Clearwater

Having grown up near the SVR, I was a frequent visitor to it in the 80s. Going back now, I don't think I fully appreciated then what a fantastic railway it is. The stations are immaculate and the views spectacular. On the downside, I miss being able to wander off the platform at Bridgnorth into the shed. Whilst The Engine Shed is a good museum, it's not the same as going into a shed.

Correct on the blue one. The gwr cab is 5900 Hinderton Hall in the Didcot shed. when I was a child, you were never allowed on the footplates in museums - credit to nrm and gws for allowing access.

Apologies rob for the hijack

I hope my son's grand dad would be proud Extra prizes for loco identification!

I was told by the SVR that licencing fees for Thomas are pretty high... Fortunately, whilst my 3yr old is a big train fan, he doesn't exclusively insist on Thomas. In fact, he was quite excited to see King Edward II at Didcot and is urging me to buy a model one. There's going to be a slight issue with the domestic authorities when she realises we have both the DJM version of 6023 and the Hornby blue tts one as well as gwr versions.... When we do visit preserved railways, we tend to use them as our source for big-jigs/Thomas wooden railway items. Whilst you can pick up some of that stuff cheaper, I do prefer for the profit margin to go towards keeping a heritage railway going

HMS Margate has been "designed clever." However, in order to simplify the manufacturing process, the hull was made from a single moulding which means that although the price point was achieved, sadly the torpedo doors don't open

Can't comment on pricing but I've always found Peter to be very prompt about responding to email queries in a helpful way. To me, if his prices are slightly higher, that type of service justifies

Wouldn't it be better to do pictures where the Manor should go but without it in shot? If we all include a picture of aManor they may deduce demand is already satisfied?

I thought the kernow pictures / videos of the O2 being assembled were very useful to show how much manual labour goes into making these things. Something similar on a quality coach would be good to see

Similarly my wife thinks "they all look the same." This, though, has certain advantages as it makes it far easier to say "that loco, yes, had it ages" when your new purchase is going through its paces on the track...

What tenders do the GW liveried versions have? If I recall correctly, weren't the 47xx originally paired with 3500g tenders?

I like the link for "sell one like this". As if there's another...

Oddly I picked up a Brown Jack for 100 quid in Hamley's on Friday. Thought was a good price. Quite odd that they have just received in stock though. Assume is a receivership or similar return. Yet to run it- on list for this week

Have they moved Hinderton or Burton Agnes then? I've posted photos from my less exciting (but still highly enjoyable) visit to didcot last weekend on the Ellesmere North thread. Got some good pics of the differences between the two

Ha! Would upload my pics but they are over the1MB limit...

I went last weekend to Didcot. Helpfully they have the hall and modified hall parked next to each other. Really useful for being able to compare the differences between the two(and hence the current Hornby and Bachmann models). Particularly as you can climb onto 5900s footplate and look back along the running plates

Saw the Filton aero wagon last weekend. Had never heard of it before. V cool wagon....

That makes me feel better Edwardian. I'm at four djm/hattons Kings. I did have the Hornby tts on preorder but decided to cancel in favour of a blue djm KEii. Still tempted by two other djm versions. Key issues are where I can find storage space where my wife won't spot them and the multiple hit on credit card roughly the same time...

Rather helpfully the GWS have parked their hall next to their modified hall. Really helps direct comparison. Differences are quite obvious when you see if up close. Now want to compare to my Hornby and Bachmann versions

Currently at gws. You get a great view of 9002 from the quasi platform next to it

Great thread - v enjoyable and inspirational. Really enjoy the research aspect and your working out how to model it

My issue is with the description. It's not a P2 - 0-8-0 would be Q!

To the point on CPI/RPI - yes that's low but it's not relevant. Both are basket measures of costs in the economy as a whole. Model trains are a tiny tiny segment overall of the economy and are not a driver of overall RPI. However, as costs associated with their production rise, for profit for manufacturers and retailers to remain (and without profit they won't exist) the price in the shop can go up by a multiple of RPI. Other costs, eg mortgages form a way larger part of household expenditure and have fallen significantly due to the very low base rates. Also, petrol costs have fallen sharply over the last year.

Hopefully will prompt someone to make a decent rtr Saint!