The Pilotman

Nice mostly British motors in the last one. Let's see (R-L) Austin Maxi, Triumph Dolomite, Ford Cortina, Mini, Triumph Toledo, and not sure on the last one. Peugeot (304?) Estate?

You could well be right that the NSE BGs never appeared in a parcels train but you never know; stranger things have happened. In any case, I just thought it would make for a very colourful train if all those liveries were available. There is a thread about NSE BGs on which I posted several photos: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94131-mark-1-bgs-in-nse-livery/

And while I think about it, BGs in ScotRail and NSE liveries shouldn't be too difficult to produce and would complement some of the recent and imminent releases. I quite like the idea of being able to run a colourful parcels train with some GUVs in blue and Post Office red along with BGs in blue/grey, Post Office red, InterCity, NSE and ScotRail colours.

Just a small amount of froth here, well, more like a few bubbles really: a Mk1 RMB in InterCity colours to go with the Mk1s and 2Ds (whenever they materialise).

They probably had enough sand for the new beach by then...

Nice to see 37099 is still going strong! Back in January 1985 I went on a rail tour from St.Pancras to Cornwall via Birmingham and 099 featured, paired up with one of the local tractors (207) to top and tail on the Parkandillack and Fowey branches. I think she was a March loco then and was sent west to provide a bit of heat.

Good news! Must be the lighting in the Rails photo. Or my eyes (equally likely).

Looks like the Capital Connection train packs have arrived (in some shops at least). From the photos on Rails' site it looks to me like the loco is in the correct, lighter shade of blue, complete with Stratford's Cockney sparrow logo. As for the coaches, all three look to be the same darker colour as the previous Mk2s but they're in a separate photo from the loco so it's hard to compare directly. Still, it's only the loco I want so I'm not that worried about the coaches.

Well, what a coincidence! Last week I was at a theme park in Holland with one of the offspring (half-term) and at the entrance to a roller coaster called "Mine Train" there was an original GWR sign exactly like the one in C0877. The ride itself reminded me of travelling from Reading to Portsmouth on a class 205 Hampshire unit.

Agreed. If Dave says it was in the train, that's good enough for me.

Oh no, I thought "08-gate" had been put to rest...

The 1984/5 WTT shows a 3C24 0300 Plymouth-Penzance Parcels/Mail (timing load D490, as was 3S15) which, I suspect, was largely formed of vans off the previous day's 1V23 1539 Leeds-Plymouth Parcels/Mail which was booked to arrive at 0051.

Some cracking shots in post #412. Immediately behind the loco in the freight hauled by 85038 is almost half of the entire fleet of PRA china clay wagons in existence.

Indeed! At least a dozen Carflats and eight coaches at least. That would make a good length train even in N.

So, instead of doing what I should have been doing this afternoon (gardening, yawn...) I did a bit of research and found an article here: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/hayle-wharf-branches.html which shows that the propelling move did indeed come all the way from St.Erth and down the incline to Hayle Wharf. Scroll down until you find some pictures with trains in them and the sequence begins with picture 7.

I fully agree that would have been safer, but if there was nowhere to run round in the wharf, it seems that is exactly what they did.

Thanks Craig, that is exactly what I was getting at. As, presumably, all the traffic for the wharf came from points east of Hayle, it would have saved a long propelling move from St.Erth if they'd done exactly what you described above. But, as you say, if the barrier wagons and brake van were added, and the train marshalled at St.Erth, that was probably the reason for it.

Thanks for that Flood. I've never seen a picture of that end of the viaduct so didn't know there was a crossover there. Makes me wonder why they didn't back the train in to the wharf from the down line. Would have saved a long propelling move.

I understand that in later years the freight down to Hayle wharf was propelled from St.Erth with a brake van leading, but I can't find any reference to what happened with the return working. Did it run bang road back to St.Erth to run round? All the pictures I have seen have the loco leading up the bank to the main line so I guess it must have done.

Everything you want from a store, and a little bit more. Or was that Safeway?

When I went to the BR signalling school (Webb House, Crewe), one of the other chaps on the absolute block part of the course was heading off to a job at Arnside. Looks like he would have had a much better view from his windows than I did from mine (Reading Panel). Lovely pictures as always, Dave, especially the first one of the 40.

Steady on!! There is no criticism in my post, actual or implied. And I didn't intend it to be funny either. If a company brings a completely new diesel loco to market, it's not unreasonable to expect the process to take roughly the same time for another brand new diesel loco. That's all I was getting at. For the record, I have lots of Dapol stuff in N gauge (class 56/58/156, HSTs and dozens of coaches and wagons) and am very happy with all of it. In fact, I'm glad the 33s have only recently become available because I couldn't have afforded the two I want any earlier. The same goes for the 50s. I would like half a dozen or so but if they'd been available now, I would not be in a position to buy any.

Now these are in the shops, can anyone remember when they were initially announced? The period of time between announcement and availability might help to predict when the 50s will be on sale (not before 2018 is my gut feeling...).