rob D2

Could have sworn I saw one of these pass purton, near swindon on the Cotswold line yesterday about 10 am

Nice to see a man enjoying his job ... Do you get double time when scrambled or days off in lieu ? Our pay for DO goes up as they become more and more desperate

I'm not sure I want to hear about other things impacting modelling TBH. I'll keep my head in the sand I think. Modelling is an escape from the rather , and increasingly, dodgy modern world.

Yep, had some contact with Bachmann recently - the workshop manager I think is Jenni, who was very good with the he communication. Hornby limited to contact about mazak issues, but got the impression the person replying had no knowledge of model chuffers really

Looks good, not sure why the fake serial ? Unless you know about military aircraft it makes no sense at all. I think they should do a more attractive plane next, like the typhoon.

Did you steal my stock ??! I've also 174,209 and all those VGAa including the i one with graffiti on one side

I did exactly the same problem with canisp and T cut combined

Great stuff James, A satisfying project no doubt - funny how we get nostalgic for 2006/7 , I find as I get older the years run past faster. I've never been able to achieve quite the brilliance you have with the paint on, wipe off kinda system but I'll keep trying sporadically. Did you ever do this one ! ?

Fantastic standard as ever Lee !

As saviour of UK freight ? If it wasn't for these there wouldn't be any freight on rail Very true these days !

It will pass, once summer passes ! Keep the faith, bro...

Because if they end up on an aircraft they are classified as " dangerous goods "

What I don't not quite get is the high level of escort for the submarine fuel , but much less for the flasks. We don't have to play 007 here, all this stuff is available in the public domain .

I went to fort William in the sleeper 20 years ago - what a great experience ! Not sure it'd be quite the same behind a 73 now !

Good luck with the new venture !

Well that may have been the case on passenger side, but the aim was for each 66 to replace 3 locos , which they did and it was goodbye to the 31s,33s, and freight 47s. The plan IIRc was to retain the heavyweight 37s, 56s, 58s and 60s. Time tells us that didn't quite pan out. The thing with the three shadowy franchises was that they would never get sold to three competing companies - a tiny slice of a tiny slice wasn't worth bidding for to then have to compete for the tiny slice with others...er...not gonna work.

Errr, yeah....RFD was making a terrible loss and the 47s were achieving dire availability.EWS wanted something with availability in the 90s % which they got with the 66... and non of the indigenous types got close. They are getting rid of these 66s , it would seem purely because they have engine faults and with over supply at present they don't need them . Did you used to work for the Iraqi publicity office ?

you sometimes feel your in an alternative reality looking at freight in the UK. DBC trying to flog these, as 37s continue to be pulled out of retirement to head test trains, with other FOCs with surplus 66s and not forgetting the 67s standing idle. I'm sure someone's books balance .....somewhere...

Pocket money in 1998 ? Youngster !

Yeah don't blame you,all bachy wagons looke xpensive these days. I want some more MEAs to make a rake of 10, but I'll struggle at 15-19 quid each !

Well,the yard still exists but very little has been happening over the summer. I now have three EWS 66s and have put the air dams and pipes ( not the over knobbly Bachmann ) ones on two of them. I continue the Guinness world record attempt for " longest time building a kit " for the Genesis warflat which makes sporadic progress. Been away a lot with work abroad and when I'm not , I'm out on my cube mountain bike as I'm trying to cycle the ridgeway amongst other things. Here's one of the sheds.. That's arrived with the coal filled MEAs in the background. I'm also starting to think of the next layout .

Be careful,mate, I tried removing the mainline logo on one with T cut, and the force required to shift the tampo printing removed a section on the dark grey as well, leaving the lighter grey showing. I'd go very slow...

Looking good , Maybe you need some of those " lovat water " VGAs that Were about a few years back

Thanks nick et al , I understand it now .

Yeah, I know what it is, but VHF data derived for what purpose ? Is it for separation or just spotters gen