Dan Hamblin

Thanks Keith, apologies but my specialism is mechanical engineering and electronics isn't a strong subject. It's circular, fairly flat and connected to both sides of the motor, with '104' printed on one side. In PMP's photo (below) it is the light brown coloured item above the flywheel, only on my loco it is now black. Regards, Dan

Has anyone experienced issues with the TV interference suppression diode on their models? On my Prairie the diode appears to have touched the motor case and now it gets extremely hot, smokes occasionally and has a crack in it. The loco starts to run and if taken over a certain speed suddenly stops. Is the quickest fix simply to remove the diode? Any help greatly appreciated. Regards, Dan

Is it conceivable that the Hornby wagons were more likely to exist later than 1830, when older passenger carriages were being replaced and possibly re-purposed? Regards, Dan

Agree with you Steven - good to see the Royal Mail coach but would much rather it was sold separately. Perhaps that will come in 2022. I think this is a good move by Hornby and if the sales support it perhaps they will look at other early era models given the various bi-centenaries that will be cropping up over the next 5-15 years. Regards, Dan

All of the engineering fleet are air braked now, so a Class 20 or Sarah Siddons would be required to act as translator between vacuum and air systems. The idea of painting a battery loco maroon though is rather appealing. Regards, Dan

Caught me in the Guard's compartment door A superb weekend - recovering from the problems on Saturday morning made it better I think. The team pulled off a small miracle to get No. 12 operational again and we were ultimately only 30 minutes late back on Ruislip Depot. Regards, Dan

The 20's and their barrier TEA tank wagons are still quite regular sights at Ruislip Depot. I captured them minus S Stock in September 2012: If you're modelling more recent transfer moves then the new signalling system radio antennas will need to be added on either side of the destination box. Regards, Dan

Some photos I took on Saturday 19th January at Alexandra Palace: Model of HMS Hood on the Surface Warship Association stand. 3D printer and model boats on the Eastleigh Young Engineers stand. Chelmsford Society of Model Engineers stand - best in show. Part of the Ministry of Steampunk display. 10 1/4" Gauge Society display with LMS 2F dock tank. Tom Parham's 5" gauge 'Jinty' model, winner of the Australian Association of Live Steamers (AALS) trophy at the Southern Federation's 2018 rally. Meccano model of the Eiffel Tower marking 130th anniversary of its opening. Tamiya Truckin Arena. Selection of traction engines on the St Albans & District Model Engineering Society stand. Hand pump trolley on the Sussex Miniature Locomotive Society display. Tiger 1 tank and military models on Northolt MRC stand. Harlington Locomotive Society display. Steam Apprentice Club display - 3D printed stationary engines. Stationary engines on the Society of Model and Experimental Engineers stand. Newest model in the Royal Spithead Review display - HMS Queen Elizabeth. 7 1/4" gauge Union Pacific 'Big Boy' under construction - really getting to see the scale of it now. 5" gauge 'Speedy' GWR 15xx on display in a 3D printed shed diorama created by Andy Hardy. Regards, Dan

No sections of the sub surface lines have been cut over to the new signalling system yet. I understand the first section at the end of the Hammersmith branch is likely to be done in late November (usual caveats apply). Yes, it would be nice to do and might be feasible over the sections of line that will retain Tripcocks for ATP on Chiltern Line trains. Regards, Dan

I picked up my Beachy Head during the Bluebell's recent Giants of Steam Gala, and as Atlantic House was open to visitors... The model gives a good idea of what the full size reproduction will look like and Bachmann are to be congratulated for producing another fine version of a Brighton engine. Regards, Dan

Some photos I took at the exhibition on Saturday 20th October: Fosse Way Steamers greeted visitors queuing up before the doors opened. Young Engineers competition models. National 2 1/2 Inch Gauge Association stand. Under construction 7 1/4" gauge Britannia on the 17D Miniatures stand. Some more of the competition models. Bromsgrove Society of Model Engineers stand. 'Little and large' Rob Roy's on the Erewash Valley Model Engineering Society stand. Kingsbury Water Park Model Boat Club stand. Guild of Model Wheelwrights display. 7 1/4" gauge LNER B1 No. 61283 on the Nottingham Society of Model & Experimental Engineers stand. Under construction 5" gauge model of gas turbine locomotive 18100, complete with a working gas turbine and alternator. Model traction engine powering a wood saw. Large Model Association's Avro Lancaster remote control aircraft, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the RAF. 9 1/2" gauge LBSCR K class locomotive No. 337 built by the original's designer L.B. Billinton for his never completed garden railway. Under construction 5" gauge 9F Evening Star, being built to the BR works drawings. 5" gauge Midland 'Spinner' single wheeler model of No. 2602. Regards, Dan

The Metropolitan set is being given a bit of TLC including, I understand, conversion of the vacuum brake cylinders to the same type as on Mk 1 coaches. I think the plan is for 1 or 2 to be available for Branch Line Gala with the others following over the rest of 2018. Regards, Dan

Bit of a blizzard at Blue Anchor by the look of things. Regards, Dan

One has gone to Locomotive Services TOC at Crewe for use as a route learner and the other has gone to the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. Regards, Dan

Sarah Siddons is there for condition assessment and (hopefully) overhaul following that. Regards, Dan

From other sources it appears the middle big end ran hot, so remains at York for repairs. A shame as it is a big achievement to get 35018 this far, but no doubt further work will bring it into a reliable performer. Regards, Dan

Hope this is the right section to put this in. Went to the Surrey Society of Model Engineers visiting locos day (01/10/2017) at their Leatherhead track and there was a variety of different designs operating on both the raised and ground level tracks. 7 1/4" gauge Metropolitan Bo-Bo No. 6 William Penn. 7 1/4" gauge petrol hydraulic loco Finch Hatton. 5" gauge LNER B1 No. 1000 Springbok on the raised track. 5" gauge GWR 47xx No. 4708 in the steaming bays. 5" gauge SR U Class No. 1628 in the steaming bays - 2 years since it was completed and still immaculate. 7 1/4" gauge 'Midge' (GWR 11xx) design No. 1101, owned by a member of Guildford MES. 7 1/4" gauge trains in the station area. 7 1/4" gauge LNER K3 No. 1700. 5" gauge Kriegslok BR52 No. 52 6901. 5" gauge freelance 0-6-0T Vixen. We got lucky with the weather and the Surrey society put on a lovely spread for lunch Regards, Dan

Ordered 323 and 178 as Bluebell is my local railway. It would be nice if a deal could be done to get a special edition for Project 27 to help with fundraising for that locomotives major overhaul. Regards, Dan

Most likely. I know 9466 has arrived and is safely tucked away in the former Cleaning Shed. Regards, Dan

They are waiting to confirm that it will be signed off for operation again before releasing the tickets. Kind regards, Dan

The O1 reassembly is quite advanced and Heritage Painting have posted photos showing their work on the exquisite SE&CR livery via Facebook. The Met coaches are still stopped due to the door locks issue. Don't forget you can also sign up to the e-mail newsletter to get recent news. Regards, Dan

The CAD expert who did a lot of work on the project planning / sequencing front has put some renders online to show how the wagon set up worked: http://www.coroflot.com/PaulBrown/Tunnel-Segment-Replacement-01 Regards, Dan

P Class No. 178 has been loaned to the NRM York for use on their brake van rides in the South Yard. Regards, Dan

I helped certify a modified Rail Wagon (RW814 to be precise) that had been kitted out with plant modules for tunnel lining replacement. This was for a 200m section of the Jubilee Line between Baker Street and Bond Street where the concrete segments were failing due to poor design for the tunnel geometry and depth. The plant was designed around replacing all the segments from track level up with cast iron ones. It was developed by the project team and Harmills, who have supplied quite a bit of plant for our depots on the Underground. Apart from the first and last rings plus some awkward areas, most of the work was done in cancelled Engineering Hours. A really good team of miners, civil engineers, project managers and with help from TransPlant meant that there were no overruns during the project and it won numerous awards. Regards, Dan

I ran mine through a Peco double slip and the check rails snagged one pick up. A bit of straightening and modification required... Regards, Dan