Pandora

Here is a Blue Peter episode describing "Copenhagen Fields". Hats off to Blue Peter for their due respect and regard for the model.

I think it was late 1999, rumour to the effect of class 33's were operating passenger trains over either the North London, or, West London lines (memory fade). Is the rumour true? Any images to support the rumour?

From your image, a 4-band colour code, Brown Black Gold Silver which is 10 x 0.1 ohms ie 1 Ohm with 10% tolerance. HOWEVER, double check band 3, is it gold or a discoloured / burnt yellow? If a discoloured yellow, then 100000 which is 100Kohms same tolerance https://www.wellpcb.com/resistor-color-codes.html

Yes, Accurascale are undercutting the big players, I have a decent rake of their Hopper and Mineral wagons, purchased in boxed sets of three, I think they were £23 / wagon, contrast Accurascale with the Bachmann Presflo wagon, £49.95 RRP each, probably £42 after typical shop discount

In addition to reduced discretionary spending caused by the squeeze of rising energy and fuel prices, the manufacturers are raising prices too, in big increments! A retailer told me recently, Peco have warned retailers to expect significant increases for Peco products, retailers are telling me of consumer resistance to purchases of new stock, i have resisted the W1, the Heljan 25 and the new Bachmann 20 and 24 diesel locos, not because of lack of funds, I am unconvinced of the "pleasure vs price" balance of the model, I have several Bachman 20s from when they were £39 each, do I gain anything for the latest £155 class 20 over my £39 example, ...... yes but not much!

Is the new livery in a traditional coach paint, or is it a vinyl wrap?

Here is a Flickr link for more images of the carriages:

A strange bird indeed, look at the gap for the door entry nearest to the camera, , it seems the door is hinged to open inwards to the vestibule, and observe the similar doorway at the opposite end of the carriage, is the doorway inset or joggled to the main bodyside of the carriage?

A comment accompanying the image from Flickr " The Continental tank on the left was used for imports of molten phosphorus from the Netherlands to Albright & Wilson at Langley Green in the West Midlands. The traffic was one of the last to use the Dover train-ferry (the tanks were not permitted through the Channel Tunnel), which sailed for the last time in December 1995" From my school chemistry lessons, Phosphorus is stored in oil, would the tanker wagons be filled with oil?

From the pdf file of October 2021 detailing the IC225 repaint scheme, the stripe for the locomotive should be RAL3000 Flame Red

At Rotherhithe, there is the Brunel Museum: https://thebrunelmuseum.com/ The Museum is adjacent Rotherhithe Station, the Museum occupy an Engine House and the Vertical Shaft used to construct the Tunnel, and as the pedestrian access prior to conversion to a railway tunnel

The writings of Dr Bonavia are worth close study, Bonavia spent considerable time at 222 Marylebone Road, BR formed under the British Transport Commission, the BTC was somewhat lacking as a leader of post 1948 BR, Bonavia wrote of their inabilty of the BTC to formulate a Traction Policy for BR, the first real traction policy for BR was formulated as the BTC entered a period of demise, the 1955 plan could have been formulated many years earlier if the BTC had been far sighted.

The stiffleg derrick crane: https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/stiff-leg-derrick-used-ships-supported-ball-socket-joint-d-two-cables-ba-bc-cables-attache-q8349749 There were also cranes known as Scotchderrick or "Spider Cranes" which may be to be a variation of the stiffleg deriick crane. A fixed crane , the example below has a central pillar and two outrigger legs, the crane could rotate the cab and jib on a turntable, the main pillar behind the man, the crane had a considerable reach, the example was broken up recently despite of being earmarked as a heritage item for at least 30 years. https://www.spacehive.com/rotherhithe-red-crane#/gallery

The Philip Larkin poem about parents: http://joyfulparents.co.uk/philip-larkin/

I do not know the answer, but the train is running under what appears to be ECML 25kV OH in advanced state of erection , does the presence of the OHL help with the dating?

I think it would be the late 1980s, seen at Bimingham New Street Station, the station 08 in polished gloss black, it may have been lettered LMS, memory fading! Anyone able to identify the locomotive?

Don't forget Ashford Works is still operational, repairing Balfour Beatty mainline stock, some of the Workshops are standing though internally gutted more than 30 years, it is possible they are listed and cannot be demolished, the wagon shops long gone for a retail centre, but the main Works still in use, , near the gatehouse was a cafe, said to be the former blacksmiths shop, but closed several years ago, the cafe displayed several framed photographic prints of SR locos, probably by the works photographer

Not sure I understand your question, by deputation in waiting, do you mean a group of people loyal and supportive of Gresley? Doncaster Plant Works were loyal to Gresley and Peppercorn too, My Grandfather worked as a boilersmith at the Plant, retiring around 1960 with 40 years of service, as a young boy I recall hearing him tell, in colourful words, of the universal distrust and dislike of the autocratic Edward Thompson, and the welcome appointment of genial Arthur Peppercorn when Thompson retired.

School holiday, an expensive trip at the height of a summer weekend from Sheffield to Bristol area, travelling by overnight trains in both directions, visited Woodhams Barry, at 5:30 am, then returned to Bristol Temple Meads for a day (we hoped) of Westerns, Warships and Hymeks, 14+ hours at Temple Meads and not a single example, even the shed was bereft of hydraulics, the Station yield was of only Peaks which we could have seen in Sheffield, days later in Railway Magazine we learned of the reason, the news of the mass storage of diesel-hydraulics at Bristol St Phillips, we had discussed but rejected a visit to St Phillips on the day of the trip, all those hydraulics missed, even worse, on the way home, vomiting from food poisoning , my sandwiches had gone off from the summer heat.

It is the correct tour, the notes include the steam pipe failure and the failure occuring by Firsby, the notes document the assistance but not the identity of the diesel locomotive

The Gresley Pacifics were heavy on coal in their original form, uncomfortably close to an empty tender at the end of a duty, it is recorded as a cause of worry to Mr Gresley, Bert Spencer, was a key player in the corrective redesign work of the A1, Gresley and Spencer maintained a strong life-long professional relationship, poor Spencer had a rough time by Edward Thompson following the death of Gresley

I was a passenger on a 4472 Flying Scotsman tour, Doncaster to London KX and return, the year was 1969, on the return 4472 blew a steam pipe joint, arrival at Doncaster was several hours late around 0100, a diesel rescued the train for the final 40 to 50 miles, arriving at Doncaster I was unable to head up front to see the diesel and note the number, Father was waiting to run me home in the car, he was tired having waited several hours so I forewent going forward to see the diesel, does anyone know the number of the rescue loco? 4472 was fresh from overhaul, possibly Hunslet of Leeds, it may have been March 1969. May someone end the perpetual misery of not knowing the number of the rescue diesel.

£12million, but I cannot find anything for the interest rate and term of the loan, the interest rate being a clue to the perceived risk of Hornby, and what is the loan secured against, inventory? The Hornby property portfolio?

The link to the West Highlands Line episode programme on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeYYUGqi5V4 Sadly Callum passed away at the age of 66 years: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12250841.callum-macraild/

We remain in-waiting for the cars we were promised, powered by a nuclear generator engine under the bonnet requiring only a grain of uranium fuel, and the grain of nuclear fuel lasts for twenty years of motoring!