stewartingram

Years ago now, I went with my best mate (sadly now deceased) on one of our trainspotting day trips, in his car. Now D (I won't reveal his name) was working at the then RAF Oakington, in charge of building maintenance. I think he was MoD, not a contractor. His workmate was in a similar post at RAF/USAF Alconbury, and he decided to call there on the way past for a very quick chat about something. We pulled up at the gatehouse, where a USAF guy, complete with gun, (and I was assured by D that they were loaded) checked our credentials. I showed my local constabulary id (I was in the Home Office working at Police HQ on their comms). All well so far, we were waved in. D had been to this office many times, and parked outside for 5 mins, and then we were off. "Look at those, I'm going for a few pics" he said, as we diverted off to some parked trucks, on the edge of the runway area. Don't forget we are on an armed USAF military base, in a period when security was tight (recent IRA activity etc). Off he goes, without a care, complete with camera taking pics of these military vehicles! Luckily no one came after us.

I've read somewhere that the Up slow (removed I believe when electrification was done) is in the queue to be replaced, thus re-instating 4 tracks from PBO-HDN.

I've re-purposed a Slaters kit tank for my breakdown crane rake. Extra water capacity for the crane.

Title says it all really. Would adding some liquid flux and stirring it well do the job?

Or cars are now too big.

I can offer a few examples from personal observations. Firstly, what is an MP booom? B1, B12, B17, B2, Clauds, also a 31A E4, (later 03 shunter) was sub-shedded at Hitchin so probably did go back to 31A for servicing. and some GN locos such as Atlantics and other lesser classes. J6 from the GN and the normal GE freight locos, J17, J15 etc. The principal train was the Cambridge Buffet Express, mainly diesel in my day with 6 Mk1s and a Gresley Buffet. Latter day steam also included Pacifics (running in turns?) from 34A. These changed to Baby Deltics as regulars, with early class 21, 26, and of course 31 (or were they 30?). Like the Pacifics, other diesels dropped on quite often; 55, 40, 46, 47, and alsothe prototypes. D0280 Falcon was a regular, but DP2, Lion, HS4000 all appeared. . Cravens dmus were the mainstay of the stoppers, up to 3x 2-cars. Freight were of course 31s (they were everywhere in Anglia), but 20s from the GN (I suspect pw trains for Chesterton Junction, to/from the Hitchin pw yard). Coaches; Mk1, Gresley, Thompson corridor stock. I never saw quad-arts, I believe Hitchin was the limit (except for 1 train to Huntingdon?). Other may know more. Plenty of Mk1 non-corridors though. Passenger trains normally only went as far as Cambridge (except diversions of course). However for one summer the CBE was extended to Ely (I have photographic proof!). I've probably missed a few, but most of the above are personal observations. Don't forget in that period we had many diversions as well when the ECML was blocked north of Hitchin.

If that red van near the fence were to be a '39 Austin Ruby in green, and facing the tracks, that could be Grandad parked up, with me doing some trainspotting. Memories, thanks Gilbert.

Some of our E.Anglia dmus had 'rubber' plates fitted behind the drivers door to lessen bodyside damage.

Looks like a great issue, got mine from WHS in Ely on Thursday. Had a quick flick through - the pic of that green Deltic is the best I've ever seen im a model. And the A4 with the dark sky behind, astounding!

Was there a Golden Spike?

It is what it is. Andy introduced it as RMweb and we should accept it and respect that.

I'd go further on the paint issue. Many models ( not all) - particularly buses - seem to be dipped rather than sprayed, with a ridiculously thick paint layer. Shame as may of them carry elaborate liveries which are actual good, though thick. I've done a few bus conversions, always stripping the paint off, and the amount of hidden detail is amazing.

Cells of battery locos?

Which raises an irksome point for me. Often we see otherwise good layouts in the mags, with road vehicles within the shed area of mpds set in the steam era. From memory these mpds were built by railways for rail use, road vehicles were never even thought about and they couldn't gain access.

And once again following the rules of: Loco with chimney at the Upwell end Brake coach at the front of train, no brake on the rear.

But 490 would be better.....

I've been told by more than one professional painter, that undercoat should not be used as a top coat, as it is porous. As the primary reason for paint is the protection of the material underneath I can follow that logic. But whether the paint of that era follows that I have no idea,

Existed for us!

I find a small pair of side cutters works well with these any lights.

Tartan paint, nobody ever mentions which tartan though?

And that is 2 points covered. The mention that GIMMICKS are required! And also if you want a Britannia, you would go for it -there are no better value alternatives for it. The point that (and it is a personal opinion for everybody) that a "better value" model (which is not a Brit) is irrelevant.

Our local posies on our delivery round are excellent, no critiscm of them. But sometimes when they do a (sigmed?_ delivery (and they usually hand it over personally) I get an immediate motification, other times I don't get it until the end of the day (not even the end of their round). No matter to me, but I've always assumed it is a human action, dealt with when they update their pad on to the main system.

Converted from N gauge? How did you get on with adjusting the B2B?

J2456 looks like it is just north of Offord lc, and showing the exact spot where the new A14 goes over the line? The other Huntingdon shot - St.Peters Road _ is known locally as the iron bridge.

Well it does state an "outdoor centre", so it probably is outside on the field, with umbrellas on standby just in case!