didcot

They are handy things to have when doing sheet metal work

Like these perhaps? https://www.frost.co.uk/temporary-sheet-metal-fastener-kit/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuNemBhCBARIsADp74QR_K-6GHHqC9iedG8ha8UiSPZdm5dcUHwKK88Lq1KieqyWo1qlTEI4aAkl-EALw_wcB

There is a pretty good documentary on more4 on the Vulcan Blackbuck raid. I do miss that Vulcan howl.

Just pre-ordered it

I'm hoping for a descent 4-4-0 County and hopefully the Modelu guys can do a rendition of my Great Grandfather from photos for the driver of 3815.

I must try the graphite trick on my 009 layout. I have a lump of "reactor grade" graphite at work which might be worth a try. The thing that make me slightly sceptical is that certain grades of graphite contain varying amounts of potash.

Love the Vulcan. I remember it from the old Abingdon Air Show. It would take off and literally go vertical. The noise was deafening, but incredible. If you want a good read I recommend Vulcan 607 which covers the the Falklands mission.

Yeah, sprint race weekends are a right mix up. Especially as the sprint doesn't make ny difference to qualifying for the Sunday race.

It was a DNF in the sprint race. Top 3 were Verstappen, Piastri and Gasly.

Good to see the Dinorwic wagons to compliment the Quarry Hunslets. I was looking at some kits a few weeks ago, but with limited time on my hands the RTR version has won the day.

You're not alone.

Just paid for my 7808 via Derails.

Unfortunately not by a couple of years. One of my earliest memories was 7808 passing through Appleford on the GWS Vintage train I think. Dad took me to see it. Although I probably saw it in late 1970, but only being a month or so old have no recollection.

Red Bull break their own trophy.

No, definitely not. It's not like he went charging in all guns blazing and blatantly knocked Perez out of the way. Martin Brundel called it a racing incident. Perez made a mistake and Hamilton tried to take advantage of that. Perhaps he drifted, but it was the slightest of contact. Yes it damaged Perez's car, but not to the " he tore the side of my car off" extent that Perez claimed. It certainly damaged the side pod which caused handling issues and unfortunately lead to a DNF. Christian Horner didn't make much of it when interviewed. Which was surprising. Consider Monza in 2021 where Verstappen ended up on top off Hamilton. Clearly a much more serious incident, which injured Hamiltons neck. Penalty at that time went to Verstappen with 2 points on his licence. So I have issues with the severity and continuity of penalties. Perhaps I should have made that clearer. There were closer shaves and more safety issues during the pitstops that at this point in time haven't incurred penalties.

And Hamilton get 2 points on his license as well. Really. I've run out of expletives!

Breaking News. Red Bull over spend 2023 due to paying FIA/race stewards to give anyone who collide with their cars, even when it's RB's fault a penalty. How the !@#$%%&& did Hamilton get a penalty for that.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-alpine-confirm-team-principal-otmar-szafnauer-and-sporting-director.13bpB2bdAZnfQCpbv3BZGL.html Otmar Szafnauer and Alan Permane out at Alpine. Pat Fry also leaving for Williams. Sounds like a coup de etat!

Callsign must be GW78XX surely.

I've gone weak at the knees and in the wallet as well. Stunning.

Agreed, as you say people from all over the world want to travel the Harry Potter line. It brings in money to the area and it must be very disappointing for travellers. Are west coast employees at Fort William to explain the situation or are the station operators taking the flak? I don't know that answer. But fitting CDL and also tanks for toilet discharge is not breaking news. Failure to comply, regardless of any fatalities or not in the past is irrelevant. The ORR have stated the requirement and it needs to be adhered to. You wouldn't be surprised if you were pulled over by the old bill for not having tax, mot and insurance. It's a legal requirement, no argument.

Funnily enough the same thing cross my mind and assumed eject was for the American market rather than bail out.

LSL have an agreement with the group who own Sir Nigel Gresley I believe that is beneficial to both parties. Also the same group have been reported to be returning Bittern to working order for LSL in the near future. I think the Duke of Gloucester group have a similar arrangement with Tyseley. Not quite run and restore, but something along those lines. I also think Ian Rileys Black 5s are employed on the Jacobites.

The set up at Crewe is probably on equal terms these day with West Coast. I don't know if they are a TOC in their own right or have to use the services of West Coast and the like to provide drivers for their tours. There are a number of groups with mainline registered motive power, but the crews to operate them must be thin on the ground.

That sums it up nicely @Mike_Walker