gordon1970

Not entirely unexpected. The GLQ-EDB via Grahamston provided the benefit that Dunblane trains stopped serving Linlithgow and Polmont giving a very decent run between Edinburgh and Grahamston. The problem is that (although it had not been in operation for a long time before the pandemic) these trains ran virtually empty and I suspect the Falkirk - Edinburgh leg would have been being looked at anyway. Ironically (as I don't live in Edinburgh) I can't see the necessity of knocking 10 minutes off the main line journey (what difference would 20 minutes in a day make to someone visiting Glasgow from Edinburgh)? - but of course if you travel the line daily..... To be honest I hope the reduction in services assists with timetable robustness overall; I do think some lines (even EDB-GLQ via Falkirk High) have had over-provision for some time. Perhaps more space will allow tweaks and some speeding up/additional services later. I agree Perth has an abysmal service to/from Edinburgh; it would be an interesting 'how to improve' topic!

Thanks; the question was prompted seeing a Scotrail set the other evening with it being dark enough the internal lights (even with what seemed to be different lighting between some coaches) gave the appearance of a 'different' tint to the bronze. Not entirely sure if they are the ex FGW refurbished ones.

Odd question perrhaps..... Did all versions of Mk3 coaches as built have the same colour of tinting in the windows, and have any of the refurbishments altered this (or replaced any glass at all?)

It seems the Bachmann Rep did tell the truth back in February As mentioned in posts below, this is a good thing if we wind up with better (Correct) 47711 and the new tooling. We've waited long enough so far and haven't lost anything - let's hope it is next year and not three

Oops!! - The perils of posting late at night: I DID initially think the Driving trailer lights didn't work on DC until I paid a bit more attention: It seems I've undone the replacement of the original sentence (Doh!) - anyway the reason for the cancellation was lighting related: I was a bit deflated to see the coach lighting will be always on on DC (I did not really think about this to be perfectly honest, and while manufacturers can't really win with what they do (!), I've taken the lighting out of 7 Hornby Mk 3s and taped over the cablights in the 43s) - each to their own but from what I can see so far it's just a little too involved (I'd rather not tinker too much with a brand new train pack) (One is forced to use DCC to have some measure of control over the coach lights). I was aware of the price rises and discussion over preorders potentially being charged a higher amount than when the order was placed, the comment was a bit off-the-cuff - to be fair, for what it is I think even £530 ish for the 7 car set is good value compared to £70 odd for one DBSO, £50 for a coach and take your pick for a loco. Talking of the DBSO, which is of course chipped I did suspect the need for a chip to 'bling' the lighting on the driving trailers (Never considering two would be needed) - has anyone worked out a ballpark figure for the cost of three chips for the set?

Just Cancelled my pre-order for a 7-car set. (Noted incidentally the price on the website is about £60 more expensive than when I placed the order) - sorry to Hornby but while I can say the APT is a model I've yearned for since 1980, learning that the driving trailers don't have directional lights as standard would mean more expense - if the trailer HST cars can have directional lighting (DC) surely they could have used the same with this model? I know some might see this as whinging (it isn't) (Honest guv!) - while I would be the first to praise Hornby on this model, I can't justify having to add to a £500 odd expense for the use of lighting on the nose!

First impressions of the New 47 are - Excellent! Perhaps a bit pricier than I would like, but, what isn't sneaking up in price. As for 31-665 and 32-807, Rails Cancelled my pre-order for the former in February after Bachmann told them it had been pulled from Production. A few days later Bachmann told them it hadn't been so the pre-order was re-instated. Frustrating as a buyer not to get a loco I was eagerly anticipating (Here is hoping the range of 47s expands with some 47/4s in BR Blue and of course 47711 and other shove duffs.... - however I can't help feel Bachmann have pulled the above mentioned stuff - not cricket to muck prospective customers about with announcements of models they must know aren't happening not to mention mucking retailers about with pre orders. (Assuming they have cancelled the above models)

Just found another shot dated 4.9.1963 where said coach can be seen behind the passenger train on the main line.

Possibly. It would mean the train must've been diverted via Kelso for some reason (assuming it was dropped off to await repair) which leads to the question was it a 'service' train or perhaps ECS stock routed that way? It does provide for interesting pondering. In the same suite of photos there's a single coach (I can't tell whether it's a passenger or not) hiding behind the box and water tower on the bay/siding line on the opposite side of the station. While it might be a Kelso-Berwick service (?) it's not a convenient spot to load parcels and one does ask 'what was it doing there?' (!!)

Was it common for such 'dedicated' stock to be purloined from its 'main duties'?

Good suggestion! Didn't give that a thought. I think the cars might have been able to be unloaded at one of the sidings in the background.

Came across this shot of one of the ECML Car Carriers in the bay at Kelso station: https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/40082757584/in/album-72157689871212964/ This got me thinking (!!)... what would be the hypothetically potential reason that this particular item of rolling stock was at Kelso? And (related) how often would such 'byline' stations see 'mainline' or otherwise 'out of place' stock? What's the most 'unusual' train/stock anyone can think of in such circumstances?

One thing many strive for is a 'realistic' rake of coaches (or wagons) for their particular modelling area/era..... What, however, is the strangest/most unusual rake (s) we can come up with? I'm sure I've seen a photo somewhere (which now of course I can't find) of a highland service with a brake and either a buffet or restaurant car on it for a two coach rake......

You can authentically put two brakes in a rake of five or six, can't say how often they've run like that but last time I did see two brakes they were in the middle of the rake coupled with the guards sections back to back, possibly they'd cobbled together two half rakes

Hey Guys. Spacers it will be. After taking the body off, the culprit(s) are two of the body screw retaining posts at the nose ends, both drivers side ones are shorter than their secondmans counterpart so effectively the body is being pulled down, compounding is that the discrepancy is not the same at either end. I don't have anything immediately to hand but a test with the centre screws out and the end screws not tightened too much cures the fouling, cheers for the input all!

Hi Mersey Brand new. Looking at the photo and having looked online, the bodyside just behind the front wheelset on the left loco (and all similar shots I can see online) is flush with the bottom of the chassis eg as seen on the left whereas on the offending loco, a distinct gap can be seen and it appears the chassis/underframe is level and it's the body which is too far down?

HI Winter Thanks for the tip. I will keep that in mind, here's a shot of 284 (on the right) next to a sister loco (which is fine) and sits noticeably higher. It is not too clear due to shadows in terms of how the wheels are obscured. Out of interest I compared the No1 end also, and it seems (at the nose) to have the same height difference. *Have edited the image to bring out (some) detail - it shows the difference (and source of problem) a bit better - the wheels are "up" into the body so I suppose the question is is it the bogie or the body LOL!

HI Pheaton I've not tinkered with the frames but they seem perfectly secure. Bogies do rotate freely (up to when the wheel gets in the way) - looking at eye level, the front wheel appears about 1-1.5mm "up" e.g. the bodyside obscures about that amount compared to all other wheels. On the offending bogie the discrepancy is gradual: rear wheel seems "normal" while the middle is say 0.5-1mm obscured, front more as mentioned. Placed nose to nose with another 37 the alignment defnitely looks out noticeably so

Hi Recently acquired Bachmann 32-788 (37284). Having an issue with the leading wheels on the no2 end bogie fouling and causing derailment on second radius. Looking 'side on' the no2 bogie appears to have a 'slant' in that sitting level there's an obvious angle - low to the front higher to the rear wheelset i.e. the front wheels are noticeably more hidden by the body side than the rear). Characteristic 'scraping' and derailment when no 2 end leading coming off curve. Evidence of rubbing on outer edge of leading wheel(s) - grateful for any advice, a little miffed as even a Bachmann Deltic has no problems on the 'test track'! cheers

I think the main problem one of the problems is Hattons wording on their website. I am sure they used to have a statement along the lines of "Price guaranteed (to be no higher) than", and also statements to the effect prices could change, or be lowered, etc. If one looks at the Mk 2fs as an example, they have a price against them, and a few, in the description, say "Price estimated, we will contact you if this rises". However, it doesn't say this on all the items which must have estimated prices (i.e. many of the Mk2s), then, when you click the product itself, you are shown a "guaranteed" preorder price which (if you read the previous description) clearly can't be in any way guaranteed. You could therefore see the estimated price caveat on one item, but if that wasn't what you were looking at, you wouldn't: you'd see "Guaranteed"

Ordered a loco last week, one day delivery, well packed, good price - so I heartily recommend Alton Models

Just a note for anyone, Hattons have stock of 39-025F (MK1 B/G SK) at £19 at the moment - bit of a bargain if anyone is looking for such

Interesting. The coach in that pack (E40021) is the same number on R4594 (Buffet with lights) which I have - now, all the photos I see showing it on a quick search do not show roof vents, but, having just checked it, it does have vents (no idea if they are actually correct as it has several smaller vents, and what appear to be spaces where other larger vents would go but aren't moulded on but the space is there on the roof for them (the shape cut out the ridging on the roof)

Nope R4594 Buffet has the illuminated interior; it's possible to have an 8 coach rake (with E numbers) (2 firsts, buffet, 4 Standards and the TGS) all with the illuminated interiors. I have to say, the lighting in the coaches is a little short (there are other posts up about this), although it isn't a deal breaker for me (I have the full rake minus one first class). With the length of the lighting strips there are obvious dark areas at the ends of the coaches, and that will either annoy you or it won't. You can't use a photograph of a train at night to gauge the look of the lighting anyway (unless you take a photo of the model with the same exposure), and without a lot of tweaking, most model lighting is far too bright anyway (IMO). As for the tinting on the windows, it seems to be very similar to the old Airfix Mk2Ds in look, and IMO looks just about right on the coaches; I am very happy with them, and it certainly looks way better than the clear glazing in other releases. If there were a full rake of Eastern region Mk3s without illumination and tinted windows I would have taken those, in the event, I couldn't get them and didn't want to buy the coaches piecemeal and end up finding some out of stock (or on Ebay) by the time the rake I wanted to buy (if it was available) materialised.

Great stuff; were the first class buffets built as such or just 'up classified?' It is a funny thing, but probably as I didn't particularly study the buffets at the time, the Hornby one I have looks the job to me, whereas (literally) I am extremely fussy about other non-prototypical details to the point I won't buy - mind you apart from the TGS they have the moulded lock lights so perhaps better just to view them at scale 125mph Great stuff; were the first class buffets built as such or just 'up classified?' It is a funny thing, but probably as I didn't particularly study the buffets at the time, the Hornby one I have looks the job to me, whereas (literally) I am extremely fussy about other non-prototypical details to the point I won't buy - mind you apart from the TGS they have the moulded lock lights so perhaps better just to view them at scale 125mph