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Hi Simon, I like the graffiti idea. Like you I remember it being football teams, bands or 'ROB 4 JULIE' or some such. My personal favourite was 'IAN CURTIS LIVES' painted on a wall in Wellington, NZ. I seem to recall that although it was painted out, it kept re-appearing again!

A couple of snap shots of 721 which I saw it work a couple of days ago. I've seen the loco before, but this time I noticed that one side was decidedly cream in appearance, while the end and other side were white which you can see in these pictures. I wonder if one of the vinyls has gone 'off'?

Hi Simon, although I was sorry to hear about your tower lights I had to laugh at you anti-cat defences! As a human who is owned by 5 cats I would say that the only sure fire way of keeping the room cat free is to keep the door closed. I try not to encourage them to come in the train room (except Cuba, the eldest, who is a bit cranky towards the other cats- but she will just sit down and mind her own business) in an effort to keep fur on the track and locos down to a minimum. On occasion I do get a nosey visitor, but by and large they are very good and know not to leap onto the layout!

Thanks Dave. I wasn't aware of it with the smaller numbers. Here's a fitting link of 47305 to go with your link. Same place, same year, similar train. http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_zoom_v3.php?img=1151051281200 Edit for typo.

Hi Dave, I've just been catching up with the last few days worth of your wonderful pictures. In C8934 with 08761 at Leith, the 47 in the background appears to have a yellow solebar. This would make it either 47305 or 361- I would err towards 305 as it has the yellow window surrounds. However I can't see the large bodyside numbers that I believe both these locos carried.

Here's a picture that I took at work a couple of days ago. They may be few on the ground, but they are still about!

Hi Dave, looking at today's pictures with the Peaks I was just thinking that if Carlsberg did car breakdowns... (Other lagers are available!)

I really do like the look of this layout, your chemical works is most impressive. If your thinking along the lines of a train ferry, here in Harwich not only did we have the train ferry, but also the Carless plant is over at Parkeston. OK, so they're about a mile and a half apart in reality, but using artistic licence this would tie in nicely with your chemical plant. Now, I'm sorry to be a pedant, but it seems a shame to spoil the look of your layout with a mistake that will take seconds to correct. I work on Felixstowe dock and looking at the stacking of your boxes gives me a nervous twitch!! The strongest point of a container is the corner castings. Boxes are always stacked on top of each other on their corner castings, and only ever container of a similar size- eg, 20' on 20', 40' on 40'. You wouldn't ever stack them 'willy-nilly' with mixed sizes, as they would likely collapse! Also tank tainers only get stacked 2 high, even if they're empty. (pedant mode off) Phew, I think I need a lay down in a darkened room after all that!!

Your a touch out of date I'm afraid. 'The amount of money it costs to ship a container from Asia to Europe has dropped dramatically; from around US$1500 in 2014 to US$300 today'. A direct quote from Clemence Cheng, CEO Port of Felixstowe in a news letter I received on the 25th of June.

Hi Simon, I'm yet another late comer to this thread and although I haven't read all 440 posts, what I have read (and seen) I very much like. The period of your layout is similar to mine and some of your ideas have given me food for thought for when my current layout either moves into our current bedroom, or (if I'm allowed) is re-worked to fit in with our planned house extension. I shall be following the thread with interest.

I don't think they'll be quite that much. Although the 40's have TBA next to them on the Bachmann site, even the 'new' Deltics (with factory weathering- which bumps the price up a few more pounds) are listed at £132.95 and that's before any retailer discount. That being said, I'm certainly glad that I bought my two when I did- one split box machine, now renumbered to 40127, and the green centre headcode version, which has since turned blue and become 40181. I just require a couple of disc headcode machines now and I'll be a happy bunny.

I've noticed around four of the split box blue class 40s go for between £160- £170 on the usual auction site recently. Crazy.

C9035 is a rare sight indeed Dave- an Austin Maestro (without a rusty tailgate as well.) Please say it wasn't yours! My parents had a red 'A' reg MG Maestro,(A595MJN- with talking computer!) from new.. The chap half a dozen doors down from me has a Montego, but usually keeps it under cover- however, if this is through courtesy for it's age and (relative) rarity, or from sheer shame is debatable! Great pictures as ever Dave. Thank you.

It's always a pleasure to look at your great photos Dave. I see that the class 105 in C3198 has the Manningtree destination on the Harwich end.

Hi Dave, many thanks for the Great Eastern photos tonight. Nice to be reminded of how Liverpool Street looked in it's NSE days in C19121 with the 312. Also always nice to see a shot of the much missed 309s with their original windscreens. (Taken 4 days before I was born- yikes!!)

I do seem to recall that my £100 voucher and the broken loco arrived a few days from each other, so fingers crossed a body may still arrive brittannia. mikesndbs. My records show that I received my replacement 31270 on 14th March 2013 after having read in the model railway media that Hornby had replacements in stock. Regrettably, I don't believe that they have had any replacement 270s for a while now, (though I'd be happy to be corrected) so you may have to settle for the voucher. On the plus side, you should receive your old bodyshell with it's obvious sentimental value back.

You don't get the loco back you say? Well I did. Twice. My 31270 was replaced like for like a year or so back with the original returned to me. And my Dutch 31110 was replaced with a £100 voucher, which became a metals sector class 60. The Dutch 31 was also returned- it was the exact same loco, as I had removed some of the grills as a precaution as these were needed for another project. Just mention in your covering letter when you send the broken loco to Hornby that you'd like the loco back and it will be returned. HTH.

I placed an order with Hattons this afternoon and noticed when I went to checkout that the only £4 postage option was via Yodel. As my preferred courier is Royal Mail I thought I'd give them a call to see if this was possible. The helpful chap I spoke to informed me that it maybe to do with the weight of the parcel, (My order weighs 2200 grams) and therefore would cost more than £4 with Royal Mail. Perhaps this is why despite stipulating Royal Mail on previous orders, they have been despatched with other couriers?