APOLLO

The whole HS2 project is now a fiasco. In fact all of our railways are now a fiasco. So very sad and humilitating. It could have been so very different. Brit15

Brit15

My late father was a press photographer for the Wigan Observer, a local newspaper. I still have a few of his beloved cameras, Rolleiflex, Mamiya, and other lesser known makes. Most are 8 or 12 on 120 roll film. He disliked 35mm but acknowledged it's usefulness. I wonder what he would have thought of todays digital cameras. I'm sure he would have got used to it. Dad and his Rolleiflex, an image created by his apprentice. The Wigan Observer weekly paper he worked for had a half page photo every week featuring an aspect of Wigan Life. The photo below is my favourite. Rylands Sidings on the WCML, this spot is about 100 yards from where I type. Lots more of Dad's (and my) photos on my Flikr site below. Brit15

Anyone spot the mouse ? Superb little video, thanks for posting. Brit15

You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive E-lim-i-nate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mr. In-between You got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum And have faith, or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene Brit15

Explained here, £25 or so more expensive than cheapest fare. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/lner-flexible-ticket-70-minutes-london-kings-cross-edinburgh-b1132588.html#:~:text=LNER launches 70-minute flexible ticket for passengers who miss their train&text=Passengers who miss their train or want to travel earlier,in ticketing launched on Tuesday. Do LNER laugh at their customers (and the Government) like Avanti ? https://novaramedia.com/2024/01/15/free-money-executives-at-failing-train-company-joke-about-making-money-at-the-taxpayers-expense/ Slides from the Avanti West Coast presentation Rip off Britain, AKA Treasure Island. Brit15

Interesting but look at the route, not many if any "politically safe & secure" countries. The local "bad uns" will still hold the west hostage. Brit15

The future ? Who knows but well worth a watch. This is real, AI next ? (God help us). Brit15

This would be an interesting time machine day out, only a couple of miles away. I would need a tin hat, gas mask, clogs, flat cap, knotted scarf and next doors Whippet !!!!!! I could visit my Grandma for a cup of tea, she lived 3 doors up from Belle Green Lane level crossing. Grandad was over in France back then in the Army. Wonder what she would think of my digital phone / camera !! Then again, perhaps not as my Mum was not yet born !!! Brit15

“This exciting new pilot is the next step in our plans to overhaul complicated and outdated ticketing options and we look forward to hearing feedback from our customers" Exciting ? Brit15

Similar to the Leigh exhibition I mentioned some posts back, a hot sunny sunday when I visited, 10 Sept 23. But there was worse, far, far worse. The enemy of Wigan Warriors Rugby League club, Leigh Leopards had won the RL Challenge Cup at Wembley (Leigh 17, Hull KR 16). a couple of weeks earlier and were celebrating and parading the cup at their stadium alongside the exhibition venue. A happy day for the Lobby Gobblers (Leighers) and they were rightly happy & proud. Grrrrrrrr !!!! (I'm a Wiganer) Looking forward to this years Leigh exhibition, September 14/15th at Leigh Sports Village. Come on Wigan, Digitus Extractum !!!!! Brit15

Yes that was my first £100+ (just) loco, but worth every penny, still a superb runner. But my later fifty odd pound from dear old Hattons Hornby Railroad 9F's (several) are very good also. Better value ? - Perhaps. At the age of 71 and a lifelong buyer of models, though new releases may tempt, I have decided recently that I have quite enough stuff. Thats more or less it for me on new release models. How many more "Boomers" (old gits !!) like me are cutting back on purchases as they age ? Hardly mentioned in this interesting thread. The cost of living crisis does not help, especially for new / young hobbyists. Model Railways as a hobby will survive and prosper, but perhaps not in ways we might wish or want. Brit15

Brit15

For me, the above post just about sums up in a few words the situation regarding our hobby, exhibitions, manufacturers, retailers etc. We are, and will see, (as always throughout time) change. We all need to support our hobby, when we can, positively through these changes. It's not all bad news. I miss my own local exhibition, Wigan, an always excellent one I have attended for many years. But 8 or so miles from me away is Leigh, and in 2022 (my first visit) and again in 2023 they held a quite excellent exhibition at the Leigh Sports Village, a 2 day event with free parking, around a fiver entry, and a good selection of both interesting layouts and traders, many local(ish). There was a smattering of non railway modelling also, good stuff it was too. The venue seemed just about "the right size". I am looking forward to the next one, around September. Brit15

Interesting Video. Has this chap retired, the one who passed ? Brit15

What a superb model locomotive. Below is a painting by S.G. Hughes, a locomotive of the 'Novelty' type on the St.Helens and Runcorn Gap railway crosses the Liverpool and Manchester Railway over Sutton's two-span Intersection Bridge. This was the first bridge in the world where one railway crossed another railway. The locomotive is hauling coal wagons to the docks at Widnes and beneath it, heading towards Manchester, is a 'Rocket' type locomotive. A nice layout or diorama idea. What a wonderful bridge that is. Hmmmm, shall I ? The St Helens & Runcorn Gap railway, little known as it was mainly a grotty (very) industrial line throughout the years. The Liverpool & Manchester sold some early locomotives to the St Helens & Runcorn Gap railway though Tiger doesn't appear in the list below, "Novelty" does. I wonder what happend to Tiger ? More info. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Liverpool_and_Manchester_Railway_locomotives https://www.suttonbeauty.org.uk/suttonhistory/transport/ https://8dassociation.org/the-st-helens-and-runcorn-gap-railway/ A very interesting book, has lists of all locos used, some were ex L&M etc. Brit15

Who would want to be in (or dare enter) UK retail in 2024 ? Is there a shortage of money ? - Apparently not reading of the current Hattons sale. But most are bargain hunting. But in general, many people have cut back on non essential shopping, and it's the dead period just after Christmas. Is there a shortage of stock ? - Well China (who make most things) are going through a difficult time apparently. But shops I saw today seemed well stocked. W H Smith had a good selection of Railway & Modelling Mags, including USA mags. Is there a shortage of Shoppers ? - My trains and trams today were well patronised with shoppers (travelled off peak both ways). Bank interest rates, Rent, Business Rates, Wage Bills, Tax, Energy and other overheads ? - All expensive these days and increasing. Not good for any business owner. But I agree, On line retaiers (Amazon etc) are taking over. I'm getting fed up of saying to the twins when a van pulls up outside and I hear a knock on the door, "Here's Mr Bezos, the world's (second ?) richest man, invite him in for a cup of tea" !!!!! Yet Hattons are (were) a mainly on line retailer, with a large and seemingly loyal customer base and worldwide customers. Perhaps they saw the writing on the wall (A few years ago, Walton Prison, Liverpool, painted on the wall, Appearing soon, Ken Dodd !!). They have decided to bail out and close the business in an orderly and honourable way. Brit15

Had a trip to The Trafford Centre at Manchester today, a large modern shopping & leisure centre just out of the City. Footfall seemed pretty decent for a January Tuesday, but what WAS noticeable after my last visit early last year was the increased amount of empty and vinyld over shop units, some quite large ones too. A couple of shops had sales "Everything to go" - very sad. I bought a couple of Railway mags from WH Smith (we lost ours in Wigan a while ago), a walk round the boring (to me) other shops, a burger and a pint then the tram back to Manchester Vic & train home. The weather was cold but sunny and bright (hence the day out) - very unusual for Manchester !! Retail (all descriptions, not just model shops) seems to be dying a slow death everywhere. As to my home town Wigan - err, that's why I went to Manchester. The Galleries, Wigan. Built 1988, 60 retail units. Demolition currently in progress, to be replaced with housing and a small leisure facility. A shame it could not have been repurposed, but such is life. Lets all hope for brighter retail news as 2024 progresses. Brit15

Memories. 180 Smithdown Road. Small shop front but seemed to go on forever inside. Second shop just down the road - much bigger. Widnes shop / warehouse This in the Liverpool Echo https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/hattons-model-railways-announces-closure-28411645 Brit15

Very sad news and my thoughts are for the staff involved. I first visited Hattons at Smithdown Road around 1965. A train trip with my elder brother from Wigan to Edge Hill then a fair walk down Smithdown Road. I had a few bob saved up and asked Mr Hatton (dressed in his light brown dust jacket) if he had any cheap Tri-ang TT items. Indeed he did, a tray of assorted secondhand TT wagons, coaches and track, nothing over two bob (10 new pence) - I was hooked as a customer. Many visits (and later mail order) followed over the years, always a satisfied customer. My last visit to their second shop (near Smithdown Road) I noted they were doing really well, glass cases full of new & S/H and three ladies taking orders on the phone. I had a small mail order fulfilled only a month or so ago. The end of an era, and they will be sorely missed. Brit15

I've just come across this very fascinating and superbly modelled layout. A difficult subject to model I am sure, in more ways than one. I do like that dramatic sky. My favourite "theme" is industrial tat and decay. This is something completely different, hence very interesting. Brit15

Sorry to hear of the local flooding. We in the NW seem to have been spared the worst of the recent weather. I found that there are varying types & makes of basket liner, some are more "grass like" than others. Garden centres, even places like B&Q etc. Worth looking around. I've never used static grass, but have seen quite excellent such scenery on exhibition layouts. I have used some Woodland Scenics materials, first class products though a tad expensive. Edited to add - I remember seeing The Gresley Beat layout at the Wigan show some years ago. They used dyed Teddy Bear fur for their embankments. In fact searching the web brought up this interesting thread https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/178772-teddy-bear-fur/ Brit15

Hai !! Brit15

It's interesting to see varying methods of scenery (etc) construction. Lots of usefull ideas. I remember my first attempt with my old TT layout back in the late 60's, Mod Roc (plaster impregnated bandage cloth) was the new wonder material back then. Just crumple up and dampen newspapers, wet the Mod Rock strip and make an absolute mess - loads of fun, happy days !!!! On my loft layout (and a bit in my garage) I use green hanging basket liner strip from Garden Centers, a usefull scenic base material. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Garden-Pride-Hanging-Basket-Liner/dp/B087PKMFC2 Brit15

Be careful what you wish for with Chinese construction. https://eng.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/p/05KKOLA6.html https://eng.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/p/073RC6NF.html https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2711978/pink-line-conductor-rail-collapses-in-nonthaburi https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2712219/monorail-mishap-spurs-govt-warning Google Tofu Dreg Railways China for some eye openers. All show over there. HS2 may well be very expensive, but as far as I can tell the engineering is cutting edge and top quality. Brit15