Phil

Gilbert The most common reason for your computer going slow is it's bunged up with surplus files that you don't need, eg temp files and the like. This is rubbish that can be deleted. Imagine you're writing something and you make jottings on a scrap of paper that you don't want to show in your final piece. When it's finished you throw away the scrap of paper. That's what the temp files etc are and you can get rid of them. If you've never done this before, after you have, your computer will go supersonic. It's easy to do and there's nothing to worry about. The following might sound tedious but once you know what to do, and do it regularly, it becomes second nature to do it. Are you on Windows 7? If not, there's similar things on other operating systems. On Windows 7, click on the Windows globe icon in the bottom left hand corner and a vertical menu will appear. Look for 'Disk Cleanup' or if it isn't there, type 'Disk Cleanup' in the search box. Click on it. A small box will appear asking you which drive you want to clean up. It will be on 'C' as a default so click 'ok'. Another box will appear with a green line going from left to right. The speed of this will depend on how much rubbish you have. When that's finished another box will appear with a list of items and sizes eg 'Temporary Internet Files 510KB' Click on the box with any values against them and click 'ok' A box will appear asking 'Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?' Click on 'delete files'. Another box will appear with a green line going from left to right. The speed of this will depend on how much rubbish you have. When this has finished, and again how long it takes will depend on how much rubbish there is, turn off you computer and switch it back on again. You should now find it's a lot quicker. I use Disk Cleanup every day but I'm on my computer 25 hours a day but if you're just on for a few hours a day, once a week should be enough to keep your computer up to speed. How much rubbish you have will take up a larger percentage of your disk drive if you have a small one, eg 250Gb than if you have a larger one, eg 1Tb which is what I have because I run a website that has over 40,000 files in it and that's before you count the size of Windows 7 and the other programs that are on it. Another thing to do is again go into the Windows globe icon at the bottom left and click on 'computer'. That will tell you how much free space you have on your 'C' drive. You could do a before and after reading to compare the difference. Something else to do is look for Disk Defragmenter. If it isn't there, again type 'Disk Defragmenter' in the search box. When it opens up, click on 'Analyze disk' and then when that's cleared, click on 'Defragment Disk'. If you've never done this before, the process may take an hour or maybe more, but it will create extra space for you. You won't lose any information. When it's finished, turn your computer off and then back on. You could check this, say, monthly, and if it needs doing, you know what to do. Between 'Disk Cleanup' and 'Disk Defragmenter' your computer should be a lot quicker. I hope it works for you. Good luck. The 10:30am may be delayed through leaves on the track but it will be worth it. Carry on with the website, It's fantastic Phil L

Great Northern I've just found your thread and wow, I've just started going through your many pages. I've just found this film of the Elizabethan being hauled by SILVER FOX on 'youtube', if you haven't seen it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYC6tEU9EA0 Keep up the good work A4s are my favourite as well, ever since getting a Hornby Dublo 'Silver King' for Christmas in 1957. Regards Phil