Gwiwer

Isn't this country famed for its giant hopping mouse? I did once discover Mus musculus concealed on the layout. Having checked the tracks were clear of leaves, spiders and possum poop (all of which are regular embuggerances) I switched on, powered up and the train ran nicely until it entered the tunnel. I heard a dull thump, the train jerked stop-start fashion but continued. I thought little of it for the next two seconds until a sleepy mouse emerged from the tunnel portal closely pursued by a train!!!

When we see a series of pictures such as this it is very sobering to consider the conditions under which our objects of desire are assembled, and the conditions under which the staff work. It's worth bearing such things in mind when we moan about price, waiting times or niggly details which may not be quite right. I look forward to the completed loco arriving here within a reasonably short time. And I thank you, Dave, for reminding us how these things come into being and under what conditions. It's rather down-to-earth-with-a-bump.

Well as I mentioned above those which haven't failed totally remain in use here, and of those only two don't power and are in LED-only mode with hand-posed arms. Six others work perfectly way beyond any design parameters being outdoors (though under cover) in Australia and controlled by levers not push-buttons through as much as 15 metres of wire. But the experience of multiple failures and partial failures means I am not impressed overall. Dapol build and quality control has been questioned in other places including but not limited to the class 73. Put simply: Buyer beware.

And hot on the heels of announcing the final chance to enjoy this layout comes the delayed photo-shoot of the last BR-WR "genuine" running day. Not photographed on the day as I mentioned above because it's already a challenge to run the trains, meet and greet, organise the teas and keep an eye on everything when single-handed. There's also not the opportunity to get the exact shot required. But these are a record of the trains offered for service on that final "proper" running day. No attempt was made to keep to a specific timetable or time period. The only criterion was BR Western Region in Cornwall. And some video clips The SmugMug gallery with these images and clips holds 40 files. Please feel free to browse the lot at this link rather than me filling your screens and this reply window. A SmugMug account should not be needed to view. https://gwiwer.smugmug.com/ModelRailway-1/Penhayle-Bay-Final-WR-Running-Day/n-gtw8QB

Though not so easy perhaps to convert to LED as well. Aside from the Dapols most of my signals are Cresecent and are still in pretty good shape considering I bought them all second-hand, they are outdoors and they have all been repainted at least twice since I bought them.

Which promotes my next turn by one according to Stovold's Rules 43.7 (i(13b)) of 1938 A District Dave Diagonal is called for to ELM PARK

And broadside with the ex-LSWR rake in tow

Yes. Hornby first release 30582 powder-weathered. Woodland Scenics coal added. Bachmann crew at work. Coupler in use at both ends because these were not push-pull locos and ran round at each terminus. The loco therefore has to lead the train which ever way it is running.

The relocation of the pillow may only be for photographic effect. In reality some passengers have chosen to do this themselves for many years. I recall my unknown lower bunk-mate rearranging his Mk1 bedding thus which - for those who remember those vehicles - placed his head next to the potty. I found that rather worrying.

Reminds me of another comedy moment. The "flash-bang" effect used on stage typically in pantomimes is initiated by stamping on a sheet of material rather like paper and working much like a cap gun used to in our childhood. Until one night when it had somehow become damp and no amount of stamping or stomping would produce any response. Aladdin turned to the audience and uttered the extempore line "Goodness gracious - what a caper. Someone's pee'd on the magic paper!!!" Cue rapturous applause.

Samantha tells me she doesn't know how to do coloured text on her phone. With that thought and with the Northern wide open it's time to get the beers in. STOCKWELL for a good night

Have to say I very much like the look of that unit. Of course it's not the best quality image neither is the reproduction via screen shot and Facebook's standard quality resolution doing too many favours but I'm happy that it looks like a 4TC. The headcode illumination should be the same incandescent glow as the passenger saloons and not a brilliant LED-style white as it is but if the production runs appear like this it should be possible to tone that down with a little tweaking and skill one way or another. It appears to be Bachmann's standard front-end set-up which is also wrong on, for example, the class 43 Warships.

Kernow has posted a picture via Facebook of a decorated sample blue 4TC (minus running number) running on the Redruth Club layout at Doncaster this weekend. Screenshot:

I have had no time to read for a few days. I have even had to (again) unfollow to avoid my phone overloading with TRNs and spitting its dummy. I am however still very much alive and at something past 1am am also on the way to bed. ER is not required tomorrow. Obliged to drive an unfamiliar route today account a combination of occupations affecting all of my various options to reach the Palace by rail. Not too challenging inbound but homeward after dark revealed the local cockwombles pootling along at 40-50kmh in an 80 zone, often in the middle of three lanes and one who clearly felt there was no reason to use any lights at night. Not much else to report as the Great Removal Process is proceeding and the house is looking emptier by the day as items not for removal are disposed of. The cat is now up to date with the required vaccinations and has his pussport. The lottery helped rather comfortably tonight as well with a quite respectable six-figure win. Before you get too excited two of those digits fall after the decimal Best wishes to all. As ever I am only a message away and appreciate alerts of any very significant matters.

The image above is of interest because it has always been my understanding that these workings were propelled from Portsmouth in order that the loco could lead after the Bristol reversal. At Cardiff the loco would have been run round just as with a conventional hauled rake and led back to Bristol before propelling to Portsmouth. The reason I understand that to have been the case is that the Bristol - Cardiff leg was (or may have been) diagrammed for Cardiff men who were not trained in push-pull operation. Some Bristol men were as were all at Eastleigh, Fratton and Salisbury who might have been required to man these trains. Either a push-pull trained crew is in charge on this occasion in this photo or the driver has a traction pilot in the cab with him and the guard is familiar with the method of working.

I'm sorry but that is not correct. For several years there was a Sunday Portsmouth - Cardiff - Portsmouth working scheduled 8TC+33/1. Sometimes only a single 4TC was provided. This diagram started and ended on SR metals so was not formed of WR stock. From memory the departure was 11.20 ex-Portsmouth Harbour. In addition 4TC units have made numerous visits on special workings sometimes in connection with rugby at Cardiff and sometimes on enthusiast charters.

If you insist. PERIVALE

Certainly the earlier 50002 in final NSE horizontal stripes which Hornby released some time ago has too dark a shade of blue. It doesn't help that this was a factory-weathered release either adding gloom to darkness. As the weathering on 50026 was applied quickly tonight for the photos I may try to lighten the colours a little with some pale grey powder wiped over the whole body. If it doesn't do the trick then it's only powder and wipes straight off again.

It's been a busy few days to put it mildly and I still don't have the photos from last Saturday ready to post. What I do have is a few views of locos which both arrived too late to debut at the event having arrived respectively on Monday and today. These have been quickly tested, weathered and placed in traffic though will see very little use here. They are destined to return to their boxes within days for return shipping to the UK during May. 37284 arrived on Monday despite hopes of making it in time to double-head Saturday's china clay workings. Not a Cornish loco but at least a WR one having spent its blue life at Landore (Swansea) and Canton (Cardiff) so it matches well enough and could have reached Cornwall at times. Having done the easy bit and descended the branch alone 37284 was paired with "native" 37207 named William Cookworthy and with a Cornish Railways "Wizzie Lizzie" logo applied. The two in tandem took the train uphill through the forest shattering the peace and quiet with the thrash of 24 English Electric cylinders on full power. An "off the edge" shot on the narrow part of the layout because the light is good and shows off 207's nameplate. Note also the differing treatment of the radiators with 207 having a grille guard but not 284. And growling off into the distance ..... Then in today's post came Hornby's latest class 50 offering in the shape of 50026 "Indomitable" in the first iteration of Network SouthEast livery with its garish stripes. Hornby has to my mind captured the colours quite well; they were described as making real trains look like plastic toys by some when the livery first appeared. This loco has again been weathered though lacks my usual Fox etched nameplates at this stage; these will be added at some later time. And approaching Treheligan where the clays are held on he branch awaiting a road up-country. The comparison between Hornby and Bachmann representations of the same livery is significant though not too jarring. The Mk1 coaches so painted faded rather quickly as they were often berthed in the open. This livery did not wear well and was replaced with darker shades and detail changes such as upswept curved corners instead of the angles. Hornby released 50002 in that livery some time ago which is also in my fleet. Summer Saturdays saw BR InterCity sector hiring a rake of Mk1 coaches from NSE which were normally used on weekday business trains between Paddington and Oxford. The hired set ran a Paddington - Penzance - Paddington round trip usually behind a class 50 and this working is represented here.

And allow for the Chinese New Year shut-down which would mean nothing is done on any project for at least a few weeks

PL26 levers. Red for stop signals and yellow for the distant. Because that is my personal choice and fits with the bank of Hornby levers I use to control the points. I like my "real signal box" feel very much. There's nothing wrong with push-buttons but with a layout which I feel looks its best running 1960s stock a lever-frame fits the overall feel. Even if the frame in the real 'box might have dated from very many years earlier.

What I'm picking up here from a range of world-wide posts is that Hattons service is inconsistent. No-one will manage 100% consistency for all manner of reasons. But when my picking emails have been 2 - 3 days after the order confirmation while others have had theirs in 24 hours or less that is what I call inconsistent. Within their control packing is wasteful to the extent that they use what ever boxes are to hand and often include large amounts of catalogue material and air bags. That might on occasions affect shipping costs based on volumetric size or weight. Taking three other retailers - none of which can be directly compared in the sense that they are conventional shops rather than distribution warehouses - Kernow, Gaugemaster and Rails all manage to use better-sized packaging though not (apparently) always recycled from incoming stock. All have prices within much the same range on most items most of the time. Kernow charges fixed-fee postage while the other two charge at cost. I have long suspected Hattons takes a hit on international postage and under-charges. At least some offer free UK postage for larger orders which Hattons does not. Overall customer service is outstanding at Kernow MRC, very good at the other two but absent unless contact is made by the customer at Hattons; there is no compliments slip nor receipt in the parcel. Kernow manage a hand-written note of thanks as well. For UK customers Kernow operates a loyalty scheme which Hattons doesn't. For overseas customers who place advance orders Gaugemaster and Rails only charge at time of shipping, Kernow has a slightly fussy pay-back arrangement or the option to pay in full at time of ordering but I continue to have difficulty (as do a few others from posts in this topic) with Hattons web site refusing to accept any orders. That requires a work-around which is not necessary in other cases nor - it seems - is it needed by the majority of Hattons customers. I don't suggest there is one single retailer who out-performs Hattons. There isn't. But it certainly pays to shop around even at the point of making payment. Before that final mouse-click or keypad tap how many of us cross-check one or two other places to see whether the overall deal is better? I do. And for the record transit times, which are outside the supplier's control, have varied but are typically 2 - 3 weeks by air from Hattons using the standard unsigned service, 1 - 2 weeks from Kernow and Gaugemaster and 1 week from Rails. Kernow and Rails jointly hold the Blue Riband for parcels arriving on my Australian doorstep on the third day (including weekends) after the order was placed. Hattons is not the bad boy nor the star turn. They are in a tight market place with a number of other very competitive players. They have chosen to walk away from the hight street shop front into warehouse distribution. It seems to be a move which hasn't served all of their customers as well as they were accustomed to from Smithdown Road all of the time.

But that, surely, is the major selling point. Other signals and lighting gubbins are available. Not all of us have the skill nor the time and patience to install operating mechanisms such as wire-in-tube. I opted for Dapol signals because they were motorised. Had they not been I would have ignored them completely. For the record mine are still working as previously described with no failures (GWR square and round post homes and distant, not all from the first release) and being worked via Peco levers with a wire run of up to 15 metres. I'm reasonably impressed by that. But not by the high failure (in whole or in part) rate.

I have to agree. Prices have been aligned so that many match the competition now rather than being significantly cheaper. There may be an element of manufacturer's policy driving that. Picking and transit times are slower than they once were though the latter is somewhat outside of Hattons' control. Uplift of items, given the quantity they are shifting, should be under some sort of contractual arrangement however. Matching the field for shelf price, and not always the cheapest for shipping, they would need something else in play to keep ahead. I don't see it. I'm not impressed with the flood of second-hand items. Some are priced to match new but otherwise identical items; one or two have been re-sales of other retailer's commissions at inflated prices including when the item was available new, and at the slightly lower brand new price, from the "exclusive" commissioning retailer. It has been their commercial decision to enter that sector of the market and no doubt it is profitable for them. It is easy to filter out second hand items by ticking the box offered on every search window. Other businesses keep new and second-hand stock entirely separate which makes a browse of the "shelves" easier and quicker but requires a second search for something which might not be available new. A case of darned if you do and darned if you don't. However a rapidly-increasing amount of the second-hand stock is not "like new" and has clearly visible (and usually described) faults. Some is little more than scrap. These matter combined have really put me off Hattons though I still visit to compare prices and make occasional purchases. And, in fairness, if there ever was to be an item I felt I must have from a back-catalogue I might check their "like new" listings though with a very fine tooth-comb to be satisfied that the purchase really was like new.