adb968008

This is a mk2e but tbh between any of the brakes theres not much in it .. Flickr url/ not mine There should be a window in the corridor sliding door, and next to it, plus in the compartment another larger window hiding behind the door above the desk into the baggage area, in addition to the peep hole you can see above the chair.

What about the interior ? 😀 thats by far the biggest difference… I had considered buying some cheap Bachmann BSOs for their lighting alone, BSOs can be hard to sell, even harder with stripped out lights, but I did similar with Hornbys mk1/mk2f’s and tbh they are cheaper and the lighting strip has a capacitor. Its no effort to string some wire between Bachmanns coach pickups, through the loo to the roof (i’m DC so dont need DCC capabilities) and fit the Hornby lighting board in, ended up costing me about a tenner in the stripping/disposal of the Hornby coach.

Mix of buffered and non buffered (HST) mk3’s… Are the mk3’s owned by LSL too?

Paint it blue so people dont confuse it with Tornado. 😀

It lists 128. https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-08/nr-regulation-5-exemption-certificate-for-wcrc.pdf it doesnt change that the claim of 4 is false, and therefore the calculations are inaccurate. It ignores other factors highlighted. I’m no fan of wcrc but ive no axe to grind either. Ive also scanned that list and tested it, for example Accurascales mk2’s are not listed…they have cdl… so reality is they have more. Given maintenance and overhauls, special coaches etc, it is reasonable to have that many imo. Agreed though right now they are all assets of scrap value if they cannot be used, and that value is lower than the restorative to use value… ignoring whatever else maybe required beyond cdl.

If This claim is by the ORR of that no operator has run more than 4 services a day then it is false. A quick look at UKsteam will show WCRC consistently uses 5x rakes in the summer… July 9th 2019 shows 2x Jacobites, a Dalesman with 48151, a Surrey Hills/Windsor with 61306 (when it was still wcrc), a Weymouth with 35018… some of these involve mini trips on top of the main trip. This style of pattern runs all summer long. flickr confirms this. Its quite possible that they have had more than 5 with research. Thats ignoring ecs running about before / after to other locations requiring differing rakes to those out that day. It also ignores “special” stock, like mk2 pullmans, Queen of Scots etc. which sees less frequent use. Finally any operator at that scale needs spare coaches. paragraph 21’s calculations are therefore not correct either.

if the economics of 2nd class Jacobite is a poor outlook financially, due to regulation costs, maybe up the game.. Change the business from a two a day cheap day return. fit out the Queen of Scots with cdl, and go full up market once a day instead ? Afterall this is the approach of most other mainline steam… i’m sure if LSL step in it wont be with TSOs.

Wcrcs only got the jacobite until year end this year. other regulations such as CET tanks, internal door handles and non opening windows are already on the horizon. Who knows how long mk1’s will be allowed at all… the ORR could decide next month thats it, or insist in sliding doors. The £1.8mn figure, when was it based on, and by what assumptions ?… was it based on VB not AB stock, volunteers vs commercial rates, new vs s/h equipment.. theres lots of variables to a number. Theres no guarentees that £1.8mn doesnt become £4mn or £6mn and if they didnt get a renewal in Autumn for Jacobite access it could all be nothing. tbh I see tons of risk here to wcrc viability. The past is no predictor to the future. Whilst others bleat they must comply, personally I think an exit is more likely… will LSL step in? I’m sure WCRC have done the maths and concluded its a risk worth taking going for broke with this approach instead of taking the mk2’s north. Theres a saying in sales most here would understand…. If the driver sees a train crash coming, hes got nothing to lose by trying anything no matter how desparate because the end is inevitable anyway. The unstoppable force of economics meeting the immovable object of regulation.. it could be messy in the end. This could be what we are seeing…

The bodies are clip fit. i have done the same swapping light fitted bodies with unlits when various special offers came around. The bad news is a BSO is pretty much only compatible with a DBSO… only the pcbs inside are close to an FO/SO… i’ll get why further down.. however say buying an FO and changing it to a SO.. You can swap one for the other, things to consider are lit bodies have two pcbs.. one inside the coach frame making a bus line of the pickups, with wires/jst in the ends leading to the roof pcb, and another pcb in the roof with the leds, screw fitted. if youve got CDL fitted coaches theres an additional two light track for these, one each end. Bachmann has different seat interiors, for different eras, so BSO, FO, SO, Buffet, but in Blue, intercity Virgin, Scotrail interior finishes too… each is unique. its upto you how far you go…you could perhaps forgoe an FO interior in an SO body swap, but a BSO interior is totally totally different as it includes the guards/luggage space. Finally the chassis… the BSO has equipment and steps in different places to the FO/SO… as these are non braked, so no guards door steps etc. Theres some under floor equipment in different places too, as access to them in the FO/SO mounting would be obscured by the steps. Finally the DBSO and BSO are pretty much the same pcbs, except the DBSO has an end light track/led for the cabs on the DBSO… those in the factory must be truly puzzled why a DBSO goes for £140+ yet a BSO they cant giveaway at £40 just by looking at the pieces. Though of course the interior of a DBSO includes the driving space, not in the BSO. which leads me to the good news… virtually everything you need is available on Bachmann spares… you could build it from scratch yourself (though it wont be the cheapest way to do it)… but buying a cheap FO and an SO body/seat interior is the way to go… ive done this a few times… and they sell DBSO bodies / interior so a BSO to DBSO is possible (but you need front bogies with wheel guards and steps too, and some minor under frame mods unless you skip this detail).. but given the £60-100 price difference this may be a cheap alternative. https://Bachmann-spares.co.uk/category/4-other-vehicles/mk2f-coaches?page=1

The problem with media is its a gamble… if it goes viral the pressure for resolution or some form of intervention grows. but if it doesnt, youve fired the big guns but only got little smoke. A few weeks ago I thought this might be a good media story, but so far small beans.

Some good feedback there for the photography, I do own an EOS80D but maybe not the right lens for close ups, my results using it on models have been poor. I do use the iphone pro max for these pictures, and I will use track next time. Alas I am but an amateur doing it in between work phone calls all day and dads taxi at night.., but it is my escapism fun, so the profesionals will always beat me on time, tools and quality (but thats why they get paid the big bucks). however photography aside, the height measures were based on tyre to cab roof (not rim) using the centre wheel (as this is the models bogie tower pivot wheel) to roof using a pair of digital calipers. Height centre wheel to roof 51.02 / 52.08 (-1.06mm) A real 47 is 3.9m / 12’ 9.5” which at 1:76.2 suggests 51mm or at 1.76 suggests 51.3mm So its not on photos alone I think the Bachmann one(s) are too tall.. I checked against several I had to had as I wasnt for believing it intially. There are other merits in the Heljan one.. the separate shutter grill handrails, front cab steps upto the bufferbeam as well...

Thats the concern, what happens when someone says no to him, or he gets bored, or decides on a new hobby, or stops pouring money into the firebox, especially if wcrc has gone too. imo it maybe better for wcrc to sell up to new management by the sounds of it, but to new money, than existing.

My worry is stubborn people make stubborn decisions. theyve made there money, they could chose retirement. if faced with walking the plank, they could take it with them to the bottom of the ocean… if they scrap all their stock and use it to build water features at their homes, rather than sell it on, it will be hard for anyone to fill their boots as simply there isnt the rolling stock out there, for anyone no matter how deep there pockets to fill the coaching stock fleet and spares wcrc has. just look at the mainline tour program this year.. theres a gap of at least 60-70 vehicles currently… tours canceled all over, or simply dont exist this year. if wcrc is to go, persuading them to hand over the reins may need to be a bit more diplomatic than the current approach, but I dont see an obvious buyer, unless difference with lsl were put to one side. I would have a concern at lsl having a near monopoly on railtours.. we saw that impact when Wootton Bassett happened. Indeed theres a black hole in Crewe when it comes to steam locos there already engines go in and dont come out, controlling all the rolling stock too would be bad for other mainline steam loco groups, who arent aligned to lsl… 6201,46233,45596,35028, 61264, 62005, Rileys Black5’s etc. I still dont see how lsl makes enough money to be self sustaining long term either. That said, WHL could provide a home for 61306 which is about as exciting as a Thameslink 700 everywhere else, but it still needs c26 coaches, which lsl dont have, and a few other steam loco owners willing to submit to lsl’s processes, protocols and controls to fully replace wcrc… If wcrc has to go so be it. But dont expect a shoe in replacement, and if they did shut down and throw it all in the bin, they certainly wouldnt be the first company to make such a decision, it might even be tax advantageous to bin it all and flatten carnforth and turn wcrc into a housing redevelopment company instead.

Until someone has better intel, i’m leading towards the Bachmann riding a little high. But on width they are the same, but the front end taper is different. it may have something to do with clearances on curves as a CO- CO powered model, where as Heljans is an A1A-A1A powered model. it sits square up to Accurascales buffers but theres a 1mm difference to Bachmanns 47 but old and new Bachmann 47’s align. sitting on the desk in front of me they play nice… i just wish they’d got the front end around the bufferbeam cowling corners/bottom of cab sides better, and if they sort the roof panel on the next run as well I think the gap between the Bachmann and Heljan 47 would narrow a little… if they dont I suspect it will struggle longer term. If this kind of modification needs a budget i’d suggest looking at a 47901. meanwhile I might take a look at taking a Bachmann 47 down a millimeter on the bogies, as it does look nice on Heljans… look at the gap between body and bogie on 47628/47596 above. The problem I see for both models, is whilst its an improvement on previous, the previous wasnt bad… so why trade up ? The demand is imo limited to gaps of whats not been done, or high demand liveries rather than reruns and repeats*. Theres already a lot of not bad 47’s out there. * Lima is ripe for picking, not sure about Vitrains though there 47’s arent bad either.

Originally planned for oval buffers too.

with Hornby its usually June, then August and an outside chance of by Christmas.. but which year isnt always clear either.

I was thinking this… flickr url / not mine

Its nice to see ebay squeal for a change. It felt to me that they were trying to push private sellers away in preference to businesses for the last few years. i wouldnt be surprised if the two are a symbiotic ecosystem, and private sellers clearing out spend their cash on business sellers tat.. so scaring one away maybe affected sales of the others thus hitting ebays numbers twice. i couldnt see anything from ebay, but a quick google gives the community forum this insight from sellers there https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Seller-Central/Downfall-in-Sales-February-2024/td-p/7567514 i used the search “ebay uk sales down 2024” it does reveal similar threads for jan and march, with similar complaints so it could be sellers grumbling, interestingly this rmweb actually makes front page on google… maybe us modellers are more significant than others ? certainly a £5 pair of shoes will take a lot more effort to get attention than £150 loco when it comes to reporting numbers. i did learn ebays golden year was 2018 for number of worldwide buyers, 180mn, its lost 50mn users since then. Its always worth reading the ts and cs of American companies…(even when they are Chinese under the hood).. here you are giving away your photo, voice, likeness, opinions, statements worldwide forever… for £40… https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-68675652 Sounds like an AI feast of harvesting your soul for any purpose they like in perpetuity, who knows you may become the next Taylor Swift with all the celebrity issues but for just a £40 payment. maybe its time to go back to old fashioned swapmeets ?

Or buy it from Bure Valley Models for £276 https://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/22318/R30107---South-West-Trains-Class-423-4-VEP-EMU-Train-Pack 😀

The 71 is a bit unique, its buffer is partially hidden behind cowling on the real thing. the head should be easy enough to replace, maybe use a Heljan 86 buffer head, but the whole shank/buffer assembly isnt so easy as Hornby moulded it as one and slotted it to the buffer beam. For a real odd ball… you could make the shank from a Hornby B1 buffer… the 71/86 were Doncaster products and looking at the shape they didnt reinvent the wheel… just inserted a bigger bufferbeam head…so maybe do the same.

Loadstar is speculating General Average maybe declared… https://theloadstar.com/dali-cargo-owners-face-massive-costs-if-general-average-is-declared/ This would mean everyone with cargo onboard would be asked to pay a share of the whole costs as a joint enterprise. personally i’m not so sure… the rules say there must be 1. imminent threat 2. voluntary jettison of cargo 3. successful outcome. With Evergiven, it had to jetison cargo (albeit not lost overboard) to get it free and freed from Egyptian authorities after paying a bribe fine, and so was successful. I guess if they argue taking some containers off when they remove the bridge gantry saves the ship, maybe.. but i’d imagine some lawyers might be floating in the harbour watching that bridge gantry and saying nah those containers can stay on.

The ship was heading to Sri Lanka, I wonder what does the US export to Sri Lanka ?would this likely be empty boxes ?

Do you really think they care about a single £30 loco sold for £35 on its own, 1 sale in a year ? i view this… In context of scaring everyone away from selling, would lead to great advertising opportunities to earn revenue for media companies. its not about “us”. if your not doing this to intentionally make a profit then i don't think you need to be scared, and god forbid you do make a sizeable profit, then i’m sure you would know that you did.. so declare it. Its not illegal to sell something, if I lost my job tomorrow, a whole bunch is going online immediately, if it makes a profit i’d have no issues declaring it, but having been in that spot 3 times before i’m quite confident that I wont at this stage in my life. People have reasons to sell, moving home, job, getting married, kids, large bills, being bored looking at something, being frustrated with something not working, a new release being made, or a fault being found… none of these are crimes.

I imagine they dont want the idiot big fish to stop, but instead to formalize and declare it. Everyone privately emptying their personal stuff they dont care about. Of course the media likes to scare everyone. i just walked through the options of that calculator, if under £6k of personal items you dont need to declare it. If over £6k of personal items but no profit you also dont need to declare it. I personally find making a profit of model railways is a pipe dream, and if you do find 4 or 5 that do make a few quid, its more than offset by the 10-20 that make a loss, but then i’m not buying to make a profit in the first place, my problem is simply buying too much and shifting fashions.

Sounds ambitious… if prices were getting that high, just buy a second hand one, swap the wheels and put it back on ebay. ive done the Hornby coach wheels, easy enough, just pop them off the pointed coach axle using a worm puller. same too for the old Heljan wheels. swap and push them back on ( consider using a vice with tissue around the wheels so they dont get scratched and they go onto the axle easy enough, and a back to back gauge for accuracy. heres before.. (about 0.7mm diameter difference, which based on mounting the axle (centre) is radius of 0.35mm lower sitting on the track… Heljan wheel ( left), Hornby coach wheel. (Right), both sit on an axle of 1.96mm before.. during after.. fyi I did consider a Hornby railroad loco wheel, but these are on c2.5mm axles.