gridwatcher

We are off on our travels with the new and extended Waddon Marsh. Appearing at ModelRail Scotland 2023 24-26th Feb at Scottish Exhibition Centre, The scenic section has doubled in length, we have new lights, new panel and far more operational interest with coal and coke sidings, Hope to see some of you over the weekend. Please say hello.

The 'White Stork' has landed....Campo De Leste has migrated south of the Border to less inclement surroundings and has taken up residence (not on a cart wheel mouted on the cimney) in a prpose built railway room in Sunny Norfolk. We are still available for shows and more news and photos will follow. Thanks S

we were bidding against each other..... nice to know we are all a bit mad!

Well that went errr. well? I ended up with more stuff than I bargained for, probably bid against myself at one point?? Total online auction novice and others (well known in these parts) have ended up with a truckload of bargain German/Austrian etc stuff too. Auctions are dangerous places but I am happy that I got stuff that I wanted and didn't overpay for the specific items. The stock was absolutely MINT and BOXED and in many cases RARE too.

Campo is getting a new home in 2022. Purpose built too!. Expect a lot more action shots 'soon' including the 1550s in action. Roof is on, windows in, floor about to go down.......

I know many of you who drop in here occassionally will be sick of the 'will they ever happen' MLW messages but here we are, conclusive confirmation that in the next few weeks the MLWs will arrive and our two will be sound fitted for a mere €100 extra!?

Meanwhile here is José's lovely picture from yesterday on the Douro. I can heartily recommend to anyone a weekend trip to Porto with loco hauled up and down the valley and plenty of super food and drink to be had. Flights are back on (Riotscare) and seem pretty cheap?!

INCOMING....notification that the 1550s are finally nearly here.

How can you say Accurascale are 'the Gold Standard' I sincerely hope they are and it all looks promising, but nothing has been delivered to UK modellers in the way of locos yet.

I believe you! (probably)

There's evidence there Callum, that you were taking coach numbers back then...... I can get you help if you need it!

I was always told by my gran. "If you have nothing useful to say, say nothing"

Only just picked this up thanks to Lee. Very interesting, as this is really 'where we are at' If you know Scottish Diesel and Electric Group and layouts in OO HO and O gauge you will know that we would have 95% of all locos renumbered, detailed and generally not out of the box. Have a look at threads on Airthrey Park, Wellpark, Dalnottar Riverside, Hazelbank etc This is where the interest in the hobby lies for me, the minutiae, differences between lamp iron positions, data panels missing etc etc. I really don't want 'what everyone else has got' by and large, and will continue to renumber, detail and weather stock regardless of what it costs. I actually take a perverse pleasure in removing numbers from what is essentially a £300+ sound fitted loco to make it unique and suit our chosen location and time period. Big shout out here for the late and irreplaceable Andy Elliot and to the the thankfully still active Andrew Donnelly for being my inspiration for years.....

Best loco, after your 156 Charlie? Surely.....?

....add to that the ploughs are likely to actually look like the protoype unlike the £400 loco.

Try Hattons

Great news Ben. I know where our money has gone in the past and feel that it's likely to be the same going forwards.... Denmark!

It has. Several American outline manufacturers have dabbled with solenoid driven self uncouplers. But while that is OK for Knuckle couplers as per US outline (and a few 66 hauled wagons in UK - HTAs etc) those of us who prefer real couplings, hooks and 3 links/Screw links wouldn't thank you for increased costs and unnecessary gubbins where we don't want it.

Agree on that. Too often the tendency in the market is to go for 'Livery Tarts' & Ice Cream Vans! Makes them much harder to renumber to your choice too. I am all for bog standard un-named locos from manufacturers. That said I am sure they'll spin back and tell us that the namers, funny liveries sell better.....

Am I the only one who would like the 'purple' tints on my BR Blue 47 but couldn't give a monkeys about working fans? I am only hoping they haven't specced the purple tints on every Sound Fitted Deluxe Duff they are bringing out, because that would not be correct?

This is all good. Bachmann needed to do something to up the ante and get 'back in the game' So a big thanks then to Heljan, Sutton, Accurscale et al for pushing them along...... Cannot wait to see the dec samples.

better..... the Hornby 87 has front cab shape issues and the internals are pretty hopeless for sound installation

Only 40 years ago and look what has happened since. Fingers crossed one day it will be relaid to Fakenham.

Rich that Desert scheme Landy Ambulance looks out of gauge to me?!