Wheatley

Agreed. You can follow prototype practice without modelling a prototype location. Buckingham, the various Borchesters, Wibdenshaw and others all follow prototype practice but none are models of real (railway) locations. In all those cases the builders decided what the local industries/markets and traffic flows were likely to be, then copied what the prototype would/might have done in that situation.

Any particular B17 ? At any particular date ? A lot depended which works put them on, in most cases you're better off making an educated guess from a good photo. In theory it should be one of the two larger sizes on something the size of a B17.

It was one of the layouts which inspired me as a kid, I would have been about 10 at the time. The track weaved it's way around/through various small buildings and facilities (scrap pile, overhead crane ? etc). It was quite compact (maybe a foot wide but quite long) and was almost a series of industrial cameos.

If not Walker Marine then Allied Marine by Allan Sibley and Brian Dorman. Walker Marine was multi-level and viewed from the upper level looking downhill (and 1990s from what I remember ?), Allied Marine was all on one level. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/44780-1970s-layout-the-aml-of-alan-sibley-brian-dorman-looking-for-refs/

I don't think I've missed the point. My bargain (on something I don't actually need) is an independant retailer's profit margin, regardless of whether it costs more everywhere this year than it did last. "Delighting in getting a bargain" is why there are so few model shops left.

Most markets for low volume/high production cost unnecessary trinkets (largely) dependant on a handful of manufacturers and independant retailers I expect. If UK model railways had a turnover of £60bn a year (petrol) or £150bn a year (supermarkets) we'd all be shopping around and no-one would be the slightest bit concerned that one retailer wasn't stocking one product range (for whatever reason).

By that argument (Jason's) they're all 'based on' a GWR Asmo/Damo (or other slab-sided CCT of choice). The GUV and CCT used Mk1 components and jigs which is why they're usually considered in the 'Mk1' description. The horsebox less so but still enough to qualify.

And is still way behind Peppa Pig.

The CCT was based on the Mk1 57' GUV and shared its body and roof profile and, more importantly, jigs for those parts. The GUV in turn was based on the standard 'short' chassis and running gear.

Second photo - third carriage from the camera is a BR Mk1 third (or possibly composite but not sure there would be two adjacent compos in the same set), and the one immediately behind the loco is a Stanier brake third.

M = mineral wagon R = sub-type R ('side tipping, ballast' in this case, second letter doesn't mean the same thing in other wagon types and doesn't necessarily stand for anything) A = air braked.

Zoom in, they're all taking photos !

Northside sets were largely ex-LNER, Southside ex-LMS. If I can find the Steam Days or Backtrack article I read that in I'll post details. Both increasingly diluted towards the end by BR stock.

It depends on who decided it would stop additionally at Watford Jcn (which the station staff might have requested but that's a Control decision) and how / whether that was communicated to the driver. Generally, no Special Stop Order - no stop. The inquest for a fail to call happens behind the scenes afterwards.

With filament lamps one light points in front and ahead for daytime running. This makes the train more visible to PW staff and crossing users, but is angled low enough (in theory) that in daylight it will not dazzle oncoming drivers. The other light points to the cess at much shorter range to pick out lineside signs at night which, from the 1990s onwards were increasingly retro-reflective rather than oil lit (if lit at all). Neither are there to illuminate the track because the driver doesn't need to see the track. If you use the daytime headlight at night you will dazzle the oncoming driver. If you use the night time headlight during the day you won't see the lineside signs any better so it's pointless. Both are not lit at the same time because both do not need to be lit at the same time. The marker lights are there to allow you to judge distance; Lights close together - train is far away. Lights getting further apart - train is getting closer. Lights far apart - time you were moving. LEDs might be slightly different, I'll find out.

Is this any good ? http://www.kingfisherminiatures.co.uk/uk-man-hx77-heavy-support-vehicle-16ton-8x8-cargo-i289.htm Revell do the older version in 1/72, not sure there's much in common beyond the basic shape though.

Strike timetables for 17th now on Northern's website: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/strike Roughly hourly services Sheffield - Kirkgate - Leeds and Doncaster - Westgate - Leeds but with gaps for the conductors' PNB. LNER has engineering work further south which may affect services but Journey Planner currently shows at least some Leeds - London services operating. XC should be operating as normal to/from Westgate.

From the very first post (my bold): In other words there's no pitch to be made. EMGS: "Hi, EMGS here, how much will it cost to tool up EM points and track ?" Peco: "£xxxxxx" EMGS: "Crack on, cheque is in the post". So legal restrictions aside, EMGS members have paid their subs to enjoy the benefits available to members, and the EMGS has invested those subs in tooling for the benefit of those members. If you want to play, join the club.

The very similar Lego challenge series on C4 has adults and children participating.

There still has to be one sign somewhere in each smoke free vehicle but they no longer need to be plastered all over the windows. Since 2012 it is up to the operator of the premises where the sign is and how big it is, as long as there is one somewhere, rather than the old A5 signs all over the place.

From 2007 when the smoking ban in enclosed workplaces came in. Because it became illegal everywhere it was no longer necessary to specify where it was and wasn't a byelaw offence.

Indeed. Naturol of this parish was asked to change the name of his layout by the multinational chemical company whose facility he had modelled.

It's an atypical route and those are (mostly) penny numbers so likely to be affected by factors which wouldn't normally show up at a busier station further south. What closed in Invergordon in 2015 to cause 20 people fewer per day to commute in from Tain ? (or vice versa).

Indeed. The short version is that if you use Streamline (50mm) spacing on Setrack (67mm) curves, your coaches will collide with each other on the bends.

The railway side of the modelling hobby is about 30 years behind the curve in this respect. Hannants of Lowestoft have been commissioning, manufacturing, importing and wholesaling, as well as retailing over the counter on the scale modelling (i.e. plastic kits) side for years.