APOLLO

February 21

The best thing to do with your Lima Crabs !!

And your Replica B1's also. A nice place to sit in the Wigan sun and scoff your pies !!!!!

Central Wagon, Ince, Wigan Mid 60's, Photos care of Wigan World.

Brit15

February 20

My latest work in progress / bargain project is this rake of four Aluminium (Aluminum !!!) O gauge passenger cars.

A poster on here mentioned that Elaines Trains had some American O gauge in stock. I spied these four extruded aluminium cars without bogies or couplings, £60 for the four - Bargain. A phone call, and they were delivered the next day - excellent service.

The cars are beautiful actual extruded Aluminium, plywood floors and detailed resin ends. They are unlettered but nicely glazed. The shells and ends were made by a small firm, Phoenix Models in Arizona.

Note the internal glazing rails, floor rails and end locators - a superb design.

Now many, many years ago I purchased quite cheaply half a dozen assorted tatty Lima O coaches. They have sat in the loft for well over 30 odd years !! I wondered if the bogies would fit ? The answer was yes, off the British body and onto the plywood floor of the new ones, just a washer and a screw. Temporary (perhaps permanent) inter coach bar couplings were fitted over the existing lima ones, and the coupling bars at each rake end cut & drilled to accept Kadee couplings. They might not be correct, but they work and will do.

Having had problems with my expensive plastic Atlas "California Zephyr" cars on my tight reverse curves etc I attached a loco and ever so gently ran the rake around the low level line. Bang, scrape as the 22" Baggage car hit a couple of structures and became jammed in the short tunnel. A few adjustments here and there and a 5Lb lump hammer & chisel in the real sandstone tunnel, bit of swearing & bruised knuckles, sorted that.

What amazed me was the super smooth running of the Lima bogies, and not only that I can actually push this rake all the way around the low level line without angst.

No need for paint as the natural Aluminium potrays the Stainless Steel prototype quite well. In Summer I will add the Car names and numbers along with the railroad Name (Rock Island). A good job I don't model the Chigago, Milwaukee, St Paul and Pacific !!

4 O gauge cars for £60 - A bargain !!!!

The short tunnel on the right needed "adjustments" for the 22" baggage car above. My layout was not designed for this length of stock. And this set is banned from the high level lines - far too much work needed.

Just to add - as many modellers state, you can always tell metal from plastic !!

Thank you Elaines Trains.

Brit15

February 20

Lovely Brits Tony.

Carlisle August 1967, Birmingham - Leeds - Glasgow train (Jubilee Leeds to Carlisle). 45562 Alberta comes off.

And 70028 Royal Star awaits to go on. Nice tender view.

Our ride home south to Wigan, mucky black 5. If I remember correctly the train was 1M31 !!!!!!!! (Anyone dare to model this ?)

The Brits put on a good show between Crewe & Carlisle until the end.

Vulcan southbound at Springs Branch. 1966/67, Dad's photos.

Firth of Forth slogs up to Boars Head, Wigan. Plenty of steam !!!!

With steam to spare, Western Star coasts down the bank.

And soon they were gone, along with their wonderful chime whistles.

Brit15

February 20

52 minutes ago, ess1uk said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-68338838

£10bn boost

More than 40,000 new homes could be built and 31,000 jobs created, the report by consultancy Arcadis said.

So get from London to Brum a bit quicker and the above will happen !!!!!!!!

Magic !!

Pity it's not going to Leeds, Manchester & Golborne etc.

Brit15

February 20

Lima Diesels - Good in their day, not excellent, but good. I have quite a few bought in the late 80's / early 90's for around £15 - £20 a pop brand new. My 47 "special edition" collection numbers a dozen or so. They are quite nice, probably worth a few quid more.

They growl when running, a drop of oil on the pancake motor central bearings helps.

The wheels are brass and tarnish over time, just pop them out and clean them up, a drop of switch cleaner helps.

The traction tyres can spin / come loose etc. I bought a few packets cheaply at Wigan MRE a few years ago.

And that's it. Simple. No faffing around with electrickery !!

Unlike Bachman and Heljan I have NEVER had one fail. They're like cockroaches you just can't kill them !!

Value today ? Not a great lot. Have a look on Elaines Trains for approximate values, good ones are around £20-£30 today.

Oh and yes, their Steam locos were dire.

Brit15

February 19

Pensions, State or Private are a complex subject and everyone has differing circumstances, rules etc for both.

I always decline to discuss or advise on pension matters with friends etc due to the above. I would hate to give wrong advice etc. I just about understand my own !!

Brit15

February 15

9 minutes ago, Jeremy Cumberland said:

Oh, come on!

I certainly won't begrudge the Duke of Wellington his two statues, nor General Fochs outside Victoria Station, since both actively resisted aggression, and Britain owes a lot to them and all the men they had under them.

Who else is there? A load of royals, including two of the worst monarchs (Richard I and George IV) that Britain has ever had . A number of imperialist aggressors. Okay, so it could be said they were only doing their job, but in the case of the Duke of Cambridge, they seem to have done it particularly badly. Then there's General Haig.

Who, exactly, did you have in mind?

We have this guy in Wigan !!!

Brit15

February 15

London Underground / Overground - easy peasy !!

And the overground

Wish we had a fraction of this 'up ere !!!!!

Brit15

February 15

1 hour ago, Siberian Snooper said:

The Treasury won't be getting much fuel duty revenue when all vehicles are electric, or are they going to add duty to electricity prices?

Wait till the Budget - March 6th.

Brit15

February 15

At Wigan North Western station subway we have decorated murals to give newcomers a chance at communication with us locals.

Helps at the Chip shop also.

Anyroadup, seeing we have two stations and seven lines into Wigan, I propose naming lines from them as follows.

Wiganers will easily remember the food links !!!!!

North Western Station

WCML Southbound - Th' Jellied Eel Line (Was thinking Th' Pie and Mash line but that would cause local confusion !!)

WCML Northbound - Th' Neeps n Tatties Line

Liverpool - Th' Lob Scouse Line

Wallgate Station

Headbolt Lane (Formerly Kirkby) - Th' Nowt to eat when you get there Line

Southport - Th' Fish and Chips served posh on a plate Line.

Bolton - Th' Black Pudding Line

Manchester - Th' Eccles Cake Line

Of course (Gravy) trains on all lines into Wigan are Pie bound !!!!!!!!!!!!

Brit15

February 15

Beats Drax Swoosh any day !!!!!

Brit15

February 13

8 minutes ago, billbedford said:

I'm still not sure how this bat tunnel is supposed to work.

It works like this.

Brit15

February 11

I also attended Wigan Grammar School just to the north of Wigan NW (63-69) and trains could be seen but just too far away for their numbers. Just before I left I caused pandemoniun (and earned a detention) for shouting "KESTREL" out loud as HS4000 thundered north on a 20 coach test train from Crewe to Carlisle - the only time I ever saw this loco in action. 1969 I think.

I'll never forget the chime whistles of Britannias leaving Wigan northbound when trying to get to sleep. Less than 1/2 a mile away but sadly no view !!

Brit15

February 11

Mum and Dads bedroom window had a view 1/4 mile away of the L&Y Pemberton Loop line that ran from Hindley to Pemberton. Back in the early 60's mainly coal trains Liverpool bound from Yorkshire, hauled by Dub Dees and Black 8's mainly. A 4F 0-6-0 Tender loco was usually banking up to Orrell from Westwood Park signalbox. The coal trains slowly dissapeared by the mid 60's when the signalbox closed but the line continued in use untill 1968 or so. Photo care of Wigan World web forum. Westwood Park signal box in the background.

Later it would be lineside just south of Wigan NW near the canal bridge where Wallgate trains could also be seen along with the gas works and electricity works and Chapel Lane goods yards shunting. Always busy.

A ten minute walk. My photos around 1966/7.

Later Taylors Lane bridge at Springs Branch just before steam finished in 1967. Half an hour walk.

Two for nigb55009, Rylands Sidings / Whitley Crossing. Dad's photos.

We have lost so much.

Brit15 (Now you all know where my Forum name came from !!!!)

February 10

This is interesting.

ANDREW NEIL: At over £50bn a year, Britain is the world's 6th biggest defence spender. So why are our forces so badly equipped and humiliatingly hollowed out? The answer is that MoD bureaucrats are guilty of incompetence, stupidity and reckless squandering

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-13066863/Andrew-Neil-Britain-biggest-defence-spender-Armed-Forces-badly-equipped-incompetence.html

Behind a paywall but you get the gist.

Brit15

February 10

I would not be surprised if a Civil (!!) Servant in DfT suggests Wormwood Scrubs to Curzon Street to be laid at 5 foot gauge thus saving more money by ruling out connections, through running etc - It seems this is how they think.

Time to scrap it all and save more money being wasted for the Plebs north of Watford ? What's already built can be ~~tarmaced~~ cobbled over and used for buses to the north.

Brit15

February 10

Just to say that I NEVER walk past a layout an exhibition without spending at least 5 minutes or so closely observing, even if nothing is running. A lot are worth a second look on my walkaround, and one or two worth ten minutes or so (usually the "big 'uns" !!).

On entering I have a quick walk round both layouts and trade stands, looking quickly before I do my viewing / buying !!

I miss my local exhibition (Wigan) but nearby is the Leigh one, an excellent show.

Brit15

February 10

I like a mix and overseas layouts are always interesting. In fact ALL layouts are, to me, interesting.

I have OO British in the loft and North American O in the garage.

Brit15

February 9

1 minute ago, C126 said:

I admire your pride, but fear what you have written above does just that. Our voters do not wish to vote for policies that enable us to be a 'Treasure Island' again, including improving our beloved railways.

Unfortunate but true.

Brit15

February 9

Too many people in the world and not enough resourses.

Everyboby wants the "Western" lifestyle - but the planet cannot support that.

If they can't get this lifestyle in their country they will march en mass to where they perceive they can (as probably you and I would).

The problems we face in the UK are nowadays seemingly universal, however,

The basics (UK)

Energy We were self sufficient (coal, oil, gas) but no are longer. WE all (should) know the story.

Transport New ICE cars gone by 2030, EV's still many questions, HS2 fiasco, Our new trains are rubbish, Smart motorways an expensive and dangerous disaster. etc etc

Food Far too much is imported - look at news re farmers in France, Germany etc.

Housing - A disaster area. No way my house is worth 4X what I paid for it in 1993 - but "the market" says it is.

Employment - Another looming disaster area, AI, etc etc Also the scene has changed, working from home etc etc (not neccesarilly a bad thing).

Climate Change links everything, and, wether you believe in it or not, to whatever degree, CC WILL change everything.

Then we have the Politics, the15 minute cites, ownership (or not !!) of anything etc

War - Ukraine, Middle East and perhaps China, N Korea, Iran etc - The world certainly cannot afford this.

It need not be like this in the UK,

Energy. We are STILL energy rich with wind / second highest tidal range on the planet with several large and suitable estuaries (Bristol Channel, Morecambe Bay, Solway Firth etc etc. We need to develop all of this, with nuclear as baseload. We need to electrify as quite simply our (UK) oil & gas reserves are much depleted, yes still some last but all the big, easy stuff has long gone.

I doubt coal will come back, as I doubt shale gas etc. But it aint going anywhere and will be availiable for future generations if ever required (which I doubt).

Transport HS2 should be built in full, Golborne link and Wigan by pass included. New trains need customer input (seats etc) at the design stage, The long running situation re industrial action needs sorting as a priority - it is killing our railways. New lines often discussed need reopening, our bus system is also a joke. Car manufacturers need to work harder on more affordable vehicles. Public transport in the UK is DEPLORABLE in 2024.

Food We CAN grow all our own food if we so wish as approximately 36% of the land is croppable (arable), or approximately 25% of the total UK land area. Most of the rest is permanent grassland, rough grazing and other land on agricultural holdings.

Housing can and should be more affordable, build more council houses, affordable houses etc. Introduce price & rent controls (?). In the direction we are heading our offspring (and theirs) will own nothing - but will they be happy ?

Employment - We need to manufacture the basics, especially raw new steel etc - as green as possible. Electric arc recycled steel is OK for many, but not all uses. China is going into freefall economically. They have had there day. It's not all about cheap labour anymore, those days have gone.

Climate Change. We emit under 1% of the planets CO2. We are doing our bit (and more).

Politics / Policies I'll just say I have no faith in anyone anymore.

War - A difficult one. We need to at the minimum ensure are services are well manned and equiped.

Don't ever write this country off.

The Romans wanted it and got it (well up to Carlisle / Newcastle !!), The Normans took us in 1066. The Spanish, French and Germans all tried several times after that with no success, WHY ? - Because we are Treasure Island of course !!!!!!

Brit15

February 9

9 minutes ago, Ron Ron Ron said:

4 to 4.5 times as many used cars are sold each year, compared with brand new.

That indicates that "the majority" can't afford (or are not prepared to pay for) new ICE powered cars either.

As EV's filter through onto the used market in increasing numbers (as they are already starting to do), they will easily be affordable to anyone contemplating buying a similar used ICE powered vehicle.

Early heavy depreciation in a fledgling and uncertain market, means you can currently (no pun intended) pick up, almost new, low mileage EV's for bargain prices and benefit from lower running costs, making them "more affordable" in the long run.

EV depreciation, insurance and eventual battery replacement costs are rising issues, as is range and charging anxiety.

I do hope that when HS2 eventually opens it gets to Euston, is affordable and not beset by strike actions etc

Time will tell.

Brit15