Ian Hargrave

But the blue-liveried Westerns worked with Mark 2's regularly in the sixties & early seventies Best left to Dave & his team,I think.I'm sure we'll all be pleased with the finished product. If experience with the Class 22 is any thing to go by----get your pre-order in p.d.q.

Your most appropriate observation is'model railway mags'. Their silence on the issue is deafening. Any one care to start a list headed REASONS WHY ??

Thanks for that--accounts for it being a Hull loco, then.I still wonder exactly how it worked its way into a Peak 17A turn. Obviously a failure----but where & when ? Probably the previous day & it spent the night at Saltley. That particular turn once famously produced an A1 in New Street. Saltley turntable was too short to accomodate it ,so it was turned on the Camp Hill triangle.

Indeed they were--at the opposite end of the U.K.,they appeared as far south-west as Bristol,deputising for failed 'Peak' diesel. In Sept.1961,I had a spin on the Birmingham-Newcastle between New Street and Sheffield behind Hull 's(50B) 61215 'William Henton Carver'. It kept time---but it was a steam schedule in any case,the Peaks having only just started working btween Bristol and York. The B1's had peculiar names--any one know who WHC was?

Agreed with all of the above postings. However,please do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Despite the 4-VEP debacle--and others--they are more than capable of producing excellence still. Their new B1,I believe,proves the point. One turkey doesn't ruin Christmas.

Now in stock-as of midday today. I've also put in an order as a result of an exchange of e-mails.earlier today.

1000a is now in stock at Hattons--at £125. Nowhere else showing as yet. Signal Box and Model Railways Direct are advertising same at £22/23 less. Curious.

7013--if this helps--some detective work for you. According to my Locospotters Log Book,on 19/4/1959--a Sunday,I'copped' 61008 at Swindon station at the head of what I think was a train bound for York (possibly originating from Swansea) via ex-G.C. metals--i.e. Oxford-Banbury-Leicester etc. It was,I think, a regular weekend working at the time. So--take it from there. Good luck--Ian.

Late replacement loco for failed K3 on Grimsby fish turn. Commandeered while running-in from Doncaster works.

Do you use them in multiple? (At the front of the train,I mean ?)

Another b------ senior moment!!!.OOOOOPS. What with that & giving Xmas cards I haven't signed--time for the funny farm.

Definitely---from a point of local historical significance alone. 17A based in late 50's,early 60's.The second main line diesels to work the Midland main line--regularly on St. Pancras--Manchester trains via the now disappeared Peak line--the first being 10000 & 10001.They worked in pairs,using ,as I recall, the interconnecting doors. There was some alteration to the cab windows after that---& the Hattons model is post whenever that was. A pair would look great behind a rake of maroon Mark 1's--no yellow apron ,though. A case made for temptation ?

Doesn't it just!

LNER & BR E/C both now showing as in stock at Hattons

New Hornby B1 arriving today---see Modelfair website now

Wy not one or two of each?

See my posting on Bachmann B1. Looks as if Barwell are about to upstage Ramsgate

Please refer to seller's e-bay name.Any e-bay guidelines on improper verbiage in cyberspace applicable here? Probably not!

We've had the advanced scouting party. So---when's the cavalry arriving--i.e.,the main shipment ?

Now arrived.I am no longer bothered by fonts. Subjectively,the best Heljan to date. A class (23?) act.

I repent.Say after myself one hundred times-'It is the font,it is the font........' A baby deltic--but not as I remember it--sans headcode box----one day at Kings X in Sept.'59 when I 'copped' seven in a day,in company with many D 53XX ( later Class26) one solitary D61XX ( soon to be aScottish fiasco) , the prototype 'Deltic' and several D 2XX (later Class 40) This,in common with a generous helping of Gresley & Peppercorn Pacifics and a solitary A2. The type2 diesels had charge of ECS workings, the Cambridge Buffet Expresses and Outer Suburban & Moorgate line commuter services--complete with Gresley non-corridor stock. Yes--I'll buy----out of pure nostalgia alone.!!

A 'weathered' example has just appeared on e-bay--incredible! I'm afraid this,for £100,is a rather poor offering . In common parlance,it needs a nose job.

Just taken delivery of new Bachmann Class 70 70006 which seems to be in short supply at the moment. Ordered via website last Tuesday evening and delivered by courier this a.m. Cost,inclusive of delivery £82.50.Competitive ,I think? Good service !

With WHAT ? Kettles make tea or fill hot water bottles.I beg of you not to demean or patronise over 150 years of great BRITISH engineering heritage with a fashionable put-down!