fulton

Too true to be funny.

Your comments are part of this modern trend to apply facts, to popular and widely held knowledge, next thing you will be telling us Britain did not win WW2 all by itself. (THIS IS A TONGUE IN CHEEK COMMENT, before I get a massive backlash,I can think of allsorts of popular myths that if the facts are shown, could result in very angry responces as the myths are so strongly belived.)

I was thinking more of the hobby in China itself, know one of the UK ones well, and very good it is to.

Just completed a trip on the Swiss Glacier Express, very impressive but thats another story, sitting next to us, having a table and four seats to himself, was a Chinese journalist, the staff made an extra efford to look after him, with constant updates and information, we got talking, he presents a radio travel programme, said the Chinese love to travel, has been to the UK and was very impressed with Beamish, also turned out he has a big interest in model railways, sayes it is a popular hobby in China, we had a good time exchanging layout photos, he was more of a collector than modeller, a very enlighting chance meeting. He got off at Chur while we continued to St Moritz

I was the other way round, was signing on at my local Jobcentre, then retrained for security, first job was back on the door of my old Jobcentre! suited me for the few years until I retired.

That was a problem with the Aygos' you could almost hear the little car brain thinking about it, then it would decide "I know lets try 1st!" Less of a problem with the Ford, maybe because it has more gears, a bigger diesel engine and the gearbox managment has improved in the last ten years, but yes it can still be caught out.

Modern autos, to me work so well, my current Ford Connect van has an eight speed autobox, twin clutch, so smooth and just as economic. Even my last two cars both Toyota Aygos with the much critizised MMT transmission, I enjoyed driving.

Not just parking spaces, but other items designed for when cars were generally smaller, travelled on my regular trip on Le Shuttle, through the channel tunnel yesterday, followed a 4x4 Merc on, it only just fitted, the tyres only just fitted between the kerbs, once followed a Bently on, driver refused to take the upper deck, as he did not think he could get round the corner and up the ramp, I drive a long wheelbase Ford Connect van, classed as small/medium, does fit but not alot to spare, have to fold the mirrors in to pass the toilets, more people will be paying extra to use the single deck, which also have wider doors.

As the loco is second hand, could it have been run on a layout where something like Rail Zip had been applied, a friend used it on his O gauge layout, and found locos that were marginal at pulling their trains now sat there spinning! only answer was to clean it off the rails and wheels. Before anyone reacts defending these products I have no preference either way, simply relating a friends experience.

Even within the EU there are checks, on the Belgium/French border, on the E40 there was a temporary set up which has now been rebuilt as a more permanent set up, I have been stopped there and my van searched, really looking for stowaways, recently travelling from Poland to Germany, German customs had a temporary set up doing random checks, I did not get stopped but did get a very hard looking at, I suppose being a UK registered van. As to Eurostar I think a competitor is pure fantasy, good for us to speculate and huff and puff, but there is no economic case for it, if it did happen it would be like a new budget airline, minimal investment, leased trains and infrastructure, staff on temporary contracts, with funding for, say six months, if no profit then it closes down.

I once had the experience of being delayed on the M25, going to Heathrow, ended up parking in the short term carpark, I would have missed my flight otherwise, yes it was expensive! I only had hand luggage and already had my boarding card, so went straight to security with 35 minutes to spare, at security they said if it had been less than 30 minutes I would not have been allowed to go through, so you do need to get there early.

sorry miss sent

While this project is some time from starting, I have dipped in with the lorry, which I can also use on my Janes' Creek project.

Delivery of Yellow Stocks from Smeed Dean of Sittingbourne, to Strood Esplanade, a break in unloading, enjoyed building the first Langley Models AEC lorry, so built a second, figures from Modelu, bricks from Scale Model Scenery.

AEC lorry, with stationary steam engine load, just collected from the Invicta Engineering Works, Strood, just needs to be tied down and sheeted, modified Langley Models kit, 3D printed load, Scalescenes downloaded brick wall.

I once visited an exhibition in Holland, the operators on one layout were doing just that, it was a large, probably scale length, branch, very nice modelling, very nice stock in the staging, never seen anything move as it wasn't time, I think there were four trains scheduled that day! We all have to tweak reality, very few of us have room to build full size, even if we did, could you transport and set up such a layout, with the crew available, as a visitor I want to see trains moving, as an exhibitor I also want to play trains, sorry operate. Photo of my layout at the recent Exeter show, this is actually scale size, but with the trackwork tweaked, try to have constant switching/shunting going on, the carfloats act as the staging.

Some single track lines were built with double track bridges, with the intention to double track in the future, often did not happen, I have in mind my local line to the Isle of Grain, in Kent.

Looks like it could be asbestos, I would not take the risk, these old controllers, and some other old electrical equipment, needs to be disposed of properly, modern replacements are not expensive and generally better.

I think you maybe mistaken, I am sure it would have been 8-track at that time, unless someone knows better.

I have that same problem as well, I put it down to my internet speed but maybe that is not the problem.

Ever since this thread started I have been meaning to take a walk and take just these pictures, so good somebody has done it, little can left to the left of the footpath as the "new" military road, which effectively replaced the railway, is there, not sure of the current status of the road but it still displays signs that it is a military road and can be closed at anytime.

Had to smile while watching the WW2 BBC drama Saturday evening, when the Spitfire was hit, his wingman told the pilot to EJECT NOW, did check Wikipedia, was surprised ejector seats were being developed during WW2, thought they were later, started to be fitted to production aircraft in the late 1940's

One of my pet moans is the amount of brown field land, that could be developed, plus the number of urban/city derelict or semi derelict properties or even just time expired properties that could be redeveloped before green field land, I know there are extra costs but there is also some help with tax for brown field sites, a brown field site at the end of my road, with planning for around 300 houses and flats has stood for 25 years now, my own house is built on brown field land, I worked for the developer and a profit was made.

I once sat as a Juror, following that, seeing how easily things can get out of hand, the alleged incident was in public view, I would never be alone with a child unless they were one of mine.

Reminds me, when we were on holiday in Canada, our coach driver said to relax he goes off hiking, might not see anyone for two to three days, asked what we do, someone shouted out "we go down the garden shed!"