Sir TophamHatt

All depends though. If someone wants a genuine v1 with certificate and different numbering / destination then buying at around the same price as v2 isn't unreasonable. Alternatively, if there's barely 300 left, that's not a huge amount so prices could again stay high. But I imagine those that really wanted one would have been in that 200 of initial buyers, which leads back to the first bit - people wanting a genuine v1 stock train.

Decided to let my OG version go. I don't need / want two of these but prefer the different destination and seats in the newer one. Don't know how the new ones are selling though.

They do like to recycle that low-level motor setup 😋 I guess if it works though... Certainly easier for fitting decoders.

And people seem to think Steam sell well...

Getting my smart meter installed in December (can't remember the exact date). Decided to go ahead so they stop bugging me through email to get it done. They're offering a free coffee - wow. Perhaps I should have left it and maybe the stakes would have got bigger. Not sure the little display thing is worth even turning on. At the moment, no where to really put it. Wonder if it can be battery powered...

Turn off "use motorways" in the settings. There's also a setting for toll roads, tunnels and the like.

Remember to report back what you tried and what solved it. I found back to backs solved a lot of issues for me.

And yet very useful when coming home with a toddler who wants to be carried, plus a change bag and shopping. Very handy for turning the lights on - especially as we don't use the main lights in the room.

Or something new instead of relatively acceptable models (even by todays standards)?

Competition. There is next to none for this loco in this standard. How can Lurpak justify selling butter for £7 / £8 a tub, or a 61p price hike in Heinz Tomato Ketchup? Maybe the fact people bought these returns and such at very low prices has shown Hattons people will pay, so hike the price and get more profit.

Yeah, although it did rub off with a damp cloth. Need to decide if I should keep this and sell the first gen I have or what.

Mine arrived today. Not sure if the extra painted seats and different numbers is worth it but we'll see. Mine had a black dust mark down the side and not sure what's happening around the destination board, so not a good start. Only inspected one coach so far. The numbers are normal - no printing over on this coach at least!

Perhaps, but usually people contribute to a thread with their own personal experiences, not just "here's a video, watch it and think of nothing else" PS: IPA works for me, on my layout, in my situation as a cleaner 🤪

So apart from IF trains are diverted via Melton Mowbray, does this mean the diesel engines will be defunct after a few years of operation? Wonder if that will be new trains again...

And yet they were hotter than at least two other TOCs I know of. One week of "Virgin" one week of basic railway terminology and systems for everyone before specialised training in the role they were going into. Drivers down to whatever the bottom rung is, everyone went through the same two week course. Not many TOCs do this - many ticket office staff wouldn't know what the Up or Down line is, the 4ft or other basic terminology. Everyone on the railway should know some basics (except those who work in office roles that aren't on stations). These days, despite what Drivers want, Guards have PTS training but not training on how to fix problems. The drivers barely know now as all they do is call their maintenance and quote a fault number from the Train Management System, who then walks them through some fault finding steps before the next stage. The fact you've said "leaning out of the window" suggests this was nigh on 20 years ago - things are a lot different now and certainly in the last 10/20 years of Virgin's tenure.

Sorry, I don't want to bump this but as you'll see, everyone has different methods and most think their way is far superior to anyone elses. Only Charlie at Chadwick has come somewhat close to any sort of investigation, but your railway room is not the same as his and thus his methods may not work for you. I use a duster and isopropyl alcohol every few months (but only on a few sections - simply can't be bothered with the rest). In some places, a graphite pencil is used, but this will leave a little dust of graphite if used vigorously. The latter actually helped many of my older locos get round the track a bit better, which wasn't the aim but a good bonus (can't replace the traction tyres yet). However, many of my locos are pretty modern (I don't plan on buying anything that wasn't made in the last 5 years!), so has many more pickups and is pretty happy chuntering around the layout. If you can't point out the reasons why (despite knowing them), not sure whether your view is helpful in this case.

Quick question as i's been ages since I have done anything like this. If using one dcc chip, should I connect the rear reds and front whites to the same pin on the chip? And the same with the rear whites and front reds (for running in reverse)? The DMU in this case is the OLD Bachmann Class 158. Fitted the chip and connected the pickups and motor so now just to finish the lights. I was planning on replacing the (what I thought were) bulbs with LEDs so would have been a touch easier to set up with the blue common return but at the moment, I have a two pin connector and it looks like the "bulbs" are in fact LEDs (although I hate the very yellow tone of the front headlight). I guess one pin is for the lights and one is the common return? Good old Bromsgrove Models would have been good here but it looks like it's been closed and the web archive doesn't show photos :/

Thank you both - managed to get it installed now :)

The latest JMRI (v5) won't install without Java. However, when I go to the Java website and install the available version (v8), JMRI says it needs a later version. My brain is a little slow at the moment. Why doesn't the Java website have the latest Java version? EDIT: For my own use, here is Java 11 and remember to backup the roster folder!

Wasn't this "new" HST just a few minor alterations? Like handles on the doors being a little out and such? Not like it's a whole body re-tool...

I think it's a misconception about needing to last only a few seconds. 2 - 3 seconds at a minimum but a good minute is well worth it. My home made lighting in the MK3 coaches I have lasts at least 30 seconds. For those of us who aren't as talented at electronics, have dirty track / hard to clean sections or stock that isn't the happiest on our layouts, the tiny increase in cost for five times the amount of time/power is well worth it. Why have just 2 - 3 seconds when you can have a minute in the same physical space for just a few pence more? 😄 Although I do think many of the posts after that questioned why you asked were a little misposted... Your question was valid. Not sure where all the silly comments came from or why. People always quote a few seconds for stay alive to "get them over points" or "over that dirty smidge of track" but we're now at the tipping point where people are realising the short 2-3 seconds is a bit pointless when you can have 20+.

Except in the email they sent to me... which made any progress sound a little dubious. The issue is lack of interest. I only speak for myself here but I was after a loco Hornby produced. They took so long in releasing it (waiting for a less popular livery to sell before hand I should think), I lost interest and they lost the sale. How many more people will lose interest in models when they're announced years in advance? Yes, perhaps these were announced before Bachmann said they would no longer announce stuff until it's pretty much at release but surely it would be better to give some hope instead of nothing? If they're not careful, people will make other plans, sales will be low and thus they'll fulfil that self-fulfilling prophecy of modern units not selling well (because it's also too difficult to see how the MK5s from Accura have been selling like hot cakes).

Just as an update: There is no update. In fact, the actual wording from Bachmann when I asked if there was a production date was: That last part doesn't read like it's still in development... Perhaps they're just being super tight-lipped about it all.

Yeah, which is on my potential to buy list, but I don't know another way of resolving my problem, apart from buying another 170. The Central Trains livery seems to be mostly 3-car units and as the end cars don't have the motors, I'd have to do some swapping about for a 2-car unit. Shame Bachmann don't get a move on with their 158 liveries (CT Green) or Realtrack with their 156 liveries (CT / RR livery) as those would be perfect for what I want. But if I can buy a 3-car unit and swap the bodies over to make a 2-car unit, could probably sell the spares or keep to convert back and re-sell at a point in the future, hoping there will be an apetite for these after the new ones are released. I guess I could buy the old 158 as a stop gap (and I'd have fun upgrading the lights, chipping it and such), but it would have to be cheap as chips as I can't imagine it selling that well as new liveries are produced.

So Northern (as expected really). Care to share more? I also contacted Bachmann who said they've added the suggestion to a database, which is periodically looked at by Development teams. My guess is they'll produce new liveries and let the older tooling liveries live on as "they're good enough".