Ian Hargrave

ATM I’m attempting to order .I cannot complete access to the website as it is blocked by “I’m Not A Robot” . Could you please investigate this interference ?

Indeed,sometimes,the world passes us by and we fail to recognise its passing.Confusion is perhaps a state of grace . Look at it this way…….I’m still here enjoying my “confusion “.

And changing trains at Crewe yesterday afternoon,I heard announcements of the cancellation of a number of Avanti services due to “train crew issues “ which is a daily occurrence apparently,so you were perhaps lucky to complete your journey. Earlier in the week,one of our party was marooned coming down from Carlisle on the WCML to Chester. So if any of you are thinking about a journey with Avanti make sure you thoroughly check your train will run.As one who’s been there & wears the shirt.Often these are quite literally last minute cancellations which really throws the gubbins into the works.

I read all of the above with acknowledgement to the knowledge and experience of forum members. This particular model has been on sale now for barely a week and I have to wonder how many of the above observations are based on a viewing of it on plain sight rather than a website based a digital image. I’m suspending my own opinions until I see one “break cover”. That won’t be for a while

So at the end of a dreary,wet day,maybe it would be good if we turned to the top of the page and read the heading title that Robin initially posted there and restored the friendliness and frivolity…….if you please gents.

The only serious discounting IIRC with Rapido UK has been with the late lamented Hattons Black Friday sale last November. Other than that there is the imaginative bargain bundle pitch.It’s a small and fledgling company springing to life at inauspicious economic times and has already been blighted by a couple of unfortunate mishaps.So don’t expect other than the “normal” % discount. They need and deserve encouragement for the lines of developing products. Our opinions are being canvassed.Let’s be grateful for that and cut Corbs&co some slack.

And there was me going to post my usual quip about the horsehair too….I can’t see it. But seriously,thank you gents for going the extra mile for the GW freaks here. It’s much appreciated.My first ever train ride….c1946….was in a Pannier hauled B set.That’s when B sets ruled the Aberdare-Abercynon branch. And another new pair of spectacles is ordered for delivery soon..Rimless ones…much better for my image

Bravo. From one who saw them weekly ex-works from Brush in the mid 1960’s ….which includes ModelRail’s 48…then cast as D1702.

OK….in what way ? The size of the headcode panel has given cause for concern on the main Heljan 47: thread I am aware but I have yet to have any cogent reason given for this. It would be good if someone would enlighten me.

Interesting set of images. Particularly the Voyagers which…..sorry to be pedantic ….are ,if 5 car units ,designated 221 . EMR operate 222 units which aren’t compatible with the XC Voyager for some strange reason. Last week I had the dubious pleasure of similar services on the route operated on both out & return trips by a single 220 4 car unit. There seems to be no reasoning in diagramming these sets by XC to correspond with passenger demand.I’m sure my expectations are naive but my experience on the route further north demonstrates that there simply is zero consistency in this.

Which is not helped by the provision of single 4 car 220 units on Birmingham- NE & Scottish services via Leeds.A return Burton ( yes I’m the one who reserves that seat ! ) to Newcastle journey over last weekend produced such in each direction. The more direct services via Doncaster don’t usually stop at Burton. On Monday,the 10:35 Reading service from Newcastle stopped as follows: Durham,Darlington,York,Doncaster,Sheffield,Derby,Birmingham ( 4 car) The following 10 : 40 ex Glasgow-Plymouth ( 4 car ) served same to York,then Leeds,Wakefield ,Sheffield,Chesterfield Derby,Burton & New Street. And I wholeheartedly agree re: the nuisance of football fans on these XC services. Some time ago,we experienced one service which its driver flatly refused to take onwards from Derby due to such from a group of Wolves fans.We transferred to an alternative Nottingham- Birmingham service,leaving the Voyager at platform with two BT police officers on board attempting to sort it out. It was Plymouth bound.

Indeed no protective plastic sleeve provided,There wasn’t with the Siphon G. No need ….they are well packed . My blue/grey InterCity ones arrived this pm.btw.& are currently on the tabletop. I particularly appreciate the lighting which will stay on even for a short while when brought to a stop on DC. A nicely turned out product once more.I will be amazed if there are disappointments.

Reading these posts,I’m glad ( yes,even that ) that my intercity experiences are these days still with the much reviled Voyagers …..recently between Bristol TM in the west and Newcastle in the north.Yes they’re cramped & uncomfortable & what luggage I choose to bring with me is stowed by the courtesy & good nature of any kind soul sitting next to me. They have been in service now for 20 + years . They can and do make up time….though there is much “ recovery “ allowed in XC schedules it has to be said. They employ a good and long suffering resource of train crew.

This is not Swansea Bay and the coaches are Stanier designed.

He’s flirting with court action. Virulently nasty. A disgrace.

The thing is that this is probably the best GW rtr coaching stock made at this particular moment in time,so there is an overwhelming urge to knee jerk at the first available opportunity before they disappear and buy something that may not be quite your “period” ( if indeed there is or was such a thing ) .Decisons,decisions !

Well it seems they managed to stick to schedule which is truly great news for all in the Rhondda even if there is still much to be done. I’ve just taken a trip down memory lane with a YouTube video from Mike Wilcock,so thanks for that. Much water has passed under the bridge since 56XX & a collection of Colletts/Hawksworths….doors slamming & passengers hurrying up the platform for connections to Merthyr to the cries of “ Rhondda Valley train “ or to the other bay for the Ynysybwl auto with is wood slatted sides . But at Ponty station the celebration is muted for me by the partially third world state of a building and platforms which were once the crowning jewels of TVR architecture. Much of the station is unused and is in a state of weed infested neglect . And this is to host a state of the art rapid transit system ? The WAG/TFW do need to invest some TLC here….or are they perhaps hindered by a listed building status ?

The very best of all GW locos. And a particularly Cornish ( 83 G ) one too. Something to celebrate.

Just looked at my Bachmann 4920 resplendent in her G # W post war green. I imagine the Tokyo bound loco will receive a makeover and renaming as “Dumbledore Hall” .

I just had a chuckle to myself. This has echoes of the “waddling “ Hawksworth tank,does it not ? Early days yet I think

As glaringly obvious a scam as possible ! Check the website “address “ at the bottom of the page. Do not fall for this .

I wondered to myself how long it would be for one of us to pick up on that 🤭

And I have just indulged in a widescreen view on my YouTube channel. A good way of spending time on a late Sunday afternoon. Much temptation here.

It was after all the Beeching era. Embarrassing news wasn’t always media aired….I was a few miles down the road..well,on the Downs in Bristol,my first term in Uni…when it happened. For most of you on this forum,it’s ancient history…..time passes….

Rather a different Severn bridge though&way upstream from today’s marvels