Dava

The Rails advert still shows the unpainted EPs not the mahogany finish coaches. Its been a long wait and over £100 per coach, Dapol ain’t cheap anymore. Dava

Not that I can see, BGs but not Brake Seconds.

I recall that ‘Blue Peter’ and ‘Bittern’ had a blue Thompson corridor brake ex Departmental coach as a support vehicle when owned by Geoff Drury in the 1970s. It turned up at Dinting with the locos in 1977 or 78. I don’t know what happened to it as there doesn’t seem to be one preserved so it probably got scrapped in the clear out from Dinting. Dava

Hoping to make it, mainly to see “Little Calumet", O & US N scale layouts, also to support Notts MRS in yet another new venue! Dava

The EMR class 222s have mostly never been reupholstered. The standard class formerly red seat covers are in many cases ingrained with black filthy grease as well as coffee stains on the seats. Frankly they are disgusting and none of the last three franchise holders have bothered to do anything about them. Also the 5 car sets leaving London from 1500 then encounter over capacity demand by the time they reach Leicester for peak time commuter traffic and conditions, like pre Covid, are unacceptably crowded in cattle class. I’d like to think the Hitachi bimode sets will be better if/when we eventually see them in 2023. It’s been downhill since the HST sets and the last iota of pride in the service disappeared. Dava

Not only the locos, the complete trains could provide useful ‘period’ rolling stock for background or fitting with running gear. Dava

USATC S100 0-6-0 tanks were widely used in European countries post 1944, see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USATC_S100_Class as well as Southern Railway and BR(S). It would be a good go-anywhere loco. The Poland Ferrum locos and Juoslav class 60 were basically the same design. So it would be an attractive multi market loco. The Roco class 80 could be a chassis donor but they are unobtainable. Dava

Is this a source of static TT-120 locos? Royal Hampshire pewter cast locos are available for £5-10 on EBay. This is a Battersea Suburban tank loco, the gauge is 12mm and the side elevation is to scale, it seems slightly narrow but I don’t know the prototype width. The range includes Gresley and Stanier Pacific’s and HST power car but I don’t know if they are all to the same scale. Beyond motorisation but an accessible way of sampling the size of British TT-120 scale. Dava

There are Moskito & Markits 12mm gauge 00n3 solid wheels in 8 & 9mm diameter from Dundas Models, they are ideal (I use them for 014). https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php/hikashop-menu-for-module-108/category/542-dundas-models-00n3-wheels-bearings There will be interest in plastic wagon kits such as Chivers produce in 2 & 4mm scales, eg there is as yet no 16 ton steel mineral wagon. With the 08 as the first diesel loco, it needs wagons to shunt. Dava

Just sad how many photos of this layout from 2020-2 have been lost, they told a unique story and TT120 has a whole new audience. Dava

That design was replicated in 7 locos for sugar estate railways. It was probably not so suitable for the sharper gradients of the WLLR. However Monarch had the highest mileage of the WLLR steam locos in (I recall) 1976, before the extension to Welshpool was completed. Maybe little else was available that year. The overall design was not a great success. https://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/16/Bagnall_articulated_locos.htm The Groudle Glen has built 4 locos with bullhead marine boilers and they work well on the steeply graded line. Dava

Nothing like looking on the bright side! A marine firebox is the original design. They work fine on Bagnall design narrow gauge locomotives such as the Groudle Glen Railway, so long as the fire is managed well. Personally I agree a conventional box would be better but I’m not paying to build it! The C class, LNER J21 65033 is undergoing a HLF funded very major rebuild in Loughborough and is likely to be based on the Stainmore Railway when complete, though will hopefully visit other NER lines. http://www.lclt.org.uk/index.html The O class or LNER G5 replica is some years from completion and also likely to run mainly on longer lines. https://www.g5locomotiveltd.co.uk/ Dava

It will be great to see a NER K class or Y8. Alongside one of the H class Y7s it will look even smaller. Beamish needs an authentic NER loco which can provide demonstrations and a passenger service. It could authentically act as York NRM or Shildon Shed Pilot. Thanks to the benefactor and North Bay Railway Engineering. Dava

I am interested in a short freight line project, initially with the 08 (repainted in green) & BR goods wagons, later the J94 & smaller locos. It could be a shelf layout, based on zJames Hilton’s book. I used to model in TT and sold the last of it in 2017. Normally I do 7mm scale. The running & shunting qualities of the stock will be important. Dava

It was takEn from my Liva hotel window with an iPad and the sharpness is not great. A slightly better mobile phone view is below. I also have some daylight views of the system including the tram depot and old Tatra trams. I’ll upload these when I have time. Dava

I was in Liepaja, Latvia recently, there is a metre gauge tramline, now with modern articulated trams but the depot is full of old Tatra trams. There is a lot of scope for TT-m tram modelling. Dava

Quorn Wagon & Wagon on the GCR have an open weekend in the GCR on 22-23 Oct so visitors can check out their mess coach and other vehicles. Fine collection of BR road vehicles too! Dava

So the new web browser https://neeva.com/ has launched publicly in the UK after being available in the USA for several months where it has a paid Premium as well as basic service. Before adopting it, does anyone with greater tech savvy have any advice on advantages over Google (eg privacy, ad-free and data), or any other issues? I can see some advantages but would like to hear from others… Dava

Great to see this event resume at its traditional time of year. Hope to be there. Dava

The Soar Valley MRC show at Loughborough resumed this August with a fine selection of continuous run and smaller end-end layouts, I think it cost £8 and there was a vintage bus service from the BR station as well as passing buses to the GCR at Quorn. Busy and good value. People commented similarly on Stafford, I didn’t get to it. Its now the premier East Midlands model rail show, with no news of the Lincoln shows at Newark or at Derby resuming. Support your local shows! Dava

Thanks Ben, Its a Sunset Models B&O C16 Docksider, from Sunset Models and imported from a US dealer, to keep myC16a tender loco company, both are Korean brass from the 1970/80s era and never run. Will be used on my US shortline project. Massive indulgence but they cost less than Heljan BR diesels even with import costs. Picture below. There is one on EBay in UK, listed for months but with some damage, I passed on it as my import was a much better deal. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333831656685?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338749367&toolid=20006&customid=GB_1_333831656685.134995055457~1778282992232-g_CjwKCAjwyaWZBhBGEiwACslQo-mX2Z2PudFMTNkX9o1tkEZVycDscFb3hN9WfiDKrv6723AAA_n2ZBoCGj0QAvD_BwE Dava

It’s under construction at present.

Let me know if you are interested in a New England O scale shortline. 3 metres long. This is a teaser on Coxheath Sidings to demo a couple of the GE locos, not the actual layout. Dava

I had to get my railcard renewed in advance as it expired whilst I was out of the UK and I needed it to return from LHR. East Midlands Parkway staff able to renew in advance, no photo needed! Support your local ticket office if you have one @RMT. Incidentally, is Heathrow Express a bit expensive and redundant now the Lizzy Line serves LHR terminals? My railcard got a reduction in the Express return ticket which was otherwise extortionate. Dava

I am shocked by today’s announcement of the closure by Molson Coors of the National Brewery Centre, museum & venue for the wonderful Burton model railway exhibition. Disgraceful, Binny please advise, tell us it aint so! https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1668696/National-Brewery-Centre-closure-beer-home-campaign-Burton-upon-Trent