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Wow.. ok then you did ask... I unashamedly have a trainset ! When i’m Retired I might have time for scenery, but for now with family, and job with travel i’m Time poor... so all my efforts goes into running trains with imagination... some day I might take a lot of track up, make a nice diaroma.. but for now.. it’s an old fashioned sprawl. So I have a sprawl of lines, sidings, loops on 4 levels with a top to bottom of a height of 60cm / 2ft, giving me 9 different combinations of 18m (54ft) circles to run to 22 designated stations... it’s all manual from 7 “signal boxes” where I use connector blocks for the wiring (which took a year in itself). Everything is DC. How do I manage it.. I have a timetable, with 1500 workings in a “day”, set to regions, stock combinations and diagrams. The timetable consists of 200 or so individual services, passenger & freight, broken down by region, (I have an “international” service for my European stock too each Intl service train (hourly, x24 hours) follows the same route, but has a “country” and more recently I added an infill “BR modern image” set of designated services on a new route added). My Shunters get a lot of use ! Much of the timetable was built using actual departure times of some mainlines in the BR 1950s timetable.. S&D departures from Bath and Bournemouth for example. (Obviously intermediate stations or the final arrival time doesn’t come into it.. otherwise i’d be in permanent gridlock). The fleet is managed by 16 locomotive “sheds”. (Some are just two sidings, biggest holds 16 locos)... off layout storage has designated “shed” storage boxes. The layout can hold around 120 locos at anyone time, plus around 300 items of rolling stock before it starts getting to look full. The main Loops are built to pass 7 coach trains at stations, longest terminal platforms at either end is 14 at one, 9 at two others and two sidings elsewhere capable of 14. Usually services don’t run any bigger than 7+loco. Longest service I run, covers 6 of 9 possible loops, 250ft approx travelled, Newcastle -Penzance.. with 3 loco changes.. Sheffield, Birmingham and Bristol, it usually takes me an hour to run it, by which time I need a cup of tea and I am swearing at something stalling in a hard to reach location... no point motors here ! And just to make it even more interesting.. each station is represented by 2 regions (using a pseudonym name, usually LMS/LNE or a GWR/SR pair), as each station can be approached by a minimum of 2, some 4 different directions. I have a figure 8 loop on the lowest level which allows for some continuance in reversing direction to another destination. One line has 3 purposes.. it represents the SR as “Portsmouth”, GWR as “Penzance”, but I double it up as a preserved Branchline between 3 stations on that line too... that’s where my SECR P’s and all my other pre-1948 livery smaller stuff goes... I also have a “Docks shuttle” but that’s the domain of my lbsc terriers.. Waddon, Whitechapel, Stepney, Sutton & Boxhill...USA’s 30064/67/69 for Freight... I also have a GWBranch (Stourbridge), LMS branch (Bury) and another few end points branches (Bodmin, Epsom Downs)... Imagination.. not ‘Alf, but it’s the opposite end of realism.

Aren’t these swapmeets ?(Haven’t been to one in 20 years), but at least in the 1990’s you could rely on one or two every month in your locality, at a night or a weekend...I guess eBay’s replaced them.

I don’t get that with the compound, I have 4 (well 6 after Warley). They are excellent runners, very well detailed in many senses one of Bachmanns best locos.Yet for some reason they are still on the shelves in the bargain bins years later. I think their initial release price was a headline shocker at the time, though today that price is considered ok, and the bargain price at Hattons £79 is a bargain. At Warley this weekend as a spare Fowler Non-rivet head visible DCC ready tender, in Black with late logo is was worth it for the tender alone (crab, mogul, jubilee, patriot etc). I’ll probably remove the cylinders and crossheads back to a basic 4-4-0 and use the chassis in a Triang L1 (which was converted to an North Staffs Raikway 4-4-0 in the 1970s). Coal Rails..on the Fowler tender of 48045. The Stanier tender on 8035 is the same as used on the Black 5, Patriot etc, with the speaker holes/fittings and DCC socket, 8035 does not have AWS / Airtanks etc, it’s in wartime graphite Black with gold letters, the only change I noted on this one was the fixed tender/chassis connection using the wiring plug, so presumable a chassis modification since the previous had the DCC chip on the loco chassis. Looks unusual in this shade of black, definitely feels “war like”, but it’s not like 48045, it does kind of grow on you as you look at the graphite like finish, reflecting off the rivets and the dull gold letters.

This is a fascinating project, and the result is fantastic. Do you have a picture of the underside of the chassis as received back ? I have a 2001 Bachmann QJ 2-10-2 known for its crumbling nature, given its uniqueness as a prototype this could give route to its reprise. £10 a loco isn’t that much, I assume there’s scale economics there too, and allegedly China even cheaper, kind of wonder if there’s limitations purely beyond cost for Brass not to be adopted if it’s heavier and more reliable than mazak ? Would you mind to share where you had the casting done ?

Bachmann compounds must be a very long term investment then

A couple.. KCR 21, 90312, 90448 and 90753 (2-10-0) :-)

If you look at the loco, the AWS Battery box, Footplate air tanks, and the Fowler tender are all upgrades to the base tooling.. its not a new tooling but mods have been made since the 8F and the Fowler tender were last seen. You'll note the 8F chassis now has the plug to the tender (which previous 8Fs did not have either), so the chassis must have some mods too. When I asked, I was told the changes were tooled by Sanda Kan years ago but not released, I was also told of another loco that hasn't been seen for a while and informed it too was alive safe and well and could pop up again (but that one isnt my place to share).

Plus 6231, 46229, 46256, H Class, E5005, 34096, D5706, 33001, 45000, 46165, 45274, Dean Goods. it's been an expensive couple of month. Though equally Ive said goodbye to 250 coaches, and approx 80 locos from the 1980's 00 Gauge era in the last 60 days. Additionally I bought 48045 over the weekend, but after seeing D9531 EP, I decided to cancel that pre-order.. I don't like the nameplate on the cab side. toy trains.. ???? it's model railways :-) I spend far more than £3k, though I do recycle just as much too. As soon as you go European the £ signs just get bigger.

No I was looking for a Maroon Class 43 warship full yellow ends, or a Blue one.. didn’t see any.. on any retailers stand or the returns stand. There was a Maroon half yellow ends on the returns stand on Saturday am, but it sold quite quick, I think about £100. I found with the returns stand, the price drops as the weekend rolls on.. 915am Saturday you’ll get a few quid off the price, by Sunday afternoon it was bordering buy one get one free. Of course time isn’t your friend... the locusts on Saturday suck everything up so if there’s something specific you want you need to jump on it. By Sunday afternoon there was a lot of 73109 BR std 5’s left, i’d Imagine £45-50 would get you one, but i’m Just over flowing with them so I didn’t touch them to find out. Other stuff that seemed to lag was E4’s, 66xx, 50705 and compounds. Have tested everything today, all is good for me, the 47s were invariably missing a draw bar, the steam locos their parts bags.

I spent just over £1200... (misses doesn’t read this), sounds a lot but I think I did ok for my money: (Admittedly i was waiting for Warley and went Armed). The full list was: 1450 (Hornby) - tested , Same issue as all of the others with the wheels. 6639 32494 41157 x2, 45575, 45538 61862, 63983 (Heljan), 68023 (djm) Diesels 10201 (kernow)/ 24077/ 37041/ 47001/ 47475 (model rail)/ 47576 Coaches: NSE Mk2 TSO, NSE Mk1 RB, Mk1 POS Mail with nets (blue/grey), Mk1 BG Royal Mail Red x2(Replica) , Lswr gatestock BR Green (Kernow). 2 parachute water towers, 1 midland water tower and a super quick GW coaling stage. Of that lot the only two that were “total impulse” were the compounds, which i’ll be taking the tenders, and have the rest spare (I might do an Andy Capp 41101 just for a laugh considering the price I paid).

Ignore my post 19... i was thinking to make one, however having seen it in the flesh I think it’s a good job, with some research behind it to make it more accurate. (I am lead to believe this work may have been done some time ago but took a while to reach the catalog). Anyways, the guys at Derails have this for £111 so I’ve pre-ordered/paid with them. As soon as it comes i’ll Drop a picture.

It was the first url of the book I could find. I have the 1975 book, but for the life of me couldn’t put my hands on it this morning, but I know it’s in there, above poster pointed it out. Above poster also indicated it’s 1 side, and the 74 quite definitely has two distinct sides, so there’s a limitation there, however publishers Ian Allan may well have additional unpublished plates for this book and could be a source ?

This was my Warley goodie bag, survived just enough to get back to the car. It did good though, it held 16 locos, 8 Coaches, 12 sets of Gibson LMS pony wheels, 1 Class 52 body, 3 water towers, 1 fueling point and 1 cardboard coaling stage. (I think it was the cardboard coaling stage that over did it). Good day shopping. Admittedly much was from the Bachmann returns stand, but at £45 for a Compound (I bought two), £50 for a “Giggleswick” Patriot, £40 for an E2, £70 for a class 47 I couldn’t refuse. Highest I paid was £100 for Madras. Afternoon on Sunday there was some very good deals there, the more models in your hand, the better the discount.

Presumably you had this book, by RS Carter, in 4mm or was it not suitable ?Class 74 is listed in the drawings. https://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/books/ianallan/mainlinediesels1963.php

Fair enough, However I like the idea that maybe club members could get to vote on a exclusive club edition to make... If they made a listof options for an number of liveries/variations , members voting on for release later in the year that might be a cool idea though given factory lead times etc I don’t know how practical that would be ?.. My first candidate would be choose a 40, with a choice of D200/40106/40139 though in reality i’d want all 3, and i’m betting we’re going to get some 40’s anyway in 2018. :-) Maybe a 45.. with choice of 106,128 or 141 ? I know the guys at Bachmann read these threads...

I think you have maybe misunderstood the club. The club is a means of communication to people who want to know a bit more about the models being created. The communications it offers is a magazine, members days and the lounge. Additionally has some exclusive models and a very good annual calendar. It’s open to anyone who wants to know more, and the articles it publishes are very high quality. One of the big draws for those in the thirst for knowledge is the lounge, as you get to see first, what is the latest happening, and you can talk to those creating it.Occasionally you might squeeze a deniable little tidbit of information about the future from polite conversation. I’ve never been aware of any committee that decides what to make and what price, with the club... that is done just the same as any other company.. in its board room and nothing to do with club members, and usually this information is shared with everyone one and all at the same time. Using your house analogy.. the decisions are made in the house, we club members are groupies who have paid to sit in their garden, waiting for something to appear in the window. Everyone else is jogging up and down the road and has an occasional glance. Most people at Warley are happy to look at the outside displays, which are usually released, about to release or paint finished samples. For this who want to know more.. there’s the club. There are always those who want to know more but won’t pay and don’t want to wait...of course.. I’ve been a member for a few years now with no complaints, it does what it says on the tin..

Interesting the comments that people make about spending lots of hard earned cash to come to Warley, but they cannot see the Bachmann models whilst collectors club members can... The collectors club, good as it is doesn’t pay travel expenses... Those who are members also have to travel and have the same expenses as everyone else, it’s just they have chosen to pay a bit more. The club isn’t by invitation, Anyone can join and it’s not a secret or a surprise what the activities of the club are. If they really wanted to alienate non-members, they would tell members no photographs, then it is a secret. To join the club or not to join the club, Its a personal choice.

There’s a website for everything... http://www.bdca.org.uk/steamreplaced.html The last “lift” by a BR owned steam powered crane was August 1989.

After reading this thread 18mths ago, I bought two spare motors for my Garratt. They are both still in my drawer upstairs and my Garratt is still running fine. Should I be happy it’s good, upset I’ve wasted my £3odd on motors or worried ?

No..They sold me an 8f... After I saw 48045 on Saturday I 180’d my opinion on where it was going.. I think they’ve done a goodun there, so I ordered one Saturday night. Also 35014, the 800, next H’s and yet to be released 87’s were on show. It was also a good showcase for what is out on the shelves. Without doubt the H upstaged the 1450, and everyone who got up close to it, got up close to the Hornby stand. Bachmann may have stole the light here, due to the volume of new stuff on display but Hornby and the H stood out larger than life in the Hall there. If Hornbys stand was about awareness they certainly succeeded, the stand was never empty. When I went past. Sure it could have been more, but it wasn’t a waste, if Hornby stayed at home and the H in the shed.. there certainly would have been a hole in Warley.

Durham Trains does realise that Durham isn’t on the left coast but the East don’t they ? Shouldn’t they be modelling J class wrecks and other aged 0-6-0 heaps ? - but i’m Glad they’re not ! APT is a niche, and much like the Hornby one, iconic. It will appeal to the right people, even if it’s expensive, but as already stated it will be a model which when it’s gone it’s gone. I have two Hornby ones, to make into 7 car rake, but lack the full openFirst and Open Second as it was never done, it’s also a model past it’s age.

I might be tempted to agree, the appearance of birdcages, H and P isn’t going to do anything to reduce demand for this holy grails loco. I got mine on ebay last year for £175, bargain I thought, and then when I ran it on my DC layout I nearly fell off my chair when it started to chuff too...

I see the Pecketts are on their way then

what is the minimum radius will the locomotive go around please ? Does the tender-loco coupling have any flex in it or the rear pony any lateral movement for sharper curves / points ? thanks.

On the subject of books, I came across a copy of Keith Parkins book on BR Mk1 Coaches @ £60...is it really that sought after ?