Bedlington North

Theres a post up thread on 19 March. Hattons have moved their expected delivery date to between April and June.

No 150s. Mainly 156 with some 158s on services that run through to Carlisle from my infrequent observations.

Morpeth main station building has been extensively refurbished as it was very tired and some (most) of the rooms were inaccessible. I think the plan is to open some of them for retail (coffee anyone?) but of course lockdown measures have put the brake on this for now.

The adjacent Station Hotel at Newburn still had a working Gin Gan or Horse engine in it's back yard in the 80s even after the Iron Horse had gone. I can remember being taken to see it when I was young.

Hi David Nostalgic pics as always. The last pic of the level crossing at Newburn is interesting. I reckon there isn't a single trace of any of the things in the picture left there now.

It's Selby.

Durham or Berwick? Aka the Berwick BBQ?

Lovely to see a 25 in prototypical surroundings. Great stuff.

I enjoyed your pictures from Penrith the other day David. I remember spending a couple of hours on the station in the early 90s as a kid while visiting relatives. Your pics brought back memories of the look of the station and the liveries on the stock. One thing I also recall is that there was a barrow crossing with "train approaching" lights that was usable by the public. Quite a thrill to do that after watching a few expresses storm through...

There was someone a few pages ago who on the strength of a photo of the model was threatening to return his on-order model to his retailer as it was not a perfect miniature representation of the real thing in every way. Makes you wonder if he actually owns any model trains at all as every single model will have some compromises made in order to be manufactured at all as well as making a profit for the manufacturer. It was an incredible statement which the poster repeated several times until told to pipe down by the Guvnor.

Very familiar with that view. I work about 200m away from where you took that pic!

David Your pic from Saturday ref C5272 is interesting to compare with the view today. There is a pit heap in your pic, which I think may be from Choppington Colliery. It has now been levelled in common with many other heaps, changing the landscape.

Hi David Your pic J13311 is an especially happy reminder of when there were mixed freights running on the Tyne Valley line. Happy days...

LSL have about 6 engines in various states. It would seem (and I'm not privy to insider info, just read this elsewhere) that they feel that 3 engines are viable candidates for running again (obviously one of the 6 has a conrod go through the case). IE two for RSG and one spare. LSL already have a contract with a company for engine provision and of course they have access to more financial resource than the DPS. RSG has previously had a marine engine fitted, but there a world of difference between the nature of rail traction load cycles on an engine and marine use. Also, marine engines tend to be able to get rid of their waste heat much more easily.

There aren't enough viable engines to keep both 55022 and 55016 running, hence why 22 is being given all the attention.

My mistake, but even so Gordon Highlander is not for the mainline under LSL.

55016 is not capable of mainline running, indeed there are doubts about it ever running again having given up at least one power unit to support the overhaul of 55022 by LSL. 55019 IS capable of mainline running and I suppose it may be hired by LSL once the damage it suffered from the OLE incident is fixed, but the DPS press release about it's restoration didn't mention LSL.

Got it, thanks! My OCD can relax!

Not a quibble, more a query David... In your pic ref C19110 you list the location as Croxdale. My OCD location finder is twitching slightly. I'd say this is the overbridge at High Burnigill Farm rather than Croxdale. Would that be right? Granted it is near Croxdale but not quite in it.

I regularly use the Magazine Exchange website to locate and buy old magazines. No connection, just a happy repeat customer. They list several copies of the issue you are looking for: http://magazineexchange.co.uk/cw/railway-modeller-magazine-january-1974-issue.html

My point to Global was that he was pointing out 'obvious' errors in the model compared with the full size picture - errors which I can't detect. And yet he was so quick to point that out that he missed an easy nitpick like the blue star mw codes on the nose end.

Have you actually looked at the comparison picture of the model against the prototype up thread? They don't bear out your 'expert' view I'm afraid.

Actually the cab door on the model looks quite similar to the full size in those pics. I would have thought if you really were determined to play spot the difference, you might have noticed that the blue stars were in the wrong place on the model... I'm not convinced by some people's criticism of this model.

I've got a failed motor from one of my Bachmann 08s. It has the flywheel and worm still attached and in good condition. Yours for free if you pm me your address....

Shawplan sell etched brass insert panels for the headcode area to suit the various arrangements of marker lights that Class 47s wore. I think the ones that suit the loco you have pictured are EEDP47-04 Headcode Panel Blanking Plate for White Marker Lights. You will have to glaze the actual lenses yourself though with those parts. http://www.shawplan.com/fittings.htm