[East West rail, Bletchley to oxford line]

The Mayor of Bedford last year commissioned consultants to look at alternative routes for the Bedford - Cambridge to the East-West Rail preferred route.  The report has now been published but didn't really identify one route as better than others; instead it seems to  emphasise the economic benefit to Bedford of such a link.  

 

East West Rail: Bedford mayor unveils eight alternative routes - BBC News

 

[February announcement?]

I have no interest in a new type 31 but am very pleased to see automatic uncoupling offered at last. The German Trix 2-4-2 tank had this feature at both ends 70 years ago and Flying Scotsman had a tender fitment.

[The Forum Jokes Thread]

Or as I heard it...

 

"Should the Honourable Member care to press his point, he might find a split in the Opposition".

 

"Unfortunately, the Honourable Member has stood as an Independent and lost his deposit".

[HS2]

Just one item?  That's good estimating and risk analysis!

[Sheffield Exchange, Toy trains, music and fun!]

20 minutes ago, jwealleans said:

Have you found this lot yet, Clive?    The guitarist is faster than his own shadow most of the time:

 

 

Great to hear some old fashioned twang and use of tremolo.  The bass player looks better than jet Harris as well...

[HS2]

My former employment involved both pitching and assessing projects.  For the latter, I tended to adopt a "rule of three":-

 

1) assume it will take 3 x as long as quoted

2) assume it will cost 3 x the quote

3) assume the benefits will be one third of those quoted.

4) If it still makes sense, go for it.

 

 

[The Shrunken Royal Navy]

On 24/01/2024 at 00:18, billbedford said:

 

Has somebody been reading Jackie Fisher's old notes?

I believe that, in the carrier programme trade-offs carried out in the days of Blair and Brown, if air support to Poland was required, it was considered more cost-effective to operate from a carrier in the Baltic rather than from land bases.

[A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.]

11 hours ago, John Besley said:

 

We need a Charlie quickly or a Spam Can.... to correct the balance 

or a J52...

[The Shrunken Royal Navy]

4 hours ago, Legend said:

they thought it was strange they had to use reverse the whole way 

Don't propellers go the other way south  of the equator?

[East West rail, Bletchley to oxford line]

The East-West web site has previously reported track laying between Bicester and Bletchley as 99% complete.  Test running was due to begin this year, with passenger services in 2025. 

 

Do we yet yet know which operator and stock will be used?

[LNER Coronation Stock]

1 hour ago, K Hatton said:

Not sure if anyone else noticed (or cared) but the 2024 update states these are due for August - hopefully this turns out to be true as that's my birthday month 🤞🏻

 

Also the observation car (R40227), the double open first (R40224) and the brake 3rd/kitchen 3rd (R40223) are all available to pre-order on Hornbys website but the other pair of twins (R40225/6) are nowhere to be seen (even when searching the catalogue numbers). 

The Ellis Clark website shows the quad-art sets as Q3 2024 also. 

 

Could be an expensive summer - a delivery slip somewhere might be convenient!

[Hills of the North - The Last Great Project]

5 hours ago, LNER4479 said:

Yes, that's 92167, one of the 3 stoker fitted examples. They were initially allocated to Saltley depot (from 1958) for use on the 'famous' through fitted goods service from Washwood Heath to Carlisle via the S&C, a long standing ex-MR institution. That was always Saltley's 'top link' job, the crews lodging at Carlisle. It was Black 5s, prior to that date. I was aware of the use of 9Fs on this service but again, a late 1950s scenario.

 

 

Terry Essery recounts his experience with mechanical stoker fitted 9Fs in "Saltley Firing Days", including one trip where he had to fire by hand around the apparatus after it failed.

[Do you agree with this assessment of the Hammant and Morgan controllers ?]

I've just had to use my last "new" FS2 passing contact switch, still boxed and containing the maker's guarantee!

[Encouraging my grandson into the hobby - a dead end?]

So many youngsters nowadays - both my grandsons included - seem to spend all their time glues to a computer screen, being fixated with Minecraft and Harry Potter.  On the other hand, Mrs 2750 has a great-nephew who is heavily into trains, both real and model.  I'm sure this encourages broader interests and skills such as handicrafts and history and would urge you to continue to encourage your grandson accordingly.

[Hattons Model Railways to close]

I first dealt with Hattons 65 years ago, trading in some Trix bakelite track against a then-new class 5 (which I still own.) 

 

I must admit that recently I have been an occasional rather than regular customer, where possible trying to place business with smaller/more local traders offering comparable prices and delivery.  I now wonder if this was wise.

 

May I add my condolences and best wishes to all staff affected by this news.

[Next Years Announcements (9th Jan btw)(not wish listing!, well that was the idea, but......)]

I would be surprised if Hornby don't recognise the 90th anniversary of the first authenticated 100 mph run and issue a commemorative Flying Scotsman, though the announcement could be later in the year.  

 

 

[So what caused the Western’s squeaky horns?]

In the early days of dieselisation, that was common on the ECML - 2 notes only required.  I believe but never heard that the WCML equivalent was "John Peel".

 

I haven't heard an attempt at playing a tune for many years - did killjoys stop it?

[Wright writes.....]

May I take the opportunity of wishing everybody a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and productive New Year.

[Derwent Spa]

We've never met but I would like to say how much I have admired both your modelling and your faith.  May I wish you my thanks, and  a peaceful Christmas.

[Christmas bargain of the decade?.]

8 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

I was more thinking Able Seaman Taffy Goldstein!

 

 

⚓

 

Leading  Seaman Goldstein: "Did you ever meet a Welshman who couldn't sing?".

 

CPO Pertwee: "Yes, but none who didn't1"

[The Forum Jokes Thread]

What do you call a bunch of chess players bragging about their games in a hotel lobby?

 

 

 

 

 

Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.

[Manna's Workbench, D2, Sentinel, Q1, N1, D3, a pair of J3's, C2, J6 +others]

45 minutes ago, manna said:

G'Day Folks

 

Back again down South. I had the company of my son this time, He flew out to Townsville, ( From a cold Heathrow) where I picked him up from the airport, and a lot warmer. We spent nine days driving across Oz, driving a 4WD with a caravan on the back was a first for him, after nine years apart we had a lot of catching up to do, I almost lost my voice. The day after I arrived in SA, I caught Covid, I had been avoiding it for a good few years.

 

Now it's time to resume modelling. I've had it in my head for a few years to build/convert a J52 into another variant (I think a J54, but I could be wrong) It's a Stirling engine, no dome and a open cab. I forgot to take a couple of early pics of the start. But I think you'll work out what I'm doing, give us shout if you need more info., Seven mm was taken off of the back of the cab, the bunker was cut down to 1 mm above the handrails, a  (generally) square cut out was filed into the cab openings, these were then filled with plastic card, after gluing and filling, the cab cut outs were reshaped to a larger opening, which is where I am at the moment.

 

While I'm here, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year.

 

manna

Good to see you modelling again and to hear of your reunion touring with your son.

 

Here's to a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

[LNER Coronation Stock]

I pre-ordered Commonwealth of Australia from a retailer to haul my Coronation set  but it seems to have disappeared from the Hornby website, though Empire of India is still shown.  Does anybody know the status of CoA?

[Corrugated iron - textured card/brickpaper]

I recently picked up a Builder Plus kit for a 4mm scale roundhouse loco shed at a toyfair.  I have had one languishing in a Round Tuit drawer for some years and am tempted to combine the two into a larger structure.  I am content with the brick finish to the walls but the 2 dimensional printed corrugated iron on the roof has to go!  I would like to replace it with a  card or paper 3D  equivalent and wonder what experience members have with such products?

[The Forum Jokes Thread]