Great Western

Listed on the hattons website, hopefully they'll have there three links attached to the draw hock rather than lose in the box like 10 of my 12 I brought last year.

What was the number of the loco that was nicked from the turntable ? One of mine will become 1401 for sure

Maybe you could offer your services as an volunteer error spotter with the company? I'm sure Chris and Chris would value your free expert imput, then we would have perfect models every time - everyone is a winner then.

Oh to be so perfect and knowledge aye...jez

I for one am over the moon with this announcement, and will certainly be placing multiple orders regardless of a rivet counter errors. It does make me cross that instead of praising the model, people seem to take delight in pointing out problem. Maybe if others can do a better job they should fork out 250,000 to do their own?

Temple Meads and Bath panels of Bristol Panel move to TVSC in April 2018 under their current layout with no enhancements as far as I can see, only mid platform signals to replace the St Andrews Cross and a Fixed Res at Clifton Down to allow Up platform turn backs, vice the ecs shunt into the tunnel as now are the only visable improvements. I'd assume the interlocking will be designed to allow the addition of Filton four tracking being phased in over the next 18 months, once that and Parkway improvements come on stream the railway into and around Bristol will be so much better and efficient to operate. Disappointingly there doesn't appear to be any provision to make the UP Relief between the Portbury branch and West Junction at Temple Meads bi directional to allow proposed Portishead trains to run independently of the mainline, nor provision to make platform two upto passenger standard. The plan to remodel the East end approach has seemingly been abandon for the time being to.

The high concrete footbridge, and former rail over rail bridge abutments are being removed the bank on the DN side will also be built out to support the two relaid tracks. The current block at Parkway once handed back will deliver platform one at Parkway, and an additional point out of the new platform one on to the down Filton. The Stoke Gifford yard will gain a double slip off what is now the down reception, and extend along the currently disused bed. Only part of the layout will be delivered once the block is complete, the whole layout including the OOU points to on the Tunnel lines will be commissioned in Nov 18. One fully commissioned you'll be able to bring a stopper into platform one, a South Wales into platform two and have them depart at the same time, whilst bringing in one onto platform three or four from the tunnel lines. You'll also be able to bring a IEP out of the "long route" and not platorm three or four with the route called from two down the bank, something you can't be currently.

Guard despatches from the rear, would have heard and seen the derailment gave the driver one bell to stop, driver dumped the lot train stops. Good old guard being switched on, wouldn't get that with DOO or monitors that switch off at 2.5mph.

From what I've seen of the plans to transfer signalling control from, Bristol Panel (in part) to TVSC there is very very little new in terms of signals or points. Pretty much as now just additional mid way platform signals in place of the St Andrews Crosses, current issues surround how it's going to be manned at TVSC, single or double and if the latter arrangement how.

Seeing as Dave has made two posts, and not answered your O Gauge related question which I'm interested in to I'd suggest the 25th of never and that's a positive estimate.

800-005 at Carmarthen during the night of 10/08/17, making it the first IEP to the West Wales Town.

Sod being the bobby in that box ! I can hear the story now the senior Signalman tells the new boxboy - those are the graves of the previous Signalman they loved the job so much they wanted to be buried next to the box!

I wondered why 66005 had been moved across from its usual spot yesterday.

66120 with Port Talbot Railway 813 on Didcot LIP about to move across to the railway centre. 08/08/17

Angel orginally provided finance for the 250 Class 66, and 30 Class 67 plus a fair chunk of the wagons that were ordered between 1996 and 2000. I believe the contract involved EWS/DBC buying them enblock for a token sum at a certain point, there was also a deal that saw a finance company buy and lease back a number of Class 90 and 92, not sure what happened with that.

Does anyone know when the next batch are due ?

More Class 800s then for Midland Mainline, at least it keeps the boys and girls up North in jobs.

Regards the holding of Bristol bound trains on the loop at Clifton, if we (as signallers) hold a train bound for the branch at Stapleton Road it will quickly back up in rear with a Gloucester, Parkway, Cardiff and Midlands service all booked in quick succession. Likewise trains off the branch have to slot in with the mainline services, the section between Doctor Days and Filton sees 8 trains an hour in each direction plus any additional freight or short notice servcies. Once the four tracking is complete (2019 I think) branch trains will be separate from the Midland and additional London services. The current poor timekeeping is playing blue murder with regulation at Parkway that's for sure.

I'm just wondering if any decision had been made to produce a suitable London Transport model yet? I'd like to order the two Dapol are offering, but if you guys are also doing one/two then I would order with you instead to be honest. The only worry I'd have is how we (as the customer) would apply the LT numbering, ideally you would print them and produce a model with pre defined identity vice the custom non numbered with the confirmed batches.

Quick none moaning enquiry, is the first batch still on course for delivery to the UK this month ? I'm just asking as I need to budget for their arrival. Cheers

The real things have a barred route list longer than the cleared route list st the moment ! There going to be a right nightmare to route during disruption until there cleared more widely.

Just picked up a 66718 in LT Black promotional scheme, any idea if the standard delivery 3-5 days is signed for or will they leave it in my "safe place" as I don't fancy a trek down the delivery office. Cheers

NMT is booked via my panel this evening/tomorrow morning.....you on it Jim ?

Weren't the orginal EWS Plates very flat compared to standard plates, and applied to the cab side as to not make the already chunky 67s out of Gauge ?

Dave, thank you for taking the time to provide us with a total summary of the state of play, it all makes sense now and explains a lot of things. Although I'm not a crowdfunder, I look forward to seeing the Class 92 and wish you luck in your business.