Robert Shrives

I like the title! But no mention of cakes in the banner!!!! Luckily the poster keeps up the pretense that this is an undercover cake show and tell operation masked by brilliant layouts and learned chat. I have booked day off already I have a 4 foot by 1 foot N gauge layout Poldeen if of use as a corner filler. Robert

"Panad" is a good name chosen by the group , basically " cup of tea" ideally suited to a vertical bolier - here it falls a part as they are oft likened "coffee pot" but why let that get in the way ! It is good that some of the "volunteers" are full time staff on days off, says a lot on the motivations and satisfactions of the railways human core. To say nothing of the skills learnt and exchanged - all good future proofing the TLC. Robert

Hi I saw ad for show and the 3mm layouts but work in the way! So have a good show. Hopefully a few pics might make their way on to the site. TIA Robert

Indeed, Splendid date in diary and looking forward to my annual march south! Robert

I hope York goes well, just bought the MR april issue to get a view of Bluish -and indeed a good write up and photos. Showing the blossoming blue banger era so well, thanks. Robert

My RSPI Mk2 rake now complete and very impressive - just need the loco at the front!

That sounds a good performance and matches the T22 buses in Porthmadog! Removable battery probably good engineering to make replacement easy. Buffer charging sounds fun but will you end up with a mini contact tazer with potential for unintended discharge. I did wonder if it would mean shinny buffers at point of contact - in reality point of contact is often a dirty greasy area. I guess having pin point contacts on fixed buffer beam would work given the uber small area on modern phone chargers, to cut through any grime. Thanks for showing another innovative way to run model railways. Robert

Good pic of the coach, IIRC the curtains were subject to quite a bit of abuse being used to wipe hands or worse in the latter days - slipping in social standards !! The first comp looks to have a declassified sticker - a standard stock item among some hoover followers back in the day, other loco classes available!!

The last pic does say a lot about the railways view of road vehicle operatives ( driver might be a bit strong!) with end to end double barrier protection... a small wonder costs off the top end of the sensible.

As noted very sharp work and progress rapid to a mature prototype state, I would love to see a circuit diagram. The availability of small power cells and micro electronics to end up with dead rails is certainly a way forward for tomorrow. I have been for quite a few years been meddling in gauge one where battery power and RC has been an option for many years but it is all quite big stuff. Thanks for showing this avenue in the smaller scales and look forward to the 37 coming to life. I guess you can now build a little bit of central Scotland, Mossend north, Thornton yard. I would have to look at overlap of 17 and 37 timelines. Millerhill might give overlap with 17s on Waverley route and 37s via ECML and the 24/26 as Scottish staples Railbus could have been seen on Edinburgh Sub routes as well. Robert

Really like the 80 and 450 models such work is bound to result in a rtr model! Robert

Last of the packs arrived today - the blue/grey NIR Enterprise catering car set - really lovely. Thanks. Dry bread and water for a month now. Looking at MK2s in CIE on IRM web, just waiting on news of a Dutch EGV to match.

All this publicity for MTK must be making its mark, I was at Princes Risborough show today and on one stand was an unmade Derby lightweight 2 car kit for £70... great work on the 4- GRI Robert

Hi At previous shows I organised 350 resting seats and NEC catering contractors supplied twice as many. It was a shame that folk hogged seats with belongings on the resting chairs , NEC seats are based on catering contracts let and show numbers and at other shows seem to do the same, I think NEC did not grasp the ageing profile and act suitably - but then no profit in that. I really hope the Warnley show catches on and margins work to see it have a long life, 30 years? Robert

indeed, getting the gen brake would be of sublime joy - having nearly started again after a painting farce !!