The Pilotman

That would be helpful, thanks. I have just registered for Dapol Digest but am awaiting approval before I can post anything. It’s not a big issue, clearly, and whilst they are not going to pick a different number at this late stage, at least if they leave the NSE flash off the final model, it will be accurate for most of the time that the loco ran in this livery with Leviathan nameplates.

I’ve seen this and other similar pictures where the caption says “Leviathan” but where the nameplate is definitely “Centurion” and also with the latter name there is a crest above the nameplate which “Leviathan” didn’t have. It seems a strange choice by Dapol to pick the only 50 to carry two different names with the same colour scheme as that immediately restricts the timescale available. As I said, I doesn’t bother me at all as none of the ones I’ve ordered will stay as 50040 but I will mention it to Dapol.

Nice pictures. Hopefully the EP will make an appearance soon. I’ve just realised that the large logo model has an NSE flash between the marker lights on one end. As it will also carry the original Leviathan nameplates rather than the later Centurion nameplates, I wonder if the loco ever ran like that in reality. In all the pictures I’ve seen, by the time the NSE flashes were added, 40 was already renamed Centurion. In its later years as Leviathan, it ran with the numbers “50040” between the marker lights. Not an issue for me as I'll be renumbering all of mine but it’s a bit odd.

I’ve just added another two to the pair I’ve already pre-ordered (so I'll have all the Dutch variants). I really want to see these become reality and this wagon is the sort of thing you can realistically have parked at the end of a siding.

See post #19

Thanks for explaining that, Ben. It just goes to show how little any of us really know about what's going on behind the scenes. As this project seemed to reach viability very quickly, and then a number of retailers appeared to be on board too, I put two and two together and clearly came up with five. It is very cheering to know that the project got to the viability stage by crowdfunding alone.

Thanks chaps; some interesting points. I wasn’t aware of the extended stops at Bristol where people could get off and buy things, nor was I aware of the trolley service. Rivercider's first picture is interesting as not only is the first coach a catering vehicle, but (by the look of it) a restaurant car. I am aware that some Mk2s acquired micro-buffets in place of a seating bay at the end of a coach. What did surprise me was the disparity between first and second class seating provision. I found many pictures of trains with well over six hundred second class seats but only twenty four first.

I've been looking online for some typical formations of loco-hauled passenger trains that ran to the West Country in the mid-1980s. One thing that I have noticed is that trains formed completely or mainly of Mk1 stock had very little in the way of first class accommodation and rarely any catering vehicles at all. There are many examples of eleven and twelve coach trains with only one CK providing first class seats and no buffet car, even on such long distance runs as the daytime Newquay to Newcastle. Was it really the case that people would make such a long journey having to be self-sufficient? Trains formed of Mk2 coaches appear to have had a much higher proportion of first class accommodation and were much more likely to have a buffet coach. Does anyone know why that might have been the case?

Maybe not a “normal” service? A weekend-only working, an engineer's blockade west of Taunton or perhaps the Exe had flooded?

Large logo 37s are quite hard to get hold of individually so I would not be surprised if a few people buy the Highlander set to keep the loco and sell off the coaches. Some retailers do this but it's also worth watching your friendly, local eBay.

That last shot looks like it could have been taken somewhere in the Caribbean!

I won’t be running mine tender first so no coupling is fine by me.

I’ve only just come across this thread and very much enjoyed yesterday’s film. It took me back to childhood holidays in Scotland and I have stood watching trains go by at many of the locations you visited. Many thanks for sharing these!

Andy, I also found the posts useful in terms of budgeting as they had more “concrete” timing information than the Bachmann website. I can appreciate how busy you are but would you be prepared to reconsider your decision and post the information again please? Perhaps it could be a locked topic or you could add a statement (in large bold letters, perhaps) along the lines of, “Provided for information purposes only. Do not use this topic to complain about anything!”

Could this be the only occasion that two GW150 47s worked a train together? http://www.hondawanderer.com/47500_47628_Crofton_1986.htm

Stick “Class 50 4TC” into Flickr and that'll bring up a few pictures including one at Exeter St. David’s.

Almost. 47079, 47500 and 47628 all received other liveries in later years, but 47484 was withdrawn still in the GW150 green. Have a look at www.class47.co.uk or Flickr

There's a picture on Flickr of 47581 in the later NSE livery at Carlisle in 1992 and a YouTube video (Classic Diesel Traction on the Settle & Carlisle) of the same loco (I think) in the original NSE livery on a passenger train at 7m24.

Is there an easy way to find out which, if any, passenger workings are booked to use the “new” underpass at Reading (from the up relief side to the up Wokingham line)? And the same for any trains scheduled to run non-stop through Reading at the moment? Thanks.

No criticism of you, Rails, Kernow or any other retailer involved intended. I'm sure the speed with which this model reached viability is in no small part down to retailers having faith in the project and investing. I just hadn’t realised that so many retailers were on board with this one. Anything that helps gets new N products to market is good.

I seem to recall an article by Paul Lunn in Model Rail magazine some time ago (1-2 years, I think) with some creative ideas for 6x4 layouts. Maybe someone on here will have a copy.

It looks like Rails of Sheffield have gone in with a big order of these so anyone that missed the deadline still has a chance to acquire some. It'll cost you though; a single wagon is £49.50 without a tail lamp or £55 with, and the triple packs are £149.50.

Lovely pictures today, David. I stood on that bridge in Princes Street Gardens less than two weeks ago. Nothing as interesting as a class 27, 37 or 47 passed underneath but I did see my first 68 there.

Some nice “sparky” shots today, David. It looks like the first class passengers were well provided for at the time on the WCML; at least two of the trains pictured have four first class carriages.

Great pictures today, David. What a contrast in the external condition of the two 47s in J2924 and J5621. You can hardly see the loco's double arrow or number in the latter picture.