Ian Hargrave

1 hour ago, OnTheBranchline said:

Considering some historians portray him as a tyrant.

 

im focused more on the name deciding/decision process and the reaction to the name.

To traffic 1951…the Festival Of Britain…a time of celebration of life beginning to return to normal post war. I copped Oliver at Liverpool Street at the same time as Alfred the Great at Waterloo. There was no reaction and why would there be.Most of the population of the UK was historically and politically unaware.The Britannias were a symbol of the regeneration of the nation after the war and consequent austerity. No mass media and patchy TV coverage.

It is difficult now to have any concept of life in the early 1950’s.

23 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

 

 

Great shot of the Crewe roof garden.Monty Don would be pleased 

I’ve recently had two return trips Crewe-Chester and regret I’m unimpressed with the rough ride sadly. 

1 hour ago, 'CHARD said:

 

LOL! It pains me to say that I struggle massively with Rule One. I have to keep quiet about it for fear of causing offence.

 

When I hear it being invoked, I feel like the actors in Black Adder, when the actual name of 'the Scottish Play' is mentioned! 

And here lurks an honest man…

1 hour ago, Black 5 Bear said:

Maybe an opportunity for some enterprising individual(s) from smaller suppliers to produce working replacement lamps?

At least we still have the option of their removal and the fitting of the lamp irons from the accessory pack.

I’ll pass on that possibility as eyes & fingers ain’t what they used to be. As currently my operations are confined to a tabletop in a room with somewhat restricted natural light,I welcome this little additional brightness. 

8 hours ago, 'CHARD said:

Frankly the appearance of this version is not at all to my taste, being a bit of a straight-edge Death Steam kind of guy.

 

It's impossible to tell through all that gaudiness how the poor thing would look caked in grot and as though it's at one with the Cumbrian landscape.

So no place for bling on your rails then ? 

Ah,so that’s where and how Hornby sourced the “finish”. Basically a cosmetic photo shoot ex-works. Pretty I’m sure but in terms of subsequent authenticity of an in traffic loco a bit like glamour on the red carpet for an Oscar. 

So then,would anyone be tempted to weather this ? It would seem a bit of a shame really.The paint job & lining seem rather well done. Some nice images and I much appreciate that.

21 minutes ago, woodenhead said:

Bombardier need some work…

Indeed it does.But it needs bigger stuff than this…..

29 minutes ago, MikeParkin65 said:

Largely agree. The areas that are better are the front end beneath the running boards, the cylinders and the fact you can’t see daylight from the three quarter rear view, the tender under frame and the under cab pipe work.  Only got the one on order and have 3 brassmaster kits ready to complete my requirements using the 2002 model. 

Thank you for highlighting that. The front end is the area that indeed is  in need of improvement. I shall now know what to look for.

Thanks for the above positive comments.My first observation….and this admittedly from online images…..is that apart from the white paint  ( Why ? ) on the smokebox hinges and those much debated lamps,I cannot observe much difference. This having removed from its box one of the later release originals R3453  BR l/c 45274, lightly weathered.

This being a model of the loco wrecked in the Sutton Coldfield disaster & subsequently rebuilt at Crewe and returned to traffic….something that Hornby seemed blissfully unaware of when they released it. 
 

    It’s a nice model which performs sweetly. For now,apart from a pre ordered Caprotti,I’ll keep my powder dry and wait until I can get up close & personal for any stimulus to reach for the plastic to consider the new release 

As a sickly child recovering from one of the many infections I seemed to suffer,I remember being given one of the then scarce bananas….my first… as a special treat. I promptly rejected it as inedible. 
   
     If there are any Giles cartoon fans on the forum,there was one featuring the redoubtable Grandma celebrating the return of the banana. 

Wartime bananas. Were there any ? I know it’s a long while back but given the “difficulty “ of  crossing the North Atlantic at this time,I seem to recall that bananas,a luxury in those times of rationing and shortages of foodstuffs didn’t reappear in the shops until the mid to late 1940’s. We needed Sherman Tanks& GI’s more than we needed bananas I believe. Yours etc. born 1942.and we billeted two of those GI’s prior to D-Day whose generosity with foodstuffs helped sustain a flagging dietary national economy. Wonder what became of them …

11 minutes ago, Siberian Snooper said:

At least the local Scottish tourist businesses have not been bamboozled by WCRCs bluster and appreciate that their businesses have to comply with the legislation appropriate to the businesses that they run and so should West Coast.

 

 

Yes,agreed. But the question still remains…..how to find a way out of this impasse in that feathers and egos are unruffled ,the legal requirements are fulfilled and the Black 5’s are on their way to Mallaig. Bon voyage with that one.

And WCRC have returned The Jacobite Mk 1 stock to FW ,still without CDL,to FW. Seen on Leslie Gilpin’s YouTube channel northbound at Carlisle yesterday.Is this some kind of Highland standoff,reminiscent of 1745….or what ? 

10 hours ago, gwrrob said:

Have you been drinking @sjrixon as you seem to be plastered.

No but I’m getting there. Enjoy 😊 

8 minutes ago, johnofwessex said:

I wonder if either an extra 156 on the Scotrail services between FW & Mallaig or an extra daily service could be organised

Which is dependent on availability of such stock and platform length. 

39 minutes ago, 2E Sub Shed said:

Some years ago we traveled on West Highland, the option to use the "Jacobite" was available, however we used the service train, same views, through larger cleaner windows (on that day), and get photos of a steam engine as well.  (do the drivers still clean the service train windows at Fort William ?).

I have done the return trip from FW to Mallaig twice. Once on the Jacobite and latterly by Scotrail 2 X 156 .And for  the scenic effect of the line which is really why we do the trip,the diesel unit scores over  WCRC Mk 1’s. On the day I last did the trip,it was a return from Rannoch Station which added extra outstanding landscape and gorge delights with panoramic views of the Nevis range from every perspective. The service was well patronised and it seemed that on arrival in Mallaig most passengers headed straight for the many eating places and pubs in the town. In contrast on that day…early September 2021….The Jacobite appeared to be comparatively under patronised. Just a snap experience I know but at the time I felt it was revealing.  The return Glasgow Scotrail service was similarly well occupied and on a  sunny early evening  more delights unfolded. I think the local economy is resilient enough to absorb this setback. 

1 hour ago, adb968008 said:

The GCR incident was unfortunate, but also at a “mainline” station.

 

Any number of lines have any number of “halts” that arent even close to train length, some maybe 1 coach platforms with a 6 coach train.. and thats even if the platform reaches door height.

 

Ive always found these dangerous myself, even as a seasoned traveller, as quite often unless your a regular to the line youve no idea the stopping point.

 

I certainly have seen occasion where a 6 coach stopped at a 1 coach platform, followed by a door opening 2-3 coaches off the platform, matched by frenzied shouting by the guard running up the track to prevent it.

 

I dont think its unreasonable to, to insist a calling train match the length of the platform.

 

 

 

Indeed…..and yet LNWR operate 2x350 units on the WCML stopping at stations with facilities for coping with the front four set only….e.g. Atherstone,RugeleyTV,Hartford,Winsford,Acton Bridge & Liverpool Parkway .Yes,there are walk through connections and the train manager always announces it…..but it’s hardly the stuff of a 21stC mainline.

19 minutes ago, zr2498 said:

Yes, I received the same email.

I don't seem to recall all of these problems with delivery when the 24s came out.

We still don't have firm information as to when the first two 25s will be posted out. It doesn't give the confidence needed to place further orders.

But,allowing for the frustration and delay,at least in my case,no money has been paid out. I’m very much happy to wait for what will be an exceptional model.

A very interesting series of posts with,it has to be said,some conflicting results.So thanks for that and Andy’s video in particular. ATM,I’m without a Large Prairie and await Dapol’s hopefully improved version.Reluctantly I conclude that for me only the full set of six makes sense.Thus a hefty capital outlay then. 
 

    However,on the haulage front,not all is lost until their appearance.As I’ve posted earlier,bringing my Heljan Met. electric out of storage would be a suitable alternative. Now that will pull the skins off a whole batch of rice puddings.

Would one needed to acquire a full set of six to make prototypical sense ?

On 21/03/2024 at 09:50, Ian Hargrave said:

 
A fascinating photo. And just maybe a reason for using the Heljan loco ? 

Which,in searching for something I didn’t find,I found. Heljan 9001 Met./BoBo 9 John Milton. A whim purchase at Warley years ago when they were released and never used because I didn’t have suitable stock. It is a beautiful little thing .So then just maybe an excuse for some City Toplights. Just a thought ? 

5 minutes ago, Bucoops said:

 

I guess that would be your loss then? When the first request came in, I asked if it was ok to wait until payday to pay the balance and received a prompt and courteous response.

 

They're a preservation group, not a multi-national sales empire.

Easy to relate your own experience isn’t it ? I am well aware of their status. But it doesn’t excuse what in my personal concern isn’t a satisfactory state of affairs that could and should have been sorted weeks ago. 

3 minutes ago, Krieghoff said:

Ian. 
i kept all correspondence from the original order. That includes order number and emails from all communications. If you have laid deposits and balances etc then your bank can provide details but the mantra here is to keep all correspondence. I have and im happy with how the HTG have communicated. 

This is in fact the second demand for the balance that I have received. I responded to the fist immediately but received no response in return. That was over a month ago. What does irritate is that I..as purchaser am expected to,provide the vendor with details of my purchase. Don’t they keep records ?  

1 hour ago, Krieghoff said:

Aye, ive had the email from the HTG. they appear to be on the way but landing/customs and every other external influence will mean they arrive when they arrive and that MAY be later than expected 🤣

So then…do you have any online indication of your original order …i.e. …was it sound/analogue or any documentary evidence other than a couple of emails asking for the balance with the onus upon you as purchaser to provide the vendor with the original order number or …I quote….”in the last resort”….your name  ?  This is not best practice and is tbh insecure and inexcusable . I simply have no documentation either online or on paper of my order..and now I’m asked to provide such. I paid a deposit and frankly I’d rather let it go to the wind rather than involve myself in what appears to be a haphazard method of conducting a purchase.My name is not a last resort.