Opelsi

Glad I bagged mine (GNR ones) at the time, to keep a certain Stirling Single company. Eagerly awaiting the 6-wheel GCR ones to run with Butler Henderson. (Wish I had also ordered a 4-wheel all first too) Hoping the Caledonian, Metropolitan and Longmooor ones see the light of day too!

I thought it was a great choice by Bachmann this year and concur with the comment above in regard of having something suitable for post nationalisation for a nice change. I actually bought some similar wagons and now have a total of 9 with different running numbers and container numbers. Yay!

I ordered my R30130 'Thane of Fife' from the Hornby Collector's Club on 8.8.23. Website shows the model as "Available to Pre-order" Wondered if others are also waiting as it appears some already have the loco?

I use the first and last two digits where I can. So 40176 is 4076 and 45147 is 4547. I have a now rather large spreadsheet with tabs for D&E / Steam / Coaching Stock / Wagons etc. This helps specially where I have used nominate TOPS numbers or logical extrapolation. So WESTERN LADY is D1048 and therefore allocated 5248 LION is D0260 and given (italics on my spreadsheet as nominal class) Class 49 and therefore addressed as 4960 KESTRAL is HS4000 nominal TOPS Class 54 therefore 5400. DELTIC seamed logical to go with 5500 and DP2 as a Class 50 testbed as 5550. Units, I go with the class number then a zero unless I have more than a single example of a given class, where I the last digit as either a 1 or a 2. So my Craven is 1050, my Original Derby Lightweight nominally 1390, APT-E 2700, Blue Pullmans 2511 + 2512, Brighton Belle 4030, MLV 4190, CAROLINE 2030 (as She was originally from a Class 203 unit) though I could have gone with 9725 for her I guess! Departmentals, easy as 97xx, private owner or other oddballs in the 98xx series, gas turbines in the 99xx series. Steam locos I just go with the first two and last two digits. Where only two digits, Eg. 82 BOXHILL I address as 0082 and where three, Eg. Caledonian 123 I address as 0123. With a sizable fleet I don't have too many clashes (remarkably few when I consider), and use isolated areas of the layout/sidings for duplicate numbers so I don't get runaways. It might not be a perfect system (with only four address digits there will always be compromises) though the logic works well for me so hopefully this might be of interest to others.

Just been looking at Hattons website and R3983 Class P2 2-8-2 2007 "Prince of Wales" Please forgive me if already covered. Part of the front valve gear looks to be still plastic, like the older R3207 'Cock O' The North' rather than the newer sister R3984 Class P2 2-8-2 2002 "Earl Marischal" which appears all metal! Am I seeing something amiss? Thought the new version was all metal valve gear as part of the upgrade?

31/4's were regular turns on the locals from Scarborough, too many haulages to recount. Nice to here the last train on a night from a couple of miles away when trying to get to sleep. 31/1's often turned up on the summer turns out of Scarborough, nightly on the Wakefield and sometimes on the nightly Sheffield too (the later turn capable of producing an array of non-heat class [31/1, 37, 45/0, 47/0, 47/3]), needless to say I took full advantage of al the haulage opportunities, weather be damned or enjoyed. One of my abiding memories however is a pair of 31/1's on a railtour I picked up at Preston for a run to Oban and back. The best bit was going through Glasgow Central Low Level on what must have been something like load 13 and the pair opening up. I did feel a bit for the regular passengers on the platform getting all that wonderful sound and exhaust though for us lot hanging out of the windows is was sheer exhilaration.! Needless to say, got 31018 and 31409 on order, the later of which will change to 31404 which was a regular favourite on our locals, so much so it was nick named 'Dennis the Demon'

Oh - me being Mr Picky, finally one I want - lol I seem to recall seeing somewhere that the headcodes are changeable? Thinking it could be the sound version for me! Thanks Accy! Looks lovely!

Just ran mine in on DC first too. Did seam a little noise in reverse, though it was super smooth going forwards. Then I fitted a spare NCE Next18 decoder without too much hassle (did take a little persuasion to get the body to sit back on the chassis properly, eventually clunked in)! Now programmed on my ECoS, and it has the roster!

My two have arrived - very pleased! Thanks Model Rail + Heljan + Kernow

I also see weathered ones now on main Kernow site at £174.99, idea if you re not a Model Rail subscriber! Really looking forward to my pristine ones!

Yesterday my latest Model Rail hit the mat (always a good read - I have every edition). I can confirm that orders for their limited edition models are now live and I have ordered the BR Blue one, and one of the BR Engineer's Yellow ones. I think these liveries will be really popular so don't hang around if you want one. The order form did ask for my Model Rail membership number, bit of an online faff (just me & IT) but got it sorted and order competed. Price is £169.00 per unit. Next18 decoder required if you want to run on DCC.

Really excited about these and completing my BR Mk1,2,3 ranges. Only thing that I am surprised about is all vehicles being pre-fixed 'M' apart from the TSO(T) which is E6522, when sister M6523 could have been produced meaning all are Midland vehicles! Maybe some reason I am unaware of!

My Heljan Peak is fine. However I did have an issue with my latest Class 14. There was a Youtube clip around somewhere which showed the Class 14 as having one of the lighting plugs inserted into the incorrect socket and the easy fix of swapping to the correct one - which worked fine for me when I tired on mine. Thinking could be something similar with your peak maybe! Good Luck - Si

Just for fun - hope! CR Cardean with 12-wheel stock (magnificent and eye catching) Great Bear (as others have said - follows on from turbomotive etc) LMS compos (to match existing stock and grow sales of both) LMS [unprototypical] Red and gold stripes Coronation stock set GWR Collect Restaurant (to match existing stock and grow sales of both) Pullmans with cream upper band (not yet done on lit examples) Class 06 (it is one of Hornby's own) Class 70 (it is Southern after all) Class 81/2/3/4 (electric Missing links) Prototype HST (false start with others - so before they go again) Merry Xmas everyone!

Do we know if the lights will be controllable (owner can fit their own DDC decoder)?

Quick ask at Warley. Apparently looking like Feb 23 for delivery. This caused confusion when talking to a friend shortly afterwards, without realising his new partner was also called Carloine! lol

Really useful info thank you. I am going for 47452 as the alternative. Much appreciated!

Hi, I am buying 2 of 47435 to form the backbone of my ETH diesel fleet. Obviously going to have to renumber one and was considering 47497. Reading the comment on different boilers and roof ports (I don't want to think about hacking an expensive model and doubt my skills would produce an acceptable result either), I am wondering what alternative locomotive numbers may be possible for the livery/boiler/roof port/headcode combination and would be suitable for accurate renumbering please?

Saw samples at the Member's Club day. They looked really nice to me though I may not have the most discerning eye. Looking forward to receiving a couple of them hopefully soon.

These employees should not only be losing their jobs but also prosecuted. [Given this kind of evidence I cannot see much of a case for any defence]. Despicable! Total lack of respect for others (customers). I am lucky to have a great Postie - who is into model railways too! Couriers, well you know most will be genuine and honest though it only takes a few to give them a bad name! Back on topic, I wonder if the second batch of Accy Deltics might be announced at the forthcoming 'Rails of Sheffield' open day!

Balance Paid. Should be arriving tomorrow as it is already on the way. Looking forward to seeing what it looks like in the flesh with the double blast pipe. Also wondering how it will compare/differ to the 'R30126 LNER, W1 Class 'Hush Hush' (Smoke Lifting Cowl)' version due next year I believe.

I too had an email asking for a (balancing) payment. This was however for R3979 version on Monday. Only just seen it so must pay this morning. Cannot wait for this (ugly) beauty!

Would love 850 in SR Malachite (maybe as an NRM special)!

Fantastic news. Been wanting a RTR SECR brake van for so long, though I did think it would be the 'Dancehall' and did not even know of this type (please forgive my ignorance). They look great! One question I do have about the livery of the SECR ones (931001 + 931002) though please. What will the roof colours be for each, (grey like the 10t covered vans 927001 + 927002 or white like 9270011)? Many thanks in advance if you are able to shed light. Si

From someone who always thinks of the original livery when recalling HSTs, this very much reminds me more of the XPT I once took from Brisbane to Sydney!