HerbertHopkins

Pleasure Gilbert. I'm always happy to come and lend a hand and enjoy your excellent company and marvellous hospitality.

Nothing at all wrong with the lack of profanities or you spending money on your hobbies. There might be a problem with the other issue though!

A knighthood would be very nice I'm sure, but think of the implications. You'd have to stop using ungentlemanly language whenever something goes wrong and I'd have to be careful not to break wind in your presence! As for a bonus, you'd only spend it on model railways or golf clubs.

Agree entirely. Like Gilbert, I'm pleased to see that there are younger modellers who are interested in this fascinating period of our railway history. With regard to diesels on Peterborough North, I'm know, having visited Gilbert several times since he began this project, there are some early examples lurking around there somewhere and, I'm pretty certain, there is a Class 31 (or Brush Type 2 as they were known back then) amongst them. However, the half yellow warning panels were not introduced until the early 60's, so would be quite wrong for a layout based in 1958.

Maybe, after taking 60512 the 60538 will cause the ball to become 60511! Of course, if un60512 is employed, the ball could end up in a 60536!

Those A2/3's are suberb, the best Thompson pacific's I've ever seen (and that includes several by our mate Mr Wright!). Tim has done a marvellous job, you must be over the moon. Maybe, at some point in the future, you could get him to do 60512 to remind you of the times you stand there, with a club in your hand, trying to get a little white ball to go in the direction you want!

You must be over the moon to have received that survey from Richard, especially as it is right in the middle of the period you are modelling. Fate sometimes seems to have a way of turning things up like this when you least expect them. The only problem, as I see it, is that now you have all this information about 'unusual' consists and what have you, you'll want even more stock to replicate them!

Hi Gilbert, Happy new year, things are really coming along in leaps and bounds now, aren't they? I still can't get over how good Peter's buildings look, even with your hastily erected overall roof (yes, the pitch of it is rather too steep, but it gives a good indication of what things will look like when it's all finished!). Keep the updates coming. Best wishes

I logged on last night and saw these fantastic buildings for the first time - wow doesn't even come close! I've just had another look, this is truly modelling of the very highest order. Congratulations to Peter for producing such stunning work, also congrats to Gilbert for being the lucky owner of such masterpieces!

I had a nice long chat on the phone with Tony a few days ago and, I'm pleased to say, he's sounding much more like his old self. He was talking about resuming work on Little Bytham in the new year which is positive news and something to look forward to.

I can see you being kept busy when all the projected new releases come on line. Then, of course, there's the possibility of an ex LNER 0-6-0 at some point, so you will probably be force fed for a while yet!

Very pleased and relieved to hear this Gilbert. Now, if they just find an effective treatment for your locoholism....

Isn't this the same idiot who built 25 Blue Spot fish vans for Tony Wright? Who knows, maybe if you ask him nicely!

You just can't get the staff these days! I know someone who might be able to rectify that for you, we can discuss it when I next see you.

Very nice Tony, I look forward to seeing it after you've painted and lined it. Any photos of the completed K3?

Perfectly acceptable IMO Gilbert. Nice to see that Tony hasn't lost his touch! I take that the W1 is his.

If I remember correctly, Crescent Bridge was always light grey until a few years ago.

Hope everything is ok now Gilbert,

Really encouraging news Gilbert, let's hope that Tony is really on the mend. Life's been rather dull without him these past few months!

I'd just like to echo what Derek has written here. I've known Tony for several years now and he is one of my best friends in the model railway world; his continued ill health is a source of great sadness to me. I particularly feel sorry for Tony's wife Mo. Anyone who knows Mo will, I am sure, agree when I say she is an absolutely lovely woman. Looking after her poorly husband must be putting her under great strain at a time in her life when she ought to be starting to take things a little easier. Best wishes to both of them.

Actually Mick he's referring to a certain team from the north', the one managed by the Scotsman who does a good impression of a goldfish on the touchline..

Funnily enough, I was looking through the Colchester allocations the other day and the same thought crossed my mind. If the choice of another March engine was up to me I'd go for 'The Suffolk Regiment'. First, my grandad served in that Regiment in the first world war (got mentioned in dispatches as well!) and secondly, I have a photo, currently in your possession, of the loco at platform 6 in 1958. Seems like the obvious choice to me, not that I'm trying to influence you of course!

Pleasure Gilbert. I'm glad that Tom managed to sort out the electrical glitches, as I suspected they were all simple faults but, as you quite rightly said, it was better to leave it for him to put right. Once John has rectified the faults we identified on the locos you should really be cooking on gas!

Surely not, from an educated gentleman like yourself! On a serious note, I had an enjoyable few days on the outskirts of Nottingham and, as always, was treated to some marvellous hospitality by Gilbert (notwithstanding the unfortunate incident in the Indian Restaurant that was due to circumstances beyond our control). We managed to sort out a few problems and identify some others that, hopefully, Tom Wright and John Houlden will be able to rectify. So, all in all, it was a productive time, thanks for the invite Gilbert.

Better tell John Houlden to plug his soldering iron in then!