Anthony

Let us not forget that other great Indian to captain England - Colin Cowdrey.

This topic seems to be very eBay-orientated, and I was wondering whether anyone has any experience of selling through people like, say, Hatton's or Rails, some of whom offer to come and inspect? Presumably they offer rock-bottom prices?

We used to live in Buckden, unfortunately in the area supplied by Little Barford power station. This is going back to the 1950s and 60s, and what sticks in the memory most clearly was that it only took the mildest rumble of thunder in earshot for them to cut off the supply! My recollection is that thunder was more frequent in those days than now. Were those 'the' days? Anthony

Still overwhelmed here in London SW16 with Goldies, House Sparrows, Dunnocks, the odd Greenfinch (many fewer than 4 years ago), pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers plus all the usual tit etc. suspects. I have tried mixing dried mealworms in amongst the nuts, and it seems to be popular. Slightly off-topic, but this Summer was remarkable for bees in heretofore unknown numbers. They started on a huge Hebe topiaria, almost obliterating the flowers, and when they were more or less over moved on to a Hydrangea villosa, which I have never seen happen before. I am not sure that I had even seen the odd one on it before, but when I went out of a morning, it was a seething mass of apian life. I wonder if it will repeat next year. Anthony

Gilbert Have you looked at the Tillig point motor? It is very small and flat, and I have used them in many places where space is limited, very. I confess they are the very devil to adjust to get the right throw, but once you have achieved that, they work really well. https://www.trainshop.co.uk/electrics/11995-under-mounted-motor-for-tillig-elite-points-4012501861123.html is a link to one supplier. Another advantage - they are not all that silent, so you can hear if you have changed the point successfully! Anyway, just a thought. Best wishes, and as ever so many thanks for your inspiring photographic posts. Happy Christmas to one and all. Anthony

I have just made one, so the announcement from Bachby can only be a matter of days away. Anthony

I confess that I did my updating by buying new ones quite cheaply and rejecting the new bodies. They went through a phase of being available in the low £60s not all that long after they were issued, but don't seem to be quite so cheap now, though I no longer need to look so hard. Anyone looking for some replacement bodies!? Anthony

Gilbert I can't remember if I have mentioned this before, but the old B1 bodies fit onto the new chassis perfectly, so you won't have all the hassle of re-numbering and weathering of the bodies. The new chassis, of which I have several, runs beautifully. Anthony

I'm on tenterhooks - will we get to see the stock of the 9F's parcels train - pleeeeeeeeeeease? Do hope you get better soon and are at least up to scratch, even if you still feel a little below par. Anthony

.................slightly off topic, but if tonic poses a challenge, there is always the option of roughly equal proportions of gin and Creme de Cassis. Also effective at masking the taste of gin, if that is also a problem. I would be economical with the truth if I did not admit that it can be quite quick-acting.............

Very tardy replying to this, Gilbert, but do I remember Eaton Socon? - oh yes! We moved to Buckden in 1954 and such was the traffic on the A1, that we always drove to London on the old A14/A10. Mind you, the options were few and far between; the particulars of the house my parents bought included the phrase 'There is a station at Huntingdon, from which London may be reached', which was a pretty fair description - a day's journey with few guarantees of success. But happy days in so many ways, followed in a few years by by being allowed to bicycle down to trainspot on the ECML - no chance of that happening these days, even if it were worth it! Please do keep up your wonderful work on this forum - although it does mean that my layout takes longer and longer to create, as your standards set the bar higher and higher for us all. Anthony

Who was it who said that committees should always consist of an odd number of people, and three is too many? If only...... Good luck! Anthony

I couldn't agree with you more, Gilbert. Modelling takes many forms, whether it be creating a whole scene in which to run RTR stock, improving RTR stock, or, indeed, making the whole lot oneself. There are not many of us who have the time and/or skill to do the latter, and I don't think that in any way excludes us from being modellers, as we all have some personal input into our layouts, which in turn makes them unique - yours being a supreme example of this. Your influence has turned me into much more of a purist than I ever intended to be, although I have not managed to expunge all illicit, but neighbouring, incursions under Rule 1. Incidentally, you don't need to retire 61202 entirely, as the new Bachmann B1 chassis fits perfectly under the old bodies, which will save you considerable time in re-numbering and so on - quite what one does with the new body and tender, I am not sure - sell them to someone who wants to build a Comet chassis, perhaps? Anthony

As I sit and watch the Test Match and Moeen Ali bowling, could someone please teach all cricket commentators, including those on TMS, the difference between 'spin' and 'turn'? From Silly Mid-Off Anthony

Thank you - I will certainly give them a whirl. Couldn't contemplate not being able to get into the layout! Anthony

Gilbert Could you share the secret of your magic potion with a fellow back sufferer, please? I am about to go to a chiropractor for the first time, all else having failed, but if I can contribute from my side, it couldn't do any harm! My layout won't allow a lifting section, so I need to be able to duck under nimbly for the foreseeable............ Many thanks Anthony

a) great news about the eye/s - something about the eye strikes greater terror than most other ailments, I know not why b) particularly like your artistic attempt, although I appreciate there are flaws in the subject - incidentally, when the new V2 comes out, I do hope Bachmann adjust the gearing; I have two with the new chassis and they both struggle to raise more than a scale 60mph - hardly prototypical! c) you continue, Gilbert, to amaze, astound and evince admiration at the same time as depressing those of us who can never achieve such perfection - but will keep on trying! Thank you again for a marvellous railway and its story on this site. Anthony

Glugged a bottle of Quincy (quite delicious, from the Loire Valley) rather fast last night after a full-on day with grandson no. 1 (of three!) aged 2 and a bit, so this evening it is another of the same in a slightly calmer manner. Gives the satisfaction of the hunter-gatherer, having brought it back from France - next trip due very soon. Anthony - slightly ashamed to say I don't like beer!

In my experience (I was a landscape gardener in London, where cats are rife) it is a case that you do get what you pay for and the expense is well worthwhile - also it works more powerfully off the mains. If you buy the splitter as well as the mains converter, you are able to attach ether a Foxwatch (foxes being equally dangerous to Anatidae!) or a second Catwatch. We modellers should be able to make our own, mind you. As I said earlier in the thread, it takes time, but does work. Good luck Anthony

I do find that Catwatch, as recommended by the RSPB is pretty successful. Not 100%, and it does take time (months) for them to get it into their thick heads that there are nicer places to go, but the areas that are covered in my garden are definitley less prone to cat invasion. Other brands often seem to deter the birds! Anthony

Pity, I rather liked the haze - I can't believe the atmosphere was ever particularly clear! At the risk of repeating myself, what a wonderful re-creation and, not doubt recreation. Thank you Anthony

There is a fail-safe answer to this - if you pop the Niger seed in the microwave for 4 minutes on full power, well 800 say, it makes it inert - and certainly here in London SW the Goldfinches still clamour for it. Reflecting on a later post, we, too, have completely lost our Greenfinches - sad. Anthony

I, too, have had excellent service form Derails; extremely good value for a Hornby D16/3, very prompt and good communication. Also most helpful with some hard-to-obtain bits and pieces. Thoroughly recommended - no connection with the business. Anthony

I have used both Tortoise and Tillig's own motors. I have found that Tortoise don't really have quite enough throw to ensure good blade contact unless installed with 1mm precision, which is not that easy. Tillig motors are an absolute pig to adjust, but when you get it right, they do seem to do the job better than Tortoise, and are easier to install generally, and easier to adjust the installation position. Tillig also have an advantage in being shallower where space is short. Good luck with whatever you choose! Tillig track, as you have discovered, is brilliant! Anthony