woodenhead

TC was unpowered, just happened to have cabs at either end to control the emu. So if anything they were unique - could control an EMU, a 33, a 74 and a 74.

All depends who owns the IP at the moment, does it still rest with Olivias (who still have original merchandise to clear) or with Heljan. Then there is the small matter as to whether there is demand for more of them - did the notoriety of the shop put off purchasers of the original run or is it simply the market for 76s has run it's course. The Class 35 seems like a model that would be on a staples list like a 47, a black 5 or a Pannier. And people will know the models that do continue to sell even though for many modellers they may feel they have enough of them all ready.

Or the WCML, ECML and GEML DVT sets. if two class 27s top and tailing is push pull then every HST service is the same as well. Push pull has never really stopped, it has just moved with the times and of course the latest incarnation is a class 68 and MK5 combo with TPE.

All the better then, as that means another factory to supply N gauge items.

But maybe in a shop with both Heljan and EFE, the proprietor will simply not stock the EFE version but still have a J94, a class 17, an underground train and a selection of wagons.

Regardless there must be a market and with Heljan focussed on other new developments it lets them use capacity at their factories to turn out older toolings as a nice little earner with the other party also doing all the distribution and marketing. For Heljan it is money for old rope that will also raise their profile with people who may have not given them a second thought in the past.

The only negative I see is that perhaps Kernow's gain is Hornby's loss. As a freelance consultant to the Model industry Graham could help ensure Hornby kept it's Southern models honest, like Tony W does with his assistance to them. Would we have seen the ghastly livery on the ex LSWR brake van Hornby released earlier this year had they had Graham on a retainer. Anyway, back on track, having Graham on board does show a intent by Kernow to build a brand and that can only be good for us modellers.

As soon as Graham mentioned he had a new job about a month ago I figured it would be Kernow, it's an obvious coming together. The other one burnt his bridges with the Class 74 fiasco let alone anything he did afterwards.

A clever train set would include 2 sidings or a passing loop - then you have somewhere to put another train, if you only have the one train in the trainset then you need to buy another train for the other siding. If the train set is only big enough to hold one loco in a siding then a one loco railway it shall stay.

So it comes as a shock to all when I found out about Graham's enthusiasm for the sea ports of Anglia and the east coast on his own site. Not sure Chris Trerise is ready for the first models out of this new stable - a set of Great Yarmouth low relief warehousing

Kernow have sold their own limited editions through other retailers, the 02s which weren't selling at the end have turned up at a number of retailers including Hattons. But this EFE collaboration does offer Kernow a new route to market and with Graham Muz now on board it really does give them impetus to get on with other niche models that they can now retail through Bachmann's network. The GWR Railmotor and the LSWR Roadvans spring to mind as items that perhaps needed something extra to get them to the top of the pile for production. There is also Sonic Rail - Whilst the 56xx has been supported by RevolutioN it was clear this was to help them into the market, perhaps here too a link up with EFE Rail / Kernow would really help the N market. I assume that it wasn't Mr Sonic who did the Class 17 for DJ, if it was then he has already begun this link.

Wasn't the SPA Hugh Flynn's model that Kernow bought out and had DJM produce a run of?

I would say that was more a sense of euphoria as lockdown came to an end before a good dose of realism surfaced. Not a lot has changed except perhaps we've had the chance to digest where we are with things, a recognition we're not out of the woods and clubs/associations taking a very cautious approach lest they be financially ruined by planning an event that may not be able to take place or not get enough numbers to cover costs.

I wouldn't say for the worse. Back in March we could only leave our houses to shop unless we were classed as key workers. Now we can do quite a lot, visitor attractions have reopened albeit as you've described with limitations and people are able generally to go about their daily business. So we cannot go to an exhibition currently and given the planning that goes into it then it is understandable that a lot of people are being cautious when it comes to 2021, though I suspect most including myself expect 2022 to be a return to something akin to what we had in the past. Next year is going to be transitory and probably based on what happens between now and January 2021, but Covid will cease to be such a disruptive matter at some point.

My school was once buzzed by a couple of Starfighters back c 1980. I guess if you were in Germany this may not be that unusual, but I was in the middle of Manchester when they screamed overhead. Turns out they were West German and had been over the UK on an exercise, gotten lost and were using railway lines as a guide but ended up low level over Manchester following the Styal loop.

But the council have not yet cancelled the Christmas markets for 2020 - interesting how they will manage pockets of single family groups in the drink/food scrummages that is the main feature of these events. The whole ethos of the markets is to get as many people into Albert Square as possible at the same time whilst holding an alcoholic drink in one hand, a giant sausage in the other and not to mention the umbrella to keep the rain off. We cannot visit our dear old family members but we can spend spend spend in the shops and bars so I think they either really want the markets or don't want to pay the cancellation fees as it's getting quite late now in the year when you need to start employing people for it.

Oxford was it's own company and still is to all intents and purposes, but it has become linked with Hornby because the MD of Oxford became the MD of Hornby at the last change investors. Hornby do plenty of Railroad models to suit younger people and those who don't want to spend quite as much, they benefited from the purchase of the old Lima & Dapol models in that respect as they got the bodies and then plonked them on their own budget chassis. Some new models did get full fat and Railroad versions designed side by side so again there was some cost management by Hornby in developing the RailRoad range, then there are some models which sit in between the ranges. But the fact is Hornby had before and still have a catalogue of models they can call upon to make the Railroad models. Bachmann don't have that sort of lesser detail back catalogue so developing such a range would be difficult and where would they start because Hornby are most likely going to have a similar one in their pocket - the 20, 25, 26, 27, 35, 37, 40, 47, 50, 55 and then in the steam locos they have a cross section of what would be sellers - Flying Scotsman, Mallard, Tornado. Bachmann aren't doing it because the cost would be prohibitive and the market is already covered by Hornby. In the US Bachmann do the less detail ranges with economy sound - just like Hornby and TTS - because there they have a market to sell to.

Personally I would be wary of asking questions such as these on an open forum. You don't describe a person who would take nicely to having people openly snoop about the legitimancy of his business.

Very nice, but please get that socket screwed in fully, it is giving my OCDs a worrying buzz

Just remember of your 14 foot available space - you've now allocated about 9 foot to 1 Class 4 and 2 coaches - that's leaves 5 foot for the crossover between Fiddleyard and Scenic area and any points, each point will be about 16 inches. I think you need to get some software and plan something on their so you can see exactly what you will get in your space, I note you have 4 foot along another wall and you may need to find a way to incorporate that on a curve to eek out more scenic area to build your station in.

The vestibule ends look intact on all the coaches, lets leave it to the experts to establish what forces were at play on various parts of the train when the incident occurred and they will make an assessment of what risks exist if any to fix on the structural integrity. If you want to know more about what can happen to a Mk3 in an accident look up the Southall accident, these coaches are strong but not invincible.

Hence my earlier not elaborating what the upturned coach was lay on, it's not clear what it is and we should not get into speculation.

Apparently they had come from the BBC site, though I think the BBC may have since taken them back down, but it could like you say have come from a passenger.

What I don't get is how some of these images are coming to social media - it's a live incident and the only people on site are surely the emergency services.