Dava

It looks very like the Coventry VLR tram. Dava

Berliner Bahn used to make that loco. I converted two into the Groudle Glen 2-4-0Ts in 012 scale in 1986! They ran well even after removing an end wheelset and jackshaft. Dava

Where I grew up, we called that skiving! As in skipping school. Dava

The JZ Yugoslav Railways used the USA S100 tank loco as their class 62, more were built and survived in industrial steelworks & colliery service till quite recently. So a credible Eastern European shunter. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/JŽ_class_62#/media/File%3AZagorska_lokomotiva_062-70_1.jpg Wikipedia says about the USATC S100 ‘After the war, they were used on railways in Austria, Great Britain, France, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, the Netherlands, Israel and China’. Seems to justify a picture. Dava

What is a ‘Brian’, does it have a class number?

I had a very good visit today, great to be able to see Copenhagen Fields and other iconic layouts at such close quarters and talk with the builders. The Diamond Jubilee layout challengers all added fresh ideas and inspirations too. Dava

Really enjoyed the 2mm Scale event, meeting Mark & seeing British Oak, thanks! Dava

£39 for a day ticket, optimistically 3 working Terriers if Fenchurch is ready in time. Plus the pleasures of the Bluebell. Is Boxhill being dusted off at the NRM this year? Dava

Looking forward to seeing this tomorrow! Dava

To know more, there’s a good article by Mark Greenwood on both railways in NGIRM 109 (colour photos & map) and a Stenlake book by Rob Dingwall on Glenmunzie, still available. Dava

Piko made N gauge in East Germany. I don’t know how much was sold there or exported to other markets. The models were relatively crude compared to the Berliner Bahn TT trains which were better engineered and continued to develop to this day. I still have some track with the rail a U section folded alloy rail. Dava

Linda Tinker Books is having a final closing sale. Sad loss of helpful US oriented bookshop. http://www.lindatinkerrailwaybooks.co.uk/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=9 Dava

Is it N or Z scale? I like the GE 70 tonner! Dava

Flying a kite, I wonder if Hornby (Arnold) will produce a GWR pannier tank with an autocoach and branchline goods train? Hornby would have a unique niche in a smaller gauge than 00, just like Triang with TT-3. If it works, think of the GWR locos and WR diesels there could be. Dava

I welcome the track system, useful for either standard or narrow gauges, especially with the small radius points. I’d have welcomed 14.2mm if they’d done that too! Clearly oriented towards British traditional era modelling, it will be interesting to see which other manufacturers pitch in with new products, especially locos. Suspect your old Triang loco wheels may not like those points? Dava

The 5.5mm Association handbook includes photos of the Southwold Railway 2-4-0T loco body kit originally by Ks & now available apparently from 55th Studio. It apparently is to mixed scale. Anyone know what work is required to produce a reasonably scale model, and what chassis can be used for 16.5mm gauge? It’s p12 on the handbook, I couldn’t copy any of the photos. http://www.55ng.co.uk/pdf/55Handbook2019.pdf Dava

Is there still track on the Portishead branch?

Did the C1 keep time?

I recall Frank Zappa recorded an album called Hot Rats. Probably no connection as he was in California. Dava

Well that was easy to sign up for. Annoying videos gone & website less cluttered. Thanks Andy & team for getting this sorted at last . £1 a month is good vfm. Dava.

Summoned to a meeting with University Faculty Dean/PVC today, whilst teaching students. Informed I am provisionally at risk of redundancy. Uni has £14m deficit due to mismanagement (good times roll etc).. I have been teaching 109:1 SSR course for international students, I am the 1 staffer, many late joiners. Worked very hard this yeAr & just feel dumped on. Friday, tickets booked EMR to St Pancreas, Eurostar Paris & Lyon to see my grandbabies, then to Dijon for a conference, self funded, where I am doing plenary presentation of my paper. I am a thought leader in Europe & discarded at home. Go compute as they say . Yes #Brexit is a huge ****-up. Dava

I built Coxheath Sidings from foamboard in 2015 (thread in the microlayout section) and its still in use for test running, boards are fine. Photo below with O scale US stock. When visiting B&Q I take a look in the freebie offcuts box and often find lengths or pieces of MDF either about 1000 x 40mm or squarish. I have enough to build a small baseboard from. Dava

This or a similar rescue happened on the Settle & Carlisle. Also 8233 took a turn with the Northwich limestone hoppers in the 1980s. Dava

I had a birthday this week, yesterday we were able to join MV Sonning from Newark castle for her first sail of the season, on the river Trent to Farndon & return. Just 90 delightful minutes with the excitement of Newark town lock and turns both ways. The Sonning was built in 1902 by Salters of Oxford as a classic Thames steam launch, now diesel powered but with elegant hull lines. How many still survive like this? Recommended. Www.rivertrip.co.uk Dava

I don’t think it’s been mentioned that RAF Leuchars in Fife was rail served mainly for fuel by a siding from Leuchars Junction station until 1994 and had a pair of NBL then R&H locos. The siding and level crossing site still visible outside the now-closed base. https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/R/RAF_Leuchars/ Dava