Mallard60022

But SAC those clouds are foreign, unless that's a part of Clumber Park I haven't got to yet...... Digital manipulation is available on the NHS so don't worry (be happy). That's a dirty A3 old bean; must be local? (Love the signal shot by the way - excellent). Oops here comes the nurse...I'm off. P

Ooohhh, those are very nice indeed. P @ 36R (quite a long way from the sea but not so far from Cleethorpes).

Ahhhhhh, relief. That is one superb shot Mr G - a 'whale' in its' element. P @ 36E

Dear Gilbert, I have been asked by Control to inform you that Golf is now closed for the winter. Also, and I have to apologise for the tone of this next comment, I have been ordered to ask you to get more photographs on this posting as several members are in care due to loss of interest in life as a consequence of having no loco's to admire or trains to spot. Yours sincerely, S. Pittlebridge (New England Running Foreman DSO BO FAT)

I've just been drooling over my Isinglass A2/3 drawing (have wiped that off now - are not these drawings just beautiful works of art) and have decided I think these loco's actually look very chunky (however I am the bloke that thinks most Pacific loco's look chunky except for A4s that look like whales and Bulleid originals that look like tin sheds). So if I get a Baccy tender and complete this bomb and then cover it in grime, will that do for my layout (I'm short-sighted) or should I just 'flog it? The Donny build tender, was that the flush sided one - my brain cell can't remember? Would a Finecast A2 tender be any good? (Can't afford a PDK one - ouch) Answers on a first class stamp please. P @ 36E (now totally paranoid about the other ER Pacific kits I have almost finished that are lurking just out of sight)

Oops. Forgot to drop in on this since may obviously That Z looks fantastic; love the subtle weathering, especially round the buffer front/buffer-beam. Wouldn't it be great if someone could actually cobble a sound chip for a Z. There must be a Peter Handford recording of the syncopated exhaust somewhere and then generic clanks and stuff could be added. I'd pay for one of those chips. P @ 36E.

Hours of fun and procrastinating (entertainment?) - period pieces each one. P @36E

Well that's decided it - off to Ebay!!!!!!! Thanks TW you are a star. Phil @ 36E

can just see the mystery "signal" or whatever it actually is, it isnt lit or showing any display it seems. I've just remembered that a few nights back I was dozing and suddenly the thought came into my head that the 'mystery lights/signal' may have been a warning that a barrow crossing was in use? I have no idea from what dark and gloomy place that little gem was retrieved. Sad isn't it. P @ 36E

Well I lied (quite a lot) but I can only blame my age and use the excuse that it is the memory going and not me being a casual liar! Here it is in all its' glory lumpiness. I had not got as far as I thought and I had made the tender which certainly does weigh more than HMS Dreadnought. I think the thing looks OK though and I hope Mr Wright would approve if I finished it as a 'layout loco'. The tender might just go though if I get a Baccy A2 one as replacement (would that do?) and I ever run it (it is/was destined for EM by the way so the frames are really far too narrow). Now I don't have any real memory of these beasts, certainly not at close quarters, as I probably only saw them briefly as I passed a depot or similar whilst rushing up/down the ECML so I have relied on the 'Book of the A2 Pacifics' for my reference. (Great book; lovely pics). As I have the plates and decals for 60511 in the box then that's what I was aiming for (but I had forgotten that). The valve gear fret looks OK but the slide-bars, oh dear! I had made them work though! As I have got this out I might just keep it within sight and have a little fiddle nearer Christmas when the cold nights set in and SWMBO is away/asleep/at the pub. So chaps, apart from "scrap it" what advice can I be given to make a bit of a silk purse job here? Sincerely, P @ 36E P.S. (Resistance is futile..... ) uuummm, memories of Seven of Nine's outfit

All sorts of odds and ends used to turn up in Plymouth in the Summer hols, especially Saturdays. Two loco's being required to heave the overloaded holiday extras and 'extended' service trains over the Devon banks meant the controls were scratching around for loco's; sometimes anything that would run would do including 28XX and 38XX working with Castles and big 2.6.2. tanks. I think the additional loco's used to be added at Newton Abbot and maybe Exeter? However, quite unusual loco's would be the train engine anyway due to motive power shortages. Then, quite often it was all change again at North Road as several classes were not allowed into Cornwall due to weight restrictions I think. Cornwall was Grange & Hall heaven. Laira could be a very busy place on summer Saturday evenings and Sundays with loco's lined up back out onto the relief lines east of the shed waiting to be coaled. Friary meanwhile was like a little backwater depot (until it closed of course and then the SR loco's had to fight for space at 83D! Newton Abbot was also interesting I was told, as 'strange' power turned up on the Torquay, Paignton, Goodrington & Kingsbridge trains. I think even Midland loco's on occasion as Bristol just didn't have enough engines (although this was only 'spotters' stories so may well have been bull s**t?) When the Warships first appeared steam/diesel double heading continued with the steam loco often leading, until the 'ingesting' of ash etc. mentioned above meant that the diesels went up front. As the 'new diesels' were quite unreliable it was often the case that what appeared to be really run down steam would be substituted (but they may well have been just filthy not mechanically past it). Thanks for setting this post. It has stirred some very evocative memories for me but sadly restricted to Plymouth and area. But there was some interest just up the road at Exeter Central where ballast trains from Meldon often had four engines for the short blast up the bank from St David's. 3 Zs and an N made quite a show I seem to remember (N + Z at front with two Zs at rear). P @ 36E (ex 83D)

My sincere apologies but I actually like this particular C**k o the North. (I'm surprised the name in GNs post got through the web porno language filter thingy). What a truly great bit of scratching by Mr W. Don't think I've ever heard him say/seen him to have written about this little bit of bashing - brilliant.

I'll have to identify which box I've hidden it in in the loft. I seem to remember I had replaced the tender with a DJH one or maybe something else - can't quite remember. When I find the loco I'll probably decide to give it to a charity shop. Edit. Decided that I will go into loft tomorrow and find the heap and post a true story of what I've been mumbling about. P

As TW said in his LNER Pacific book Millholme only good for using as ballast weight - Micklner, I've actually almost built (waits for gasps of astonishment and thuds as jaws hit floors) one of these heaps; great fun trying to make things fit and as for the v.gear, ho,ho,ho etc. I actually managed to get a new DJH boiler to use instead of the heap of s**t in the original kit; or was that a replacement boiler for a DJH boiler on a DJH kit .... oh who cares anyway. Whatever, I actually have tried it just because it is such a #######. [quote name='great northern' Time will tell David. I really now need more Gresley coaches, so that will be the priority, save for the locos which I am still waiting for. GN - Easily sorted............make Geoff's (Comet) year with a nice order. Now, how about a few of those new TMC Mk1 Horseboxes Gilbert? Even I'm tempted to get a few and I haven't even got any horses. P @ 36E (well I was actually at 36A earlier - sunny but uninteresting )

Followed a link to this post; lovely work all round. I love the yard 'atmosphere'. The birdy sounds; sad lad that I am, how do you 'play' the sounds (at a show that is)? I've read an article somewhere about using DCC for 'ambient background sounds' as well as train sounds 'following' the train rather than a sound dec in the loco/train. Would this be possible in some way using these CDs? I was also hoping to get an ' light industrial' sounds loop of some sort for a wagon works area on my layout. I would, if I could, 'play' both of these (opposite ends of the layout) very quietly so they would be just audible above the general hubub of a show. Not sure about the running water - too many visits having to be made to the facilities already........ Cheers, P @ 36E

Dear John Huntley. I used to enjoy going to Croydon Fairfield Hallsin the 80s and early 90s to see his wonderful archive shows (mainly railways). He had such a lovely, friendly manner. P @ 36E

Gilbert, get a Virus Checker implant (usually they place it in the earlobe - NHS; private clinics use the nose); it works a treat but needs countless upgrades. Sometimes you will even need to stay awake all night whilst someone deals with you remotely. Good chance to get in some night running; loads of freight, parcels, fish and milk trains as well as engineering stuff. Regarding the operation to remove my legs, I would prefer to be standing in the corridor with my face squashed against the window or just protruding from a drop-light. Will that be OK? Great idea about the spotters being banished and only heads showing, bar one brave soul who will have climbed the wall. Love the Director heading back home; T.W.'s layout is looking good. P @ 36E (P.S. hope you are actually feeling better; there's a lot of it about).

What the h*** is that black thing doing in Cornwall/ Loughboro'? The big green new thing can almost be excused but a rebuilt Pat Are you running an alternative universe set up old bean or is that excess beer taking its' revenge? Sorry I won't be able to see you this weekend, another time maybe. Sincerely, P @ 36E (real universe)

Evening all. I seem to remember a bit of a conversation about populating the place way back. At the time I asked if I could be represented in one of the Kings X to Newcastle or 'tother way afternoon expresses as that's the only way I went through PN in the late 50s. Is that still up? I will sponsor myself and the coach if required . Please can the loco be Miles Beevor? Larry, if you look very carefully, way down the platform, behind the striding driver/fireman, you will see me in my shorts . Shortly afterwards I cabbed Britannia at Liverpool Street; 1960, a wonderful year. Sincerely, Phil @36E

EM.....uuuummmmm P @ 36E

After a really horrible day this has brightened things up considerably. Fave shot is the 4.4.0. 'around the back'; lovely. However, the four parcels vans and bits and bobs look really good too with 'Fox' sitting opposite. Spooky that the first passenger has 'the look' of Gilbert as he is now, in his overcoat, transported back to '58. ATB, P @ 36E