H2O

Completely agree, perhaps the driver should have been given a rules test before being rostered again.

Perhaps amusing to see Network Rail mess up, however not funny if the private heritage lines shown loose custom when they are open on Saturday because NR map shows them closed. Perhaps NR need to think a bit harder about what they put out.

Agree. Perhaps they are gauging serious interest by seeing how many times the leaflet is downloaded? The link didn't work for me so it hasn't gone in the diary (for now). Perhaps someone could post the date... please?

Is that why they were named 'number one' end and 'number two' end? :-) (I do know the real reason for the numbering of each end).

Not sure why. The early diesels (10,000) had noses, at some point designs changed to flat front. US locos usually had noses after UK designs changed. Total guess but perhaps the designers wanted to separate dirty zones (engine) from equipment needing a cleaner environment (compressors)???

It's good that there is a UK option but I agree this is probably just delaying the inevitable. If heratage railways want coal for steam locos perhaps they could subsidise the cost by sending railway volunteers to the mine. Perhaps if your membership number ends in a zero you will be sent along and be called a Bevin boy...

For a decent abandoned length there is the line to Tytherington Quarry: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornbury_branch_line Sharpness branch line is apparently out of use: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharpness_branch_line Also not sure if any of the track to Folkstone harbour is still in place? The Portishead branch was mothballed 1981-2001 (used in 1985 for GWR 150) up to when the route was relaid to Portbury.

That figure made me sit up too, wondering how many milk churns 22,000 tons of milk would be. Perhaps an update to the voice over may be needed. I'm 99% sure I've heard the odd word re-voiced on other railway programs. When there are so many facts a figures to get right I'm not surprised if the odd error slips through.

Looks interesting. The receiver looks like a mix of through hole and surface mount, is the through hole chip an H bridge driver (L293?). If you can find the part number the data sheet should tell you the current rating. I'd guess the surface mount chip is the rf receiver. Not sure what the over air protocol is, presumably it includes addressing if you can pair devices. You may be limited on the rate of pulse width modulation depending on the length of the messages. I'd try starting with a low pwm rate and increase the frequency until it becomes unreliable. Could you use the 'second' motor for controlling lights or a remote uncoupler? Best of luck with tinkering.

I've heard that paint bought in France is not very good, to the extent that expats buy it in GB to take back to use in France. That may explain why lots of buildings I saw on holiday in many French villages looked drab.

The WR had taken over the S&D line north of Templecombe in 1958 so the last WR steam services would be to at least when the S&D line closed on 7th March '66. IIRC the plan was to close the S&D line at the end of '65 but a substitute bus service didn't materialise so the WR had to run a parliamentary service, apparently to their annoyance as it scuppered the plan to eradicate steam on their preferred date.

There is a British Railways VDA "Ferry Van" 200780 Built: 1976 (Ashford) at the Epping Ongar railway. See page at: https://www.eorailway.co.uk/the-railway/rolling-stock/wagon-vans/

I'd guess, where possible, inspections would be combined with another reason to stop. e.g. pin down brakes, if stopped to let a faster train pass by. Did they allowed staff to do ad-hoc inspections if held up unexpectedly that would count for 'regular' or every 20 miles or so?

For expected speeds a look at contemporary working timetables for single section lines that carried both freight and passengers may be helpful. For one of my areas of interest the S&D could be an example as they had single line sections with sharp inclines and declines as well as level. It was not for nothing they had a nickname of 'slow and dirty' so I'd guess they would want to speed up the freight services as much as they could.

If the garage is going to be used for other stuff, like 'life', I'd suggest putting the layout at chest height. This will allow bikes, lawnmowers, filing cabinets, a work bench or model bench etc. to fit in. However don't be too accommodating or the room will soon fill up! I agree that time and money spent now on insulating and damp proofing will be repaid many, many times over.

Perhaps it was so maintenance could be simplified on the Southern region? The bogies would be similar to DC EMUs, i.e. with traction motors, and AFAIK the the DEMU engine was very similar to the one in the class 73? 'Standard' DMUs would have bus type diesel engines with mechanical gearboxes and final drives. However the larger DEMU engine and generator is above the floor which reduces passenger space by quite a bit compared to DMUs. I think the DEMUs were a bit heavier too 'like for like'.

I think prices generally reflect costs as all the railways I have been involved with plough the money back in. For me high fares help keep the line going so I'm happy to do that when visiting on holiday. Rather than deny income to them by using a discount card I'll pay the public rate as I can afford this, I realise others can't, especially if they visit many lines in a year. For bringing in the money the Christmas specials in December are a big deal.

Couple of thoughts: With the boat and dock outline shown would it be able to get round the corner to enter and exit? You could have a shorter boat or perhaps have the exit at the bottom at 45° rather than 90°. For bridge design there are the lifting type where they rotate upwards from one side only (half a bascule bridge?). There is also the compact Dutch type which have 2 lifting parts with a simple balance weight above, not sure if they were used in the UK or if they could cope with heavy vehicles.

Not quite single / double as per the OP request but on Filton bank (going out of Bristol) the capacity was halved in the 80's and recently doubled back to 4 tracks. I used to think that any reduction such as singling was a great loss but 40 or 50 years saving on maintenance from some of the schemes listed here may have let other lines survive?

A request for what next, single slip. None of the present pre built offerings I found suit (me), perhaps there are others? They are either too tight a radius (PECO) or HO and European sleeper size and spacing (e.g. Tillig), and that one is also an outside slip(?). Home built doesn't work for me but easy build kits will probably be ok. Sorry if I've missed it but what is the actual radius of the double slip please, I assume the single slip will be similar geometry.

I'm sure more knowledgeable people will be along soon... AFAIK If it is a semaphore signal it will go back to danger when the signaller puts the lever back. If MAS it will go red when the next section is detected as occupied, whether or not the guard has seen it as a proceed aspect.

Is that by choice? :-) In the 90's I had quite a few twin cam 80's Fiat saloons, great to drive but bodies made of pasta that dissolved in the British weather. A friend had some interesting Alpha's that drove better but lasted even less well :-(

My father in law had an Allegro 1000cc as a company car when he worked for BL. He said it was dangerously underpowered, as he found out trying to exit uphill junctions in Cornwall, he said you tried to keep moving if possible rather than stopping to give way. I think BL realised they were duff and fobbed them off to their own company car employees.

It's not the big that eat up the small, its the quick that beat the slow. From what I understand Hornby are saddled with debt which means they have to be frugal on the investment side and maximise profit from sales. This allows more agile competitors to move in as Hornby offerings seem increasingly less attractive. As others have said it is curtains for Hornby's 'full fat' 31 unless the price halves