woodenhead

Had the same one, I wasnt selling when I didn't have to buy something, hardly likely to suddenly buy something to just enjoy not selling anything for a pound.

You'd hard pressed to find anyone who is creating models without some sort of selfish reason be it profit or a model they want to see. They might also argue that developing new models, adding new features and generally supplying product as they do is supporting the growth in the hobby, if all they did was more of the same it would they might argue actually stifle growth. Once Triang and Hornby Dublo became Hornby you could argue it became a quite staid company with respect to the models it turned out - how long did diesels mean a generic model of a class 25, 35, 37 and 47 in either blue or green. It was only when Palitoy and Airfix moved in that changes happened. Bachmann are not staid in their approach to producing models and I would argue Next 18 and speakers is a small development with massive ramifications for N gauge modellers, they have even managed now to fit a socket onto the 03/04 chassis and that opens even more doors and shows up Dapol and their muddled attempts to update the M7 model.

I wasnt talking about making Sheffield a terminus per se, I was referring to is being a destination for long distance HS2 trains from London Euston in place of St Pancras which is already at strain from services.

The FIA did say they would look again once the in car footage was released, I guess is has been released now. Will be interesting to see how they react, if they react at all.

I understand people want more Mk1 and Mk2 coaches in standard liveries and can see why this is an issue. But if Bachmann did set aside regular slots to produce these as 'bread n butter' models, then there would be several issues: Producing models to sit on shelves 'just in case' creates an unsold stock problem. If you were a manufacturer and you had an option to sell something that won't sell immediately versus another item that will sell out quickly which would you choose. I know about the argument of speculating to accumulate, and that lots of Mk1s would then potentially lead to more loco sales which leads to more models being shifted and perhaps new entrants. However, if the stock they are already producing is moving then they have no need to speculate. Setting aside production of regular runs of Mk1 and Mk2 coaches removes other slots to produce other models. Everything is a finite resource, no manufacturer has unlimited resources (unless you are making electic cars and space rockets perhaps ). Every item produced is a decision to produce that particular model instead of another potential model. If they were to set aside production for bread n butter models, eventually sales will dry up and new bread n butter items will be cried out for by modellers. Do you abandon the first set of bread n butter models that are now stacking up and replace with a new bread n butter item - causing eventually another cry out of the first bread n butter item several years later when stocks have gone or plough on producing yet more and more bread n butter models, all the time reducing capacity for new models and taking up warehousing. I agree, there needs to be a balance and no doubt Bachmann are making these choices every day, week and month of the year - which items do we produce, when do we produce them and will they sell - but against a finite schedule of slots to produce models in China an up against all the other parts of Kader also promoting their models to the head office vying to get as many slots as possible.

I was thinking more along the lines that Sheffield may not be the MML terminus once HS2 came on stream, so Derby to Sheffield becomes a HS2 diversionary route. MML mainline services may end at Derby and Nottingham with only locals venturing north, Sheffield becoming more of a HS2 destination than now. Assuming of course that HS2 eastern leg is still delivered in some diluted form. Birmingham via Stenson junction and the existing freight line to Toton to Sheffield seeing upgraded track and additional lines as the HS2 route then up via Chesterfield to Sheffield and then on to Leeds.

No, still awaiting the award but I cannot imagine it is anything but straight electrics. Seems though the 5 shortlisted consortiums are not all happy: https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/siemens-launches-legal-action-against-hs2/ Edit: this is phase one only, nothing on later phases.

LOL - how cheap can we build it, we've got some class 43 locomotives and a load of Mk3 coaches - we could combine the two and make a High Speed Train. I am sure any upgrade to the existing route would include electrification, probably linked with an extension from the current wiring to Nottingham and Derby too. An obvious diversion route would also be Derby to Sheffield. Between that and wiring to Leeds and a whole lot more of the Cross Country routes will then be electrified, MML services would be electric as well. Electrify Bristol to Birmingham and it's winner winner chicken dinner time. I don't think a diesel bi-mode could be in their minds, too close to zero carbon emissions deadlines, it will be battery electric at worst, but that really would be a poor step to make as it would complicate the fleets and change the price of the trains. Not that this has never happened before when the government procures trains.

There will be something as it has to exit Curzon Street and also the main HS2 heading north by-passing Curzon St. It seems to me they are downgrading rather than cancelling the eastern branch - using the existing trackbed rather than a completely new line - probably will involve four tracking or reinstatement of four tracks where it existed in the past. Rather like a WCML type line with space for higher speed services alongside slower traffic. This solution couldn't work on the WCML as it is already mainly four tracked and the disruption to add more lines had already discounted the option. But in the central belt of the Midlands to the east, there is clearly scope to do so.

But these are just the announced items, each quarter new items are announced in the new format so will be items ready for delivery rather than item announced many years ago.

Are those stars a rating or has the last word been censored - there are a number of options that may fit if indeed the promised spending is suddenly removed in favour of the south.

How can Graham Farish be the also ran, their output exceeds RevolutioN, Rapido and Sonic, the problem is that everyone buys up the content leaving nothing in the shops. Dapol only produce so much by keep churning out more of the same, the only new locomotives in N of late have been the 50 and the 68 along with the low quality 142.

A new engine delivers a power boost because it is new, that is the main benefit of the change. I understand that MB have had reliability issues all summer and that may have damaged their power, so maybe they have been managing their cars where they expected RB to be strongest so they can take penalties but have the car at full strength for the last four races. Barring accidents this is all still to play for and four wins delivers the drivers and constructors to MB.

It can, but it needs a power course to get the best from it, apparently Qatar will also suit it, so it's game on next week.

I think the problem for Verstappen is that Horner and Marko haven't acted in a manner that would demonstrate how Verstappen should behave, i.e. they are role models for petulant remarks. Verstappen is a brilliant drive and fast, but he has been taught or allowed to keep acting in a manner that loses him sympathy. With MB it starts with Wolf and he generally gets the tone right and it is reflected throughout the team, look at Bottas, he has not been on best behaviour or performance, but we haven't seen the RB driver swap mid season or any public arguments.

Hmmm, you could be onto something here - completely isolated points and relying on capacitors. Of course you need a decent sized capacitor and over complex pointwork it might run out of juice but on a simple layout it should work.

If trackworkers avoided the track itself and trespassers were careful, it could solve electrifying smaller branches, just hook the track to the mains and hey presto you have electric trains.

Its not even December and the first Easter eggs are appearing.

And what is wrong with the Lima model

Following on from my last post, my wife was also becoming stressed from overly close supervision at work and not being able to manage herself. She works in the NHS and at the start of COVID she began working from home. With the distance from the office she has been able to negotiate more freedom and now manages her own workload and only goes into clinic for printed materials or some client visits. The rest of the time she is either in a school or at home, she’s never been happier or more productive. it seems to me that the greatest stress comes from how we are managed, call it empowerment or self management is the best way as you feel in control and not being controlled.

It was for me, many occurrences during my time with the company, stopped when I left. It was crippling pain, not helped by a hidden condition with my brain that wasn’t discovered until my early forties, but by then the stress related triggers had been resolved. My brain cannot regulate the pressure within it so if I get stressed or my blood pressure is raised it can lead to problems. I still don’t understand fully how I have managed it, but for the past 22 years I have managed to manage myself. I agree high level objectives with my managers and they have let me get on with it. I deliver what they want and get praise, it’s great! However underneath I still suffer significantly with imposter syndrome but I am open about it now with people so they understand me. My current employer does a lot of mental health and employee wellbeing initiatives. It was strange recently being on a Teams meeting with 50 peers all discussing how we suffered with imposter syndrome including heads of.

I used to suffer terrible stress from anxiety and I remember the palpable feeling of relief when I left the company that was providing most of it. I was sat in the car when a wave washed over me as I realised my problems of yesterday were not my problems anymore. I vowed to myself right then I would not let such a weight of stress ever build again and 22 years later I think I have managed quite well, of course there are still stressful life events but I don't carry them like I did. The amount of time in my earlier years that I would be crippled with neck and back pain from stress and I couldn't see it until it had gone.

It must also be an indicator of the size of the Hornby DC market that they are bringing in new digital control equipment for DC model railways, so if they feel there is merit in investing in DC then the market importance of DCC to most Hornby customers is probably low and satisfied mainly by 8 pin tech with TTS. Those that want to rise above that generally have the skills to install a non Hornby chip, speakers etc

A top was also optional on occasion too

Let us not forget that Battery EV are not without risk to occupants, no 'fuel' present but the batteries themselves could prove lethal https://www.forbes.com/wheels/news/battery-car-fires/ No solution that involves power is without risk, it is about the amount of risk v benefit