Clearwater

All I can say is that it's a good job Mrs c can't see my browsing history!

Thanks - I've had issues too which I've not had chance to resolve. Will try this. Also had dcc problems with 4073 when I chipped that. Was part of a faulty batch. Seems they don't always test locos for dcc when sold non-chipped David

It's such a shame that Elf and Safety insist Santa now wears a high viz jacket. However, Santa really shouldn't have let it get so dirty

Given the headgear, I'd suggest "it's cold up North". David (Who grew up in the next town to Kidderminister and therefore well aware it isn't actually the north however it is currently almost tropical down in London)

I think that's how Skarloey is shown in a flashback take in one of the books. Certainly shown without a cab. Will have to check the wheel arrangement

Agreed. I think my photo above is c1960

Indeed - it does today. However, see attached picture I think my father took in the early '60s. Also, from a quick google search (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=talyllyn&biw=1920&bih=946&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj245SkqurJAhWHMhoKHQUeDdAQ_AUIBygC&dpr=1) it's interesting how the loco has changed over the years. Quite a nightmare for the modelling manufacturer taking scans or photos for evidence! Some with brake gear on the rhs, some without, two boxes, one box etc etc Also, the same google search threw up pictures of Skarloey. Link to one with an original series picture http://awdrysrailwayseries.wikia.com/wiki/Skarloey. However, later fictional representations appear to have tracked how the loco has changed, eg the two boxes on the front! David

Duke would be excellent!

Sorry about that - I think the 13 is my mistake in copy typing but no Harvey in the other names. Are we in the right era though?

A quick search on the times archive has found an article from 14th September 1935 giving a preview of the first game of the 35/36 All Blacks tour. Their previous tour was in 1925. I'm guessing by the way you wrote your post that you're looking for closer to WW2 than the prior tour? The article gives the Devon and Cornwall team. If of interest, I'll try and print the article for you. It's a scan so not 100% clear on screen. The team was Knapman Matthews Ford Jennings Hurdern Jones Bone Ashford Gregory Brig stoke Scott Rogers Speare

Hi Have you tried looking in newspaper archives? The times has an awful lot of its archive on line and I'd have thought may well carry match reports on the Barbarians games, particularly against a touring side such as the all blacks. David PS - my father never quite got over his mother chucking his trainspotting books...

It's the first oo9 model I've owned so please judge my comments in that context. Some pictures below. For a small model, and I've pictured next to an oo Thomas for comparison, it feels a decent weight. It's predominantly die cast. Cylinders and plastic valve gear look clunky to me and, unsurprisingly, there's no back head detail. I've not seen any of the films nor any of the TV episodes featuring Skarloey so can't comment on how the representation is relative to those sources. I'd rather compare to the original series! Challenge a is, as most people know, that the Railway Series is inconsistently illustrated. I've open in front of me no10 "Four Little Engines" which is Dalby illustrated. P54 has a nice picture of Skarloey backing down on coaches. I've also got no14 "The Little Old Engine", illustrated by Kenney, open. P60 has a good view of Skarloey. Now as devotees of the series will know, Skarloey is sent for overhaul at the end of no10 which may account for some differences, eg the taller chimney with a copper band in book 14 which is closer to ehat Bachmann has modelled, albeit without a copper band. Front buffer of model is obscured by a coupling, I guess if they use that excuse for a modified hall, what chance does a narrow gauge engine stand! Most glaring point difference I can immediately see is both railway series illustrators show the loco with one tool box on its right hand side. Bachmann has one on each side. I've not seen the real Talyllyn and don't know if that's a change since the late 50s when the books were first published. Bachmann show the coal bunkers open. The books generally don't. Lining is silver on the model, both books are a shade of blue and the red of the model doesn't correspond to either the shade used by Dalby or Kenney. It's somewhere in between. The name on the saddle tank is printed on a red background. Both illustrators seem to have it directly on the tank and Bachmann haven't captured the font of the original. Edit: on the packaging, apart from the logos, it seems virtually identical to the Hornby Thomas boxes we're familiar with in the uk. Colour seems the same and there's details of the rest of the narrow gauge range on the back. If I was being cynical, I'd suggest the packaging is all made in the same place irrespective of whose products it's used for. There's a stamp on the back of "K151029" which I assume is a factory serial number For a whimsical purchase, I'm happy with it David

Well done to Tootally Thomas. I ordered Skarloey at 7am or so yesterday - postman has just delivered. Excellent service!

Agreed - just need to get some n gauge track and rolling stock. I couldn't resist either!

It's usually easy to spot them as they will A) be trying to sell you a hard left newspaper B) carrying placards with identically printed slogans C) be covered in badges from prior demos David

I hope with his "GF" diet and lack of Scottish alcoholic sustenance Duck isn't looking too pasty! Hopefully 46233 will have put some colour in his cheeks

Agreed however handbook contradicts itself! Personally, I expect to see a limited edition of the preserved 8572, tied to the NNR and owner group, possibly priced at a premium to the standard version. This will get announced a couple of months ahead of the actual release. I think this is what they did with the kings where the locomotion version of 6000 was announced later David

More likely that if, in the electrified ecml alternative history, if deltics had still been invented that they would have been seen on top link services on either the wcml or gwml. My bet is on the former David

Hi Richard It's Microsoft train simulator http://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showthread.php?290192-Kingsbridge-Branch I think this is from one of the earlier versions of the programme. Whilst it's a great programme, some of the newer versions of the software need high end PCs with powerful 3d graphics cards. Various third party developers have written so called route software such as shown above and locos you can download, sometime ps at charge I have seen the software being demonstrated at various model rail shows. David

Agreed - I've not seen the Brent add on but I've got the similarly aged Severn Valley module. It really is creepily accurate as well as addictive to drive along in cab. The newer version of the software is more visually stunning still however, fortunately, it still doesnt compare to actual railway modelling... David

Ridiculously I'd say. The tts locos usually cost about £20 more than non tts locos (see the new kings). I think gadwall retailed at £99.99 or so. However, the quality of the sound is not that of a £100+ aftermarket chip and speaker. I fail to see why anyone would pay an Exeter price for only part of a loco that you can source alternatively at a fraction of the price!

Fascinating, and skilful, stuff as ever but I'm afraid I can only follow with the help of LNER.info! Somehow, though, seeing models of long last classes brings them to life in a way you don't get by just reading a reference book David

I always used to like the shepherd neame tube advert that showed the beer pump with a half drunk pint of spitfire. Next to it on the counter was a well groomed set of nails drumming the table impatiently with the tag line "Victoria Cross"

My pre order was in April 2015 and was dispatched today. I needed to call to check something else and raised timing with them. I think they're working through as fast as they can. Clearly a large number of orders and busiest time of their year David