woodenhead

I watched an interesting programme last night (recorded) about named trains and the presenter said catering didn't make a profit and went downhill fast once rates of pay went up in the 50/60s making the cost of running a full service exorbitant. At the end of the day all franchises are about shifting people not feeding them a three course meal so if the demand isn't there to make it pay then it has to go. There is a balance to strike and the Cross Country practice of having just a few sandwiches and one cookie shouldn't be the model adopted on the GWML.

No pics of the freight yard next to the station? I can just about remember the sidings there and it's resident 03s

It's very odd at Parkway seeing a fully built depot with all it's wiring in situ - an electric island in a sea of diesel.

They would have looked rather nice in BR black.

To be fair, a good road link between Sheffield and Manchester has been missing for decades, the tunnel is to get around conservationists.

Well I'm not sure if should be sceptical of the price or saying that it makes everyone else in all gauges look expensive for a lot less model. I read the spec then was flabbergasted at the price, well done.

Random guess, Pill?

Standing on Sellafield beach,did you glow in the dark after that photo? Visited there on a couple of occasions due to family connections, it's not a resort by any stretch.

Before you get too far into scenics have you checked your manual access to trains in the kickback fiddleyard, imagine a derailed wagon and retrieving it.

It's not a HST or an APT but it is the next generation of train. I kinda like it

If it isn't a contaminant I guess the sea will sort any spoil - it's quite good at that.

Why not, this forum's other name is the Deja Vu society.

Of course you're tempted by a 2-HAP but by the time one turns up Limehouse will be 2 years old and have done the exhibition circuit. I do like the 105s, pity they haven't shrunk yet.

The Black 5 on J540 actually looks photoshopped into black and white it is so dirty.

I guess production slots and a realistic volume of sales across more than three liveries. Blue will come no doubt, Blue/Grey fits nicely alongside Network Southeast so given the number of models for this period B/G is probably the better livery option this year.

Just frost the glass to depict condensation and you don't need to show the miserable faces of the commuters.

Don't want one and don't need one - but it's a lovely model and is going to look great on a number of exhibition WCML layouts from this summer.

Steady!! We'll have none of that malarkey round here, this is a local town for local people.

You don't want to let mould get a hold, I would focus on the heating when you get a chance.

Can you tell us if the Pacers have been withdrawn in 2106?

They're away not because I don't want them but because they don't suit my latest layout, I'm keeping them though as they are a lovely model as are the other Blue Riband Mk1s.

They've already solved it, the TPE franchise will have bi-mode hitachi trains and Northern is ordering new diesels.

I did try that but it didn't seem to fix it, they're back in their boxes now and going into storage along with my mk1 Pullmans, mk2 air cons and a whole Dapol HST. Still too much stock though.

It's not all bogies but some seem to hang low at one end, I do wonder if the wheels have been badly fitted resulting in them being loose. This might explain the upward pointy nature of the coupling and the derailment at the lower end. Anyway, too much stock now for my latest railway so into the boxes they went, bogie swap for another day, the maroon sleepers have commonwealth bogies and don't look dodgy.

My B/G sleepers on B4 bogies have just gone back into their boxes. Not happy on any curve (3rd and 4th radius) and couplings a bit high for my Dapol locos, my other MK1s are fine runners. As they don't strictly fit my new layout then for the time being they are going out of sight, 4 Dapol MK3s with buffers joining them as I no longer want a push pull set.