stewartingram

And all those lovely GER kits......?

1B66 Cambridge Buffet Express: BR mk 1, with usually a Gresley buffet car, sometimes a Thompson, later on eventually a Mk1. Don't forget that for at least one season, 1964?, the CBE was extended to Ely. The Mk1's in general replaced Thompson or Gresley vehicles. Suburban trains had "lesser quality" ie older stock for distance runs such as Cmbridge, but more usually the suburbans didn't get as far and would be Quad-Art sets or non-corridor Mk 1's. Yes they did revenue freight; I have memories of them on goods trains at Sandy and Peterborough North. They were also used on engineer's trains; don't forget Hitchin was their base for a long while (the present-day engineer's yard is the purpose built diesel depot). There was a pw depot at Hitchin in those days; I think it worked in collaboration with the rail depot at Chesterton Junction north of Cambridge (pioneer of long-welded rail). I remember 20's working between the 2 depots.

You forgot to add - remotor/regear/strip chassis/whatever if it uses Clayton parts....

I've thought for a long time that these sites should be better "organised", if that is the word. Take locos; Those locos available for traffic (call them category 1) should be the ones that are available to the public gaze, though restrictions of access for safety reasons may apply. Category 2 would be "out of ticket" locos, ie now effectively museum pieces, available for much closer inspection. Category 3 are those actually going through the works process, with category 4 the "reserve" collection which would be all kept together, more out of sight than now because of the scrapyard appearance, but available to view on request if possible. Same applies to coaches and wagons. I'm sure that this would improve the "satisfaction value" at all sites for punters, and probably railway staff as well. A better environment all round.

What - no fluffy dice?

1B66 was the CBE headcode, also seen 2B66 on lesser loco hauled. And don't forget, the CBE was often used for running in turns; I've seen all sorts on this over the years. Gresley pacifics, Deltics, D0280/DP2 (think D0260 too but not sure?) D200s, Brush 4's, 46s, etc.

As yet another (near) local I have to agree - superb layout. As with the last post, I also feel the church just has to be there though, this is not intended as a critism btw! It would really set the scene if it was on the backscene, complete with Teddy Boston and the Rev.Awdrey of course!

I've heard sticky-back plastic & toilet rolls are in short supply in China....

I think a quick lesson in economics is needed! Basically any manufacturer has development cost BEFORE even producing the first model for sale. Years ago when Evening Star was introduced I believe the body alone cost ??100k, so what would a modern one cost? Anyway, whatever the cost, the manufacturer has to put this money upfront to do the development, then look to recoup the investment within a given period of time. Easy way to think of it - he gets a bank loan, and has to repay so much per month. So sales must bring in a return of more than the bank loan repayment. Now something common...maybe a mk1 coach?...would see ongoing sales over a long period of time. A special subject ...like CoT.....would not sell as many (though I think will be popular enough to justify production) so the unit cost per model has to be higher (proportionally) to get the same return. Two points: (1)I know a mk1 coach is not as complex as CoT so therefore will cost proportionally less to produce, but I am trying to show the principle of the economics. (2)I have not included the production costs; these will be broadly in line with one another, and making 1000 will cost 10x making 100. So to recap, if it is a ltd edition, you WILL have to pay more than for a comparitive normal production. Personally I think that the NRM/Bachmann have done a good job on holding the price down to what it is, shame the loco is G*R not GER!

...but why repaint a black loco black. or am I missing something? Just quick removal of numbers surely, without affecting paint? Plenty of topics on RMWeb about how simple that is.

Just my tuppence worth - all these calls for a plain black body? Now I may be wrong, but aren't virtually all the proposed versions plain black with minimal decoration (loco number, crest)? Is it not beyond a MODELLER, who is going to put his identity on the loco, to remove said loco number anyway? No offence intended btw. I can understand MR wanting to sell as many as possible and plain ones would limit sales of all the variants.

Just for the record, I've definately seen them working the extended CBE through Chesterton Junction to Ely.

Though I've yet to email my suggestion/want to the magazine, how about considering a departmental Eastern region loco based at Chesterton Junction PW depot? It could be followed up with its replacement, the 03 diesel 91 or 92, as a limited edition Bachmann model, which would fit in well wuth the mag's policy on doing engineering items. I know the 03's were lettered for Chesterton Junction, but not sure if the Sentinels were, still trying to trace a picture of one.

Surely that should be all 11 (or to be pedantic 10-1/2....) as they've now got a 23 engine in a 37?