APOLLO

D400 entered service in October 1967 and deliveries were completed with D449 in November 1968. They were test run up to Carlisle usually hauling 12 or more tatty old maroon coaches - a mix of LMS & BR Mk 1's. The headcode was 1T60. I saw this train many times as the WCML ran alongside Wigan Grammar School which I left in July 1969. HS4000 Kestrel was seen once on this working around 1968, caused quite a stir in the geography class - the teacher was NOT amused !! D400'ers were certainly present in quantity on the WCML during the last week of steam in August 68 - but by then apart from 70013 the Brits had gone. Here are D441 & 442 at Crewe works in 1968, fresh from "The Vulcan". Later on they were magnificent machines when run in pairs thundering through Wigan on the "Royal Scot" before we went electric in 1973 / 4. Brit15

Transport should be No 1 priority. The country is quite simply seizing up (and the M6 around Warrington is actually cracking up !!!) Yes a devolved North of England (or NW / NE) would probably help. Brit15

Is this of any use Tony ? http://maps.nls.uk/geo/find/#zoom=14&lat=52.7469&lon=-0.4965&layers=101&b=6&point=52.7384,-0.5011 Unsure of map date though. Click on maps to RHS to show early 1250 scale maps. Brit15

THE HAPPY WANDERER I love to go a-wandering, Along the M42 NEC track, And as I go, I love to sing, My knapsack on my back. Chorus: Val-deri,Val-dera, Val-deri, Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Val-deri,Val-dera. My knapsack on my back. I love to wander by the Peco stand And buy some Flexi track Then quickly turn round - And stab you in the back Val-deri,Val-dera, Val-deri, Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Val-deri,Val-dera. My knapsack on my back. I wave my ***** to all I meet, And they wave back to me, No deodorant I wear, Some people stare, that's how it is you see. Val-deri,Val-dera, Val-deri, Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Val-deri,Val-dera. My knapsack on my back. Oh, may I go to Warley Until the day I die! Oh, may I always stink and sing, Beneath the NEC's clear blue sky! Val-deri,Val-dera, Val-deri, Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Val-deri,Val-dera. My knapsack on my back. Brit15

Also this Transport Secretary Chris Grayling today (29 November 2017) set out a new vision for our railways, including plans to end the operational divide between track and train and an evolution of the franchising system. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/strategic-vision-for-rail Full report here https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/663124/rail-vision-web.pdf Brit15

The East Coast rail franchise will be terminated three years early, avoiding the embarrassment of another private firm handing back the keys to the government but potentially forfeiting hundreds of millions in premiums due to the Treasury. Under a rail strategy announced by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, a new partnership model will replace the franchise contract of Virgin Trains East Coast (Vtec). https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/29/east-coast-rail-franchise-terminated-three-years-early-virgin-trains Brit15

When you exhibit Shap next year will it be in the 1967 Blue / Grey introduction era, or backdated to your favourite 50's / 60's ?. As the infrastructure / scenery changed little over these time frames do you envisage changing time frames (stock) occasionally ?. Whatever, good luck with your new layout. I like your 'signature' track - Peco on painted foam ballast - this works well for me too !! Brit15

I have a couple of Lima EE Type 4's and a Jouef one bought new donkeys years ago. Though they all run / pull well they just don't look right parked alongside each other. One is too wide, or one too narrow, or perhaps a bit of both !! How do they compare with a Bachmann one ? If you model Shap after 1960ish you need plenty EE type 4's (Big D's). Don't bother with the MTK kit though !!!!. Brit15

To keep this thread alive - a superb new layout -- http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/128568-hills-of-the-north-the-spirit-of-shap/&do=findComment&comment=2940450 Brit15

Lots of 1967(ish) BR info / photos on this thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/52572-why-is-this-so-rarely-modelled/ It's the era (but not the area) I also model. Steam mixed with Green & Blue diesels, a mix of Maroon Green & Blue/Grey coaches, dirty tatty locomotives working hard - what a superb layout theme. PLEASE bring it to Wigan next year if you can !!. edited to add - you can even run some Mk 2 Blue/Grey non aircon coaches behind a mucky Brit - see my photos below !! Looking forward to some more layout photos. Brit15

Same on the M58 near Manchester Airport. Signs now just indicate motorway number and direction (North, South etc with some NE & SW to really confuse) - add to this at a major junction you keep to the two right hand lanes to go left (on a flyover), also parts of the M62 are now the M60 ring road. - Very confusing !! Brit15

The Greek automaton Talos was steam powered - watch him die when his boiler is emptied !!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdgY9vgRcRw Brit15

A4's romping over Shap (real ones - 1:1 scale !!!) Tangmere only just makes it. Staniers products do fine (as they jolly well should !), as do the "standards". As to OO, P4, EM etc - I don't care, if a layout looks right, has atmosphere and interesting trains running then it's just fine for me. Little Bytham has all three and more. Atmosphere is the main layout quality, not track gauge. Brit15

It's been said before - and I'll state it again. I am more than a little concerned (for our hobby that is) when you can buy a current magazine that raves about this and that new releases only to instantly find out that the item is "sold out" or even "pre orders sold out " and that particular model probably won't be available (livery wise) ever again. Either then pay inflated ebay prices or do without (I do the latter). Yes Hornby seem to be doing a re-run of Peckets and that's fine (I may even order one) - but many other new models are increasingly "buy it on pre-order or you won't get one". I know the reasons - we don't need to state them again - I suppose that is how the hobby will be from now on for most. As to crowdfunding - no thanks. Brit15

We would have some superbus locomotive designers Sir Nero Gresley Octavia Bulleidius Sir Maxima Stannier Georgia Julius Churchwardium Bearing the Roman "Standard" would have been Romulus Riddlelia !! Brit 15 "Apollo" - A joint Greek / Roman God

Don't know about the article, but there is a very interesting video called "Kings Cross Suburban". 1970's around the time just before / during electrification. Well worth £15. http://www.videoscene.co.uk/kings-cross-suburban.html Brit15

Set it up around the tree - use it next year also. Brit15

Not so many these days. Occasionally "Railway Modeler" (by far the best), but an occasional BRM or Traction mag. I've gone off "Railway Magazine" (probably because I've "gone off" the current rail scene). MRJ is an occasional buy, just to give me some inspiration. One magazine I always buy is the quarterly (4 a year) "Classic Trains - The Golden Age of Railroading" - an American mag with well illustrated articles on 40's 50's & 60's Yank Railroads - it has many diverse and interesting well written articles. I've just won on Ebay some bound volumes of Railway Modeler 1960 - 64, and some "Model Railway news" mags, again 1958 - 64. Looking forward to some interesting reads over Christmas !!. Brit15

I've never been to Warley so can't really comment, save that lots of people state it is very busy / crowded at times. Try Wigan next year (around October), a big exhibition in two halls, many layouts and trade stands, and this year even just after opening on Saturday it was very busy but not over crowded as there is lots of room around and between exhibits. the trade stands being placed around the walls and are equally well organised. Parking is free for visitors, entrance a tenner, and the pies are superb !!!!! Brit15

Garry, what is the overall length & width of your board shown above ? Brit15.

Modern steam but well worth watching - The Bulleid makes it - JUST, Sir Nigels finest romps over !! The there's this Brit15

Brit15

Very nice locos Clive. To us Wiganers they were called simply "Sulzers" when the "rat" infestation (along with lots of EE type 4's) ousted our Black 5's & *8s back in 1967. I bought a few "MTK" diesel kits back in the mid 70's when I changed scales from TT to OO. A class 25, 40, 45 and Clayton class 17. I built the bodies by gluing them (sacrilege) but never powered them, a bit beyond me back then - then Joeff made a 40, Mainline a 45 and Hornby a 25 so that was that. I did however a few years earlier build a few "BEC" TT steam locos which turned out rather well on the old Tri-ang 0-6-0 Jinty chassis. I've still got those also - but no layout to run them on. I think Gresley's coaches were very beautiful creations. I can't remember seeing very many, but I do remember a Blue / Grey Gresley Buffet car in the Manchester to Harwich boat train back in the late 60's / early 70's. We really are spoiled these days for RTR, I've just bought the December Hornby Mag (for the calendar !!), and I just have to shake my head at all the new stuff described in there. As I've probably mentioned before, I am not a perfectionist or a very competent "model creator" - I simply love to build and operate my layouts. I often hark back to the 60's etc and lo and behold I have just bought quite cheaply on Ebay some bound volumes of Model Railway News and Railway Modeler mags 1959 - 65. They are my Christmas present from my Mrs, and I look forward to some very good reads over Christmas !!. Brit15

I have a tatty old 1960's Hornby Dublo "City of London". Passed down to me by my brother, and friends of friends etc (many owners). She still runs superb however, and romps round my layout with 12 on no trouble. I'll keep her as she is. She will probably last for ever. Brit15

79 years ago ------ At the top of the climb at 85mph after which ‘I gave Mallard her head and she just jumped to it like a live thing. After three miles the speedometer in my cab showed 107mph then 108, 109, 110 and before I knew it the needle was at 116 and we’d got the record. They told me afterwards that there was a great deal of excitement in the dynamometer car. ‘Go on old girl’ I thought, ‘she can do better than this’, so I nursed her through Little Bytham at 123 and in the next 1¼ miles the needle crept up further, 123½, 124, 125 and then for a quarter of a mile while they told me the folks in the car held their breath – 126mph.’ Nuff said !!! Brit15