gordon1970

Not entirely unexpected. The GLQ-EDB via Grahamston provided the benefit that Dunblane trains stopped serving Linlithgow and Polmont giving a very decent run between Edinburgh and Grahamston. The problem is that (although it had not been in operation for a long time before the pandemic) these trains ran virtually empty and I suspect the Falkirk - Edinburgh leg would have been being looked at anyway. Ironically (as I don't live in Edinburgh) I can't see the necessity of knocking 10 minutes off the main line journey (what difference would 20 minutes in a day make to someone visiting Glasgow from Edinburgh)? - but of course if you travel the line daily..... To be honest I hope the reduction in services assists with timetable robustness overall; I do think some lines (even EDB-GLQ via Falkirk High) have had over-provision for some time. Perhaps more space will allow tweaks and some speeding up/additional services later. I agree Perth has an abysmal service to/from Edinburgh; it would be an interesting 'how to improve' topic!

Thanks; the question was prompted seeing a Scotrail set the other evening with it being dark enough the internal lights (even with what seemed to be different lighting between some coaches) gave the appearance of a 'different' tint to the bronze. Not entirely sure if they are the ex FGW refurbished ones.

Odd question perrhaps..... Did all versions of Mk3 coaches as built have the same colour of tinting in the windows, and have any of the refurbishments altered this (or replaced any glass at all?)

It seems the Bachmann Rep did tell the truth back in February As mentioned in posts below, this is a good thing if we wind up with better (Correct) 47711 and the new tooling. We've waited long enough so far and haven't lost anything - let's hope it is next year and not three

Oops!! - The perils of posting late at night: I DID initially think the Driving trailer lights didn't work on DC until I paid a bit more attention: It seems I've undone the replacement of the original sentence (Doh!) - anyway the reason for the cancellation was lighting related: I was a bit deflated to see the coach lighting will be always on on DC (I did not really think about this to be perfectly honest, and while manufacturers can't really win with what they do (!), I've taken the lighting out of 7 Hornby Mk 3s and taped over the cablights in the 43s) - each to their own but from what I can see so far it's just a little too involved (I'd rather not tinker too much with a brand new train pack) (One is forced to use DCC to have some measure of control over the coach lights). I was aware of the price rises and discussion over preorders potentially being charged a higher amount than when the order was placed, the comment was a bit off-the-cuff - to be fair, for what it is I think even £530 ish for the 7 car set is good value compared to £70 odd for one DBSO, £50 for a coach and take your pick for a loco. Talking of the DBSO, which is of course chipped I did suspect the need for a chip to 'bling' the lighting on the driving trailers (Never considering two would be needed) - has anyone worked out a ballpark figure for the cost of three chips for the set?

Just Cancelled my pre-order for a 7-car set. (Noted incidentally the price on the website is about £60 more expensive than when I placed the order) - sorry to Hornby but while I can say the APT is a model I've yearned for since 1980, learning that the driving trailers don't have directional lights as standard would mean more expense - if the trailer HST cars can have directional lighting (DC) surely they could have used the same with this model? I know some might see this as whinging (it isn't) (Honest guv!) - while I would be the first to praise Hornby on this model, I can't justify having to add to a £500 odd expense for the use of lighting on the nose!

First impressions of the New 47 are - Excellent! Perhaps a bit pricier than I would like, but, what isn't sneaking up in price. As for 31-665 and 32-807, Rails Cancelled my pre-order for the former in February after Bachmann told them it had been pulled from Production. A few days later Bachmann told them it hadn't been so the pre-order was re-instated. Frustrating as a buyer not to get a loco I was eagerly anticipating (Here is hoping the range of 47s expands with some 47/4s in BR Blue and of course 47711 and other shove duffs.... - however I can't help feel Bachmann have pulled the above mentioned stuff - not cricket to muck prospective customers about with announcements of models they must know aren't happening not to mention mucking retailers about with pre orders. (Assuming they have cancelled the above models)

Just found another shot dated 4.9.1963 where said coach can be seen behind the passenger train on the main line.

Possibly. It would mean the train must've been diverted via Kelso for some reason (assuming it was dropped off to await repair) which leads to the question was it a 'service' train or perhaps ECS stock routed that way? It does provide for interesting pondering. In the same suite of photos there's a single coach (I can't tell whether it's a passenger or not) hiding behind the box and water tower on the bay/siding line on the opposite side of the station. While it might be a Kelso-Berwick service (?) it's not a convenient spot to load parcels and one does ask 'what was it doing there?' (!!)

Was it common for such 'dedicated' stock to be purloined from its 'main duties'?

Good suggestion! Didn't give that a thought. I think the cars might have been able to be unloaded at one of the sidings in the background.

Came across this shot of one of the ECML Car Carriers in the bay at Kelso station: https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/40082757584/in/album-72157689871212964/ This got me thinking (!!)... what would be the hypothetically potential reason that this particular item of rolling stock was at Kelso? And (related) how often would such 'byline' stations see 'mainline' or otherwise 'out of place' stock? What's the most 'unusual' train/stock anyone can think of in such circumstances?

One thing many strive for is a 'realistic' rake of coaches (or wagons) for their particular modelling area/era..... What, however, is the strangest/most unusual rake (s) we can come up with? I'm sure I've seen a photo somewhere (which now of course I can't find) of a highland service with a brake and either a buffet or restaurant car on it for a two coach rake......

You can authentically put two brakes in a rake of five or six, can't say how often they've run like that but last time I did see two brakes they were in the middle of the rake coupled with the guards sections back to back, possibly they'd cobbled together two half rakes

Hey Guys. Spacers it will be. After taking the body off, the culprit(s) are two of the body screw retaining posts at the nose ends, both drivers side ones are shorter than their secondmans counterpart so effectively the body is being pulled down, compounding is that the discrepancy is not the same at either end. I don't have anything immediately to hand but a test with the centre screws out and the end screws not tightened too much cures the fouling, cheers for the input all!