brianusa

Not only for the kids! After layouts in N, OO, LGB, I finally settled on tinplate over twenty years ago. I enjoyed the others in their time but with the usual caveats, American N was too fiddly although you could pack a lot in, Buckfastleigh in OO was a reasonable success but as the LGB layout occupied the same space, it was of necessity a bit restricted. So on to a tinplate layout which along with a house move enabled a much larger train room. For me it was a return to where it all started with a Hornby MO set although this time the layout was a bit bigger. It has been added to over the years with buildings, extra locos and rolling stock until there is not much more space on the shelves or on the layout. It is reliable, no stalls, easier to handle now that its proud owner is a little older and the urge for scale oriented layouts has faded along with the years. Brian.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge, better not be any rapids as its a principal waterway in the area! Brian.

Its hard for me to explain how much I dislike electric trains. It may be all right in Switzerland or Germany or anywhere else in Europe but all the hardware looks dreadful in the English countryside. The only consolation is that it won't be in the far south west where quite possibly there would be an uprising. Brian.

A few enterprising souls quite possibly looked at US locos of the day and saw they operated very successfully with single engine cabs and where needed, went nose to nose as the Cl.20s do still today. A pity the government frowned on buying US engines, could've saved a lot of money and effort! Brian.

Quite possibly we could all say the same thing. While ostensibly about the subject of trains we are able to have a conversation on many other topics whether train related or not without the puristi who frown on topic straying. To do so would deny some a lot of various things we knew nothing of, thanks to others experience and knowledge, especially for the likes of me miles away. So thanks to all the SOSers and to Phil (Mallard) though why a Southern fancier would have picked Mallard has always been a mystery to me! Happy New Year Brian.

For some reason, I thought "that's what you call good modelling"; don't know why! Brian.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Hi David, we explored the upper reaches of the L & C a few years ahead of you and this interest has lasted all these years. Alas, all I can do now is obtain all the books on the subject due to the distance involved, so are there any other fanciers of this railway? Brian.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Apparently not; but in response to David (Pacific 231G), there is considerable reference to the loop at St Cleer. Brian.

Same here, we always by them in lieu of Christmas cakes! Takes five days from Warrens! Brian.

Hi David, we explored the upper reaches of the L & C a few years ahead of you and this interest has lasted all these years. Alas, all I can do now is obtain all the books on the subject due to the distance involved, so are there any other fanciers of this railway? Brian.

Its the American way and as we know anything American exports itself all over. When I first arrived in this country a long time ago, the US Customs agent looked at my passport and exclaimed "Welcome to the US, Brian". I was a bit taken aback as nobody other than friends had ever called me by my Christian name, it was always my surname or maybe even Mr. Willis, but its been like this ever since as I suspect it is also in the UK now. "We're all pals together............". How many other went to the ABC cinemas on a Saturday morning? Brian.

Why is it that there are those who invariably criticise Chinese products? It was the same with the Japanese until everybody started buying their cars, computers and TV sets. It will be the same with the Chinese as their products become more familiar and competitive in western countries. Brian.

This is problem in most industrialised societies. Just look at old movies or newsreels to see what we all looked like fifty or sixty years ago; we were all a lot thinner then perhaps because we had to walk more, didn't have a car or our workplace kept us active all day. All this worked very well, we didn't have gyms or spas to waste our money on but with a normal diet, most of us were a lot thinner in those days. Brian.

Just put the dinner in the oven, looked out into the twilight and its snowing, just like in the movies. Magical! Merry Christmas Brian.

Funny TV show, if I remember! Brian.

The problem with FB is that non members can't open the post. Brian.

Music, or more precisely, electric organs. We have an old Conn which still sounds good in spite of its age which is about 30 years old. Although I learned as a kid, I don't use music now; you hum it - I play it! Sadly such self entertainment is no more; there are no repair centres for these instruments, as there are fewer and fewer piano tuners, so we hope they last a bit longer yet. Its sad to see all these lovely instruments go to the tip but I guess that's where my trains will end up. Merry Christmas Brian.

As it will no doubt be Christmas Eve when this gets read; a Happy Christmas from me on t'other side of Pond and a thank you for putting up with a tinplate view of modelling on this classy OO thread. Also thanks for the prototype updates and info which keep me up to date. Merry Christmas Brian.

In spite of the number of OO layouts very few feature older liveries which were very attractive and colourful. Is there no interest in this era or is it the lack of models from manufacturers. This seems to be changing in view of the more older prototypes available now. Merry Christmas Brian

That RAF guy must be AWOL by now! Merry Christmas Brian.

Nice to see you here as well! ANTB begat SOSJ which begat PW which begat............................................... Merry Christmas Brian

It should be pointed out that prior to this accident, there have been many local articles about the change from the water level scenic route to this more direct but decidedly uninteresting line. Many municipalities have feared the worst with level crossings that now have to cope with regular speeding trains as opposed to the infrequent slow freights that was the norm. The locals are more interested in jogging across the tracks without looking; two have been killed recently, than checking their surroundings and living a bit longer. But to the uninitiated its always the railways fault that their trains hit vehicles and the people who trespass on the tracks. It is also a business district including a large army base which means busy crossings so has the potential for further tragedies and aware of the areas history, its a given. Brian.

And now for something completely different! As I run both UK and US trains on the same layout sometimes they even get together. Smaller US locos fit better with the UK scale; the Hornby No.1 Wagon is fitted with a Lionel coupler on one end. Merry Christmas Brian.

The long shed at Laira always reminded me of a less than substantial building, which I take it you refer. I suppose comparing it with the customary GW buildings was a mistake but I can't recall if it ever was painted as it was always dirty and for a long time over the years, thought it might have had metal or even asbestos content. Brian.

The CRS has a nice picture of a DH diesel train passing the remains of SJ. Much easier to model these days! Brian.

I have followed this thread and while not used to all this tidy trackwork, wiring and planning have not come across any nubile maidens as there are in other favourites. Funny faces and comedy abound and as its Jenny's birthday, I felt sure today would be the day. I've got to get the nun image out of my mind! Brian.