Geep7

I do wonder if this is a "test the water" release to see how high a price the market will pay, before releasing a 4-Cep. I'm of the same camp as you, and don't usually comment on prices, but I reluctantly have to agree. I'm still waiting on a BR Blue Class 117 and 2-Hap. I wonder if these may appear at some point as EFE Rail models instead?

One of the features of the Stoney Lane Depot layout that the OP mentions, is that the low-level depot at the front, is physically linked to the upper level, with a junction at the high level on the front of the layout. So it's not beyond the realms of possibility that you could link the low-level terminus if you wanted to.

It'll be sad seeing that footbridge going. I doubt the replacement will look at least half as good as the current one.

One excellent modelled example of a station with carriage sidings that springs to mind is Ronsthorpe, in 'N' gauge. If you have Railway Modeller subscription you should be able to go to the digital archive and see the article in the April 1992 issue. Obviously it shows that you need to have plenty of room for any carriage sidings, as I think most carriage sidings were beyond the station, rather than being alongside, although there are examples with them alongside, places like Addiscombe and Seaford (although they were sidings for MU stock, rather than coaching stock).

Letter From America - The Proclaimers

Agreed. Reading is my nearest "big" station, and i've spent many day's there (on the country end of the old Platform 5) or travelling through it to spend a day at Didcot. The current station, whilst definitely being more efficient for the railway and traveller, now feels a more sterile place, and certainly not so photography friendly.

I did a trip back from London to Reading last Friday, probably for the first time since the line was electrified all the way to Reading, and I was shocked by how much has changed. I obviously knew OOC had gone, but I was still surprised by how different it looked. I didn't even recognise Southall as we went flying through, it's changed so much. Such is progress I guess.

I think with 3ft length, you'll struggle to get a run-round loop in without doing the "bitsa" half-run round loop style layout. I struggled, and I had 4 & 1/2 feet to play with. Might I suggest looking at something like Shell Island by Neil Rushby. There is a thread on here, but unfortunately has lost the photos, but a quick Google search will give you the track plan. It's fairly simple, just 2 points, arranged like a crossover, so you just get 2 sidings, one as a kickback. Here's the link to the thread on here:

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac *what the F1 theme music should still be in my opinion.*

The Will's kit certainly makes into an almost SR type signal box. The Ratio ARP box is also close enough to the one at Gomshall and Shere on the SER Guildford to Redhill route, which i'm going to be using on my new SR layout. I should note this isn't finished yet, and needs some touching up of the paintwork. Whilst it's a lovely kit to put together, I would rather have had the windows moulded as separate items. I mean, would it have cost much more to have them etched?

Money - Pink Floyd

I've Got To Get A Message To You - The Bee Gees

Family Man - Fleetwood Mac

I've always wondering why Peco have never done their Code 100 crossings or slips as Electrofrog versions, seeing as they've managed to for Code 75. Personally, i've always used Electrofrog points, and recently moved to using frog juicers (of the Tam Valley variety). and can get my Bachmann 08 to crawl across my slips without stalling. And this is without using any stay-alive.

I've found using maskol handy for this, most recently when varnishing a Dapol 73 after renumbering it.

The River of Dreams - Billy Joel

These Are The Days Of Our Lives - Queen

Agreed, Crimson and Cream is probably one of the easier multi-colour paint schemes to do, as the lining covers up any slight overspray between the 2 colours. Providing you can put the lining on straight that is.

Dancing In The Moonlight - Thin Lizzy

Up On The Roof - The Drifters

So it's been a while since I last updated this thread, and there isn't much progress to report. Whilst i'm still really interested in modelling Spanish railways, my interest in the layout has waned slightly, mostly due to not having anywhere to erect the full layout. I've also been progressing my much smaller (just over half the length of Punta Brava) British outline OO layout. It's got me thinking that maybe I should try and build a much shorter Spanish layout, using the building's etc. that i've already built, so I have somewhere to run my Spanish stock, and put the full length Punta Brava on the back burner. The only issue I have is that I want to at least run 3-car 440 units, and as each coach is 12"/330mm in length, I need to have a 3ft fiddle yard as a minimum. I think I need to get creative with a track plan if that's the case. On the rolling stock front, also some mixed emotions, which doesn't help with the mojo. On a positive note, I received an email from Hornby, letting me know that my Mil Reyes 269 pre-order will be due soon. But, i'm just hoping that it doesn't get sent Royal Mail, as i've just had an Ibertren UT600 / Class 438 that I purchased from eBay as a fairly decent price, go missing on route to me at one of the major Royal Mail sorting centres. Fortunately i've got a full refund, so i'm not out of pocket, but as Ibertren are no longer making models, it's a shame to miss out on this. This, along with a massive delivery delay for some laser cut wood for my British layout, saps the enthusiasm slightly, maybe trying to design a smaller Spanish layout will help.

Whilst I do agree that the Class 50 is mostly associated with Mark 2 a/b/c stock, there is plenty of photographic and video evidence of them (and the Class 47's) hauling Mk1 stock whilst in NSE livery on the Paddington - Reading / Oxford services, so really, for now, all Hornby need to do is produce their current Mk1 in NSE livery.

Love Will Keep Us Alive - The Eagles

All About Soul - Billy Joel

Love of my life - Queen