Ian Hargrave

A useful resource.....www.lyrs.org.uk. Apparently,there is a restored 6-wheeler at work on the K&WVR. Passed Keighley on my Duchess 'jolly' last Sat.,too.Need to visit Saltaire....idea forming for a culture/rail research excursion/short break. They have a 'Coal Tank' weekend this weekend,too!

I have used the website twice this year with no glitch whatsoever...remember this is 'Locomotion' and not the main NRM website Miners ....or properly 'workmen's trains' nearly always ran carriage stock for their exclusive use..so ex-L&Y stock MIGHT have ended their days here. In any case,there's no one around now to contradict,is there? For any photographic evidence I think you would need to look at Sid Rickards photo albums....for the 50's at any rate. Google 'Locomotion Models'for what you need. modelwise.

The most stunning rainbow I have ever seen has just appeared.....actually as I type there are two..one a doppelganger of the other. Rainbow over Repton..great title.... Otherwise....rain.

Mike.....you are really on the money here...A Webb coal tank...oh yes,please. Abergavenny to Dowlais Top......banking duties at Abercynon (mid 50's),Tredegar,Swansea Valley. Antique little gems ! By the way,you CAN order the Aspinall from the Locomotion website .I did this morning..L& Y in S.Wales ? Miners trains....perhaps.Pigeon lofts...maybe. I remember there was a beautiful L& Y layout at this year's Derby Show.

Thanks,Larry......this weak-willed mortal has just relieved Locomotion of one less Aspinall. This does look to be a very special model. So,Mike,something 's got to give from the 'list'. Maybe trundling an L& Y brakevan....hmm.. Wait for that Bachmann GW auto train,then,Mike. Hope operation tank is going well..cheers....Ian The Weak-Willed !

I have a gut feeling that this e-mail arrived because somebody on this forum complained yesterday that it was up on Locomotion's website......and that they knew nothing about it as a recent customer ( as is yours truly ----Deltic and Prince William ) Now for a wrestle with my conscience. The model is.of course,going to be a stunner....in a more restrained way than the 'C'.Black is beautiful too..especially lined...and it's pre-grouping,again.Suitable rolling stock,anyone......? The word 'investment' springs to the front of my mind ....not the e-bay,fast-buck,variety. Then there is the accounting of what's promised to consider......Star,10000,J 11, DOG...rumours abound of Collectors Club GC-liveried J11,then Cock of the North.....as Semele sings.... 'Endless Pleasure' ...apologies to the late George Frederick. ps...totally forgot Dukedog! Insolvency looms.. The Great Train Robbery ?

....and by coincidence,I have only just received a flyer from Locomotion,by e-mail,about the L & Y tank.....£95+p&p....card debited with order.....mmm.....tempting but then,so much is atm.I can see all the new releases arriving in a cluster.BUT if this one goes the same way as the Wainwrght 'C' last year......who knows ?

If you are seriously concerned,you should contact Locomotion directly.They will respond....they DO read this forum.....and are sensitive to criticism of a constructive nature.This is not a large outfit and what it does,it does well.Yes,I did read your previous postings on the subject. You might,of course,consider a telephone order.

Our local Waitrose ( Lichfield ) is also undergoing a facelift and surprise,surprise,same reaction this end. Maybe the familiar is more comfortable to 'our generation' ? Though the £ 10 'My Waitrose' voucher was carefully and judiciously spent. Doesn't take long to spend £ 100 there at the best of times and the 24-mile round trip was ,we think,ultimately worth it. Their produce is way ahead in quality with most fresh produce.Doesn't say much for Burton on Trent,does it ? Watched BBC 'Breakfast' earlier. Interview with Energy Helpline.com spokesperson. Apparently one should switch to fixed tarriff atm. Got copy of recent energy bill and typed in the figures.Decided to switch from EDF (variable) to Scottish Power ( fixed ). Figures say I save £300 pa. So.....switched.....easy. We shall see.....Strongly advise giving it a try. Ian.

Excellent.Hopefully to be inclusive of beautiful nameplates ? You wish.....

Yet,if you take it a stage further,you will find it's 'reserve' i.e.NOT in stock ( as the e-mail states ) but in effect still on order. A mistake,I believe. Hopefully it's well -intentioned....and not an entrapment ploy. I have sympathy. If we are impatient,then how must the retail trade be feeling ?

'Let me not to the management of true deliveries find impediment'....corrupt version of Sonnet 116. By coincidence,we attended a performance at the RSC Swan Theatre yesterday evening.....not WS,however,but an adaptation of Voltaire's 'Candide' ..brilliantly rewritten by Mark Ravenhill....with stunning production ..again ..by RSC & ensemble. Also heard a performance of Sonnets there a while ago.......I digress,sorry. 'E lucevan le stelle....' ( Puccini )......we hope ( 'La Speranza '.....Turandot. )

Appreciate the need for the 'romance' (that the right word?) of travel.You COULD save a buclketload of hassle by flying and hiring a car from your airport of destination...which could ,of course,be either side of the Franco--Spanish border.Don't think driving that distance alone is something I would relish.

Indeed it was....my only experience of top & tail so far.Pronounced only on the inbound journey when Dellner-equipped 57313 was leading & the 47/8 was on back.Odd,is it not,that 46233 adds its own support coach & completes the S & C in each direction unaided ? Yes,I do realise there ARE sound reasons for t&t.

And indeed,thank you, all was well .46233 trailed 13 behind leaving Hellfield,now including support coach. Spent the time up the 'long drag' to Ribblehead leaning (health/safety horrors !) out the window,something I've not done in 50 years.Just looking...and listening. Photo &video opportunists seemingly behind every wall,tree,barn,sheep....flashes dancing in moorland light....wave to the Duchess everyone. Ribblehead a scene from a 'Lord of the Rings '.spectacular....crowd extras everywhere,like toy soldiers on every fold in this spectacular landscape. The weather brought a particular luminous lighting quality to it all.Into our stride we rush through Dent & down Aisgill to the familiar quieter beauty of the Eden Valley. Our caravan park is still there! No stop at Appleby and an ontime arrival at Carlisle. Photos taken and a pot of coffee in a quaint backstreet coffee house in Carlisle. More photos...and off we go. Dinner is laid .We are fortunate in sharing our table with a charming couple from Lincoln.Important to be at ease here because you're stuck with each other's company for 14 hours...so all is very well here. Dinner is to be served after the Appleby water stop. Wine uncorked...excellent St.Emilion at a very reasonable cost. 46233 going like a well-tuned Rolls. Race off to other side of line to photo water stop at Appleby. Behold..a genuine water tower and 'crane' to fill tender. Takes only short time before loco issues warning hoot to get back on board. Climb through Kirkby Stephen and then the Aisgill climb...one slip only,quickly corrected. Interestingly scenic meal. Wine stays steady on the table. Any drop splilled is down to me.Enjoyed the terrine,beef and sticky toffee pudding. Through the tunnel.. bright Dent moorland,Ribblehead and all too soon back at Hellifield....46233's sparkling performance is over and she slips quietly away to be replaced by ex-ATW 57313 at front and 47/8 'Diamond Jubilee' at rear. Can't get used to the clunky bump of the 'tail' playing catch-up at every braking/acceleration ! Congratulations to all at PMR Ripley....staff,volunteers,support crew, train crew,Gravy Train (sic!) catering and mostly to Sir William A.Stanier.....after all,he was Swindon trained !!

I'm awake!.....4:28....Ribblehead 11:16 outbound,Carlisle12:55,dept.14:40,,Blea Moor 16:34 inbound.....You'll be one of hundreds with a camera. It's her last outing this year. Enjoy...hope weather holds.

And now....a genuine....for real.....'early riser'. Booked 'big boys day out' tomorrow .First time over Settle &Carlisle line...(why did I leave it this long?) 46233 Helifield-Carlisle and return. Supporting the local(Butterley) 'diva'....I mean Duchess..boarding at Alfreton. Owing to perversities of Network Rail pathing,instead of7:50 departure,we now have to find our way there for a 6:50 start. Thus,factor in a 25 mile car journey,''recovery time' for unforeseen circumstances,such as pit stop due to early morning tea,ablutions,suitably attiring oneself,answering queries as to the temperature in Carlisle,I calculate an alarm call for 4:30am.Fotunately,as we opted for 'Premier Dining',breakfast does not need to enter into the calculations. For the first time in years,we admitted the necessity of purchasing an alarm clock,duly purchased at Curry's.Took an hour struggling with Chinese micro electronics to set it.Fingers crossed! Memories of caravanning in the early80's near Appleby and chasing across the moors to see Flying Scotsman emerge from Blea Moor tunnel or seeing Sir NigelGresley coast by the caravan site....and of seeing 46233 for the first time....Euston 29/04/1960,according to my LocoLog book! I think arrived at the head of the up 'Royal Scot'.Hope we get out of bed in time.

Just picked this up...yes..it IS due to concerns re: money laundering. Last year the same situation occurred with us. Payment of a solicitor's bill ( for offspring ) made online had to be preceded by photocopy of MY passport sent via post (registered & insured ). Copies of bank statements ? God..lawyers make their own rules and have no concern for your security.

John...it took me a few moments...and a nod to Bletchley Park .....to decipher your posting.You are of course referring to 21C1,I presume ? Never heard that one before......The 'blue box' is open to interpretation.Besides Bachmann,both Helljan and Dapol use them. Jesting apart let's hope somebody produces one within the foreseeable future.....apart from 'Golden Age',that is.

The origins of that.....'mea culpa' ......are in post 301.

Let's hope we'll be still around to buy one !

Thanks for the nudge towards 'Golden Age'.Off topic,I know (sorry!) but I note that they are planning production of 'original' air smoothed Bulleid Pacfics.....MN and WC/BB. 'My heart leaps up as I behold a Spamcan in the sky......' (Apologies to Wordsworth).Whereas my finances fall to earth Must have serious chat with chaps on their stand at Warley......again..Historical background to this soul-searching is that as some of you may remember a while back ,I started a topic on the lack of r.t.r air smoothed 'Merchant Navy' pacifics. Chunner over....for a while....

As I have already posted elsewhwere,it's not the moulded handrails that jar so much as the awful name/numberplates which are going to need instant replacement on delivery. Yes,I did see the samples at Barrow Hill.

Ah........,yes.......beyond the reach of my failing faculties at the time....thank you. Brain unused to winging it,you see.

Handrails are one thing.....name and number plates are quite another. I'll live with the handrails....but NOT with what should be the crowning glory of any G.W. loco.The Hornby offering on the Star is simply awful......etched plates aren't an option , they are essential before it runs on a layout..now THAT is spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar.