Bernard Lamb

The bank now sends me emails informing me that I have not read X number of communications that they have sent to me. I look at the balance and I know within a small margin if it is correct or not. so why should I bother to read the full statement? I just run through the list ticking off the items. That seems to keep them happy.

Bernard 

Going back even further there is MRJ No 8, which has an excellent article by Ian Pusey, using what at that time was a new system being produced by/for Alan Gibson. This might be better known these days as C & L. It was the first finescale track that I built, after moving on from copper clad soldered construction. With various choices of rtl track available today I still find the chairs and sleepers handy for the odd situation. Bostick rather than solvent anybody?

Bernard 

1 hour ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Isn't that the idea behind "Ashford International"?  Even if the "rest of the country" really turns out to be "south of the river" - after all nobody would really want to go to Wolverhampton or Halifax would they?

If an 'open access' service provider was allowed to operate, then using Ashford or Stratford as a base might actually be a better idea than adding further congestion at St Pancras.

While a big bomb on 'God's own county' might be a good idea, I have nothing against Wolverhampton and its citizens.😃 

Bernard 

I never came across a football club special.

I do remember company outings by train.

Coopers in Berkhamsted certainly had special trains on a regular basis for staff outings in the early 1960s.

I have no idea how long they continued.

Bernard

Anyone taking up the challenge of the Beattie well tank should get hold of the copy of MRJ where Ian Rice built one. From memory this kit falls into the 'Curate's Egg' category.

Bernard

1 hour ago, hayfield said:

I remember our first trip, where our tour manager stood guard over of suitcases at the end of the coach (old Eurostar train), as 9 years ago there were thefts on the train, he also warned us about the criminality at Garde du Nord and quickly guided us to the coach park at the side of the station, seemingly a much safer exit for tourists. Likewise he gets us into the departure lounge on the way back

 

Used St Pancras 3 times for return journeys, none of the departures of arrivals stick in my mind (unlike various airports) other than once when there were delays after an overnight train broke down, It was a bit crowded for 15 mins thats all 

 

As for Eurostar, the new trains are less spacious, but for us far more pleasant than being on a plane.

 

The duration of the coach transfer can vary in length, Bastille day was the worst time wise, but I do enjoy the coach trip especially when we pass the disused (viaduct) main line station the architecture is very interesting

 

I have only ever travelled from Garde du Lyon, the weight between trains can be a bit long but essential with the Paris traffic hold ups. I find the cafe's fine and we tend to wait up stairs. As you say early starts its essential to have somewhere to grab some lunch

 

I think we have been lucky as French trains seem to be of better quality than their British counterparts, though with all the new units that might have changed. What I do find is the graffiti is far worse in France. In Italy we have had the best of both worlds, from the super fast Red Arrow (Turin to Venice) to some old but at the same time corridor stock Italian Reveria (south of Genoa) to Milan. worse was a local service Melan to Como. But certainly the TGV and Italian main line trains are usually very pleasant.

 

Over night stays usually include either a free afternoon or morning to mooch around, for us the travel experience is as important as the holiday, we are neither beech dwellers or sun worshipers and not escaping stressful jobs. Far more interesting seeing the countryside pass than a view above the clouds. But if you just want to get there train travel must be frustrating.

 

Whilst I am not one of those eco warriors who lecture others all the time, but I guess use planes have big cars and large houses, I feel quite smug at doing my bit to reduce carbon. My own view is air travel should carry a large tax to be used to retrieve the carbon expended, many cheap flights are unnecessary and their costs should be commensurate to the damage they cause to our enviroment

Understatement of the century.😀

Upstairs, as you put it, is rather more than fine. There is an eating place that goes by the name of Le Train Bleu. An ideal spot for lunch to set you up for the journey.

Bastille Day. Terrible for getting about, with many Metro staions closed and controlled areas, But a great day out if you plan where you want to go and don't book a restaurant that is in or near a restricted zone. The evening concert near the Eiffel Tower is a super eperience, but getting out to any form of public transport is a nightmare, even with local knowledge.

Bernard

11 hours ago, rockershovel said:

The EU was/is quite happy to spend money creating local jobs. The problems really start when you are a nett contributor.

 

The Dutch, Germans and French are strongly exclusive, as I know to my cost 

Quite so. The company I worked for had a factory in Holland and another in Germany. In Germany they even named a local street after the firm, such was our standing. That way you were on the inside. We tended to ignore the French, as historically they were more trouble that the business was worth.

The way around EU procurement was to be on very good terms with certain government agencies, so that the tender was written in such detail that you would be the only supplier who could do the job at a reasonable cost. Sadly some people never cottoned on as to how the system worked and how the rules were applied in other countries.

Bernard

7 hours ago, OliverBytham said:

At first I thought so too, but after looking at a lot of photographs first of A4s (and noting how the small rectangular panel just below the chimney appears and disappears from photos to photo depending on ambient light, film quality and weathering) I think Hornby has actually got this correct on the Bugatti nose P2.

 

Here’s the best view I’ve found so far. A Hepburn shot of 2003 at Kirkcaldy in 1936 from The Gresley Observer. 
 

In almost all angles in this image compendium the panel is as good as invisible, but it’s also glimpsed here.

 

 

So perhaps the model makes it more prominent, but for my money, it’s correct. 

 

Ollie

Sorry. I don't follow your argument.

Hornby have the top of the plate below the lowest part of the chimney.

The prototype photos have it exteding a good way above this point.

Clearer shots needed, but that seems to be the case on the evidence shown.

I agree with Woodcock

Bernard

19 minutes ago, Bucoops said:

 

I didn't notice any Great Eastern ones when I looked earlier?

Neither did I.

I shall follow up by looking into Worsley as they do a thrird and a brake 3rd that seem to be the right type.

Bernard

On 15/08/2023 at 23:21, JamesSpooner said:

I’m not sure about NPCCS not being painted brown but Stratford certainly continued painting ex GER coaches in brown through the 1950’s.  There are several colour photos demonstrating that in the various East Anglian colour albums and I attach one taken by RC Riley at Cambridge in 1958.  Not sure about copyright rules so please respect that.

 

Nigel

 

 

That reminds me.

Are there any 4mm kits available for ex GER carriages such as this?

Something similar, even in a similar colour scheme, ran on the Maldon branch in the 1950s. 

Bernard

15 hours ago, Siberian Snooper said:

Hopefully once the boring machines are launched, someone may forget to stop, until they miraculously appear at Euston, but I won't be holding my breath.

 

 

Or continue across under London to emerge at Ebbsfleet to join HS1.😃

Totally OT. Why must we continue to use the name Euston?

A vanity project of a long forgotten landowner.

Milton Keynes Gateway has a much better ring to it.😀

I have a lot of sympathy for local residents and in particular local small businesses, who will be subject to another two years plus of inconveinience. Not to mention us poor punters who will have to put up with the current situation for goodness knows how long.

Bernard

The £5 day ticket looks to be very good value.

Bernard

The last time I was in Paris, April 2022, we were based near Place de Clichy. The best way from Gare du Nord was to walk up to La Chappelle and take the metro from there. We visited people who lived very close to the Gare du Nord so did this trip several times, We never experienced any problem even late at night. However pre covid we were staying near St Denis and there was a large camp under the ring road. The residents would not cause any trouble, as if they did so the authorities would soon smash a few heads, and they all knew that. However just in case the odd person was high and out of control a trusty would usually be on hand to walk you through the underpass. Not a good area. but far less dodgy than back in the 60s. 

Bernard

Just had an email re paymen details from my supplier. It is supposed to be coming to them at the end of the week.

Benard

28 minutes ago, corneliuslundie said:

If they do have to start up the TBMs once a month and run them for long enough to move forward a yard or two, how long before they reach Euston? Job done.

Tongue in cheek.

Jonathan

.......... and there are still plenty of people working on the site at Euston to welcome them when they arrive. 😃

Bernard

9 hours ago, Ron Ron Ron said:

 

The last train from St Pancras to Paris, leaves at 8.01 pm getting into Gare Du Nord at 11.17 pm.

At that time of night, you might want armed bodyguards to meet and escort you, when you arrive.

I doubt any later departure will be particularly appealing to many.

 

 

.

Back in the 1960s if you arrived at that time of night the police would see that you got in a taxi if you had an hotel booking and would actually take you to an hotel if you did not. It was considereed to be too dangerous to allow people to walk out of the station. 

Bernard

Take a look at Avdel.

They do all manner of rivets for a multitude of applications.

No connecton. Just a satisfied user.

I must have seen millions of various rivets over more than 30 years of working with them.

Bernard

Once upon a time, about twenty or so years ago, it was possible to travel from my local airport to the office in Holland via Germany, do a full day's work and be home by 17:00. There was shopping parade that straddled the border. The Germans bought cheap food in Holland and the Dutch bought manufactured goods in Germany. I forget which way round it was but cigarettes were cheaper in one country and petrol was cheaper in the other. It was possibble to leave the office at 17:30 and be driven to the airport and have enough time for a coffee or a beer before boarding the 18:30 flight home. Happy days. Where did it all go wrong?

On second thoughts don't answer that.😀

Bernard

Looks like it is OK to continue under the exemption conditions until November.

Benard

On 05/08/2023 at 17:25, spikey said:

Same with the RAF in 1965 when I joined.  It was explained to us when filling in the paperwork for our dogtags that there were no Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists or anything else-ists in HM's air force.  All officers were either C of E or RC.

Reminds me of the chap who arrived in Belfast and was asked if he was Catholic or Protestant. He replied that he was Jewish. The next question was. Are you a protestamt Jew or a Catholic Jew?

Bernard

27 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

 I did see more references to British Leyland that made me cringe.

 

AFAK I was the only person who mentioned BL as being involved in negotiations around that time in Eastern Europe. What exactly makes you cringe?

I do love this type of discussion where most of the protagonists do not have a clue.

I do not intend to get involved, given the lack of response to my contribution. However if anybody wants to go to the German section, you will find a couple of us who are willing to talk about Eastern Europe arond that time from direct experience. On the other hand don't bother as the bulk of this thread is so far from reality that you might not get a sensible response.

On a railway topic I do remember a packed freezing cold train between Bucharest and Brasov around Christmas 1973.

Bernard