splint as something is broken/cracked. Happy days. If you’re going then enjoy all

Thank you Julie for the biscuits,the good wishes….much appreciated…..and of course for Granville .

And Rapido Toads at £20 …a good selection.

FYI all ANTB disciples….Rapido Toads now £20 in Black Friday sale at Hattons.

And that is arguably the most perceptive comment I have read here for some time.

Don’t worry.I’ve had mine three years & I’m only just beginning to get the hang of it. If you do master the tech bit,your consolation is that there are some decent railway videos to be seen on YouTube. As an example I’ve just watched one taken just a few days ago at York of a Steam Dreams special excursion arriving behind Deltic 9022 (with both Napier Deltic engines powered up btw ) .The Deltic is then replaced by an immaculate A4 6007 which then takes the train forward to Newcastle. Most diverting it was….so perseverance will reap rewards. For GW diehards there is also the Didcot Castle extravaganza earlier in the year and the SVR steam gala with Accurascale’s 7714 Pannier ,Hagley Hall, Pendennis Castle and lots of chocolate & cream.

If you have a widescreen digital tv with YouTube facility,sit down and watch Accurascale’s superb promotional video of their new Pannier. It’ll sell,sell and sell. I imagine their Warley stand will be overwhelmed and indeed deserves to be. Rejoice.( And yes I’m aware there are some long disappointed faces because we didn’t get a Saint,a County or a U1 but there are other things currently in preparation,so who knows ? ) We have a new Pope….er sorry Pannier but they do also emit white smoke. One feature that might cause raised eyebrows however ( CK ? ) is that it will come equipped with a powerful ( quote ) coreless motor. Please do not shoot the messenger.

The TFW website says it’s the wires btw .I’ll take a look soon as I’m in Llwynypia over Xmas & my niece lives next to Dinas station. Both she and my brother in law need regular and reliable trips to London & have to use their cars to Cardiff Central for the SWML which is in any case unreliable. To park a car there overnight or a couple of days must be costly,though my niece puts it on her expense account. The replacement bus service is a sick joke on top of trains that either are cancelled or overcrowded .

Well then..think Paddington,just as Rapido have done with the Hawksworth 15XX Pannier. And current thinking,at least on this forum is that so-called “oddities” …..e.g. Heljan Garratt…..sell. ATM we’ve nice new Panniers to enjoy.In my long departed youf ,a stalwart performer on the Vale of Neath,trailing a couple of Colletts or Toplights over the Crumlin Viaduct. Last saw one busy on the SVR in April. In this case,black is beautiful.Whatever….well done guys,once again.

A Pannier ! !