woodenhead

As the HST is still in daily Anglo Scottish use on the ECML, how has the 91 introduced after the HST ruled longer than it?

I don't disagree that other electrics are being produced but they don't need coaches and a DVT tooling too and I think that is what will get in your way. It won't be a case of update the existing tooling it will be start a new tooling and with all the coaches it is going to be expensive. If you look at Bachmann, only one electric loco at a time and the coaches or wagons for them to pull already exist in high quality mouldings. I'm not saying give up but you are going to need Pendolino numbers of orders to get Hornby to even consider it, and then do they have the slots available to do the work.

I suspect though that Hornby will be focussing on its replacement train the IEP due in just a few years. The 91 was the iconic HST, APT and Pendolino of its decade which Hornby specialise in, whilst the HST remains iconic and has been upgraded not so sure Hornby will be eager to redo the 91 at this late stage in its life despite the numerous liveries.

The world waits for Bachmann to announce one today now that someone has gone to the effort of making some excellent etches.

Ah but you are forgetting the direct sale via their website Black Friday 50% deal everyone will be waiting for. Also given the debacle with Exeter, how many MNs will Hornby produce to ensure profit but no wastage especially if there is a duplicate Bachmann model.

Very true, in N I had already dismissed a Farish MN when It comes out in favour of waiting for Dapol to release its WC despite being more confident about Farish mechanisms. Mind you the Brighton Belles and Blue Pullmans sold with the former even more restricted than an MN.

Let's look at this another way perhaps. Hornby has been going through some major supply issues, during that time they would have had several models that they wanted to produce but felt they couldn't proceed on because of the issues they had. If during that period some of these plans were being leaked between the various Chinese factories as has been hinted with regards all the companies then it is possible that the other manufacturers were trying to steal a march on Hornby whilst they were sorting themselves out. In which case what has been happening with the radial, King, 71 and now MN is that Hornby are claiming their models back and reasserting themselves in the market. Add in N gauge and that makes Hornby look to be in rude health and confident.

ContainerBase is alive and well just not accepting rail borne traffic any longer. I suspect it will move to Port Salford in due course and allow expansion of the Trafford Centre in some way.

I think they will end up a being modified for Great Western Sleeper services allowing an upgrade without having to take stock out of the existing service. I don't envisage them becoming day stock but I think First will see it as cheaper than buying new.

I can see the Scotrail MKIII sleepers finding themselves heading south via Eastleigh or Wolverton and getting very heavy modifications before resurfacing. 75 low mileage (compared to daytime stock) coaches on the best bogie there is, there must be life in them yet.

A lot of track recovery all over Trafford Park took place last year including the line to Proctor & Gamble.

ContainerBase is open but only for road based traffic. The container trains now run from the DB Schenker sidings next to the Warrington Central line. All the track in ContainerBase was lifted lasts year, weak bridge at the entrance to the MSC tracks finished it off.

I joined the N gauge society for access to the shop, the magazine was a little staid, but I think it has improved massively under your stewardship. I wouldn't leave the society for a magazine and a little competition usually improves the content further and stimulates interest in the gauge I hope. There must be a lot of N gauge modellers not members of NGS and not aware of N Gauge now.

£75 ouch!!

On line ordering is now in play - 2 pre-orders booked today. Note to self, remember to either turn off Javascript blockers on Firefox or use IE when ordering as my first attempt I hope failed otherwise I have4 of these on order!! I'll order a couple of Thompsons next month.

Lets hope the refunds are processed as efficiently as they were charged.

Wallet closed, phew!!

Not a peep about it on Dapol's site or on Facebook. Interesting way to release something new, you'd think they would make a bit of a song and dance.

Pity the site has been down for about a week then seeing as we all want these recordings....

Just need Farish to come up with the goods on a class 90 in N and Dapol to dust off the 92 plans and then you'll have everything you need. Well done guys.

Well done guys, I am still not convinced Kickstarter will deliver a lot of models in N because of the value of orders required but I think in this case it proved that there was sufficient market for a Pendolino in N; enough for a couple of guys in Canada to turn a small profit whilst giving the modellers something very special in return.

I don't disagree with you Vistiaen, but I don't think now and in this thread is the place for this discussion. The Kickstarter campaign for the Pendolino is now in it's last couple of days, I think this thread needs to remain positive and focussed on the matter in hand of Ben and Mike attaining their target pledges.

I don't think you can say DJM is an unknown, Ben & Mike didn't view him as a risk, they just got a better offer from Rapido which in the circumstances they couldn't turn down. Whether it was DJM or Rapido the model would be sound, it just comes with sound now....

One day long into the future someone will come across those 6 holes and wonder what the heck they were for.

Queen Street closes, what have I missed in the news?