2750Papyrus

Just need six numbers, maybe even five...….

Hi Tony. When we were talking at Kettering on Saturday, you mentioned that many of the locos brought to your clinic just needed a good clean of wheels and pick-ups and a drop of oil. In addition to LB, you have been associated with many large layouts with associated locomotive collections, and rightly expect a high standard of reliable running. What have you found to the best methods of cleaning track, wheels and pick-ups? (and maybe Seep turnout motors!).

There seem to be many bollards on roundabouts and road islands in the Herts/Beds area which are no longer lit. When road islands are not lit by lampposts, there can be a visibility problem when facing into the headlights of oncoming traffic. The number of bollards affected suggest that this is a policy decision rather than random failures. Can anyone comment?

Dyslexia rules KO!

Does anyone know what the roadworks at the A1/A14 junction will be like tomorrow?

I hit one some 35 years ago (in my Ford Zephyr V4 estate!). I quickly backed up to determine the state of its injuries but it was very dead. Driving home, I became aware of a banging or knocking sound and thought at first it was front end damage. However, investigation revealed that the rapid reverse had in fact caused the disintegration of a prop shaft UJ. An unusual way for the animal kingdom to get its revenge and not the easiest of jobs on the front drive.

Very few blue tits around either in Bedfordshire or Devon gardens this year, I wonder why? Also very few frogs or toads - for the first time I can remember there is no frog spawn in the local gravel pits.

A drawing of a "Z" class appeared in one of the first Railway Modeller magazines my Dad and I bought (April 1954?). Aged 7, I thought it to be the best looking loco in the world and pleaded with Dad to build me one! Many years later Mum & Dad contributed to a birthday purchase of a kit-built example from a model shop near Goodge Street. However, by then I was a Gresley convert, especially the S shaped running plate when compared to full depth splashers. So for me, it would be A1/A3 followed by B17. But it makes a change and my excuse for one on the southern end of the ECML in 1938 is a football or Thomas Cook special.

Dry ice? I saw a production of Swan Lake in the round at the Albert Hall a couple of years ago when the dry ice mist reached the dancers' chests. A bit counter-productive for a ballet!

I fear proof reading of the printed edition has declined over recent months and in this issue, the article on "First" contains two copies of the same photo instead of one showing the loco cassettes.

We're getting regular visits to the feeders from reed warblers - up to 6 or 8 at a time. In previous years, they've only visited when there was lying snow.

Interesting, though not quite 100% accurate.

Great Way Round?

One rebuilt by Thompson?

Please, pretty please, can we have some coaches to go with the Stirling single and Ivatt Atlantic?

A comma in the garden today.

2 Brimstones and a brief sighting of what looked like a Tortoiseshell in the Bedfordshire garden yesterday.

According to the Oxford N7 thread, though it is fitted with a coreless motor, it is also fitted with a sizeable capacitor and at least one post says it runs on a feedback controller without problems. Assuming the theory is sound, could a similar approach be adopted with the J70?

In view of the delays in update of the Bachmann model, maybe the NRM could commission a more modern prototype from their collection - "Green Arrow". But not to the exclusion of coaches to go with the Stirling single and C1.

Having had the privilege of examining some of your models and talking to you in TW's corner at Biggy today, I must offer my congratulations on some lovely pieces of modelling. I would agree with Tony that 4mm versions could well be popular if they could be made available.

I am impressed by the depth of collections and knowledge here! I have a Hornby LMS TPO and also a teak LNER one built from etched brass sides. In Grouping days, were TPOs and their tenders formed into discreet trains for security reasons, or were they sometimes included in passenger trains, eg overnight sleepers?

I haven't followed this topic all the way through. Has there been any news on the V2?

J27.....

So you are about to make your re-entry?