RJD

Not quite Far North Line, but what can you tell me about the Highland River Class 4-6-0 locomotives? They seemed to be very advanced for their time. Were they really too heavy? Had hammer blow been reduced to make them safe to use on the Highland main lines but the civil engineer didn't understand? How were they used on the Caledonian Railway and LMSR? And any other interesting facts. Thanks

I live in Utah, USA and a friend knowing I am a football fan greeted me on Sunday morning, "Sorry for England." I immediately asked, "You mean President Trump?"

Mark Geiger - After his performance as the referee in Columbia v. England, he should be sent home to the US and given MSL matches to referee. Why does FIFA entrust such high level matches to people who may know the rules off by heart but cannot control at this level?

Do the Laws of the Game allow for retro-active issuing of yellow cards for simulation? I'd like to see one for bad acting, too. In the 1950's I remember the crowd at Birmingham City shouting, "Give him an Oscar, ref."

When did England last have a world class goalkeeper and who was it?

I just found the following on The Guardian's site. This seems to say that if both players have a good grip on each other's shirts it should not be called as a holding foul. Is that the correct interpretation by the F.A. FIFA, etc. Guerreiro and Amrabat: Portugal v Morocco What happened: Morocco’s Nordin Amrabat and Portugal’s Raphaël Guerreiro tangled in the penalty area. Morocco appealed for a spot-kick that was not forthcoming. What should have happened: Replays suggested that both players had a firm grasp on each other’s shirts, and that no penalty was probably the correct call.

When did holding by two players become a play-on call? e.g. Serbia v Switzerland, second half. I remember, as a referee in USA, at a training session run by a US national level referee in the 1980s. He said that a modest amount of holding was OK and didn't need to be penalized for holding. I asked at what point it was not OK and gave the example of a player who is about to make a long pass, has his jersey pulled, and can only get off a short pass. The trainer was really embarrassed because he didn't have an answer. I asked where it would end and after that question the trainer avoided looking at me for the rest of the session. Where will holding end? The England v. Tunisia match was a good example of total inconsistency and on the BBC website, there was a comment that the holding of Kane did not warrant a VAR. Would someone give me the inside story on when holding is not holding while the ball is in play. .

Corbs' 0-6-0 tanker looks like an Anglicized Southern Railway USA tank engine

This model has that extra something. When I looked at the photographs posted on 6th January, I felt transported back to the 1950s and 60s for a moment . I could see myself going down the stairs to the broad platforms where I could watch our train come slowly into the station - Kings, Castles, chocolate and cream carriages, and later the Blue Pullman. But I never felt it was a black hole (see entry 69). For black holes try Euston and New Street..

So many Scottish locomotives full of character - Reid Atlantic, Highland River Class 4-6-0, Cardean, Highland bogie, Jones Goods, Clans.

Bostin werk, our kid.

What type of coupling and uncoupling are you planning for the layout given that the locomotives are fairly inaccessible at the buffers?

I think the Bulleid double decker coaches created a problem with slow unloading of passengers -a big deal on the SR.

I use a small square of hardboard and run it gently along the track.

A great actor. I first saw him in "An Age of Kings" as Prince Hal, Henry V. Loved his performances in "All Creatures Great and Small."