Ian Hargrave

And Mark Harper’s handling of the situation is to say the least “unhelpful “.

FYI then. Bure Valley Models have Caldicot on at £158. 4 in stock.Free postage

Loch Lomond Zoom Time £1:79 a can at Lidl this morning. What’s this beef about Hornby boxes though ? It’s not just on this forum that the teeth are gnashing. On Sunday morning I had to save a member of the Hornby team from a savaging about this same subject. Gave the guy complaining an earwigging & he went packing.He was twice my size too ..which is not a difficult achievement considering my conspicuous lack of the vertical dimension. I think the packaging on the new Hornby locos is superb. Much more eye catching and certainly more secure .Seems they can’t win. Hey Ho. I am waiting eagerly today for the inaugural steaming of Hinton Manor on ANTB .Fingers crossed all will be well and she will be gracing our screens soon.

It’s virtually the same as the one released 5/6 years ago .Yes the livery is an improvement but the price isn’t. With regard to the cost,I believe the best policy atm is to wait until as tbh I imagine they don’t sell and consequently the price is reduced.Time to be hard headed.The “Collection “ is a marketing exercise familiar to Hornby and a way of getting more life out of long existing tooling. I understand the motive for it but I wish they’d be a bit more imaginative than this.Old wine in new bottles.

Thanks but I do already have a nicely weathered one. The Tyne Dock version does appeal but I’ll have to resist

Although I have no need of one,I cannot help but compare it with the new Hornby Tyne Dock examples. Have to say the Bachmann version which I think is decently weathered scores over it. But I’ll hold back sadly as purchase of stock to run with it would be necessary.

Peter W Gray is the go to source for information.I discovered the exchange activity by passing through NA&North Road by train in 1953 and by subsequent spotting trips to North Road whilst on holiday in 1957&1959.

All I’m doing is posting my observations as a student of human nature ( as we all are ) to a diplomatically phrased but suitably edged question. How Bachmann choose ( if indeed they so do ) to proceed will be their call. I look forward to to a Bahamas as I’m sure do a few other forum members and some more WCRC Mk 1’s to string behind it. Meanwhile to fortify us in our hours of deprivation,we rely on the innumerable YouTube “Dalesman” videos currently sustaining the need.

I made enquiries today of the gentlemen representing Bachmann at GBRMS about a suitable stablemate for its current Collectors Club Bahamas Support Coach. The response was suitably and diplomatically non commital but left me with a feeling that a model of that Jubilee might just be “in preparation “.

How kind to boost my aged self with a youthful image 🙄.Yes I bought a copy this morning. Back to the camera is the 17 years old me. Plymouth North Road August 1959. The Warship on the down CRE has detached the dining car portion before continuing its journey to Penzance. IIRC & according to the LocoLog it’s one of D800/802/806/808. Warship activity wasn’t great that first summer of Swindon built ones & the NBL were practically invisible. The Counties were heavily involved and enjoying an Indian summer,as well as 9F’s on holiday extras PS they’ve dated it incorrectly but don’t tell

Of course,SR excursions also accessed the Torbay line the long way round….just to add variety….via Meldon & Okehampton.

A copy of the late Peter W Gray’s colour Ian Allan “ Steam on West of England Main Lines “ gives the details for 1959.Page 41 is a view of the west end of NA station and in the yard is 34081 described as being between turns on an exchange working. It is facing in the Plymouth direction. On the following page,there is a lovely shot of 34063 on an 8 coach train of mixed LM & WR stock approaching Aller Junction .He gives details of the workings as follows: 4:35 pm Plymouth to Paignton as far as NA.Loco turned to await return working on 7:20 pm Goodrington Sands Halt to Plymouth . I hope this helps Phil & Brian.

No.Will post on ANTB

Cheers Rob.Good to talk….over a WR.layout.

Would also be ok with GW stock with which they ran regularly with what was described as a route familiarisation working. Apparently the GW via Meldon was limited to 43XX Moguls due to clearance etc.

They were regular on Exeter-Plymouth turns.And the late and great Peter W,Gray did manage to catch a shot of one on shed at NA. What amazing days they were weren’t they ? Summer Saturday heaven.

You just beat me to it.Page57..So indulgently,I’ll add….. When,in a pause between the stations,quiet Descended on the carriage we would talk Loud gibberish in angry argument, Pretending to be foreign. If your early memories are of a boarding school education ( and mine are not ) the poetry will inevitably resonate. Even allowing for it being stuck in a time warp,his language still stirs my imagination and thoughts.That voice…. Many thanks for the Saturday morning Betjemania and for stirring me into a successful rummage for my age battered copy of Summoned By Bells.

My first actual sight of one was at Newton Abbot on a train journey from Cardiff to Penzance in the summer of 1953. Their tasks then were assisting passenger trains over the South Devon banks,having taken over the jobs from withdrawn Bulldogs. Lovely,graceful things they were too.NA was spotter’s heaven. Every kind of WR mainline motive power and SR Bulleid light Pacifics too.

I would know diddly squat about sound in any case as I sport two hearing aids. I preordered & pre paid for 7820 in July 2022 because there were at that time only sound versions left. I wanted a lined black version as IMHO it was the smartest Manor of them all .Well I would think that as I remember them exactly like that. The sound is AFAIC a bit of fun .Having said that,its performance is the best of the bunch.For cognoscenti low down,other opinions are available. My only claim to any authentic opinions is that I both saw and heard them working on the WR from the early 1950’s and had a run behind one on the Vale of Neath and spotted 7818 on my way to school one morning..fitted freight,Gadlys Junction etc…. Best.

Right…so let’s move on.

I posted,I believe,this week and not last year.A good idea to stick to current events,shall we ?

And that’s the second misdelivey that’s been reported here this week. I realise when I read this how fortunate I have been.

Would I be correct in assuming that the tender wiring is only for dcc and not for pick ups…or is this changed with these latest releases ?

As has been posted elsewhere,the 170’s used on the Highland Main Line are on occasion woefully short in terms of capacity,so yes,maybe.But platform length at some intermediate stops could be an issue. The 125’s though I believe still have some time in them.The Aberdeen route is of course served by the KX LNER bi modes as is the Inverness route on one service.

The reason most of us need help with our gardens is because we’re too clapped out to do them ourselves .I’d love too still be able to garden but I’m now lacking the physical energy to do so. If you do get help,treat him/ her with respect and build up a decent working relationship.Money? Most of us want to pay peanuts.Don’t go there .Be prepared to pay a decent rate and pay up on the nail via BACS.Then maybe we’ll all be happy with the results. But again it depends on the size & nature of your own corner of nature’s paradise. Be realistic.At the end of the day.make sure it’s tidy and it may not be quite like you would have done it but so what….it’s done and you can still walk around in the evening ( maybe not now ) with glass in hand.Here’s to Barry..my gardening guy !