dibber25

This one is an open goal and has been for years but, let's face it, it's a bit more challenging for manufacturers than, say, another coal wagon, although there is one (or bits of one) they could scan. It's just so much easier to do another more conventional wagon. Also, although this could command a fairly high price due to its complexity (unless an outfit that's equipped to do road vehicles made it) it isn't suitable to bung in a box of three for a block train that you can charge £100 for. However, there ARE pictures of trains with two or three in the formation, and they would be very saleable because you could run them in a main line setting or just one on a rural branch line. If you provide a suitable loading facility, they even offer a bit of play value. All good reasons for a mainstream manufacturer to pick up on them, yet none has....... (CJL)

VoR 2-6-2T has already been announced by Model Rail. Currently in CAD design. (CJL)

Pete - I think there have actually been one or two previous instances of a manufacturer letting folk on here know which ship a batch of models is on. Once I knew the name of the ship it only took seconds to find where she was. The way I found out the ship's name was a bit alarming, though - the Customs documents were sent to me! (CJL)

Yes, I suspect she may be booked one or two more calls before Felixstowe or otherwise a long wait off-shore. (CJL)

Cosco Galaxy due Felixstowe 23/1/21. (CJL)

It shouldn't really be a surprise as the reasons have been stated many times. These days, the cost of tooling a single item is a six-figure sum. A three coach multiple unit means three times that figure by the time you've added in all the complexity of getting lights etc to work off one decoder. And all the time the market is shrinking with the result that manufacturers are spreading ever-increasing costs over ever-reducing production runs, and that means ever-rising prices, which no one likes. I, too, would love to see a Class 120 but that particular unit involves more complications because there isn't one in existence to scan. Due to very high blue asbestos content, they all, apart from one buffet car, got scrapped. Working from drawings and photographs is more complex and costly with greater risk of getting it wrong. (CJL)

Die-cast boiler sections are becoming increasing common on ready-to-run locomotives. The Model Rail/Rapido '16XX' is substantially die-cast as is Rapido's 'HO' scale Royal Hudson 4-6-4. It looks set to become common practice among manufacturers for the UK market. (CJL)

And your attitude astounds me! I expressed no self-righteous indignation. Indeed, if you read further up the thread you'll see that I actually (albeit mildly) defended the BBC's action. In posting the comment about UNICEF I was making the point that the BBC was not alone in its misuse of photographs. Among all of us in the editorial department of the Bauer railway titles this is a perennial topic. Back in the autumn one of my colleagues had a major chain store remove posters advertising branded trainers on the foot of a young fashion model who was climbing from track level onto a station platform. There's no indignation and no self-righteousness involved, just a wish to protect others and especially our friends in the rail industry who, literally, have to pick up the pieces. (CJL)

It came up on that 'Timeline' thing that comes up when you open Facebook. I've no idea how to get that back but the same things never come up twice. From memory it probably was abroad - probably narrow gauge and with shiny rails. (CJL)

Just received a UNICEF advert on Facebook which shows what are obviously the legs and feet of a child, walking on a railway line, in the four-foot. Apparently an organisation dedicated to caring for children, which sees nothing wrong in children being on railway lines. (CJL)

I'm surprised they don't get a visit from Social Services. Just ground them - barbecuing them seems a bit extreme! And I wonder if the Euro Bunwich is still allowed? (CJL)

There are some good novel signs in the UK, too, like the one from Swindon Works about spending more than 10 minutes in the loo. (CJL)

As drawn. As built. As modified. Anyone who is making ready-to-run models needs to be (or to make use of) a dedicated researcher. Relying on any one set of drawings or photographs, one scan, or one source of info doesn't work. Particularly with rolling stock, you need a broad UNDERSTANDING of your subject to decide what detail is standard, what detail is variable and to be able to make a considered judgement of what to include, what variations you can afford to cater for, and what aspects cannot be covered by your tooling. (CJL)

In this hobby if you want extra agro at home, you don't need to go and buy it, you just build a bigger baseboard than you've got permission for!

Vancouver Island seems to have toads that are equally large and dangerous - and periodically move home, too! Glad I didn't encounter one! There was a railway connection - I was on my way to the fabulous Kinsol Trestle. (CJL)

With the White Pass & Yukon Route now taking delivery of brand-new diesel locomotives I thought I'd post up a few shots of the old Alcos (re-engined a few years ago with Caterpillar diesels) which presumably face retirement after a long and illustrious career which started with moving aluminium ore and has ended with cruise ship tourists. My shots are from a railfan trip that I did in June 2013. Looks like the colourful green and yellow is giving way to black, too. Wouldn't it be great if Bachmann was to produce these in its On30 range? (CJL)

Wasn't that sign at Ingra Tor Halt, on Dartmoor? (CJL)

Surely the SR numbering system wasn't 'Bullied's' but was merely a copy of standard European systems based on the continental wheel arrangement system? That system would have covered locomotives with two six-wheel bogies or frames as C+C and that would presumably have been reflected in the numbering. (CJL)

In 1976 I had a week's holiday in the former Lynton & barnstaple station building at Bratton Fleming. Apart from a warning not to trespass, there was nothing to prevent one from exploring further up the trackbed towards Chelfham. Some way into the woods I found this, which I'm pretty certain is Bratton Fleming signal box, moved to apparently form a hide. It was similar to the one at Woody Bay. Bratton Fleming station, now with modern extensions, has recently been bought by supporters of the L&BR.

Ascott-under-Wychwood in 1960s. It is still there but with a modern crossing and spoiled with awful UPVC windows. (CJL)

Locomotives were painted in photographic grey to better facilitate black and white publicity photographs. There's nothing unusual about a photographic grey loco being lined out and carrying the full proposed livery. What WAS unusual about the Leader was that it was put to work still wearing photographic grey, but I suspect management thought it would be less conspicuous in grey than in shiny fresh BR black. (CJL)

During my trips to Canada I've occasionally seen signs that made me chuckle, such as the church noticeboard - The afterlife, smoking or non-smoking? or the shop called the Co-op Home & Aggro Centre. This one which appears on the ends of centre beam lumber cars seems to under-play the consequences. 'Fall over' doesn't quite seem to do it justice! Does anyone have any others? (CJL)

Found two shots which appear to show the same train and it is carrying the LCGB headboard, although no 'Wessex Downsman' headboard. I'm pretty sure I've seen a headboard on the Bulleid that worked part of this tour so I suspect the LCGB didn't possess a second adaptor for GWR lamp irons. (we had one at Ian Allan - a big heavy casting which made it almost impossible to get the board on straight, as demonstrated here by the LCGB's board. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who couldn't get them on straight!). The first picture here is the approach shot at Seend, presumably moments before the shot of the tavern car shown above, and the second was a Holt Junction where the line to Devizes diverged. Such a pity to see a loco with missing nameplates turned out for a rail tour. (CJL)