EmporiaSub

The number of passengers that use Lingfield far exceeds the total for Edenbridge to Tonbridge, and with East Grinstead having at least 3 times the number of passengers that Lingfield does, then I suspect GTR would have ‘requested’ trains operate to / from Lingfield, but no doubt with a proviso that if something goes wrong on the Brighton Mainline, then the NR MOM is taken away to cover.

The crossover requires the use of a Mobile Operations Manager or similar. Consequently it ties them up in the event of an incident elsewhere.

Just hope the rain holds off, otherwise you might need boats in the car park....

More like 'Wales = Cardiff'.....

An excellent show with a good selection of layouts of various scales and sizes. Not sure I’d give a preferred one, a lot depends on your interest. Good to see a variety of traders rather than just box-shifters. I ended up with a few items! Catering was more than acceptable, nothing special. Just the queue for hot drinks slowed things down, so I grabbed a cold drink instead. The connecting bus from the local stations worked well too, saved me walking! The one pain in the proverbial is those who insist on standing in front of a layout, with their backs to it, chatting to their friend about something irrelevant. Just get out of the way!

A very moveable feast..... Sometimes the morning Down service was detached at Haywards Heath from the rear of the 8.40 Victoria to Brighton!

As a recently retired BR / TOC Operations Manager, I am aware that in the fragmented industry of today, what is operationally convenient is all too often the only practical method of working.

Never mind about bringing everything in to the site, the other issue is that for the next week or so, the replacement rail service is a bus between Redhill and Tonbridge..... No doubt because NR require the use of one of their Mobile Operations Managers to operate the ground frame at Edenbridge, whereas in the past it would have been done from Edenbridge signal box.

And then having to shut the line again for months when it slipped again, and needed doing properly. often it was a case of get the job done and leave it for future generations to sort out. Familiar for other things in today’s society as well.....

Meanwhile, down in Devon, earlier in December, the Exmouth / Barnstaple and Paignton services are a mixture of 143’s and 150’s....

Just note the slight ramp downwards from the end of the Conductor rail, in case something goes a but too far. But this also applies at gaps and sidings too.

And the conversation in the Control, after a unit failure, went along the lines of.... London Area Controller (me); " I need a unit for the 20.36 Vic to East Grinstead". Coastal Area Controller; "Haven't got one"..... This was repeated again.... London Area Controller 10 minutes later; "20.32 Vic to Brighton has just gone 4 vice 8"!!

Looked good, nice and compact and, when I was there, ran well!

I find there is more luggage space on the Azumas than the HST's, however!

Never mind the amount of pressure the TOC's are under, from Network Rail, to 'recover' the service, moreso when it is an NR related incident!

I know the 33 wasn't mentioned by the OP, but is this still due, in O scale, early next year? My finances might take a bit of a hit!

I saw the same post on a Facebook page. it was of a Heljan poster at Warley. Presumably a trade person noted it? References were made to 'spoiler'.....

Probably due to a 313 disgracing itself at Lancing yesterday evening, had to be assisted away, from the front. Spent the best part of 90 minutes there, initially unable to release the brakes. Similar to incidents last week on the Seaford branch with the same type of unit!

A few more photos! What was interesting to see were the number of slightly younger members of the hobby showing an interest!

Hall plan now available too, along with food menu(!) and how to get there, including a connecting bus from Rawtenstall ELR station. http://www.modernimageogauge.co.uk/exhibition.html

Just announced! https://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/news/ryde-st-johns-road-latest-news-363.aspx

Saw this show advertised a few weeks ago (was today and is tomorrow), and due to a change of circumstances, had a free day, so after looking at the line up of layouts, decided to make the journey along the South Coast. Was pleasantly surprised and well worth a visit, especially if you like the larger scales! A few photos taken with my phone.... Warton Road, Gauge 3. Millpool, O Gauge. Stephen's Lane, O Gauge. Clayton Road, O Gauge. Abingdon, O Gauge. Wyevern Wharf, O Gauge. Lee-on-Solent, P4. Tidworth, OO. Bodmin General, N scale. Stapleforth, N scale.

Gaugemaster, in Ford, West Sussex, usually have a selection of Dapol, Heljan, Peco, andnd Springside, but they are not the cheapest on the block. I tend to use Tower Models, in Blackpool, via online / telephone.

Some excellent layouts there, I wouldn't like to name one more than any other. Quite a lot of O scale which is gradually converting me to the senior scale!! The idea of selling admission tickets and programmes on the Railex bus from Aylesbury station meant we could jump the queue! The only downside was the chaotic food service, though that is outside the control of the club.