Alex TM

Hi, Saw this and thought of Sir Alan - is this the door they leave by when they've been fired? Regards, Alex.

Hi, What a difference to that unit with just a few passengers. Off now to the opticians - having looked at the picture with you pointing at that lifting eye - I could barely see the thing! Regards, Alex.

Hi Chris, Even without the description my first thought was Portillo! Nice bit of work on those two figures. He's a regular visitor here in Edinburgh, yet seems to dress in more muted colours than on TV. As for his programme; it has certainly got a few more folk interested in railways, simply because he gives them a context. Regards, Alex.

Hi, Would the shape of the cobbles/setts dictate the geography? (e.g. I've only ever seen oblong setts in Scotland so I'm assuming that circular ones would be an English usage.) Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Please excuse my ignorance, but did the 31s ever have tablet equipment fitted and used? If they did, then what lines would have used them? Thanks and regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Longest journeys by Pacer that I have done are: Doncaster to Sheffield in 2016 (don't know where the unit originated but it was taking the 'scenic' route to Lincoln; and Middlesbrough to Newcastle, also in 2016; again I can't remember where this one began it's journey, or where it ended (Metro Centre?). Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Thanks you so much for all that help; the links to images are particularly appreciated. Regards, Alex.

Where's that 'groan' button when you need it?

Hi everyone, Just been browsing through lots of images of Scottish Region class 20, 26, and 27 diesels, many of which at one time had recesses for tablet catching equipment. Although there are plenty of such photos for the pre-TOPS era, I didn't notice any for the later period. Can anyone tell me when these began to be plated over, and if any locos survived to the TOPS era with them? Thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Tried the micro-sol approach with no success (not enough of it, or not soaking it for long enough?). Went back to me usual method of thinners and a cotton but; laborious but effective. Regards, Alex.

Hi Brian, Thanks for that. Most of the stock I saw around in the later '70s had what could only be described as flaking paint. I think you are now also on record for the fastest answer to any question I have ever asked on this forum! Again, thanks. Alex.

Hi everyone, From both memory and looking at a few photos I noted that some wagons had what appeared to be a small data grid applied low on the bodyside; this was on vans as well as some fitted opens. It was yellow, with black markings, and I only saw them on the occasional wagon. Can anyone tell me what they were, and when they were used? Thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Alex.

The best kind of Sabbath?!

Hi, There's already a thread on the branch: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/64585-plymouth-cattewater-branch/page-3 I've linked to page three because of the locomotive featured there. Could it be this one: http://www.eastsomersetrailway.com/gallery.php?gid=298 Hope it's of use. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Liking the Ork Truk - Waaaagh! Regards, Alex.

Hi, I know this is off-topic, but the signal reminds me of the ones used by Edinburgh's trams; their's have five lights and with a diagonal setting too. The light positions are similar but have a different meaning. Horizontal means everybody stops (except cyclists), while vertical means everyone but the tram stops (aka - block the whole road for what seems like an eternity). Anyway, interesting to see signalling in an industrial context. Regards, Alex.

Hi, Very impressed by this; much more original than the usual 'nativity' scenes. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, It's a good idea developed into another good idea. Regards, Alex.

h0, h0, h0 - never could get my head round Santa scale modelling

Hi folks, I have actually seen a fight at an exhibition, though it was two traders that were 'at each other'. It was mid-Sunday afternoon and, not wanting to take too much stock back home, one of them offered a very good discount; the other one responded by offering a discount that was marginally bigger than the other. The first saw this and did likewise; this upset the second, who lowered his prices even further. This continued on past the point where profit and break-even had been lost as alien concepts, until they had to be separated by some grown-ups. At school I always seem to remember the "mine is bigger than yours" type of insult leading to a fight, but I didn't expect to ever see two grown men almost come to blows in a "mine is smaller than yours" tiff! Regards, Alex.

Hi Gypsy, Welcome to the weird world of RMWeb. If I remember correctly one of the Peco trackplan books has an idea for a layout doing just what you described in your first port, i.e. an inglenook and roundy on two different levels. Sorry, but I can't remember if it was the 00 or N setrack version. If you're sticking with 009, and why not, then it may be worth hunting out a couple of articles in the RM from a couple of years ago (?) where someone built an 009 model based on one of these depots. Good luck with this. Regards, Alex.

Depends on the cyclist!

Hi again, Will these new self-driving cars have cyclist detecting radar (or is that only required in Edinburgh)? Regards, Alex.

Hi again, That photo really does show up some of the differences; thanks for posting the link. Regards, Alex.

Hi, Would the new Bachmann 03 chassis work under the same brass kit, or perhaps the Silver Fox kit with the same chassis? Regards, Alex.