Mike Bellamy

Forgive my ignorance of all things 'modern' but are you saying that these were locos that were scrapped, preserved, restored and then sold back for main line use ? In which case what's the long line of locos at Toton that seem to have been there years which I see every time I travel on the A52 - are they being sold off and would they be any better? Mike .

Yes but you were cheap as Stewart paid a fixed rate of 'not very much' to club members' layouts - I mean think of the costs of getting Mr P from Swad to Derby although I guess he could carry the layout and use his bus pass. Apologies to the other Mr P for hijacking his topic but he's supposed to be tweaking the layout and might not notice our banter here . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . and of course the Mickleover Model Railway Group is the organiser of the Derby Show to be held at The Roundhouse on 7th & 8th May. I understand we are in discussions with Kevin to bring the Mickleover model to the Derby Show next year. .

Ok I'll have the first try Cog-No Mike .

Me Panic ! Never I mean I'm only the Treasurer so all I worry about is money not layouts. If we've got enough to pay your expenses then I'm happy - of course I would be even happier if we make a bit of a surplus but it's usually the last few through the door that do that for us as by then all costs should have been covered. I note that Mr P rated my comment as 'Funny' - perhaps that's more worrying than a few small changes to improve the layout. Looking forward to seeing the end result in a couple of weeks. .

Nick - I hope you aren't planning too many changes to the layout - and I wonder if you will have Andy with you again at our show in Derby - I can feel a 'panic attack' starting and won't feel any better until Monday 9th May when it's all over . . . . . . .

Unusual exhaust arrangements on the 08 . . . . .

I found a very detailed 'What's On' publication here http://www.derbymuseums.org/woaprjun16/#.VxTK1032bcs Also here http://issuu.com/derbymuseums/docs/wo_apr-jun_2016_issuu_final/19?e=7758467/34648807 That shows the Model Railway as being open for viewing on 16 April (last weekend), 28 May and 25 June (see page 25 of the Guide above) The Silk Mill museum is open on the Saturday of our show - see page 26 where you can 'Make a Screwdriver' !! That confirms the building is open and so I assume that you can see the static displays. They are also holding other events there that could be said to be model related - 3D scanning, the use of Inkscape and Laser Cutting but none coincide with our show dates. Although it's only a couple of miles away, I must admit I haven't been for a number of years. Perhaps a call to 01332 642234 might tell you more. Mike PS - thanks for supporting our show ! .

For those who use the Narrow Gauge Forum, this is the link http://ngrm-online.com/forums/index.php?/topic/16379-another-use-for-the-chivers-finelines-ge-switchershunter/ A lot of various GE locos here http://www.northeast.railfan.net/diesel119.html including this one http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/uss45.jpg Apologies to Chris for taking the topic away from his excellent conversion work on the Ixion Fowler - looking forward to seeing further progress and the end result along with the plans for the new layout. .

On the Narrow Gauge Forum NGRM-Online there were some photos of a centre cab loco that just looked like two of those kits back to back (can't link you to it as it's a members only forum) By the way, I'm Mike and Simon is the manufacturer . . . . ! .

That's the "Slimrails" GEC Style Diesel Loco designed originally for 7mm Narrow Gauge (O16.5 or On30) by Roger Chivers and now sold by his son Simon Details here http://www.slimrails.co.uk/indexlocospage.html A bargain at £18 . . . . . . . . .

Not up to your usual standards - I see there are only 6 different helicopters to choose from . . . . . . . http://en.terre-blanche.com/destination/access-map-resort/helicopter-access.html What more can I say - except "Enjoy" .

Ha! I had to search for that one . . . . . . . . . From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AB_41 the AB 41 had four wheel drive and a four wheel steering system . . . . . . It had six forward gears and four reverse gears, with a driving position at the front and one in the rear, so two crew members were drivers . . . . . . .

I hate them so always use a small wireless mouse . . . .

I had thought of hanging your layout there and then if there were any complaints about viewing height we could just move it up or down to satisfy the audience - however your idea sounds much better - except we have no control over the catering. I know at the end of the show last year the Catering Manager was complaining as I had taken all her pound coins for change on the door and our visitors had eaten all the food. As both the cash delivery and the food delivery were both scheduled for Tuesday she had nothing left for the students on Monday. They will be better organised this time so you never know we might get pies and pints after all . . ! .

I assume KH ? Had a longer than usual day at work as we are going though Audit Higher Education Review and we had to stay until all meetings finished to discover what we need to find for the morning - gave up looking at 7.00pm but back at 8.00am tomorrow to continue. Being well fed as staff from our office get to clear all the catering from the meeting rooms and of course they are getting everything off the better menu so we are seeing stuff we never get at our meetings - feeling rather full at the moment ! .

I know - we had a hell of a job last year measuring the building and putting tables out - at any other show you start in a corner and then go along each wall - we kept walking around and around but couldn't find a corner to make a start so we had to measure from the door and just hope that Alex had his calculations correct. The hall plan looked like the slices of a pizza as there were walkways to the turntable in the centre that we used for seating. This shows you what it's like empty - you see those big orange hooks in the roof . . . . . . . .

There is an illustrated 'Shows you How' on the EDM site here http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/Ixion/Fowler/fowler2.html I think Paul may have temporarily withdrawn the Ixion fitting service because he had at least 75 Minerva Pecketts to do and we were still taking orders for more at Kettering. Things may be a little quieter now and so it's worth an email to enquire. .

Agreed - not long to Derby . . . . . . . . . . . you won't forget will you ? .

Sorry seems to be the hardest word . . . . . . . . . .

Other people would call in 'Weathering' and pay a lot of money for someone else to do it . . . ! .

Last time I heard that was Mother-in-Law's funeral almost 12 months ago - although we got the Gareth Gates version ! .

That post above got a 'Like' as it included both steam and narrow gauge at the same railway(s) - not at all what I was expecting from 'Colas' !! .