Ian Hargrave

You might like to (or not ) observe the national collection of masonary planting currently on view at Crewe station.Such unlooked for wall gardens may soon find their way onto a Gardeners World programme

Couldn’t be anywhere else.

When in or anywhere near Halifax,I recommend a visit to The Shibden Mill Inn.A family run hostelry,very secluded but beautifully situated.Lovely rooms,great food and breakfast. Close by is Shibden Hall which some of you will recognise from the BBC drama “Gentlemen Jack “which is in the care and ownership of the local authority and also well worth a visit. The inn is difficult to find and one approach is very steep over an old cobbled road so use satnav for the easier way there..

That’s scary.Hopefully incidents of this kind are confined just to one delivery depot. So far I’ve not experienced this with Accurascale deliveries via DHL.

Don’t miss this. IMHO the best and certainly the most intelligent look at model railways I have viewed on tv.

I have a number of DCC sound models that run on DC Analogue so you might be pleasantly surprised.

The Avanti and XC Voyagers are maintained at Twin Rivers,Barton under Needwood,next to the Derby-Birmingham main line.It was purpose built for the 220/221,all originally Virgin Trains. EMR depot is Derby. I would hope that the decision by Avanti to go the Hitachi way will not impact upon the work there.

The Avanti Voyagers are 221 5car units and the EMR Meridian are 222 ,now also5 car and apparently differ from their Avanti cousins in some material respects .

Not competent with the tech bits I’m afraid,otherwise I would.Apologies

Arrived safely and now in running In mode on tabletop. Beautiful in delicately lined black which is how I remember them in the early 1950’s. I’ve opted for the sound version which I’m running on dc.I like…it’s a bit of fun…and it does work.Probably not for the purist but fine with me….and loud enough too ! DHL delivery even better with improved secure packaging. The “coal” is in the accessory bag btw with the etched plates etc. I’m “chuffed “.Again,great stuff….

And lo ! Patience has it’s reward.Email now received that 7820 (sound) is on it’s way to me. They’re on their way folks.

The 220/221/222 units with XC,Avanti WC&EMR I have used for the last 20 years.Much criticism….including mine…has been aired over them but it appears that their replacements will not be an improvement. Avanti & EMR units will soon be coming off lease.Indeed one of Avanti’s has already appeared as a replacement for a 180 on the ECML. They aren’t perfect we know….but the ride they give is far superior to the new stock coming on stream from Hitachi and CAF .There must surely be a future for them with a TOC ,given that there is a need to still replace aged stock and a need to supply much needed extra capacity to reduce chronic overcrowding all over the system.

The 170 rides well and has relatively good seating.It’s in use on long distance services such as XC’s Nottingham- Cardiff,Scotrail Highland Main Line and EMR Newark-Crewe. CAF’s latest offerings don’t come close….and these units are over 20 years old.

And the Mk5 Sleeping Cars ?

Thanks for that Mike. I’m not one who normally notices or bothers but this was so evidently rough that tbh I’m more than surprised that to the best of my knowledge an issue over the ride on these units hasn’t been raised. The phrase not fit for purpose springs to mind. On the other hand TFW are still using 150’s on Manchester -South Wales services and have several stored 3-car 175 units out of service on Chester station sidings so there does appear to be some sort of ongoing “logistical “ difficulty despite the investment in new stock.

Time we moved on ?

I had occasion last week to travel on one of these newly constructed units between Crewe and Chester…a fast non stop mainline service. They are smartly and thoughtfully designed with regard to passenger seating ( if a little too firm perhaps ) and space.. TFW proclaim they will be used on long distance services such as between Cardiff and Holyhead.Sadly the twenty minutes I rode in one would at this moment deter me from any such journey.I would liken the ride they give as that of a rapid but firm propulsion over a cobbled road. Thinking that perhaps the permanent way between Crewe and Chester was maybe partially responsible,I awaited my return journey yesterday afternoon with curiosity. This was on a 2x Voyager 221 lash up on a service to Euston. This 20 + year old ensemble rode as a magic carpet over the same stretch of track in comparison. Any observations on this from anyone ?

If there is such a thing as a delay,then I for one am grateful for it as I’ve been away until yesterday evening and unable to take delivery in any case..

Indeed…..as witnessed by the 86J boy on the Gadlys Junction Bridge. Though I have no recollection of any clean locomotive…….🙄

But quite possibly adding a West of England portion at Pontypool Road if working through to Shrewsbury at that date as they were newly delivered or alternatively working only as far as Pontypool Road for attachment there of the South Wales portion seen here to the rest of the train going forward. These West to North trains were complex affairs and shortly were to be worked through from Plymouth to Crewe via Newport with reversal there by Warships for a time. I believe the Hymeks as The Johnster posts were thrashed so hard on the Paddingtons that gearbox weaknesses caused difficulties for a while. They weren’t designed to take such loads but such was the pressure to rid the WR of steam that they were forced to cope until Swindon and Crewe delivered the Westerns. I had a return Cardiff-Paddington journey at around about the date of the photo memorable for the unique sound at full throttle

I can confirm that. 33001 a Rails special release.It has a wired plug connection.That is the sole difference.

Yes,I’ve watched it too.The EFE 4 set needs this.What an amazing achievement this restoration is !

RM ? Depends upon the level of service used. Can’t remember the last time when a delivery by RM included that.The pictorial image evidence tends to vary between carriers and even then individual drivers. “Leave in safe place” ? In my case unlocked porch,has been interpreted as outside porch door and stuffed behind a patio plant container. But Amazon delivery is consistently reliable.

A year ago IIRC Sam took issue with the motor in the new 9F and replaced the original one with one he’d sourced himself.I cannot recall anyone on this forum posting that they’d had a similar issue.Coincidence maybe ?

Sam however,to the best of my knowledge, is not a forum member.Maybe a good idea if some of us tested its haulage capabilities for ourselves ? Personally speaking,I have no issues with this model on that account.