tractionman

"Carlisle City of the Lakes"! Blimey, had not seen that one before, "border city" yes, has been for centuries, but miles away from the Lake District--besides, what about Lancaster, it too could lay claim to being "City of the Lakes", being geographically closer to the LD than Carlisle surely? Have a great trip whatever the eccentricities of the marketing machine... all the best, Keith

interesting photo that, dated 06 12 1986, for DS55466, providing a terminus ante quem date for this same Bachmann 38-918 departmental-liveried van. cheers, Keith

16 mph average speed I'd be happy with that! My first proper ride today for ages, the southern tip of the Ards peninsula in County Down. Note no sunshine here! Just cloud but better for cycling perhaps, but boy that westerly wind was a nuisance... I did like my new rear view mirror, from Decathlon and five quid, makes all the difference on the road being able to see what's coming up from behind. cheers, Keith

yep nice model, https://www.hattons.co.uk/948946/bachmann_branchline_31_137a_po04_class_d11_2_4_4_0_6401_james_fitzjames_in_lner_black_pre_owned_good_box/stockdetail cheers, Keith

yep I was thinking the same, the last / most recent **all new** steam locos from Bachmann (apart from retailer specials) I can think of are, say, the MR Johnson 1P and LBSCR H2, both lovely models, more please :-) cheers, Keith

some good pics of the Leiston line here -- https://www.ipswich-lettering.co.uk/aldeburghbranch.html cheers, Keith

now all gone! all the best, Keith

I should check my Facebook more often! Just seen this from Derails, 'our shop soiled boxes sale'... https://derails.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=578

'delivery in late Q4 2022/early Q1 2023 before the factory closes for Chinese New Year' is the estimate according to the Accurascale website.

This is from the Heljan Fb posted today on the Peaks: "Several retailer exclusives will also be available from TMC, Kernow Model Rail Centre, Rails of Sheffield and Olivia's Trains. See their websites for more information. Models for general release through Heljan stockists are as follows. #45100 BR green D31 #45101 BR green D57 with small yellow panels (see above) #45104 BR blue 64 Coldstream Guardsman (full yellow ends) - see below #45300 BR blue 45003 (sealed beam ends) #45304 BR blue 45033 'Sirius' (sealed beam ends/Tinsley unofficial names) WEATHERED #45402 BR blue 45133 (sealed beam ends) #45501 BR 'railtour' green 45106 with sealed beam ends, Tinsley diamond plaques and HI headlight #45502 BR blue 45118 (sealed beam ends, orange cantrail stripes and HI headlight)" https://www.facebook.com/heljanas/ cheers, Keith

an update at https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/Heljan-oo-gauge-class-45-update expected October 👍 cheers, Keith

having spent a week on holiday in Yorkshire this explains much aggressive and arrogant driving especially on B roads which some seem to think they own... lovely county, terrible roads and driving.

worth checking pre-grouping maps, such as (for sarf of the river): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Croydon,_Norwood_%26_Woodside_RJD_53.jpg https://travel.sygic.com/en/poi/farnham-railway-station-o-s-poi:3417300 https://travel.sygic.com/en/poi/gipsy-hill-poi:31017947 all part of the fun! I spend hours looking at these and working out possibilities where various pre-grouping companies operated side by side :-) all the best, Keith

certainly looks good-- https://www.themodelcentre.com/35-252z-Bachmann-lner-g5-class-0-4-4t-tank-1752-lner-lined-black-with-westinghouse-pump-and-cage-bunker-tmc-limited-edition cheers, Keith

yep, now all gone -- https://www.accurascale.com/collections/class-55-deltic/products/d9012-crepello cheers, Keith

A little outing this afternoon around the forest tracks on the edge of the Mourne Mountains, seen here "In the place where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea" (https://g.co/kgs/9scyMD), just by Newcastle (County Down!): Very gusty after lots of heavy rain. cheers, Keith

truly superb modelling, even down to the lead flashing around the chimney--the arriving class 25 is especially life-like! cheers, Keith

a post from Rails https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/rapido-lbscr-e1-update cheers, Keith

book ordered from publisher yesterday morning and arrived today, less than 24 hours! outstanding service and cheered me up for the weekend now I have some excellent reading material, the book is really lovely, superb reproduction of images, with maps and plans of locations, brilliant. all the best, Keith

I am very sorry to hear this Jonathan, really worrying news, I like many on here I am sure have been inspired by watching and following your lovely modelling of the LMS in its glory days--wishing you well for a full and speedy recovery, and more amazing LMS Derwent Spa scenes to come. all the best, Keith

It's a pity really, a World Heritage Site on the doorstep, loads of visitors, yet fairly unprominent as a tourist attraction. It looks like trains do run, though more of a mock tram set-up:

up on the north coast, near Giant's Causeway, where the NCN route follows the track of the three foot gauge railway, rails rusting, a melancholic scene in the evening light here, the line used to see steam hauled trains but that was a fair few years ago

some very good prices on 2mm, 4mm and 7mm Dapol items, https://www.dccsupplies.com/product-category/locomotives-rolling-stock/graded-locomotives-rolling-stock/grade-i/ eg Grade I 7D-008-007 Class 08 BR Black 13003 Early Emblem O Gauge £144.00 Inc. Vat I've bought 'grade I' stuff before and it was top notch. cheers, Keith

great to see the photos, lovely period charm, somehow accentuated by the lack of trains! all the best, Keith