Tim Hall

A couple of months ago, I bought a Bachmann 37710 (32-390SD) 2nd hand on eBay from a private seller selling it for "an elderly relative", to run on my DC only layout. I bought this rather than a new one for a similar price as it's weathered, which as far as I can tell is not available commercially. On testing it, I discovered that it was DCC sound fitted, which took me by surprise. The packaging clearly is for a DCC ready loco, but there's a piece of paper with the details of which DCC control does which (making me think it was mispackaged in the factory). Running it on DC obviously the sounds were limited, and I ran it a few times over a period of a couple of weeks to see if I was going to keep it as a novelty item. I had pretty much decided to sell it on as the sounds didn't particularly impress me, when it stopped running. It still does all the sounds it did, but wouldn't move. On opening the loco, I discovered a wire adrift (see photos). I want to sell it as a runner ideally, with a full and honest description of its history. I don't think I should try to return it to the seller due to the time elapsed, use I've given it and the fact that they hadn't sold any other railway items. So I would greatly appreciate help. Does anyone know where the wire needs to be reattached (probably)? Can it be done without soldering (almost certainly not)? Do you know anyone who could repair it (hopefully)? The offending wire can be seen pointing to top left in the first picture. Sorry this is so long, but it's quite a complicated saga. As they were selling out, I bought a new DCC ready one, rather than faff around trying to remove the sound from the currently faulty sound fitted one, and although unweathered, it's lovely! Thanks for wading through this tome.

But without at least one layout. As a occasional operator of Borth Aberdovey & Ynyslas Railway, I received a message from the owner telling me that due to lack of opportunity to do maintenance, and the difficulties of social distancing when operating, it will not be attending.

The old inside frame Hornby ones are toys on generic 0-6-0 chassis with poor detail, and mediocre running properties.

Beat me to it. It does skew matters somewhat....

That looks like the set Welsh Pony was on last week. We rode in the bug box nearer the loco.

OOPS! Duplicated message.

Anyone finished the crossword yet? Not sure about 72 down. Done the rest.

Dan, you've never looked better

Went back yesterday in sunshine for a bit of linesiding (and tea and cake at TYB).

Had the pleasure of a trip behind Welsh Pony yesterday, riding in a Bug Box with the family. Also attached is a snap of Prince at Tan-y-Bwlch.

You're not Rees Mogg are you?

Managed to find plenty of ringlet, large and small skippers recently, also purple hairstreak round a favoured tree in a local park. Will go back there in the next few days when the weather improves, Essex skipper should be out, and the small skippers will mostly be faded, making initial sifting easier! Common and holly blues (2 generations) locally. Whilst birding near Newport this week, marbled white and gatekeeper in drizzle. Needless to say, meadow browns everywhere, and saw a couple of painted ladies end of May. As not allowed to work for a while yet, may venture further afield for brown hairstreak, silver spotted skipper next month.

If I'm looking on eBay for a particular loco, and I see a "pre owned" but untested one, I'm wary, as it might be faulty, but I would be the one who'd find out, may be years after production. I'm more confident buying a lightly used one. So unopened ones owned by a collector may be better going to another collector as far as I'm concerned.

A blue 56013 went for £171 yesterday or earlier today

Wow!

Possibly

Utter nonsense!

Indeed, if people didn't buy them to display/ store only, I imagine that sales wouldn't justify production of some items, or at least much higher unit costs.

At least 80% of mine are boxed or in the display cabinet at any time, so they get gradually rotated over a period of 18 months plus, having a couple of months running. It's 1989 at present, having worked through from the 50s during lockdown. Once its reached 1999ish, (don't do any later) in a few weeks, there'll be a major boxing and unboxing exercise before it becomes Southern/ GWR 1930s for example.

All mine are bought to run, and once run in a bit, have crew (if at all possible) and twiddly bits such as pipework, etched name/ numberplates, headcode disks etc (if appropriate) fitted, and look better for it. If I sell any on, there seems to be a market for them in that condition, and I've had the pleasure of running them. I suppose you could buy two, one to run/ detail etc and one kept unopened for "investment" purposes. As the adverts say, though, remember that investments can go down, as well as up.....

I doubt very much that they want to be cooped up in tin tubes with unreliable air conditioning which are like saunas if not working properly (as they often aren't). Surely openable windows to let fresh air etc in are far preferable at speeds of less than 25mph? You won't get everything blown around too much at those speeds, just gentle cooling air. Bearing in mind the work needed to provide a means of Electric Train Supply (either by using a suitably fitted diesel, converting a coach or doing extensive work to a steam loco), would it be worth it on a short heritage line dribbling along at say 15-20mph? Maintenance costs would be higher, and there's availability of workers (volunteer or otherwise) to do it. there's also legislation involved with AC in public buildings, would that apply to trains (legionella testing etc, could be an issue if coaches are only used infrequently as is often the case on heritage lines).

Virtually all enthusiasts (who are in the minority except at special events), and a lot of the average family groups who want to show kids a steam loco. If you're hermetically sealed in a tin tube, there really is no point in having specific locos on the front, as you can't hear anything!

Why would anyone visiting a preserved railway to savour the sounds (and smells) of steam (or older diesels) wish to be sealed in a metal tube with no opening windows (except the droplights at the end)? Especially when the reliability of the air conditioning, even in frontline service was always somewhat hit or miss.