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F.W.I.W., he told me at D.E.M.U. Sutton Coldfield he was now working on the four Speedlink vols., not mentioning any of his previous series (so I assumed completed). I would suggest sending him an e-mail, but mine awaits a reply, so I hope he is not indisposed.

Just came across this pending title - out 31st October, 2022 or January 2023, depending upon which parts of the web-page you believe. https://www.crecy.co.uk/british-railways-freight-terminals?osCsid=8cmc02qnf8rmkifmdkndihgth3 I hope it delivers what it promises. Looking forward to buying a copy. Hope of interest to readers here.

Re the Wagon-Lits co., I would recommend highly Geo. Behrend's Night Ferry : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Ferry-Britains-International-London-Paris/dp/0901845132/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2WZD2FQ33PZ8N&keywords=night+ferry&qid=1697703920&sprefix=night+ferry%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-8 A seminal book to me, found and bought at the Bluebell Rly - I had never heard of it before - and returned a few years later because they have a coach there preserved as staff accommodation. Also, Anthony Burton, The orient express : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/460638.The_Orient_Express You will find technical info. on B.R. sleeper cars in the H.M.R.S. book on Mk i. coaching stock. Hope this helps.

Hoping to prompt some early purchases at the cost of pulling this off-topic, may I just say Mr Larkin's v.1 of Speedlink wagons is now available: https://www.crecy.co.uk/speedlink-volume-1 Sorry if not of interest. My Christmas present sorted!

Please may I beg to suggest the late Ronald Reagan, his economic policies, and their consequences, have not been wholly beneficial to the environment or people's health and wealth over the last forty years. Sorry to drag us even more off topic. 😀

Please do not despair; I have pencilled it in for the weekend lap-top session.

Thanks for this; still thinking 'inside the box' I never consider the idea of keeping a down-load as just that! Reduced-H.M.R.S. sub. just purchased. Nowhere on the form to credit it to @hmrspaul , but he may consider it his doing, en homage. Another web-site to add to my 'footer'.

@hmrspaul I am very glad to hear your web-site is on a sound financial footing; I feel guilty using it only for visual reference, unwilling to order prints for which I must then find storage space, and so contributing nothing financially. If you would consider a new membership of H.M.R.S. a substitute, I am happy to oblige and support their and your good works. So much for winding down my membership of organisations prior to retirement! Thanks again; Neil.

In the words of another contributor on this web-site, "I used to live in a fifteen-minute city; it was called the 1970's."

Sorry, @PMP , I have just endured a couple of flawed surveys at work by some who should know better. I appreciate it is difficult to construct something like this. It does throw out the results though. And yes, I do feel smug at my virtue-signalling, and have had to restrain myself at not ranting in the main thread from which this stems. Thanks for your contributions.

Is there a 'Friends of Paul's Wagon photos' fund to which we may donate, if only to keep the lad in occasional beers as a thank you for all his hard work? I am serious.

I do not drive for many reasons, so do not attend exhibitions inaccessable to public transport. E.g., Gaydon in a few weeks' time: no vintage 'bus shuttle from Leamington Spa station, no attendance by me. Simple. And the poll is flawed, in forcing me to answer questions on things irrelevant (car ticket prices) before it accepts my answers.

It really should be considered now part of London Underground. You won't get me travelling on it with all these tunnels. The joy of train travel is the view from the train of 'outside'. Harrumph!

It is refreshing, innovative, pioneering thinking such as this that keeps the U.K. a hub of cutting-edge excellence 'going forward'. No wonder we are synonymous with being a 'first-world economy'. Truly, other nations must stand and watch in awe... Apologies for the lowest form of wit.

I smiled at how, if I heard and understood correctly, she wanted both a cessation of infrastructure investment, yet improving the current resources. If only she read RMWeb, she would see how H.S.2 would assist such improvements of the W.C.M.L. Sigh. Gawd bless the Great British Public...

D--n fine work, Sir! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001r7h8 Starts at 31.43 if anyone else wants to listen.

Blimey! better watch 'Threads' again and finish that model Goods Yard, before we are all dressed in rags and eating each other. (A weak attempt to bring a little levity to the proceedings.)

Moving OO figures. Scale rain, and windscreen wipers where necessary.

I admit freely to knowing nothing about steam-days, but were these concrete markers not used in surveying? I was told (I wish I knew from where) they had a notch in the flat steel peg in the top, and were used for sighting for surveying/ levelling. I could have been 'had' all those years ago, though... 😊 Thanks.

For what it is worth, I can only add my weight to the need to clean, laboriously, by hand your layout before running anything. Returned from Stafford last weekend inspired to do some 'mindful shunting' and forget the burden of finishing scenery. The layout is in the garage, comprising seven 4' sidings and not used for about a year. However, it took two hours using a track-rubber and Hoover, then rags with meths and lighter fluid until the rags wiped 'clean'. Far from flawless running still, I had another go this weekend, trying to do the 'inside top' of the rails as well. Do put the time and effort in; it will be worth it. I write in sympathy.

Found some Wills corrugated asbestos/ plastic yester-day at Stafford to finish off the canopy, so I have been rushing to add more detail. Made a lift tower and flat roof - but did not think to buy any tiles to make a wood-framed apex - and added the corner and side buttress on the plain end. Anyway, the Faarsii/Persian frieze looks adequate, I hope. Sorry my nasta'liiq was not up to the challenge. No prizes for translating the Faarsii... Thanks for giving this your interest.

Thanks to all concerned for a good show, quite making up for my missing both Warley last year and Ally Pally owing to industrial unrest. For me it was a pilgrimage to see 'Newhaven Harbour', but I ended being bewitched by 'City Basin Goods' with some 'mindful shunting'. Thank you to the owner for 'chewing the fat' with me and others. Beautiful weather, the free 'bus was much appreciated (and a decider for my attending, like Gaydon). Good hall layout (logical arrangement and much space), good grub, and friendly helpful demonstrators. Stayed 5.5 hours, and still could not give deserved attention to all the layouts. Thanks finally to the 'Scouts'(?) who appeared to be doing much good work scurrying 'behind the scenes', and on exit formed a 'parade of honour', smiling and hoping we had all enjoyed our day. A credit to their 'pack'. See you in 2024, and hope you make a profit. Your hard work is much appreciated.

Hope to attend, if I have any money remaining after Stafford. Always left inspired after the previous shows. Thanks.

If you come across any of Pallet Lane and can restore them as well, I hope I am not alone in being grateful. Thanks.

There are still the Cross Country Trains' Penzance-Edinburgh services (alas, no longer going through once a day to Aberdeen).