puddlejumper

My understanding, and hence my comment, was that he was purely relaying that banks decision on THEIR personal current accounts. Not the cheque processing system, business accounts or his specific branch, but more the product that financial brand wished to offer its customers across all their branches. Who knows whether he was right or wrong. I was purely relaying what we had been told to add some perspective.

Rich

When we changed banks around a year ago we looked at a three different banks, two of them would provide a cheque book but only at the customers request. Only one of them issued a cheque book as a matter of policy. The use of cheques seems to be being phased out by stealth and while they may still be available their use is greatly decreased and decreasing.

I thought BLT was a sandwich...........

Great stuff, I can see me having a couple of those

I saw the 08 today at Blyth & Tyne MRS open day & have to say it's even better in the flesh, excellent workmanship & well observed weathering

I found the quality of the etches to be excellent and not bad to assemble if a little fiddly. To be fair that was due to the size of the etches v the size of my overlarge digits.................

Another option would be to melt some roofing lead into the shapes you want and glue with impact adhesive??

Mike,

Been having a bit of a tidy out in No 1 in preparation for some new tenants and have found quite a few bits of stuff that may help with Crowtree Lane. Pop over some time and have a look to see if any is of use before I sell it to some poor unsuspecting sap

A quick geography/history/sociology lesson, Durham is the county city of County Durham (the only county in England that retains county in its title). It is part of the ancient Northumbria but is not part of Northumberland. It is, of course, the home of the railways, the Stockton and Darlington being the first passenger railway in the world (opened in 1825). Long before that it was the land of the prince bishops where the church ruled this part of the country. We are fortunate to have some of the greatest scenery in Britain ranging from the high fells in Teesdale and Weardale to some stunning beaches and coastal areas.

Weather wise I think Borrowdale in the Lake District is the wettest place in Britain and Manchester the wettest city.

We also have at Shildon the brilliant museum Locomotion, The NRM of the North. Finally we are not Geordies as many people assume, in east Durham where I live and hail from, we are in truth pit yackers so named as our main industry was coal mining up until Maggie Thatcher thought it would be a good idea to decimate the region. There are some great prototypes for model railways in the area too.

Anyone visiting the area can drop me a PM & I will do my best to sort a guided tour at Locomotion as I volunteer there.

Oh and by the way Mr Whitaker, it's a city not a town.......

Ha Ha Ha Father Dougal..........................but I have killed people for less

I heartily approve of your destination posters, Durham is a fine place to visit

Very personal view but I think if I had the opportunity/space to make a layout roundy roundy then it be a no brainer. I think there are few di re things than watching a loco and train go by whilst slurping a pint or two of fine English ale

Looking really good, I must get started on my N10 (and others)

Giles

I'd be happy to take a built up sett forming thingymewotsot tool, just let me know what I have to do to order one

Thanks

Doug

Well I have to say my gast is truly flabbered.......hats off to you, and a big well done (also for the superb quality etchings)

I've done the artwork for a triple-sided embossing tool, to give 9" x 4 1/2" setts, in 7mm scale. This gives a run of 50mm, 28mm (for the 'four-foot' in standard guage, and a couple of stones worth on the last face for odds and sods......

Each face has the breaks off-set, so you spin the tool round to get the next staggered row.

To give an indication, All the embossing shown in the main layout picture, AFTER laying the clay, took under ten minutes to emboss.

As soon as I get a moment I'll get a sheet etched. Let me know if you might be interested in buying a tool (no commitment, as I don't yet have a price!!!)

I would be very interested in one of those

Hi Chris,

Have to agree it's really looking rather excellent, a credit to your hard work and effort

Mine is gonna be here on Tuesday, I'm getting a bit excited though can't think why....

I'll be going for sound on mine so if anyone comes across any nice sound files please let me know......

You should be fine with a smallish chip, I really like the Zimo ones with capacitors (MX645 I think but don't quote me). I think there is an awful load of guff talked about DCC chips and O gauge. If you're using a modernish motor you shouldn't need big 5 amp chips and the like.

Looking forward to this as I will be needing something similar for my North eastern coal drops. Frets look excellent

Personally I would go for a mix of chains and no chains, they often lost chains..............

Geese! Hard work, horrid mess!!

Great guard dogs though and very tasty for a Sunday lunch............

Probably the quinine in the tonic counts as well, so 3 large G&Ts = better than 5 a day

Keep up the health kick Mike, you'll feel all the better for it

Thank god for that Mike, for a moment I thought there had been a catastrophic fulminator failure !!

It's possible i could be tempted to step in as an anonymous wealthy benefactor and save the line from closure...........damn I'm not anonymous am I??

I'm not wealthy either but hey ho, I too would like to register my formal protest

I thought Skegness was a contagious mildly irritating skin condition.

It's more than mildly irritating...................