Ian Hargrave

Going back how far.OK. ……observations of trains& railways that stick there like glue. Chocolate & cream Colletts on the Brighton -Cardiff through train with Schools 933 at the front ( August 1948 ). Blue 46206 at Shrewsbury ( August 1952 ) Later that same month Fowler boiler Scot 46148 Colwyn Bay. The last Saint 2920 Pontypool Road,1954. Brit 70009 on the Belle,Waterloo 1951 and the Bulleid Tavern Cars . The Festival of Britain Railway exhibition at Waterloo East with 18100 Gas Turbine & the 1500dc o/h electric etc. Cabbing 60022 at KX on arrival with FS. Being shown around The Trianon Bar of the Arrow on its arrival at Victoria.A journey on the up South Wales Pullman behind Castle 5013 . The prototype Deltic at KX and the golden transition years at Temple Meads,York and Crewe . I just have such wonderful memories.

Indeed,many of us have for quite a few years

Though maybe the Cape is going to be the way to go now…..we seem to be approaching a reprise of the Vietnam predicament. It being,amongst other tricky situations,election year USA….with The Donald still a major player. Who’s blinking first ? Testosterone ready to fire. Good luck all.

I went on Sunday last year a getting there & parking was easy. Thanks for the reminder about the Saturday car boot sale.

Smaller,quieter,easier access by car & free parking within short walking distance. Not so much trade….it’s over the Easter weekend and virtually no show from the manufacturers apart from Bachmann who keep a token presence. Some excellent layouts and a good variety of them too. Relaxed & friendly with good sit down catering facilities upstairs ( there’s a lift too ) On several floors . My personal choice of all that I have visited over a period of 20years. There was a courtesy bus from York station but I don’t know if the Show still provides one. If within reasonable travelling distance go & enjoy. Warley it is not and never had any pretensions of being similar.

With no significant damage and no injuries sustained.Ship continuing on course.

“We should all……” ? Says you. Many citizens of my age shy away from it for a variety of reasons and adopt the view that it’s beyond their capabilities I’m afraid. ….whether you choose to hold with it or not.

Now part of the city’s heritage. I have a vague recollection that the casting of those wheels is remembered in some fashion at Cutlers Hall in Sheffield.Memory might of course be at fault. One railway memento that is there though is the cast headboard for The Master Cutler.But that’s another story. No doubt someone has better memory than me.

And cast in Sheffield,I do believe.

In terms of diesel locomotives,I 100% agree.

Now what am I going to trail behind my steam railcar ? A vey pertinent question. This must almost be the longest running saga since “ Gone With The Wind “. Well it’s been a dismal week,so here’s something to cheer us in GW terms. Though I have to say that my BR ( S ) Booster in black does cut the mustard .

Along with this cancellation comes the decision to produce the Streamlined B17 in black rather than green. IMHO this could result in loss of sales on the new release,correct though it might be. So how much thought has been given to both these decisions,I’m not going to speculate. Hornby is as Hornby does,I’m afraid.

Thanks for the reminders gents.Thought I’d phone to update my card. No worries.It’s paid apparently. Which was news to me …….another senior moment. They arrive in Camborne today so I am recently informed.

After a suitable period of running in,I put my BR black to work hauling a train load of 7 new design Bachmann Bulleid coaches. These it handled silently and smoothly (DC) from a realistic crawl to a respectable mid range speed. Its performance seems not dissimilar to its close Kernow cousin the Bulleid diesel.Is this just coincidence or has Graham Muz’s recent association with Camborne any bearing on this ? Be that as it may,I am more than happy with my Booster.

No,I saw them at platform and on each occasion from the window of a passing suburban electric.And in any case,the passage of some 70 years does tend to dim the memory somewhat 🙄

Reassuring to know that someone else on this forum saw them at work .In my case 20001&20003 both at platform at Victoria ready to depart with Newhaven boat train.

And to further add to this week’s gloom. The Warley Show is no more.

Having read posts concerning issues with these and after a certain YouTube video,I am relieved to post that all is well upon opening the box and running mine in both directions on the track. It sits 4 ( Or should I say 6 ? ) square on the track,runs quietly and smoothly and is responsive to control. Now to run it in.

As yet,I’ve had no email notification that the P ordered last April will not be fulfilled

Good service….hmmm. Buxton as a Derbyshire town stands well apart from its nearest comparable towns in those terms. By rail,great if you’re coming from the Manchester area or even from Sheffield and Chesterfield with a change of trains. But from the rest of the county,there’s only the TransPeak bus service from Derby via Matlock &Bakewell. There is of course the rural bus service from Ashbourne along the A515 that diverts to serve villages such as Tissinton and Hartington enroute. The 515 is a limestone wagon nightmare,scenic though it may be and a favourite for suicidal bikers at the weekend.But that’s the way I must drive from Burton for my couple of visits in July to the Festival. From this end,there is no viable option.( Which is 50 yards from from the county boundary ).Approximately 1hr15 mins .

That said…and undisputed because I have zero knowledge to the contrary…my current rake of loaded Accurascale Chaldrons is an almost magnetic force drawing me constantly to a running session behind whichever industrial motive power I choose.Currently,it’s one of a Hornby Peckett,Rapido Hunslet or the powerful muscle of a Pi Victory. I eagerly anticipate a similar…if unprototypical….experience with Hornby’s Locomotion No.1. What wonderful little gems these are. And the magnetic chain couplings actually work beautifully.

And I have a few of the “rogue baby elephants “. Though they are not partial to dead frogs and maybe not the best of performers,they have currently never failed me.ATM one stands at the head of The Titfield Thunderbolt ( pre wrecked version) complete with Rapido Buffet Car & WR Rapido Toad ….purchased November in final Hattons Black Friday sale,bless them. I may be perhaps being over sentimental but I do feel a sense of personal loss over this totally unexpected demise of an institution that has fulfilled so many dreams in the 77 years of its existence..The “Go To” has gone. I’m strongly reminded of Flanders & Swann’s lyrical epitaph for the Beeching closures….The Slow Train…”No More Will I go…….”

One of the best little rtr models made IMHO.I have an SECR version and an SR one “on order” from a few months ago when they announced another run. Fingers X.

My mistake. I should of course have specifically posted Central Section.Which means Brighton in terms of (probably) passenger work.

Uk And taken at Victoria I think.But 1942 ? Likely between 1944/45 & 1948