90rob

Details here: http://www.rubovia.org/history.htm The dragon was called Pongo, and the queen would contiually call out 'Pongo, Pong, Pongo' in a sort of posh voice...

Am I the only one who found Twizzle seriously disturbing? And am I the only one who remembers Rubovia... but that was by Gordon Murray of course....

Virtually zero chance of a re-run I reckon - but Hornby must be considering a new model, given the relative success of their new Terrier. For the record, I have two of the DJM version - they both ran well on DC from the very start, and are continuing to do so....

For me Hornby have already dipped the toe into GE/LNER East Anglian branchlines with their super little J15, and I think a Buckjumper or an E4 would continue the theme nicely! Hornby are getting quite good at the smaller engine...

After seeing Stefan Grossman play in the students union at Reading University, I bought an Eko Ranger 6, secondhand, for £28. Fifty years on and I am still playing it - fingerpicking/country blues. I have never seen the need to replace it.

Late version arrived here - all good and no issues. I am particularly pleased with the slow running (DC). I think that constant flickering could get a bit annoying though. I also have the Hornby late version - one of the first to come out. As time has gone on the running has become increasingly erratic. I finally got round to tackling the pickups, and big improvement, though I think they may turn out to be the 'Achilles Heel' for the Hornby one. If I get a third terrier it will probably be the Rails version - but lets see how that goes....

...particularly the view through the bridge...

No don't apologise - glad you posted here as I have now discovered Richard Long's book...!

...reminds me of the ingenious use of neodymium magnets here:

Very busy this morning - need to make another trip next week as I forgot to take my list...!

For anyone who wants to take a chance on one mail order, Gaugemaster have 5 versions on sale at £59.95 for DC and £119.95 for DCC Sound... Also some Heljan 1361s and 1366s at £79.95

I've come across a picture of D2195 on the Highworth Branch, taken from the bridge approaching Hannington station, and the chevrons do appear to run over the top of the curved section of the loco face (Wild Swan - The Highworth Branch page 79), though the lighting conditions make it difficult to see whether there is a black band beyond this. The same seems to be true of D2141 on the Hemyock branch (Oakwood, Culm Valley Light Railway page 108). Yet on D2034 at Ellingham there quite clearly is a lower black stripe (Diesels in East Anglia - Dr Ian Allen figure 105) and it looks just like the Heljan D2033. Obviously a bit of variation.. chevrons added at Norwich...?

....D2033 as modelled, with others, at Norwich Thorpe still in BR green in 1972....

I suspect that green/wasp might well have had a black strip at the top (though I am yet to find any photographic evidence), but it did not come forward enough to show up in most pictures taken from ground level. Bachmann have of course modelled it thus in their 4mm offering. I wonder if Heljan might have it a bit wrong, and you shouldn't be able to see the black strip on the face of the engine - they seem to have brought it too far forward? I am pleased to see though that they have not gone for red coupling rods. As far as I know Swindon built machines came with oiled steel rods.

I would actually give mine a 6 or 7. It is not bad, but it has been geared to run at a similar speed to the M7 and 700, and this to me feels much too fast, especially if you run it without a load. Mine does not run as well at slow speeds (or perhaps I should say run as 'pleasingly'), as the original Dapol designed terrier, and is prone to stopping occasionally. Not bad, though, and remember I have the late crest version which I understand from earlier posts may have had some QC problems. I am tempted by the LSWR version too....

...sorry, meant to add a more general view...

I've never been too happy with the pick ups on mine (first batch late emblem). I bought it directly from Hornby, and if you look at the pictures you might be able to see that one of the pickups was adjusted, presumably by Hornby themselves, before the loco was sent out. Rather than strip down, I think the contact was probably bent outwards with a pair on fine long nosed pliers. It runs well enough, but not perfectly.

Am I the only one who finds this video a bit depressing...?

That's a bargain! I've just paid out £190 to have mine patched up after a similar encounter...

Yes it is annoying when bits fall off, but I am sure you are right in valuing running qualities above everything else. Cosmetic repairs are something you get used to - the number of times I have broken details with careless handling (!) - but I have always found that you can put up with a cosmetic repair or two but a badly running loco will forever 'offend the eye' and should never be tolerated from new.

'The Stone Age Railway' ....... something for next years 'Great Model Railway Challenge'.....

Well the description is honest enough, but I don't think it does Hattons reputation any favours to offer such an item at such a price - after all, it is virtually scrap.

Agree... I've got a Schools and a King Arthur sitting in the repair drawer, and I am sure they will never get done. It is for that reason that I no longer buy the larger Hornby locos.

I had the same problem while trying to buy a camera many years ago. Having a thick 'ampshire' accent (very much like the engine drivers on the DVD of the Hayling Branch Line) I went up to London for the day and asked to see a Neekon. The assistant looked at me, puzzled, and then asked if I meant a Neyekon. I eventually found the correct way to pronounce it...Pentax.