kernowtim

On the subject of 'modified' Dublo, FB marketplace has bought up this Princess Coronation...

Lima made a HO army train pack in their 'Golden series' in camouflage green, with a single cab diesel with a similar non powered loco, a rail mounted gun and a coach, possibly a wagon, a school friend had one in the early 1980s! Looking at your photo again, it looks like the one you have running on the inner loop!!

One of the Hornby releases of the ex-lima railcar had an extra letter added to the name on one destination blind, can not remember what it was now!, And there was the Heljan cls 47 Capatain sensible too. Also remember cheap train sets at a local garden centre labeled Westren express!

A bus driver friend told me their 2016 diesel double deckers cost £250,000 Each when new!

I had the handraulic version, bought new probably around 1979 and operated by turning the water crane, but soon added the motorising kit, which meant reversing the spindle the water crane fitted in, and adding an X04 motor to turn the drive gear instead, remember it was very noisy, and the water crane would still turn. I Think the later ones were just electric operation, has extra outlet traçks and the water crane was deleted!

I am still waiting to get volume 3 at a reasonable price! I seem to remember that the deck rails were held in place by a contact strip at each end, which powered the outlet track, it would cause a brief short circuit when used on my zero 1 operated layout, However it was probably over 30 years since I sold my turntable so may be completely wrong!!

I have been looking out for cheap dublo tinplate tank wagons, to possibly expand my collection 🤭 and briefly considered the wrenn variety, which led me to this.. .https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285703056404 There is a wrenn version, but this is not it!

The vehicle was going to be weighed in for scrap, Auto gearbox died and a replacement box was £3000

When The garage have finally fitted that electric motor conversion you bought off wish.com ...

The first catalogue I bought was the 1977 edition, cost me 25p from Taylor and Mckenna in Luton, I quite liked the HST although I hadn't seen a real one and did like the rural rambler set with a blue 'Nellie' 0-4-0T and matching coaches. I did get a hst train pack for Christmas 1980, and the rural rambler train about 40 years later!

Managed a quick ride before lunch around a local former mining district , still raining with temperature at 8°C 46°F but at least the winds have died down! Trek MTB has brake issues so used the Apollo which has marginally better brakes in the wet than my poorly Trek! Happy New year one and all 🇬🇧

I didn't realise there was a logging lune there, my mum was bought up in Bow Brickhill and remembers it being used for ammunition and bomb storage during WW2, There were 2 shops and a pub on the road she lived in, long closed now! And only 3 cars, one belonging to the doctor! Back in Cornwall now, managed 15 miles on new years eve bringing my weekly strava total to 16.8 miles , probably the lowest for the year! Discovered the front hydraulic brake on the trek mtb I took with me no longer works, presumably needs bleeding, Didn't like being left on its side in the back of the car for a few days?

I did try to run my Ace 9f on Hornby tinplate 2ft radius track, it wasn't keen and the valve gear jammed up when a crankpin fouled part of the valve gear! A lot of American O gauge is designed to run on 36 inch Diameter curves and some on 27 inch, not what we would call finescale though! I have seen Heljan cls 45 run on peco sm32 set track curves, 2 ft 6 radius.

I had plans for a long Christmas day ride as I was away from home visiting family and staying with a friend, however my children gave me a cold for Christmas and I was wasn't feeling well on Christmas eve and it didn't improve, Managed to get out ,started raining almost immediately so I only managed about 5 miles, my strava app didn't restart recording after I stopped and checked the time on my phone! Haven't cycled anywhere else yet! Just over 2750 miles logged on strava thos year, can't remember what last years total was now !

The short coaches also have a separate painted clear glazing strip incorporating the windows as part of the coach sides, corresponding with the grey band on the blue and grey coaches.

I have bought a few ìtems off the group 'Model Railways trade' But it may be worth listing on any local selling group and fb marketplace especially for lower value items and maybe track Any limited edition wagons probably best on ebay, look out for a reduced fees weekend, although I haven't seen any recently!

No rain yet so hopefully will be out for a ride after I have done a few jobs at home , one of which involves cutting up pallets for firewood which has to be done outside as shed is full of bikes 🙄 Had a quick look on realtime trains to see if anything interesting/hst shaped is passing soon, no need to detour today!

There was/is a Ford similar to that near where I lived in South Bedfordshire although it had a footbridge on one side, remember crossing it one winter and the bridge was covered in ice so went through the water, deeper than I thought but didn't fall off, only issue was the wet bike then froze and I was unable to change gears. Nothing like that near me now! Managed 70 miles on my carbon specialised road bike week last Sunday and I found the hills a struggle towards the end, was the furthest I have cycled this year . Done 4 miles yesterday 2 miles to aldi so far today! Took a very quick pic when passing the local railway station 😏

Serious playing trains?

Another model that is long out of warranty is this early postwar Hornby Dublo LNER A4, with the chassis expanding and breaking up!

The model shop Hattons had a large quantity of pre owned American outline models at very reasonable prices, many seemingly unused and nearly all has now been sold, I bought a train set for £75 and a few wagons to play with and frighten the folks down at the local HRCA meeting, then put in a few more orders! There are many fb groups I have looked at and a common theme is the perception that electrics are easier to wire up and more reliable, no complications on return loops is a popular example. I personally like the size and bulk and it fits In with my mainly coarse scale O gauge interests!

Fitted with Traction tyres!!

It's been lovely weather here in the bottom left hand corner of England and been trying to add a few miles onto the evening commute, soon I will be doing this in the dark again! Managed 16 miles tonight but was getting dark by the time I got home.

The description was.. Hornby dublo 3 rail locomotives. Sir Nigel Gresley LNER Blue. Locomotive paintwork blemished. Used condition. No box So it didn't say It was in working order. The seller did message me after I paid to say they retested it before dispatch and the motor works fine but the valve gear was jamming, and offered a refund. On questioning was told I could be a quartering issue! I thought that could be fixed or at worst a parts donor or display model so asked them to send it anyway. The listing photos, either by accident or design don't show the broken chassis. I have accepted a £10 refund and have been offered a bare chassis from elsewhere and possibly another complete with black wheels and valve gear,

I have just purchased this early postwar Hornby Dublo A4 off ebay, Mazac rot in the chassis block means display or parts donor!