Bernard Lamb

I just happened to read an article by Ian Futers this afternoon. The sea going craft were correctly tied up. Bernard

So was mine Colin as I ended up even further of topic than you. Bernard

Does it matter? I go along with Jason. It is the principle rather than the amount. Especially so when they have a superb art gallery that is free. I would often call in just to see a couple of items and be there no more than 20 minutes. For many years I was a regular visitor to Birmingham for meetings and these were usually held in rented public rooms. The cost rapidly increased and we changed to using facilities run by various local charities. They appreciated the money, we new it went to a good cause and the local authority lost out. A sort of vicious circle partly of the councils own making. Bernard

When I went to Dubbo the first thing that we were instructed to do was to always lift the lid and take a good look around both the bowl and the underside of the lid before proceeding with the business. Spiders rather than snakes in that case. Bernard

But those people have standards to maintain that cost rather a lot. As well as having to have a suitable address for the office, there are various overheads. Corporate tickets to Wimbledon or Christmas parties at The Natural History Museum* do not come cheap. * Other equally expensive sporting events and venues are available. Bernard

One way to get rid of the whiskery appearance is to coat the thread in cheap cyano glue and when it has dried out you can sand it smooth. This procedure has a hidden bonus in that it will also allow the ropes to remain straight. Both messy and time consuming. Bernard

Thanks for the comments on Burntisland Tony. I have seen this layout on several occasions and must agree that although it looks very impressive, the running has always been awful. It certainly is not a good advert for P4 going on what I have seen. Bernard

My privet hedge has leaves. The only problem is that I now only have half a hedge. The other half consists of branches around 1-2 m long scattered around the garden up to 30m away from the site of the original hedge and a trail of leaves and smaller branches in between. Bernard

That's it. Bromley by Bow these days or just Bromley when I first new it. I will be there tomorrow funnily enough. One of the Tower Hamlets, places that had to supply Yeomen to serve at the Tower of London. Unique amongst these as being a separate Parish and never coming under the control of St Dunstan's, Stepney. Bernard

The coupling device on Bachmann coaches works far better with a stiff link between the coaches and the coaches kept in semi permanent rakes. A case where there are superior options to Kadees. Hornby and Roco do a coupling that behaves in a similar fashion to the Bachmann originals and allows closer coupling by using a combination of the two. Bernard

It has been like that for a long time. Chaucer wrote about a Prioress who spoke Norman French when the fashion was to speak Parisian French. I have similar experiences speaking German in Berlin or Munich where my Saxon accent and the inclusion of local words and grammar cause some amusement. However in parts of Northern Italy my German has me accepted as almost a local. Bernard

They are the dried sort. I get them in the local pound shop. They go under the brand name of Dawn Chorus. Bernard

Starlings are now up to 12. They particularly like the meal worms. A Buzzard seems to have taken up residence near Junction 8 of the M1. Yesterday morning he was sitting on the bridge railing when I went south and was still there around an hour later when I came back. Red Kite swoops down to check us out when we go in the garden and his whistle seems to be both louder and of a higher pitch. Its upsetting the neighbour. Bernard

That looks as though you are talking about the plate that was only fitted when the loco had AWS. Not sure on this class where all the bits were fitted but there should be a cylinder and battery box for the same period. Bernard

In a very dodgy bar along the coast from Cape Town a group of friends were drinking these. Just what was in it I no not but none of us remember a lot about getting home. Bernard

Going through some old photos I came across this. Funny thing is it was in Cape Town. Bernard

I have always had a liking for these. A sort of a cross between an A4 and a Coronation. Stephenson's PC Class for Iraqui. Bernard

That is because it was designed for a particular job and built to the requirements of the time and is thus a prime example of first class engineering. The A4 on the other hand was partly built as a PR exercise and was a copy of what the motor trade was already doing. Bernard, rapidly heading for the air raid shelter.

Regarding the recent comments on spelling and typos in general. For those not aware the creature to blame for these goes under the name of Tutivillus. Take heart, there is nothing you can do about it when this mischievous devil strikes. The more people worry and comment the keener he gets to wreck havoc. Bernard

That would make sense as they also used a B1 tender. It does not seem to cause offence to most people, but as others have mentioned their 'red lines' it happens to be one of mine. For those unaware the side frames have very different shapes at the ends. However to complicate matters some K1s at various times did run with B1 tenders. Bernard

It would help the good folks on here and also those at Hattons if you gave a bit more detail as to the nature of the product and the problem. I don't want to point the finger at you, but we have had the odd comment recently on certain threads, where the poster has had either a very big axe to grind or is deep in another companies pocket. Bernard

There have been no starlings about for a good many years but five turned up a couple of weeks ago and have remained in the garden. They seem to like mealworms and when I put out half a cup of them the starlings arrive and clear the lot in minutes. Poor old robin gets pushed out, so I have to go down the garden with a few and stay until he gets his share. Several sightings of buzzards, including two together on one occasion in the last few days. Bernard

To me it is an historical experience. With or without trains it is a portrait of a long vanished scene. I agree with Tony that it should not be rated as a great model railway. I first went there over forty years ago and was impressed by the whole idea rather than the parts that I actually could see. I have known people who went there when it consisted of about three model buildings and the place was still a youth hostel. Even though they had little interest in trains, real or model, they remembered visiting the place and seeing the models. Regarding part finished layouts. I suppose it depends on the situation. A local club show should be an advert, but a WIP layout showing how things are done could be a talking point to involve the general public. I would expect to see the odd part finished layout and part finished models at a society show. The test track at the last Scaleforum I found to be of great interest for example but it would be wrong at a different type of event. Bernard