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Absolutely agree with you Keith - it will lead to a much less smooth ride for passengers, and also restricts possibilities for National Rail at Snow Hill so seems a bizarre decision!

Hi Keith, Seems a highly ambitious timescale to me, unless they open in the style of Birmingham New Street & Grand Central where there is clearly some snagging still to do even though it is officially fully open! Will be interesting to see how quickly the OLE goes up & tram stop equipment is installed, still lots to do ...

Taken from a 6th October press release on the Centro website: Birmingham city centre tram extension enters key phase http://www.centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2015/all-change-on-midland-metro-as-city-centre-tram-extension-enters-key-phase/ Passengers on the Midland Metro are being advised of major changes later this month when work to connect the existing tram system to the new Birmingham city centre extension gets underway. From Sunday October 25th, tram services will no longer use Snow Hill Station but will instead start and finish at St Paul's. Passengers will be able to use a replacement shuttle bus service between St Paul's and Snow Hill Queensway which is being laid on by the Metro's owner - public transport co-ordinator Centro - and the system's operator National Express.The Midland Metro platform at Snow Hill station will be closed as work gets underway to connect the line to the new Birmingham city centre extension. The arrangement is expected to last for up to six weeks while engineers install a new junction on the track between Snow Hill and St Paul's, along with new signalling equipment and overhead electrification to tie the line in to the new extension. Once work is complete services will run to the new Bull Street stop in the city centre. The rest of the extension down Corporation Street to New Street Station is scheduled to open by the end of the year. Cllr Roger Horton, lead member for rail and Metro on the region's Transport Delivery Committee, said: "We appreciate that this work will cause some temporary disruption for passengers and we would like to apologise for this in advance. Despite the short term inconvenience it's worth remembering that this work paves the way for passengers to be able to travel by tram right into the heart of the city centre. That's good for passengers, good for retailers and good for our regional economy." Apart from the replacement shuttle bus, which will use the stop opposite the entrance to St Paul's on Constitution Hill, existing National Express bus services on the route - Nos. 16, 46, 74 and 75 - will also accept Midland Metro tickets. Conductors will also be on hand at the bus stops selling Metro tickets. Alternatively, passengers wishing to travel into Snow Hill Station by rail can change between tram and train at the Jewellery Quarter but must have a valid train ticket. Further details, including timetables for the replacement buses, ticket details for transfer onto rail and walking routes will be available nearer the time on http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/ and http://nxbus.co.uk/the-metro/ The information will also be available on leaflets that will be distributed to passengers ahead of the start of the improvement works. The city centre extension, a joint project between Centro, Birmingham City Council and the Black Country councils, will bring more than three million people directly into the heart of the city's shopping district each year. It will also provide a convenient link between Birmingham's two major rail stations, the emerging business district at Snow Hill, the unique and historic Jewellery Quarter and out into the Black Country using the existing Metro line. The extension will serve as a springboard for future Metro routes such as to the city's forthcoming high speed rail station in Eastside, and Centenary Square. The £128 million project, which includes a £50m fleet of new trams which started going into service last year, is expected to boost the regional economy by around £50m a year and create more than 1,300 sustainable new jobs.

Still optimistic timescales being talked about - according to the Birmingham Mail testing will start in mid-October: "Trams will be travelling through Birmingham city centre in less than a month – for the first time in decades. With work on the Midland Metro extension from Snow Hill to New Street almost complete, testing will begin on the tracks in mid-October. Although don’t expect to see them, as initial testing will be done overnight, with scheduled operations expected to begin before the end of the year." For the full story, see: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/video-check-out-new-birmingham-10135876

Hi Keith, Definitely an awful lot left to do! - is any of the OLE up yet? - September sounds highly ambitious. I look forward as always to seeing your next batch of photos. David

According to a news article in the Express and Star local newspaper, the final operational T69 tram (No. 16) is being withdrawn, with its final service being the 11.10 service from Wolverhampton - Birmingham Snow Hill this Friday (14th August). http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/08/12/end-of-the-line-for-original-metro-trams-2/ The T69 Ansaldo-Breda trams were introduced in 1999, but have gradually been replaced by the arrival of 20 CAF Urbos 3 trams. Best wishes, David

Thanks once again to Keith for taking the time to post these photos, it really is great to see all the progress being made.

Now confirmed in email from Hornby: "Following some speculation, Hornby is proud to announce the inclusion of the un-rebuilt Merchant Navy as part of the Hornby 2016 range. To read more go to the full article where you can see a sneak peak of the designs!" http://Hornby.hornbynews.com/2DJZ-63H1-JS3U3-2653V-1/c.aspx

Hi everyone, Next update to the Oxford Rail website is due at 9am next Tuesday - counter is now counting down again on their website: http://www.oxfordrail.com/ Best wishes, David

Keith, Many thanks for posting these photos, I don't get into Birmingham city centre very often, so really appreciate your effort in keeping us updated. Best wishes, David

Posted on Heljan's Facebook page today: PRESS RELEASE We have previously announced our intention to produce the GWR/BR 1366 class 0-6-0PT and we are following this with our next release which will be the GWR/BR 1361 0-6-0ST. As we can utilise elements of the chassis from the 1366 for the 1361, it makes this a natural development in our programme. CAD has been completed and we will shortly be releasing expected delivery dates and SRP. GWR/BR 1361 0-6-0ST 1300 - GWR 0-6-0ST 1361 in photographic grey (limited edition) 1301 - GWR 0-6-0ST 1363 in GWR green with monogram insignia 1302 - GWR 0-6-0ST 1364 in GWR green with G W R lettering 1303 - GWR 0-6-0ST 1365 in BR black with early 'lion & wheel' insignia 1304 - GWR 0-6-0ST 1363 in BR black with later 'lion & wheel' insignia https://www.facebook.com/heljanas?fref=nf

Hi everyone, Simon Kohler at Hornby has confirmed in an email to me this morning that the Sentinels all have sprayed (painted) bodies. Best wishes, David

Morning all, Showing as "In stock now" on the Locomotion website, so we should all be receiving them in the next week or so as they say they hope to have all orders fulfilled by the 22nd November. There were 107 left in stock (ie not pre-ordered) according to the website when I checked this morning. Best wishes, David

Hi Merf, Thanks for giving more information. Any idea why a Western Region vehicle was registered in Lincoln? - was the bodywork built there? Best wishes, David

Hi everyone, Just had an email from Kernow advising despatch of my sound-fitted version - 31-235ZDS K2007DS Bachmann Class 205 2H Thumper Unit number 1115 - so these should be reaching those with pre-orders over the next few days. Best wishes, David

Hi everyone, A preview video of Kernow's sound-fitted Thumper is now on Youtube: "Kernow Model Rail Centre Class 205 Thumper OO Gauge seen during test. The sounds have been tweaked since this sample was produced but should give a good idea of what the final version will be like. Features include doors slamming, flange squeal, guards bell and loudaphone buzz, horns or whistle according to prototype, all of which can be activated by the relevant DCC function." https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gJa-pqOdJxA Best wishes, David

I was delighted to see Simon's email with the CAD shots of the Sentinel - this sort of interaction is something that we've seen from Dapol for a fair time now, and with very beneficial results in terms of final product. I hope that this will also be the case for Hornby releases. Personally, I was pleased to see that the spec does include separate handrails. etchings etc. My initial worry was that this might turn out to be a basic spec model, so I'm pleased these fears appear unfounded. I'm also relieved that the axle-box size will be amended before release. Best wishes to everyone, David

Images of the first decorated samples are now available on Hornby's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151269262325843.456380.53107985842&type=1 NCB - https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/6708_10151269262370843_1939486137_n.jpg Esso - https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529212_10151269263140843_874309503_n.jpg Tarmac - https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/538311_10151269263370843_1547888009_n.jpg Best wishes, David

Hi Dave, Thanks for posting the revised cad pictures. "Design properly" please! - looking forward even more now to receiving "The Royal Alex" that I've pre-ordered. Best wishes, David

Same here Rob, also looking forward to buying the Metro red and cream in due course ...

Yes, Model Rail quotes Kim as saying the later series (D2574-2618) will be produced initially, but that the earlier series (D2550-2573) may follow at a later stage.

Both the CEGB and NCB liveries look great, hope that industrial liveries will be part of the planned releases to keep the new Hornby Sentinel shunters company! Here's the CEGB livery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cookephotography/3059314085/ Merry Christmas to everyone, David

Brilliant news David

Hi folks, 20 photos of the fixed bunker version are now on the Hattons Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.459040784116359.102006.217917844895322&type=1 Best wishes, David

5 photos of decorated samples in BR & LNER liveries now showing on Hornby's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150833773260843.402783.53107985842&type=1 Enjoy! David