MarcD

Contraction could be a problem in the middle of summer in the Highlands along with snow, hail, heavy rail and scotch mist. Expantion due to a heat wave in Scotland not a big risk, there is a greater chance that the stock and track being carried off by the midges. On a serious point if heat expansion is going to be an issue, which I have experianced at shows, running east-west would give more problems than running north-south as one side of the rail would be heated more than the other which could lead the track to bend as the rails act as a bio-metal strips. Marc

Stick with it. It will be worth the wait. Remember Nuro-diverse people are the ones who change the world. Marc

I'm Brian and so is my wife! Marc

The PC police must have been on holiday that day. Marc

Using my helicopter holistic vision I smell management . Marc

you refer of course to big bad Bernard! Marc

I will let you know how I get on. Marc

Thanks for the photos. I'm hoping to build them this weekend coming. I'm in the process of producing some Y6's as RTR and I need the coaches to run on our layout at the Blyth and Tyne show at the end of April. Marc

I thought the the consept of the they layout was realy good. I never got to see the layout in the flesh. Marc

Every wagon that I have seen loaded with slates have had them stacked in end on. They are however they were stacked in different directions. This allows the stacks to inter lock and removes movement and therefore breakages. There are 3 main sources slate on the UK mainland. Mid and North Wales (LNWR/Cambrian/GWR/NG), Lake District (Furness/LNWR) and West Scotland (Caledonian) all of which used in the main 2 and 3 plank opens. Marc

Has anyone built built some of the D&S kits Wisbech and Upwell coaches. I'm about to start building a 4 wheel and a bogie coach? I 'm looking for any build tips. Marc

We, Furness Railway Wagon Co/Pre-Grouping Railways, do a number of LBSCR wagons in 7mm. 7 plank coal 6 plank coal steel underframe 5 plank open steel underframe raised ends 3 plank drop-side ​4 wheel brake van 6 wheel brake van marc

Unfortunatly issues with motoring our Cambrian locos has meant that we have had to change the location that "Scratchy Bottom" is set. We have move "Scratchy Bottom" to somewhere in deepest darkest East Anglia. The layout is set 1917-19 and the off scene industry is now a W^D munitions store. The motive power is going to be GER G15 0-4-0 tram locos The passenger timetable is reduced to allow military goods trains to be operated. Marc

I was told a story about two men who came across an angry bear. the first man started to run the second man stopped and put on his running shoes. the first man then asked the second man why he was putting on his shoes. to which the second man said I don't have outrun the bear I only have to beat you! If the object of the program is to build the worlds longest model railway and the current record is 10 miles then to brake the record you only need to build one that is 10miles 1 inch. If 10 miles was competed in 4mm then doing it in 7mm or G makes things easer larger motors, thicker rails, more robust stock etc. Why make thing difficult by building it in a remote part of the highlands? build it on the side of an existing preserved railway, a goods branch, abandoned track bed. If they want they could rebuild the Wisbech and Upwell. The task will have enough challenged without making extra ones that don't need to be there. Marc

I thought the original plan need a lot doing to it and the proposed track bed was to be the towpath of the Leeds Liverpool. A fairly man made environment. If my memory is correct the Caledonian is a ship canal and doesn't have a towpath. Having been to the great glen at a number of different times of the year you would need a five year drought to dry out some areas. I am starting to think that dear old Nessy is not going to be the only mythology creature in the great glen for the tourists to look for. Marc

Our Layout of many locations on the whole goes by the name of "Scrachy Bottom" a real place in Dorset cost. I was given a book of rude place names full of great names with to quote Peter Kay "a bit of blue for the dads." Marc

The project is not impossible just improbable! As usual with projects ideas are thought up and announced before someone even thinks of asking and engineer either mechanical or electrical. People need to come up with ideas then stop! think! Ask an engineer! Take on board their comments. If the idea is still a good one open mouth in public. see the definition of an engineer Marc

Unfortunately we will not be at the Kettering Show as I have slipped a disc in my back. We are still able to take orders and supply mail order. Our next outing will be at the Blyth and Tyne show at Newcastle at the end of April with our layout "Scratchy Bottom GER". Although we will not be trading if you want to order before the show you can pick up kits and RTRs. Our next trading show will be in May at the ALSRM Reading Show. Marc

Ian, Sounds like you have nothing to loose. Give them a ring explane your situation and see what they can do for you. Also you might qualify for PIPs, which might help, pop round to your local Citizens Advice office they are very good with getting forms filled in. Good luck and remember the world of disablities is set up for phisical/visable disablities and not for people with nuro diversity so be prepared to fight. marc

Ian, Now you have an official letter you can apply for help in the work place through "Access to Work". I'm currently on a course of coping strategy lessons, they are really helpful, I have found out why I had problems working in certain environments. If you are employed or are self-employed they are really helpful, mainly because it's cheaper for them to give you help to stay in work than pay benefits if your not. I your employed you will need to get your manager to contact them, if not you can do it yourself. Marc

I don't know very much about GWR repainting however one would suspect the GWR, SR, LMS, and LNER would all follow similar practices as they were all faced with the same financial issues. I know that the LMS did not even start to repaint absorbed Furness Passenger locos until 1926 unless they were taken in for a major repair. It then took until 1930 before all surviving Furness locos were repainted. Most Furness locos were scrapped before they were repainted and some missed out on the 1923-28 all together. LMS painted locos quite often had their numbers changed by BR and they still carried LMS pre-war liveries on their tanks and tenders. Marc

When I spoke to them last time they didn't have a clue. Their last plan was to use Corse Scale O gauge, as it clipped together. When I mentioned things like volt drops and current requirements of motors, you could hear their eyes glaze over. With the location change I can't see them getting very many volunteers. Marc

Who came up with this? And can I get one for layout? Marc

I though ITV had a number of channels that were totally pointless already ITV2, ITV Encore etc Marc

Impeachment​ might make the legend of trump live longer. just look at Nixon Marc