Mike Oliver

There are still adverts for paid staff jobs, I hope they did due diligence to see if any of those to be dumped could fill some of the vacancies.

From what I read "us" are diminishing quickly and "them" are increasing every week. If they are making the main diesel man redundant I fear for the future health of the home fleet. The report of the long serving driver seems strange, all he would have to do would be to volunteer on fewer days.

The firehole doors, as well as being open for coal to be put on the fire are used to admit secondary air. Secondary air helps to promote efficient combustion including alleviating excessive black smoke. The firehole doors are partially open a lot of the time. When a round of coal is put on the fire black smoke is produced and allowing air through the firehole door cuts down the smoke, as the coal is burned less smoke is produced and the secondary air can be reduced by slightly closing the doors. When there is no smoke it's time to put another round on the fire.

Regarding the sound do you mean the noise from the cylinder drain cocks? I don't know about GWR pannier tanks but on every loco I have driven the steam escaping through the cylinder cocks is very loud.

I installed a Dapol LMS home Signal last week. It worked fine for a few days but has now failed, seems like a mechanical problem in the control box with the arm jammed up. What is other peoples experience with these O signals?

Please excuse me butting but could anyone steer me to made up transfers for my 7mm Slaters BY van in BR revenue service.

I like the look of the work stained Class 40, especially the elecricity warning signs on the front.

Thanks for the pictures. I am intrigued as to what those chaps are up to on the platform at Lanwick Halt.

It is intended as entertainment for the general public not a documentary for railway enthusiasts. It is also priceless free advertising.

I believe today is Model Rail publication day? Looking on their website still shows issue 255 December! They must try harder.

Thank you, very helpful.

Is there plenty of car parking on site?

I was instructed never to hang a loco coupling on the drawhook. There is a danger that another coupling gets hooked over the first coupling. It's easier for that coupling to ride up the hook and uncouple as it can't be in the bight of the hook. The pull of the coupling is on a weaker part of the hook and may damage it leading to inadvertent uncoupling.

The Rolling stock releases on page 11 initially got my hopes up, Sir Edward Elgar in O gauge for £169.99? Who does proof reading?

Thank you for that info Hroth. It seems impossible to get information from the Peco website and the Facebook page is not much better. Are Peco really so complacent about attracting sales?

I am seeking a Lima 0 gauge R/h point, ebay seems to have run out of them.

Got my copy from a local newsagent this morning. A bit surprised that the climb from Grosmont to Goathland on the NYMR is not deemed worthy of a mention. up to 8 Mk 1 coaches regularly hauled up by single Class 4 or 5 locos several times a day.

Thanks for that taster, to prove I am paying attention 9th March is Thursday.

The MPD at Grosmont on the NYMR has one of these lifting devices recovered from a BR loco shed. I have assisted lifting steam locos to remove coupled wheelsets for attention to axleboxes. If the the driving (Middle) set is to be removed the loco has to be raised high enough for the middle set to pass under the front set and any truck or bogie. Essentially the OP illustration is a valid lift with the dragbox on packing.

I have just opened a box from Tower Models. I have unpacked my first box of 5 which is Vanfit B768898 Dapol ref 7F-056-003. It has a strong cardboard box with foam padding with the van in a plastic cradle. When I opened this cradle the van roof came off, perhaps to allow weight to be added? The finish seems to be first class. The wheels have 3 holes and the van is free rolling, the brake gear looks to be all complete. This the first Dapol O gauge wagon I have handled and my first impression is that this together with the Class 08 is a very satisfactory start to my O gauge adventure.

I like the weathering, your pics do it justice too. One slight point though, steam locos simmer rather than idle.

Although the Q6 was designed for slower heavy haulage I have seen them running on Bonus Trains. The quicker the load got to its destination the more bonus was paid to the crew. The sight of a Q6 running fast on the passenger line through Thornaby station is stuck in my memory for ever!

No that's a new one on me but I like it, I like it!

I don't remember a big infotainment screen in the cab when I used to drive the Q7.

I like the look of this very much, I have been pondering something similar for a while. This could be the spur for me to get my finger out. What is the overall size of the board/s please?