Bernard Lamb

That sounds about right. I have never had figures questioned, or further documents asked for, in respect of SWMBO's self employment figures when I filled in her tax return. HMRC presumably have an algorithm that decides that any figures that are sent in are within the typical range for the sort of work that is being done. They have a pretty good idea of what profit margin is viable for a particular type of work. If you claim a ridiculous amount as expenses then they will pick it up. If you state that your income is lower than reasonably expected they will also pick it up. What our friend did to upset them I know not. If they did take action as he describes he must have been up to something very much out of the ordinary. Bernard

I have come across some surprising objects carried around in Enterprise hired white vans.😄 Bernard

My daughter and her partner went to stay with friends in Amsterdam for the New Year. They got the last train out before the cancellations started. They came back this afternoon, again without any delays. I reckon they were very lucky. As the train approached Calais everybodys phone started ringing with a general alert about high winds and floods. This was repeated on arrival in Kent. Alighting at Ashford, if that idea had been put into operation, would have been quite a welcome to England. How are these warning calls triggered? Bernard

Rather a means to top up a relatively small pension, than an iillegal activity, for many of them. Bernard

Yes, very nice. Liliput did one in H0 many moons ago, Basically a tank version of the 01. Bernard

The problem is that we now seem to be in no man's land. With the northern section abandoned and Euston out of sight over the horizon, what is the purpose of the new line? Other than as a WCML relief route. There was meeting of various local interests in the Chilterns recently and they raised this question. One idea was for two new stations to be built to serve the population that the line passes through. One near Aylesbury and the other at Calvert, to link up witth the east west line. Add in, what to me should have been done long ago, a link from Aylesbury to MK, and there would be a reasonable system to cater fro the expected increase in population. Of course that would need encouragement for people to actually use the trains Long ago Verney Junction was proposed as the new Crewe. Transport in the area has struggled ever since, because of a lack of joined up thinking. Bernard

Just been to check the Old Lang Sign for tomorrow night.

Before the tramway was built coal came in by barge, as it did to the earlier gas works in the town center. The adjacent lock on the canal near the newer works still has this sign. Well maintained even though redudant for over 50 years. What I only learnt recently, while doing research for a talk on the local river system, was that the rails for the tram way were made by Krupp in Essen. Some lengths are still in situ. Bernard

A favouite of mine was Upper Heyford. One day, after several hours with two US Marines covering every step I took, I had finished my job, in the armoury on that occassion, hence the extra close surveilance, and was being driven back to the gate house. My civilian driver drove as near as he could to an open hangar and I got a glimpse of the stealth bomber. The story was that it had flown in the night before and the RAF did not know it was here. I asked my MOD contact and he said that we knew it was there but would not tell the Yanks that we could follow it. Allies but not exactly close friends. I always found it interesting that different establishments had different security levels and procedures. Not always in line with the general perception of the importance of the site. Re your comment on who could go where. I was involved with a construction job that had a high level of vetting. A friend of mine just happened to be installing some equipment in the same building. His Gemany boss was interested in visiting the site to see how the equipment performed in service. He was most upset when he was denied accesss. Bernard

Berko gas works was a long way from the station. It was served by a private tramway from the goods yard until 1955. This site was actually quite large and replaced a smaller works that was situated in the center of the town. The coal was still delivered to the station in PO wagons right until the end of the tramway operation. House coal was usually in standard 16 tonners by then. Smaller stations bagged this, by using the drop down side door as a loading table, straight on to a flat bed lorry at this period. HC Casserley took several photographs of the gas works area. He lived just at the back of the station. Bernard

The most sensible post in this thread, The solid board will be far too heavy to move. It would also need some heavy duty casters with levelling facilities. You might be able to reach across the width now, but what about in ten years time? A simple station to fiddle yard, on a much narrower board, along the lines of various layouts by Ian Futers for example, would provide a far better start as a learning curve. Forget DCC and just use a Gaugemester Combi. A short DMU and a 37 and you can try things to your heart's content. You can also play with cheap card building kits and find out if your interest lies in that side of the hobby. Have a couple of years of fun and then look at your longer term plans based on what you have discovered. Bernard

I could name two sites that I have visited that officially were civillian training colleges. The government pumped millions into them. Eventually they were sold off, but still remained vital to government policy and continued with the same private courses as well as the advertized ones. If you had permission to be on site, then people would talk openly about various things that were going on. There were however some buildings that were strictly off limits. I am sure that any accident would have had the details hidden behind a cover story. Bernard

When I was involved in ultrasonic material testing, I had to attend various training courses. The chap in charge of these would use real examples for us to work on. One was to find a way of checking for corrossion on the bolts that held down the chimneys in a certain rather secret establishment. It was not possible to check these on site as the time allowed in the area made it too dangerous, due to the radioactivity level. Fortnately we came up with a probe that could check each bolt in a very short time. Back in those days such a cavalier attitude, of build it first and worry later, was fairly common, particularly so in certain sectors where nobody knew what was going on and had no means of gaining access to find out. Bernard

The Glasgow version.

All very good. However Fedo is asking about the last sheds as he refers to the late crest models. I have no information about one of them mothing to March in that period. Bernard

Well done. It might be a bit too deep for some people. As was the last time the famous tea cakes appeared in this thread. Bernard

But ironically, Arriva buses go to the railway station in my neck of the woods. Bernard

This turned up on facebook. Well done all of them. Bernard

OK let's join in. Wishing all readers and contributors to the German section of RMweb a Very Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. If Father Christmas is reading this, a new Roco DR BR38 would be rather nice.😀 Re the photo. If you walk to the end of the right hand siding you will reach a road. Turn right and the family weekend bouse is about 200m along this road. Bernard

Not as far as I have seen. Unfortunately. Merlin seems to have a sensible solution. I have mentally looked at a formed brass strip version. While nearer to scale it would be difficult to fix securely. To me this addittion does greatly improve the head on view of a Borders based machine. Bernard

Neither would I. However it is not aimed at the likes of us. Marklin has, for a far longer period tham any UK company, had a loyal fan base. If they are happy to buy it then Marklin has got it right. That should not prevent people who prefer a nearer to scale model from making adverse comments. You pay your money and you take your choice. However I see nothing wrong with being able to make an informed choice. From your descripton I am glad that I have only seen photographs, rather than in the plastic so to speak. It would probably give me nightmares.😃 Bernard

Or you ask to be paid through the payroll and the agreed amount is enough to cover the tax liability. Now, how do I know that?😀 As you say, there is more than one way of skinning a cat. Seeing different figures have been metioned I thought that might explain the difference. As Chris Green has been mentioned. The last time I saw him he was looking very well. Funnily enough his wife was at my wife's coffee morning last week. Bernard