BMacdermott

Hello Tony and everyone I don't consider myself to be a 'modeller' per se - rather, someone who uses models to recreate (with a wide margin of tolerance!) my memories of being a trainspotter in the late 1950s. I won't go into detail here as it is not important, but my layout - particularly the hidden sidings - is not (and was not) designed for actual timetable running. Instead, it permits a series of random but related trains to 'come at me' and I have to work out what to do with them. That includes shunting, rostering locos to trains, forming 'correct' (or reasonable) carriage formations and so on. For all this to happen in a meaningful way - and on the four 'places' that my layout can purport to be - I have spent many hours perfecting a working system. And I enjoy that 'thinking creatively' far more than I ever could by 'creating models'. I have attached six photos below of how my layout works when in 'Hitchin 1959' mode. The seventh photo shows what is 'coming at me' this afternoon. I will explain just the top two lines... To the left is 'Up' to London; to the right is 'Down'. The first Up train is Freight No.T6-3 (which you will find in the previous photo). That is booked to terminate - but before that happens, a K3 has been on the shed pits and will now take out Freight T6-4. On the Down side, Parcels P1 (a long distance train) will arrive at the platform and have a 'segment' (usually about three vehicles) detached from the rear by the station pilot. When the parcels departs, the pilot shunts the stock to the carriage sidings. Took as much time to work all of the above out as it would have taken many of you to build a loco!🙂 Brian (happily running RTR!)

Hello whart57 Your post above is pretty much how I would see the situation. It did throw up a (totally hypothetical and somewhat strange!) anomaly for me though... If I wanted to go back to Exeter Central and observe a full 1960 summer service from start to finish, I'd need observations at the west and east platform ends as well as at Exmouth Junction shed and the sidings! It's the stuff of Hollywood sci-fi movies, but what if - instead of actual time travel - we were able to view all places at all times in history through our computers? Select a map reference and date/time - hit 'go'! A bit like Google Earth but with historical perspective and movement! A full 1960 summer service would entail about 90 days viewing - and that equates to over 2000 hours to observe at each of the four locations! A fascinating research project...as long as you have a 'fast forward button' to skip the dead times! The mind boggles!🤓 Brian

Hello everyone Indeed, time travel would enable us to return to such interesting places as Oxford, Exeter Central, Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot - to name just four of possibly hundreds! Much of our 'history' is garnered from photos and many of those emanate from BR days from (as noted) Ivo Peters etc. Most of those photos will have been taken 'during the main part of daytime' and often on Summer Saturdays. Time travel would allow the historian to see what those places were really like, spread over a whole day and/or over a whole week or number of weeks! There would be so much to see and learn!🙂 If time travel were possible, I'd be first in the queue with my notebook and camera at the ready! Brian

Hello everyone Circumstances preclude me going to as many shows as I used to but the three local ones here in Milton Keynes - GETS, Silver Fox and MKMRS - had plenty of the younger age groups attending. Brian

Hello Larry In balance (and support of Accurascale), my two Manors (Draycott and Erlestoke) both have good slow start and slow running performance. I agree that they are not the best locos I have for this, but they aren't far off and it doesn't spoil my enjoyment. I'm not an 'electrical expert', but I do wonder if controllers make a difference. I use what were Kent Panel Controls handheld units (now made by All Components) and I have the feedback switched to zero (or very low). Brian

Hello Edwardian When I said "Ivor etc", I meant Ivor and directly associated people, rolling stock and general scenery. I hope that clarifies the point. Brian

Hello everyone Once again, those who voted in The Quirky Poll have picked a winner! Many congratulations to Hornby on the announcement of Locomotion. The loco was High Polling in 2020, 2021 and 2023 (the poll didn't run in 2022). Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team)

Hello everyone Once again, you have picked a winner! Hornby has just announced Locomotion. The loco was High Polling in 2020, 2021 and 2023 (the poll didn't run in 2022). Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team)

Hello Hattons This is a blow to you all and I am deeply upset to hear this news. Brian

Hello Gilbert I would love to see the 'shortie' stock made! I have attached a clip from The Guide to The 00 Wishlist Poll for information. Brian LNER Gresley GE Section Stock 52ft 6in (Diags.9, 141, 146, 216, 1926-1936) In essence, a shorter version of the standard 61ft 6in stock (Hornby), generally with one fewer compartment or bay. This stock comprised: · Corridor Composite to Diag.9, introduced in 1926 (with the same underframe as used on the Diag.190 Corridor Composite in the steel panel 5-sets above); · Corridor Third to Diag.141, introduced in 1929; · Corridor Brake to Third Diag.146, introduced in 1932; · Tourist Open Third to Diag.216, introduced in 1936 The shorter length was necessary due to a combination of factors but the principal reason goes back to the introduction of the ‘Jazz’ services. The whole of the GE London Suburban Area track layouts were systematically rationalised and re-signalled. As part of the re-signalling the locking and fouling bars were all set to be activated by coaches no longer than the then Great Eastern Railway standard of 54ft. To have a longer gap between inside bogie wheels could give false indications by not detecting the presence of a train. The Continental Boat Trains used platforms 9 & 10 which were both longer and also arrivals and departures could be specially controlled by the signal boxes. Outside the London Area the signalling did not present the same constraints so standard length stock was acceptable if not working into Liverpool Street. In later years, the stock appeared on cross-country workings (e.g. Exmouth-Cleethorpes via the S&D and York-Bournemouth via Oxford) and on ex-GCR lines. Diag.216 No.E60544E was photographed at Paddington in 1962. One Corridor Brake Third survives on the Great Central Railway, though not yet in public service.

Hello PhilJ W I will put it on the Agenda but - at present - we are listing locos and rolling stock. The subject will 'get a fair hearing' from The Team though. Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team)

Hello Rob Do you know if Dapol has made 'an official announcement' about production of the list? I would very much like to 'claim them' on the Results of The 00 Wishlist Poll 2022 as they are all in The Top 50 (albeit that the coaches are listed 'generically' to save space). Many thanks and I hope no-one thinks I am going slightly off topic. Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

Thanks Steve Going on the Agenda for you. Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team)

Hello everyone I may be off-line for 24 hours so there may be a delay to reply to queries. Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team)

Many thanks Jason - it was pointed out to me by Andy York. Brian

Thanks Rich I'm expressing 'my own opinion' here but would love to see Ivor etc made into model form. There seems so much potential with 'smoky mountains', dragons, choirs, quirky signal boxes and a myriad of other items that might make 'a range' particularly with modern sound systems and 'animatronics'. I wonder if there are problems with 'rights'? There was talk of a film in recent years, but that seems to have disappeared off the radar. Brian

Results – The Quirky Poll 2023 Hello everyone Very many thanks to all who took part this year. The Quirky Poll Team would also like to extend a very warm thank you to Andy York who prepares all the ‘computerised aspects’ of The Poll. Although The Quirky Poll is ‘hosted’ by RMweb, it has no influence on it and Andy works in his own time (no doubt ably hindered on the way by Phil Parker!). As noted, we were going to list the Port of Par locos this year, but they were announced by Rapido. Fortunately, we were able to replace them with another item just in time. The results are consistent with previous years…have you picked yet more winners? Time will tell. OK…thanks again to all who voted and have made some great suggestions for 2025. We intend to run The 00 Wishlist Poll at the end of 2024 and The Quirky Poll in 2025, alternating year on year. A Happy New Year to you all! Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team) Results - The Quirky Poll 2023.pdf

Hello everyone FINAL CALL FOR VOTES IN THE QUIRKY POLL 2023 Just a reminder that voting will close at: 1800, Friday 29 December 2023. We hope to get the results to you by the New Year - look out for the thread: Results - The Quirky Poll 2023. Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team)

Hello No Decorum It was suggested by a voter last time and we felt it was 'quirky' in relation to 'normal' BR locos. The OED definition of quirky is: Having or characterised by peculiar or unexpected traits or aspects. The Poll is always a 'matter of opinion' and The Team itself has many debates before you see the list.🙂 Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team)

Hello Edwardian You - and others here - may like to know that the MR USA Mogul is one of the 25 items in this year's Quirky Poll. Have a look at the thread: The Quirky Poll 2023. Brian

All the best for Christmas, Rob, and to all ye who make this thread a daily 'must read'!👍 Brian

Hello Nick And all the best to and good luck with your hard work on this project! Brian

All the best, Gilbert! And thanks for all your hard work sending us photos and text to enjoy.👍 Brian

Hello Gilbertand everyone Just a note that we are running our usual 'little bit of Christmas fun' with The Quirky Poll 2023. Within the 25 items, we have four of 'eastern interest' as well as such as Ivor the Engine. Although the Team provides many of the listings, about half come from voter suggestions from the previous Poll (which we now run in alternate years with The 00 Wishlist Poll). As per the main poll, you can vote for whatever you like as long as you would realistically wish to buy the item if it were ever made (assuming high street prices, modern levels of quality etc). You can find full details via the link in the banner headline, or search The Quirky Poll 2023. Brian (on behalf of The Quirky Poll Team)

Thanks PhilJ W I don't think I have ever seen that one before! I will put it on the 2025 Agenda. Brian