Ryde-on-time

It also protects people waiting on a platform. This thread seems to be going around in circles and I have previously mentioned an incident on a preserved railway where someone towards the same front of the same train as me opened a door as the train approached the platform so was wide open along the length of the station. There was an event on and the platform crowded but thankfully the staff had moved people back from the edge, they were yelling warnings, and no injuries occurred. It illustrated to me that because the CDL rules have been in place for so long passengers are no longer aware of the dangers and implementing the rules is more important than ever The train was still going at a reasonable entering the station and being struck by an open door would do some damage. There would not be several staff at stations where the Jackobite stop at to warn people to stand back (just because WCRC can't be bothered after 25 years to comply with the rules?!?)

Sorry but it is not rubbish. A short search will bring up cars like this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305277844874?sort=price-asc&advertising-location=at_cars&make=Mazda&model=MX-5&postcode=MK179BT&price-to=2500&fromsra And if you google MX5 NC bottom end knock you get page after page of forum discussions and web pages about it such as these: https://forum.mx5oc.co.uk/t/2016-nc-1-8-engine-knock-blue-smoke/132518 https://forum.mx5oc.co.uk/t/engine-knocking/93788 https://forum.mx5oc.co.uk/t/nc1-2-0-bottom-end-knock-engine-rebuild-options-or-conversion/133796 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=185&t=1616988

Our Daughter passed her test just over 2 years ago around her 18th birthday and she has had her own car since - First she had a 2006 Fiesta which cost £1500 for first year fully comp with Direct line and no silly black box and £1200 for the second. She now has a 2008 Mini Cooper and the insurance for that is £1200. Car bought in her name and her insurance policy with us parents as named drivers We found though, as she had her own car (which some insurers ask about), we could insure her additionally on something more interesting. Within 6 months of passing her test I was getting quotes of £500 to insure things like an MX5, Mercedes SLK, Chrysler Crossfire, Mini cooper s convertible etc with her added as a named driver. We got the NB 1.8 MX5 in the end and the insurance is about that Perhaps he could get a mundane everyday car in his own name but you could get something a bit more exciting?

The NB MX5's suffer from rust (front chassis rails, sills and rear arches especially) but are mechanically robust The NC MX5's suffer rust just a badly but the 1.8 and 2.0 litre engines are also a weak point, there are always plenty of cars for sale where the bottom end of the engine has failed The good thing now with the NB is the values seem to be rising slightly, my colleague a work is getting the front chassis rails welded on her NB at the moment (about £600) but it's value has probably gone up by at least that amount in the couple of years she's owned it

Good to see a full reopening of the Marston Vale line today with all buses finally replaced with class 150’s. London Northwestern are also offering £1 fares to encourage passengers to return and there seemed quite a few on each train. (not sure all the car drivers in the area were so enthusiastic!). A video of trains:

If anyone fancies a trip on it! https://www.youngpioneertours.com/tour/mauritania-iron-ore-train-tour/

It doesn't help that prices have dropped below the £2K mark but people buying a cheap modern classic might be reluctant to pay the £675 yearly tax (I was looking at an 06 plate car down the road from me)

Perhaps not a fair comparison. Putting a few models on display and then spending the show looking around and chatting with friends is a little different to having to spend the afternoon of the day before loading up, travelling and then all evening setting up and testing, then almost the whole weekend behind the layout operating. Finally a late night back after packing up I go to model railway shows with displays of railway models and railway modelling competitions as a small part of the exhibition (16mm narrow gauge show for instance). I would see that as a better comparison with the plastic modellers and I think it unlikely the entrants would get accommodation provided

The problem for me is that if I have to book my own accommodation that it likely to mean a financial commitment many months before the exhibition Looking at the £35 pppn being quoted, I had a look at hotels that weekend and it would mean taking the lowest ‘payment in advance’ and ‘limited changes’ tariff. I don’t think l’d be popular tying up funds at my risk for a model railway show, especially a commercial one I know others (such as the group who exhibit Dentdale & Brinklow’ ) who are exhibiting at least once a month and it would be a massive financial commitment for them which I simply can’t see them wanting to do, which would have a knock on affect on exhibitions

I like to see layouts, which to me, are amazing / stunning / realistic / interesting. Therefore scale, gauge and location are irrelevant. Everyone is different though and the person I often go with to exhibitions has quite a narrow field of interest I wouldn’t want to be an exhibition manager!

Seems people have forgotten but looking back beyond 2 years ago there were constant grumbles about the lack of class 31 models from Hornby. Not bad models but a lack of long lived and popular liveries being produced With that background it seems a sensible choice for another manufacturer to take on? Accurascale announced their model only 2 years ago and now Bachmann. With a prototype so long lived, well travelled and with such a variety of liveries I can see both being popular and it will be interesting to see the liveries being offered tomorrow. Hoping for a Fragonset one, I do like the look of the variable fan speed

I would predict a 009 model of the ffestiniog Fairlie ‘James Spooner’ at some point?

My wife and I have a holiday in Switzerland booked for April. I was wondering if timetables for the Rhb are available as my searches online have not found any? I have found the site where you can search for a train between two points but a proper timetable would be prefered. Or are printed ones available from stations? Any info appreciated

An interesting and extensive write in the latest Steam Railway magazine. I must admit that i did have a chuckle reading that for the judicial review, one of the 5 premises put forward by WRC was that ‘The ORR’s decision was a disproportionate interference with the Claimant’s right to protection of property under Article 1, Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights’. Made an interesting chat with my daughter who is in her final year of a law degree and gave her a good laugh! As always the winners were the lawyers

Nothing in the last magazine. Next one is published 18th January

Was it the BR green one people are after? One here https://agrmodelrailwaystore.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=14263

Last year on one trip to a preserved line i noted at each station a train would be announced followed by polite but firm requests to keep back from the edge of the platform. This was met with several moans, especially those wanting to take a photo. On one trip along the line, I was in the second coach and was standing at a window as we approached the station, as we entered the station someone opened wide a door in the first coach - queue lots of shouting from the station staff and thanks to them no one was injured as the train passed along almost the length of the platform with the door sticking out. The gent who caused the issue was perhaps 60 ish and totally oblivious to what he had done. The station staff spoke to him (he just claimed has innocence) so I did have a quick work with the staff to confirm that was the person. They said it does, unfortunately, happen occasionally There seem to be people who think the regulations are over the top etc and if someone falls out of a train it is their own fault. They don’t however seem to consider the potential for someone on a train on the national network to open a door and cause injuries (or worse) to those on a station where there would not be staff as there are on a preserved railway - for someone to do something stupid and injure someone else?

Really sad news and i wish all best for those affected. It takes guts to decide to wind down a solvent business and decide it’s for the best.

Tesla have finally started delivering Cyber Trucks to customers To coincide Tesla released this video which is pretty impressive

Hattons have this one listed as pre-owned with a few issues but at a pretty attractive price of £241 https://www.hattons.co.uk/1540442/lionheart_trains_by_dapol_lht_7ns_006_po_lynton_barnstaple_2_6_2t_761_taw_in_sr_olive_green_1930_1931_condition_pre_o/stockdetail

I wonder if a model of the new Ffestiniog double Fairlie ‘James Spooner’ might be a possibility. It would also be a different livery to previous models

They were openly discussing the loco having a large space for a smoke generator during last weekends GETS in Milton Keynes, although weird if they are calling that new announcement for Warley

Alternative Parking options near the stadium are limited. For instance, on match days although the crowds aren’t huge, the car parks in the Mount Farm industrial estate to the east of the stadium are used and football fans fill them up so not an option to try and park earlier We are lucky we can get a bus from the village direct to the stadium in a few minutes, shaping up to be a good show

Has a class 44 or 46 been produced before?

Our MP who’s on the transport select committee has waded into the HS2 arguments (a dare not comment further!) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-67006130