jonathan452

Unfortunately the RMT strike means I wont be able to make it.

The Western Region HST's were seven coaches throughout the Blue/Grey era, even after the arrival of the TGS vehicles. Only those sets transferred to the Eastern Region/Midland Main Line would have gained the eighth coach (facilitated by the disbanding of two North-East South-West sets and the building of nineteen additional TS vehicles). Around ten (TRUB West of England) sets were lengthened to eight coaches around 1986 with spare vehicles (including converted TGS's). By then these were in Inter-City executive colours. The remaining Western Region sets only became eight coaches in the early nineties following the post East Coast electrification re-allocations. This video from 1985 helps to clarify the matter.

Still no 'Raspberry Ripple' Mk1 FO.

If you have not done so already you may want to look at the latest addition to the Heljan thread.

FYI - Class Fifties on ECML passenger trains – Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (rcts.org.uk) Noting the appearances at Kings Cross.

Fairly well attended today (Sunday). Finally caught up with Weaver Hill.

Just seen this Folkestone Model Railway Exhibition 2022 - YouTube hoping to make it tomorrow subject to the trains being back up and running from Stratford International.

Noting that the Great Northern Inner suburban service to Alexandra Palace is pretty dire at the moment, particularly on Sundays with a combined Welwyn Garden City/Hertford North service of only two trains an hour at 20/40 intervals. Additionally this Sunday trains are being diverted in-to Kings Cross rather than Moorgate.

Buses replace trains in the Surbiton / Guildford / Woking area on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March Engineering work is taking place between Weybridge and Fleet, closing all lines. Saturday: Buses will replace trains between: Surbiton and Woking. Weybridge and Woking. Basingstoke and Woking. Guildford and Woking. Guildford and Farnborough Main. Weybridge and Aldershot. Sunday: Buses will replace trains between: Weybridge and Basingstoke. Weybridge and Guildford. Weybridge and Woking. Andover and Woking. Winchester and Woking.

An interesting find this weekend - even if 90029 wasn't the main focus of the video.

Hornby have produced this (as in Diagram 73 FO). Still no 'Raspberry Ripple' version though - despite being widely anticipated for 2022. Also noting that the Maroon, Blood and Custard, and Chocolate and Cream Hornby versions were all fitted with BR1 bogies - the latter two liveries for this coach type would only be applicable to current charter operation as they were built post 1956. Therefore they should have been fitted with Commonwealth or B4 bogies.

FYI English Version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22HLoqXfUFU

Cast Iron Quality Control - back the the standards of the early noughties. No more cheap yellow translucent self coloured plastic (Network Rail in particular). No more light bleed. No more 'hump backed' coaches (like the Virgin Mk2e's)

Thread already started https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/167399-folkestone-2021-exhibition-saturdaysunday-02031021/

Trusting that this is still on for the coming weekend? http://www.folkestone-mrc.com/NEXT SHOW MENU.html

And also not forgetting the 'glow in the dark' DVT's. Incidentally did Hornby not check these (as in the LNER farewell Mk3's) before they went out? EDIT I wonder if this is one particular factory?

(Tokyo) Akihabara - Washington Hotel - Train Room Nゲージのジオラマがあるホテルに泊まった / 鉄道模型 SHIGEMON https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3SrD24Zlzo

AZUMA FROM 14:44 KATO 3～6月の新製品をレポート! / サフィール踊り子 各車両インプレッション! / Nゲージ 鉄道模型 SHIGEMON https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY011gLi-K0

I believe they have already made an appearance on the blue/grey FO, also on the Flying Scotsman and Duchess of Sutherland (BSK) support coaches.

Yes I noticed that (maybe having looked at the same image as yourself). Possibly a QC issue in that the factory didn't let the plastic fully 'cure' before taking it out of the mould? (Someone may be able to advise.) Hoping this doesn't happen on the forthcoming RBR (even though that has Commonwealth rather than B4 bogies).

Got mine from Guilford this afternoon literally as they arrived from Cornwall (5 TSO and 3 FO).

Is it my imagination or has history just repeated itself again? o.k. no full yellow banding this time but no roof vents and the 'external' handrail in the buffet counter area. Yet the recent Hornby (NOT reheated ex Lima) GWR TRFB (as well as the East Coast Virgin/LNER ones) are correct. despite the stories about the original Hornby TRFB tooling being damaged beyond repair. Can I assume that the Swallow ones without the roof vents come from a different factory? Luckily these aren't on my wish list but I thought it is worth mentioning.

FK now added.

FYI from around 11.50 to 12.40 - (Though you may of course enjoy the whole three and a quarter hour video as a lock down boredom buster.)

It is not just the West Midlands Trains/London North Western Railway industrial action but the current dire unreliability of the West Coast Main Line which is putting me off from attending this year. More problems today.