brianusa

Not exactly old fashioned but getting on, a post war Hornby 502. Nor common either as a lot of production was exported and attrition has taken care of a lot of the rest. Rather bland livery compared with the pre war equivalent No.1 especially in a matte finish. No headlight either! But it goes well especially with a set of No.1 Pullmans which are about the right size for this loco. Brian.

So that's what happened; I've often wondered! Brian.

Hopefully, Phil, the 'interesting' news is good news. Brian.

All this is amazing! When I lived in the area, I just knew it as a passenger on the train and a cyclist on my way to Bovisand. Later when home on holidays, we used to park above Jennycliff and enjoy the view. I've learned more about it subsequently from this and other similar sources, Brian.

Its easy to believe these days thanks to NRs frequent problems with gauging. Perhaps they don't realise how much this upsets weeks of planning by the tour companies with all the costs involved by them and their passengers and can you ignore the passengers sadness, irritability or anger at their trip or their whole holidays being ruined by this continuing incompetence. If NR can employ such workers as the Orange Army who are capable of getting things done, why not in the departments responsible for these ongoing disasters. Brian.

Having run the whole scale thing from N to LGB size including a OO layout, I agree that unless you model in OO, you are considered an outcast. Maybe not on this enlightened forum but certainly to the modeling world. The general public has no particular preference where sizes are concerned although I think there is a preference for toy trains at shows. They are perhaps more familiar or appealing to ones memories, my tinplate contributions are well received, maybe for the same reasons. This site, having visited the area on few occasions, is of interest to me for those reasons, familiarity and great modeling. I should be included with item One on the list! Brian.

Not often seen are the docks and the canal normally used as an aisle! Two Meccano Coasters are waiting to be loaded, one with coal from the S.P & S. hopper on the unloading ramp while a shunter brings another train into the yard; US and UK trains work together here. The engine shed are copies of Hornby and home made. Brian.

Its almost inevitable that one day soon it will disappear and light industry will take its place who will not need rail access. It I surprising that it has not happened already in NRs rush to unload useless assets. which is a pity but the money men always seem to win in the end. One of my favourite spotting venues was from the over bridge and with a bottle of lemonade and a packet of crisps, my day was complete. Especially if a new loco was copped! Brian.

Whatever its like, John, it can't be as bad as my old Airfix; it looked good enough to me but ran terribly! Brian.

Lovely model. A pity the overly large coupling shows up so much on N gauge. I realise that's the standard over the years but it would appear that it could be 'shaved' somewhat without hampering its operational capabilities, the overall look could be improved even on this size. After all, OO couplings have got smaller since their inception. Brian

From the Ancient Trainspotter; no relation to the Mariner although they have a team in Seattle! I don't know about anecdotes but I do remember standing on Mutley and Millbay platforms waiting for a train or perhaps relatives to arrive. Mutley was the closest to our house in Mannamead. Millbay was a dark and gloomy place inside but for some reason I do remember the Nestle chocolate machine on the platform perhaps because I spent my Pennies there. Funny what sticks in your mind! I first discovered Laira thanks to some trainspotting cousins about the middle of the war although I don't recall any security. Later the oil tanks along side the Long Shed and the oil burning locos made a difference with their new numbers which opened up a whole new aspect thanks to the ABCs of the era. Up till then it was scribbles in a school notebook! Don't know if all this anecdotal; it seems like from another era but surely I'm not old enough for that! Brian.

I'd like to know that too! Brian.

Where are we going and who's Lily? Brian.

Hi John, with the high cost of locos and their availability in any scale these days, I find that I am more tolerant of minor discrepancies which is emphasised by the high cost of return to the dealer, presumably in the UK. However, your dedication to authenticity is probably beyond my ability and the reason I like tinplate trains, but view with admiration others layouts on this site. Brian.

Agree. Sometimes I just go to the train room, switch it all on and just watch the trains go round. Just like in our childhood days, imagination takes over and the woes of the world are soon forgotten as we travel our imaginary countryside or we can imagine that also if the boards are bare! I have my own woes; shingles, while not serious or life threatening its bloody painful at times even with regular vicodin pills! Brian.

As Bambi's mother warned, " Man is in the Forest" but it looks like a happier outcome this time. Good to see the trains! Brian.

You might as well give up on this one. Americanisms are sweeping, not creeping into the worlds spelling and vocabulary thanks mainly to the media and Mr Microsoft with his his spell check. How often have you been admonished to use er instead of re or z instead of s? So many just ignore it and it becomes commonplace. Even north of the border in Canada where it is usually spelt correctly there are similar problems, especially as the UK loses its influence with the old colonies. One has to get used to it no matter how irritating it and is I get away with it as much as I can but you can't get the dates backward or drive on the wrong side of the road! Brian.

Don't have to go back too far to see a whole different English. Read a magazine from the 20s or 30s to see how quaint it is by the standards of today. The Meccano Magazine is a fine example. Brian.

Depends on how much space you want. Three abreast front and back seats, some Nash's seats folded down to a double bed and you could easily get in and out either side in the back without stepping on toes. Boots (trunks) were cavernous and most engine, huge. Always derided by those 'in the know', handling, brakes poor consumption, which didn't really matter because gas was cheap. Most had the ability of being able to run without much attention at a time when my Dad was changing oil every 3K or so on his Anglia, because the handbook said so. Back then, cars in the US were lucky if the oil was changed once a year. Brian

Very much of the times, Dad, proud of his new car, attractive Mum and the kids speeding along all laughing and smiling. It was the same in US ads, only the cars were different.

Andy, you did the right thing! Whenever something like that makes you mad, walk away from it otherwise it'll be there reminding you all the time. I've found you can never do good work when something like this irritates you. Brian.

You've been busy Dave; all interesting stuff though, thanks. Brian.

Interesting revelations. It would appear that if a seller wants to participate on E Bay and has something to sell that somebody wants, they should be prepared to go through the procedure. The buyer is prepared to pay in good faith and should expect the same of the seller. Sadly not all sales go smoothly but that is part of buying and selling anywhere. Fortunately, there are a small number of instances where this occurs and most sales are satisfactory to both parties. Agree with the comments concerning the various postal agencies but while their methods may seem peculiar, theres probably method in their madness. Brian.

Sadly this is a world wide phenomenon; why some are reluctant to ship to a foreign country. There are those here in the USA who won't ship to Canada even, let alone the UK or Europe. Presumably they can't be bothered with the extra effort of tacking a customs form on the parcel. I have a similar problem with those in the UK who won't post over here no doubt for the same reason.. Brian.