Joseph_Pestell

I don't think the DMUs are overpriced, nor even the carriages. But Ebay might not be the best medium for a more specialist item such as O gauge models. At the very least, he should have started lower to get some competition going.

We all seem to have gone a bit off topic. Since when was Weymouth on the Midland?

I think that last comment was meant to be a joke??? French electricity has the same phase/frequency as we do. You would not want to be transporting electricity over long distance on DC. The cables would have to be as big as the Channel Tunnel. I would guess that the 319s may end up in The Cardiff Valleys rather than in the Thames Valley.

Easier to make electric locos to UK loading gauge than diesel locos. Quite a lot of spare speace within the bodywork of many European electric locos.

This has been dealt with quite easily in various locations on the continent. When there is not enough room for the "knitting", you fix a conductor rail to the roof of the tunnel. Not sure if it has been done with AC though so you might need dual voltage equipment.

Keep in mind that the Airfix/Dapol Interfrigo wagon is 1:87 rather than 1:76. Other than that, a nice kit and aftermarket parts have been available to improve the ladders/walkways.

For "fancy brackets" (properly called corbels) have you had a look at the ScaleLink range. You would probably want some that are nominally for 7mm.

There shouldn't be! As already pointed out by Dudders, they were only built (converted) in 1959. If you want older (not LSW which is going to be covered by Dapol/Kernow), you would probably need kits from Dave Hammersley (Roxey).

I believe that Model Power have sourced from more than one European manufacturer for their buildings. I would agree with other comments that the DPM American buildings are closer to British than the various European ones. But for a layout set in the 1980s, go for scratchbuilt UK-type buildings from the 60s and 70s. Square boxes with very little by way of architectural detailing. Starting from a sheet of perspex (or similar) not difficult to build up successive levels of glazing bars, brick/steel panels etc. If worried about your abilities to cut straight enough, Plastikard/Evergreen strips are a godsend.

The "hole in the sky" approach only really works well if you have a large building or trees to hide it behind. I don't think that applies here. Other than moving Marsden nearer, I would suggest a small farm occupation bridge.

Can only echo what others have said. A great layout which captures so much of the atmosphere of the place - although certainly many years to go yet until finished. When I was very young (1970s), there was a model of the MPD on the exhibition circuit (main participant was the older brother of someone I was at school with). Clearly this project has been going on for a long time and I wondered whether that MPD model was the starting point for this project.

Missed out on Portugal back in the 70s since they were having their revolution the week that I was due to be there. Wanted to go ever since even though the railway scene not so interesting as it was.

Agreed. They have done a lot in the last few days. Full of character.

I have some slides from that era stored away somewhere. If I can work out how to scan them, I'll put some of them on here.

Agreed. CrossCountry has always been a bit of a "Cinderella". That's partly because it has very varying flows of traffic with more emphasis on leisure travel. But 220s are not cheap to run. Locos plus push-pull sets could work out much better for XC even with the daft track access charges regime.

I think that CrossCountry might be very glad to be rid of the 220s in favour of something with a bit more capacity (even allowing for the extra pantograph coach).

I think that you can safely assume that it won't be 319s on Newcastle to Liverpool. A short IEP could be a candidate but I think that Govt is finally realising what a folly that project is. Class 395 Javelin (or a 23 metre derivative) would be a good call on that route. I also think that we will see something similar to Class 395 on the Great Western's shorter routes. Really need the extra speed over the 319 to maximise capacity on the fast lines east of Airport Jct. With extra platform capacity at Reading we might even see Oxford / Newbury services of 2 x 395 split at Reading. So, yes, probably more new trains in the South and cascaded (but refurbed) 319s in the North - but only for suburban services. 319s 3rd rail/overhead capacity could be useful in extending Merseyrail services.

Having been involved with "political stuff" in the Thames Valley, I am sure that you are right. Ultimately, Crossrail to Reading can even save money by comparison with Crossrail to Maidenhead as it potentially reduces need for depots and increases scarce capacity on the route. With Crossrail to Reading, it makes very little sense to use Class 319 in the Thames Valley at all, freeing them up for various northern projects.

In Britain, most installations were by Solari, a company based in Udine, Italy. Go to Italy and, oddly enough, many of the train timetable indicators there were made in the UK.

For me, it has to be the LNER W1 "Hush-hush" 4-6-4 in original form or the similar P2 2-8-2.

Wilton South is certainly well-documented. Don't know so much about North but I am sure there would be some info. Going back to the St Budeaux suggestions, the old Plymouth North Road was not that big a station either. But I can't remember offhand (the book is upstairs, I'm just being lazy!) which year it was rebuilt. No obvious scenic break at the west end though.

If you don't want anything GW larger than a Hall, options start to open up. Halls were used on Cardiff to Southampton trains (not sure if they ever reached Portsmouth). So quite a few Southern stations available there. Romsey (already modelled by Southampton MRC in 00 IIRC) is a lovely station with interesting features such as a two-level goods shed - still standing and used by an architectural salvage firm). I think that Halls were also used on some trains from Reading to Southampton. If you could make do with a Manor, Barnstaple Jct would be a good option (but single tracks). By the same token, if you do not need too much Southern and want the larger GW classes, West Country/BoB hauled the inter-regional trains from Bournemouth to Oxford so any of the GW mainline stations between Tilehurst and Didcot would be a possibility. I would need to check but I think that West Country also made it onto the DN&S (more usually the preserve of T9), so Newbury would also be an option. But going back to where you started (or nearly), do you really want a continuous run? Weymouth was a very interesting station and quite compact before it was rebuilt in the 60s/70s.

Looking really good. I think this will be a real crowd-puller at exhibitions.

Not much mention of trolleybus modelling! I can remember a layout that featured regularly at N&SLTC exhibitions in the 1970's. Very effective. Steering was done by an arm sticking out of the front nearside and rubbing against a ridge in the road surface or kerb as appropriate. These days one could do it more easily with Faller car system type arrangement.

Both Thame and Uxbridge were S Gauge Society projects - although I rather think they may have been housed at MRC HQ (Keen House). The "main man" at the time was a Mr Bevis IIRC.