Ian Hargrave

Without in any way wishing to appear contentious,the most popular 'era' (We are told) is BR Steam.I would imagine that many of our number are 'keeping their powder dry' until the release of 4061. There is also the matter of conserving financial resources,it being near to 'harvest time' in the matter of new releases and the general austere economic outlook. GWR 'types' .......I am one,being raised on chocolate and cream at my mother's milk.....will probably take a while to come to terms with this.There is also the imminent release of Lode Star to consider.Apparently,Steam have pre-sold about 500 of these..so we are told.Add to the mix the problem of decent r-t-r carriages for the period and ,frankly,I'm not surprised. I imagine that,after this first flush of enthusiasm,4018 is going to experience slow turnover.

Thank you KGV for sharing this information with us.It demonstrates once again the value of this forum and the exchange of information and opinions it generates My acquaintance with Lode Star goes back to her swansong at Landore in the late 1940's,early 50's.She was not in gleaming,pristine condition as she now is...it was only a few years after the war,remember....and sported the larger capacity tender. Your information has switched me into positive decision mode.....a process which began with Rob's beautiful images earlier this morning. Ian.

Well said 7013 !

I wouldn't bet too much on that.....

Reckon the'll take the opportunity to post some images....as I've suggested....then ? I am in exactly the same mindset as you are. It won't take too much to convince me...but it's a VERY expensive mistake if it's below par.For instance,I would expect a set of etched plates for that kind of outlay ( and fitted too...but never mind that..) Do I get one ? In short,I want a convincing demonstration that it is,indeed worth shelling out the extra cash. Yes,I do know it is in aid of a deserving cause...and I did buy their 'Western Enterprise' .Am I asking too much to be spared this being a leap of faith ? Yours,ex-Landore 1950 geek in short trousers...Landore being 4003's home for a long while...

Thank you,Rob. You have done more than anyone...Hornby and retailers alike....to shed analytical light onto the situation.We are all in your debt..I am,quite literally,seeing Stars for the first time 'out of the box'. Ironic that it's taken the model to travel to the other side of the world to achieve this. It would be an equally constructive gesture if 'Steam' would do something similar with 4003.....that's all it takes.

It is fervently to be hoped that they DO read this thread.

Kernow's latest newsletter states that it is utter nonsense to claim that they received 150 examples of KoGH from Hornby.They have plenty more coming from Hornby.

I now have to amend the timings of the down Dragon.....it has been bugging me for the last couple of hours.BUT it has reacquainted me with a book I've had for a few years which brings tears of nostalgia to me every time I leaf through its pages. ...'The Red Dragon .........and other old friends' ..LDR Publications(2006).a compilation of the work of the late Huw Daniel by his son Ieuan and others. This is a seminal work for ALL of you who love the GW/WR. and for those who remember,like me ,Swansea High Street and Landore and its Castles with their white-painted buffer beams. Importantly it contains photos of Stars and Saints...in particular Lode Star (2) which spent its days as a Landore loco from 12th July 1934 until withdrawal on 18th July1950,having run 2,005,898 miles..a working life of 44 years and 5 months...introduced to traffic Feb 1907. Now ..the Dragon: as a named express from 5th June 1950. UP: Carmarthen dept :7:30 Paddington Arrive 1:00 pm Down Paddington Dept 5:55 pm (not 4:55) Carmarthen Arrive11:50pm.Sorry for the errors...glad to put it right and share this with you. Doing it has helped me focus.

We wait. The silence is deafening.Come on somebody...post-one way or the other.

The down 'Dragon' was late afternoon ex-Paddington....I think(?) 4:55 pm . Photo taken c.1954-56 Reporting number 169 ,I know was the1:55 pm....another Canton 'Brit.' Turn.70025-29.Memories of hours spent at the Newport end of platform3 at Cardiff General...Paddington departures were then scheduled at55 minutes past the hour for South and West Wales.

I think you will find that at the moment the consensus is no...it doesn't.

I'm glad someone has been pro-active on the matter of 4003,because things have become ominously quiet since the first reported delivery yesterday.I hope this is not an omen of unwelcome news.Like everyone else,I want this one to be right.Only when I receive the blessing of a positive review from this forum will I be prepared to pay the premium for it

One other point-a small one,perhaps-but significant to me,as I remember both the Stars and Saints of the late 40's and ealy 50's,does Lode Star come with a set of etched brass/metal plates ? Western D1000 came from Steam with them...and most of the bits fitted. If not,that means a small further outlay on the purchase of a set.I simply could not live with the ghastly print I see on 4018.It simply ISN'T a GWR...or even BR(W) loco without proper plates. Oh for the sight of burnished brass !

I sincerely hope that 'Steam's' Lode Star fulfils the expectations that those of you who have ordered one have of it.Steam needs the cash it generates,heaven only knows.Hopefully,the model will not demonstrate the baleful distortions seen in the above image. None of us needs an expensive disappointment.....least of all 'Steam' I must say that I had been contemplating an order,because it does appear to be a far more attractive offering than 4018 recently viewed on Hattons website....I have seen the pre-prod.samples anyway...and I am far from convinced by that.It will be interesting when members receive their long-awaited orders of 4003 to hear their responses.As they say,turkeys are for Christmas.If it's positive,then I'll be more than happy to give my support to Swindon.

Sorry this is late......post 11,Neath Riverside.Train is heading to Brecon, Pannier thus is 89B...Brecon.

GWR 2192....Vale of Neath Collieries,Aberpergwm....empty to Glyn Neath 6685....possibly Gelli Tarw incline ...Aberdare HL to Hirwaun on Vale of Neath line .Or,even in the vicinity of Pontypool Road itself...it was a fairly rural location

There are precedents with C-o-T, and Midland Compound 1000 of NRM Limited Editions appearing well in advance of the mainstream Bachmann versions....and they both appeared,as it were,'out of the blue' with great surprise on our parts. Certainly,the L& Y tank is highly likely to precede its sisters onto the market very shortly.Locomotion Models have been prolifically pro-active within the last few months and are springing surprises on us.I am confident that there are more to come.

. You've read the tea leaves........'Midland Compund'. 1000 ?

Thanks for picking up the thread...There's another one on the Ivatt ( naughty duplicator,me ) which I've resurrected....I started it months ago but failed to notice it this morning....you should grumble about the bus-pass era ! So ,then,it's a twin track approach .The word 'shortly' is,of course,a euphemism. I want to air the subject and,trust me ( no,I'm not a doctor ) with good reason . I sincerely believe it's a model we'd all welcome. Ian.

We are 6 months on................we will shortly have our first r-t-r Atlantic,courtesy of Bachmann.Good ! BUT....is it THE Atlantic at the top of our wishlist ? Hmm. The buzzword is Ivatt. The magic number ...251,slumbering forlornly at Barrow Hill.....Could it be...? Can't believe that they wouldn't.........neglect a fabulous window of opportunity,capitalising on recent successes with Prince William , Delticand Yorkie tank .Come on ,NRM National Collection...not if....WHEN ....and SOON !

Sorry...I sincerely hope this silly old dinosaur hasn't put you off ( I'm 71 ) We should cherish and nurture young people like you. You have an impressive shopping list there. I sincerely hope it reaches fulfillment. Meanwhile....more power to your elbow...and may good Gresleys,Thompsons and Aspinalls attend you..As a lad of about your age ,I spotted Thompson's rebuild of theP2 at the buffers at King's Cross and once had a run behind B1 61215 'William Henton Carver'....and that was in 1961....07:35 Birmingham New Street-Newcastle.....she was deputising for a failed 'Peak' ( Class 45 later ) diesel and was a Hull ( 50B ) loco.....an unusual working to say the least. She was still on the train when I left it at Sheffield Midland,anyway. Best wishes,Ian.

Why not both.....?

It now being the time of year when thoughts turn to its seasonal climax of the celebration of The Nativity,I find a confusion crossing my mind when I rehearse on Monday nights for our choirs 'Carols by Candlelight' concerts.....for instance,was it Sidney Carter or George Jackson Churchward who composed 'Every Star Shall Sing A Carol' ?

Some good eateries in the vicinity of Three Cocks......why bother with garden centres? Spoiled for choice in Hay-on-Wye but the best in the area is back down the A470 towards Brecon.....The Felinfach Griffin. Couch potato ATM...gave up on culture evening watching Hamlet. Filthy wet again......besides my wife needed to watch final of The Bake-Off.......from the sublime to the.......Actually--not true,I am a closet Bake Off junkie,too.