BMacdermott

Thanks Andy I already have the statement below under 'KIt Positives' (but I have added to 'RTR Positives' that they facilitate cut-n-shuts etc). Brian Enable layouts to ‘look different’ to many on the exhibition circuit.

Hello adb I already have down that 'skill takes time to acquire', but am happy to add these two: Risk of uncertain outcome (breakage, irrevocably gluing a wrong part upside down, nothing to show for your money if it goes wrong); Cost of handing a part-finished kit to an (increasingly scarce) professional for completion. I haven't referred to 'loss of parts' above as many kit providers seem happy enough 'to help out' when needed. However, it does become a problem if the kit is no longer produced etc. Brian

Hello again Andy...just had a thought. Is it a positive for RTR? (I already have a 'RTR negative' that states that RTR can be expensive.) Brian

Thanks Andy. Can you suggest a form of words that I can use to cover that, please? It's not really a negative of RTR, nor is it a positive of kits... as it's RTR(!). Hope you see the predicament. Brian

Hello everyone There has been much discussion so I thought it might be helpful to present a 'summing up table' - but please note that this is a V1 Draft Only. I would very much like your input as to anything I may have missed, under-stated or over-stated. After a day or two, I will re-present the table with amends in red. This could then be used by new readers considering kits or RTR as an 'executive summary' - in other words, it cuts to the chase. Those of you who know me from running similar ventures on (what was) MREmag will know that I do my utmost to remain impartial and present the facts. Please do not accuse me of bias in any direction! This is a working draft. Many thanks Brian PS I'll spell 'Positives' correctly on the PDF next draft! The Positves and Negatives of KIts and RTR V1 Draft 9.3.18.pdf

Hello everyone If you can access the 'old films channel' - TPTV - they are showing a superb 20 minute documentary about Heathrow in the early 60s this week. Brings back memories hearing inbounds being told to 'report passing the Outer Marker' and seeing 10L markings! Schedules: Thu 8 March - 13.35 Sat 10 March - 16.30 Sun 11 March - 15.50 TPTV is available: Freeview 81 Freesat 306 Sky 343 Virgin 445 Brian

Hello Chris If no-one here comes up with an answer, you might find something via the link below (but seems to postal only). Looking at other photos, it certainly seems to have a West Midlands look about it. Brian http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/features/index4.shtml

Hello everyone I'm sure Phil Parker will make a great success of this Newsletter. I will look forward to seeing it develop month by month. All the best. Brian

Hello everyone Many congratulations to TMC on another highly anticipated announcement! The loco has been in the High Polling segment of the annual Wishlist Poll since 2015 and finished in approx overall position =63 in 2016. We wish the organisations involved every success with the venture. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello everyone Many congratulations to Rails/Bachmann on this highly anticipated announcement. The loco has been gradually climbing in the results of the annual Wishlist Poll. It entered the High Polling segment for the first time in 2016 and come in at about overall =88th. All the best to those involved for a successful venture. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello everyone I thought you might like to see the attached chart. It shows how NER (as used in the broad sense) has gradually settled within the results of the annual Wishlist Poll. It seems to match up with levels of discussion. I did try to count up how many times each type of loco was mentioned in the preceding posts, but there is too much 'cloud' to get any clear impression. None of us in The Team models NER, so we are presenting this for interest. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team) NER Locos in The Wishlist Poll 2012-2016.pdf

Hello Bernard I certainly didn't suggest that Jol stop posting. I suggested that he was on the wrong thread for a 'kits vs RTR' discussion. Brian

Many thanks Jol - that is superb and beautiful work! I take my hat off to you! Regards Brian

Hello Jol I say again that 'Kits vs RTR' is off topic for a thread entitled 'RTR NER Locos'. Perhaps if you started a new thread entitled 'Kits vs RTR' it would reach a far more appropriate audience? And perhaps one entitled 'Kit making with Jol' where you could expound your theories and enthuse the masses with examples of your work? Regards Brian

Thanks David My apologies for not making my original posting clearer. We do, indeed, split the B16/1 from the (combined) B16/2 & B16/3 as we believe that is how a maker might approach the subject. In 2016, there were just 14 votes separating the two listings (although it was 26 in 2015 and 31 in 2014). We have done similar with Caprotti Black 5, LMS Caprotti Black 5, Claud Hamilton Decorative Valance etc. We decided to keep the J67/68/69 combined. The extract below may help explain. Sadly, The Poll can never be 'an exact science', as there are so many mitigating factors. Over the years, we have listened to suggestions or observed how locos are actually being produced and worked accordingly. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team) There were other detail differences and most locos had high cab roofs by Nationalisation (those that didn't were locos which had been transferred to Scotland). To complicate matters, the J69s weren’t split into J69/1 and J69/2 until 1952. Overall, The Poll Team believes that the J69/1 would be most representative, there being over 80 examples in the mid-1950s.

Hello David I think you are possibly misunderstanding the posting... The A5s were listed as - simply - A5, but will now be listed as A5/1 & A5/2 as one entry. Just a clarification. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello Jol As noted earlier, the discussion of 'RTR vs Kits' is off topic. I do not - as you say - lack the desire to build a kit to get a model I want, but when you are a 24/7 carer to a disabled wife, I'm afraid the luxury of time melts away. There are many like me who have either time pressures or failing physical attributes for whom RTR is the only option - and that's ignoring any need for locos to negotiate second radius curves etc. You have had your say; we have heard the message; and there is no need to repeat it again (and again,and again). Brian

Hello everyone Just for info... In the 2016 Poll, the A5 was listed simply as the A5, but - in the forthcoming 2018 Poll - it will be listed as A5/1 & A5/2 (see below). The Guide text will explain the relevance of that change. (Incidentally, the change was proposed by a contributor to what was the old MREmag, and we responded with the changes accordingly.) Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team) 4-6-2T GCR A5 (69800-69842) 4-6-2T GCR A5/1 & A5/2 (69800-69829, 69830-69842)

Hello Compound One of the problems with 'extracts' is that they are...well, extracts. At the start of the LNER Locos section within The Poll Guide we have the following paragraph. We discussed how people liked the listings to appear many years ago and went with that. Hope that helps. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team) To assist identification, LNER & Constituents steam locos are listed by wheel arrangement (smallest to largest); by ascending class number; and/or by ascending British Railways running numbers shown in parenthesis. When not otherwise qualified, running numbers are those last allocated by BR (albeit some were never carried, usually because the loco was scrapped after such allocation). Exceptions include those locos withdrawn before 1948. Also please note that in the case of locos of pre-Grouping origin the class designation is that applied by the LNER, and not the originating company.

Hello everyone I have attached an extract from the results of the 2016 Wishlist Poll showing NER locos only. However, as there was discussion about the A5, I have included that as well (but that would probably be A5/2 as opposed to all A5s). The results seem to match the discussion. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team) 2016 Poll Results - NER Locos Only.pdf

Hello sem34090 Many thanks for being the OP on this thread - very interesting. Your note above concerning the perennial problem of 'RTR vs Kit' debate arose, and that is why I 'banged a gavel' some posts back to bring things back in line. Might be a good idea to start another thread for Southern modellers, lest this one gets bogged down with off topic postings? Brian

Hello everyone Readers may like this short video. Brian

Hello Tony I would genuinely buy: A1/1 - Yes A2/1 - One (if made as 60508 Duke of Rothesay) A2/2 - At least two, maybe three (particularly Mons Meg and Wolf of Badenoch) A2/3 - Two Strangely, they have never figured prominently in the annual Wishlist Poll (of which I am the 'lead role') - but the A2/3 reached the High Polling segment in 2016. It was approximately in position =100. The A2/2 and A2/1 were Middle Polling and the A1/1 Low Polling. (The 'segments' represent about 240 items each and are used to give a broad impression.) I did pose the question some years ago on (what was) MREmag about why these locos didn't seem as popular as one might expect but never had a conclusive answer. It is a real mystery to me, as they are such an essential element. I am an avid RTR purchaser as I do not have sufficient spare time for kits (apart from the occasional basic wagon). Being a 'carer' for my disabled wife is a 24/7 job - even this short piece has taken nearly 30 minutes to complete due to the need to ensure her safety and well-being. (Not 'seeking a medal' there - just making the point that for people like me, RTR is a must.) Whilst writing, I saw Dennis Lovett at the Bachmann stand at Milton Keynes Show on Saturday and he is not due to retire until November. Although he will have some input into new model decisions, the final choice is outside his remit. (Dennis is a good friend and we have spoken about that many times.) Brian

Hello everyone May I respectfully remind contributors that the title of this thread is: RTR North Eastern Railway Locomotives - A discussion. I don't see kits mentioned there, so I consider them 'off topic' and a waste of my time reading postings about them. We are intelligent enough to know that kits exist. Many thanks Brian

Many thanks to all at MKMRS for yet another excellent and varied show that brought in visitors of all ages. I'm sorry that time precluded me having a chat with Graham Muspratt. Brian