Ian Hargrave

My LBSC set duly arrived via Hattons judicious choice of using Amazon delivery which provided up to date tracking.Left for me securely in front porch as requested with photo shot emailed to me.I arrived home just 5 minutes later. In common with everyone,I am impressed with the finish ,presence and quality feel of these coaches and with the neatness of the packaging they come with. Well done Hattons.By coincidence,I passed their old premises on Smithdown Road a week,or so ago.

An interesting observation.I too have a supply of nicely lined out Hornby Maunsell SR stock and am currently seriously contemplating an OO Works Southern Adams Jubilee. ATM I think I’ll stick with the Maunsells tbh,unless I opt for the Jubilee in LSWR livery in which case the expected Genesis in that livery will be the choice.Aren’t we fortunate to have such choices ?

Has there yet been a sample of this aired ? I’m also in a quandary before placing an order. If successful it could be the icing on the cake ….excuse the description…..and should work well on dc analogue as Kernow assert. It would certainly add a whole new dimension.

Ah yes…those boxes. The epitome of fine taste.From the same provider,I strongly suspect,of a certain high end variety of European HO locomotive and coaching stock. Usual disclaimer applies 🤫

But not Standard 4’s…4-6-0 or 2-6-0. They didn’t get beyond Yeovil Jct …normally.I remember Salisbury as being a great place for the 2-6-0 variant.

So then ,time to give those Terriers something to get their teeth into ? Well,that’s my excuse anyway. 643 is rarin’ to go…..😀

I am an Octogenarian Octopus and have been one for quite a time. Smart meter installed last Feb.I rarely read the thing. Makes me nervous 😩. I opted for one as I’d just come out of hospital & was uncertain of how I’d cope with the domestic “management “.The sm takes away a monthly chore anyway & that in itself is a bonus. Being on a cocktail of medication which includes a blood thinner plus an impressive weight loss tends to make me feel the cold much more than I used to so I’m not turning the heat off when darkness comes and certainly not sitting in the dark. That seems to me to be uncivilised. Boiler fires 7:00-10:00 and 16:30-22:00 . My house is as well insulated as it can be but is in an exposed position ( possibly the highest point in the area) and has solid brick walls…built 1936.Happy day 😀

But could be a heap of trouble in both terms of running capabilities ( free running,minimum radius ? ) and of course weight…can your rtr motive power cope ? I’d need a demo and a hands on before making a bid. Which ,at least in my case,is a pipe dream. Thanks but no thanks. A deal of high quality rtr GW stock is now coming on stream and doubtlessly more will gradually appear that will better kit built examples.They will certainly run better.

Have recently equipped a rake of 7 new release Bachmann Bulleid coaches with magnetic couplings . I am highly delighted with the results.Easy fit & problem free. No worries here then I think.

I’d love to live long enough to experience it. Fingers crossed.😇

Your observation is interesting Mike and yes it is noticeable that the work atm doesn’t seem to be causing too much disruption in this part of Middle England. There is much going on further along the M42 from the NEC in each direction which isn’t thankfully adding to its usual traffic congestion and if you travel into New Street from the Tamworth direction you will see quite a bit of construction work. Further north,work is apace across the WCML at Lichfield and I can’t now drive into the city directly off the A38 due to it and won’t be able to do so for several months.This adds a bit to my monthly Arts Soc. travel and does cause peak time road congestion on the “road to hell” . We’ll see how it progresses.Watch this space….

It seems to me that persuading Rapido,or for that matter any manufacturers of OO gauge model locomotives to eventually provide us with both a County and a Saint is akin to Salome asking for the head of John The Baptist on a plate. The 44xx is undoubtedly going to be excellent….but why avoid the glaring GW/WR omissions ? The Saint is already there for the taking. I am royally miffed.

I questioned the absence of such with Hornby at GETS early last month. I met with a blank somewhat puzzled response. Good luck with that then.

Having just completed a (mercifully) short return journey between Temple Meads and Bath with one piece of hand luggage,I am tbh lucky to have completed the entrance and exit without injury. Why is insufficient concern given to the mismatch between platform edge and unit access? Had it not been for a prompt assisting intervention by a fellow passenger,I might have been posting this from a local NHS hostelry….always of course providing a space there would have been available . So Hitachi afford you the option of haemhorroidal inducing seating or falling gracelessly on/off their trains. Survival seems optional. Unimpressive…..especially when combined with transiting via a jaded and run down GWR cathedral which inadequately serves its travelling public.

An evocative image. Euston I think ? And yes I remember them in original form.46137 being the final rebuild. My own final memory is of 46148 at Colwyn Bay in August 1952.They had “presence “. I think that’s the right word ?

Please ask on my behalf.Would be grateful as I shall be “elsewhere “.Ta.

Would this be the place on our esteemed forum to comment on the current state of Temple Meads ? If not,then maybe some kind soul would direct me where .Many thanks from one with a genuine beef and who has known the place for nearly 70 years.

Would have been good but unfortunately I can’t make it this year as I’m away doing other stuff. Best fora successful weekend at the NEC.

Which I’d totally forgotten. Thanks for the nudge Mike. Well done to Paul for a fascinating and absorbing video introduction……a lesson in marketing if ever there was. Now perhaps one question…that being one of coal loads as an accessory. I suppose though that hides the nifty interior details of these wagons . The NE has been sidelined for years.No longer it seems. A ray of sunshine for us on a dreary day.

Just ascended the Lickey in a Voyager 221……just saying 😴

Oh yes…..😁😁😁

“Oh dear,how sad,never mind…..”. Quoting the late great Windsor Davies in BBC TV’s “It Ain’t Half Hot Mum” 🤣 The first tongue in cheek reaction then….

Agree .But “ impossible to fit” resonates with the tender bar coupling on H’s new 9F.

A vivid reminder of the Phurnacite plant at Abercwmboi and it’s pervasive filthy yellow stench on a cold winter’s morning when the fog and frost was slow to disperse. You have to wonder …what long term effect did it have on the health of all within the area ?

Have just summoned up the courage to outwit both rheumy fingers and dodgy close vision to fit both sets with Hunt Elite buckeye couplings.A slight but nonetheless perceptible improvement IMHO.I am impressed with the fit and quality of a product new to me . Tribute also to the NEM on the coaches.They withstood my interventions with ease.I shall invest in more of these ..well both couplings and of course coaches.