GeoffBird

But at least there is a Kent coalfield 00 gauge wagon now - Tilmasnton Colliery, Rapido 967221, from The Hobby Shop in Faversham. B

Yes, thats the one I am waiting for too. Hope it comes in the next batch.

Me too. It is very expensive to get single items shipped to Austria since Brexit. The "pre-owned" list that came out every day was very useful as a source of both locos and wagons. P.S. Hattons use to operate the IOSS systems whereby items less than €150 could just be sent straight through after paying the >UK VAT.

I have also written to them suggesting this. They were so very different to a cccccccconventionalbrakevan and nsome lasted into BR days. Have also asked for the double-deck (sic) sheep wagons whicj I think was unique to the HR. They must have small sheep in the Highlands of Scotland!

Could not agree more! To us ex.Pats in Europe the combination of the Trunk and the ability to use the IOSS system whereby we only paid UK Vat under €150 was a gosend to us. Does anyone know of a UK retailer who also uses the IOSS system?

A minor point, the train pack as issued is incorrect. According to the Oakwood Press book on the W&U the first time a 0-6-0 Tram was used on a passenger train was 1927 - in LNER livery just before the passenger service was withdrawn. Until then all passenger Trains had been hauled by the 0-4-0 Tram locos and the Class J70 locos restricted to the freight services. Not that I mind - they are such beautiful models I am happy to overlook this. The freight traffic was usually outgoing fruit traffic in the summer months, with cattle vans used for the Thursday Wisbech market. The main incoming traffic was coal : PO wagons seen on gthe tramway included ASustin & Co., Clay Cross, Conte & Warren, Dinnington (available in RTR), Manchester Collieries and Wigan Coal.

So far I have only foundf Hattons who do this on a regular baisis. With their zrunk system I can load the items as trhey arrive (and pay for the in GBP) and then shjuiop them across in batches where the total amount is less than 130 GBP. MBU do some very good deals on Dapol and Accurascale items. For example the new 57xx pannier is 160€, the Siphons between 50€ and 62€ and Banana wagons 90€. Shipping costs ar 10€ and it comes straight to your door in about 2 or 3 days. >They also do Hornby, Bachmann and Dapol as well. Their website is easy to use and well worth a look. Hope this helps.

^We had snow here last week . but I am in Vienna. What I am waiting for is a Bagnall 0-4-0ST. No 2704 if possible as that was the loco I learnt to drive/fire on the Middleton. It was the first to be named "Matthew Murray" on a foggy day in 1969 (most days in Leeds were foggy in those days!). It was a very good engine, ideal for bringing the two or three loaded wagons up form the BR exchange sidings. Unfortunately, the Middleton got rid of it as it wasnt built in Leeds. I do have (not very good) b&w photos of the naming ceremony in Balm Yard with Eric Tracey. Aftzerwards we all troped off the visit the graveyard of MM.

Has anyone seen one the actual "Coronation" models. I am asking because I would like to know if the "L N E R" and the cabside numbers are raised (as per ooriginal) or just flat overprints on the basic colour. I have some suitable s/s lettering - any ideas on the best way to remove the Hornby applied ones? Threee ideas that have are a) just stick them over the Hornby letztering; b) try and remve the Hornby lettering before - how? or c) repaint the tender and cab sides first. By the way, am I right in thinking the the coats of arms were only applied in BR days?

Yes, but his comments dont answer my questionn. Any more nedws on the Tango now thata Warley is here?

It all seems to have gone very quiet on these. All the news coming out of Warley wasto do with their Big Brother (ie. two O2s bacjk to back) Were there any normal O2 samples to be seen`? One comment, in the notices about the U1 it is said that these will be available in DCC fitted AND DCC Sound fitted, whereas, for the O2 at present we are only to be given the bog-standard Analog version. Is this still the case?

Hattons still saying January 2024. Alo: Dapol OO Gauge Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST This is your last chance to place a pre-order for Dapol's newly tooled "Hawthorn Leslie" locomotives! We are due to submit our final order quantities imminently, stock is very limited and we cannot guarantee your model unless it is pre-ordered now." By the way, was "Invincible" at ine time at RAE Farnborough and then on the IoW line?

I notice that the Hatton description says "Rapido Trains UK OO 0-6-0 Class O/ O1 SECR (2024)"- perhaps they are preparing us for Batch with the original SER variant. By the way, a nice alternative would be the EKLR No. 6 which retained its Stiring cab until withdrawl as BR 31372 in 1949. The last Class O (domeless boiler) was A436 withdrawn in 1932-

Very nice. These have been said to be "niche" products but I enjoyed seeing them in the 60s coming through Clapham J on he boat trains. For a "even more niche" version how about "sCC2" in BR blue in 1948 as part of the next batch?

This is my option too. I havent seen any dates yet of when they might be available but, I notice that no one has yet commented on the post from Graham Muz :"the SR Boosters, that are currently being shipped to the UK" Also, ass well as a 21-pin sopcket fprDCC thetre is also a speraker inclufedc as staanard as I read it. What noises would one get from the loco and is there a sound set being produced?

With a bit of luck they will need to use it again on their next GWR loco - Bulldog or Duke!!! (or even Class 517)

I live in Austria and use Modellbahn Union too. One has to check the prices because sometimes the prices are lower than in the UK and some time much higher- At the moment I am debating whether to order the Dalpol Manor (sound fitted) from the UK or from MBU. The prices are very similar around 290GBP/€300 and one does not have to pay all the Customs and Import fees. There is, of course, Accurascale, where one can order from their Ireland branch at the UK price and it comes directly to you in the EU, again without the extra Customs duties. There are, of course, some UK retailers which offer the IOSS system of delivery. This, however, only applies to items less than €150 and I have heard rumors of the EU wanting to do away with this in the future. P.S. Dont forget Heljan, they do many UK diesels,. Order from their Danish website, pay in Euros and it will come straight to your door.

I am waiting for E8619 in LNER apple green. Several photos of it being used on a RCTS railtour of the London Docks in 1948/9. But I can wait ....... all good things come to those who wait!

Inteesting. RoS already offer a weathering and/or DCC fitting service as optional extras. Presumably this will also apply to Hornby items. Could be interesting for some people. I have aaöso seen some models where they offer to fit the sound module - when they are available.

I seem to remember that about 6 m,onths ago Hattons said they were going to relase the GER brake coach that was used on the line with the W&U coaches. I ordered one but cant remember what the Part No. was. Anyway, they all seem to have been "Sold Out on Preorder"- There was also a GER van produced a year ago that would help to add a bit of "mixed train" formation.

Thanks for your help. With the pre-1930s liveried coaches what can be used in RTR to haul them? Could one put such a coach with the incoming Kernow steam Railmotor?

I have ordered one too, looks super. But I am a little confused (not unusual!) wgy does one need DCC Sound for an Autocoach? - is it just for the bell on the front. Anyway, I cant see the bell on the pictures anyway. I must be missing something.

i notice that Bradley Manor has white bufferheads and white smokebox door lock - was this for Royal train duty or was it a general MCH shed thing?

Great news. I always order my Accurascale items from the Dublin office, thus avoiding all the extra costs associated with "Brexit". Look forward to receiving these is a "drop safe" box!

I live in Austria and have received a couple of parcels from Hattons in the last couple of weeks. They were both in a new type of box with an extended "Impact Protect Zone" at each end to absorb the energy if the parcel is dropped on its end. Very useful for me as my DPD deliverer always seem to leave the box on top of my gatepost if the gates are shut. Also, they have a new "easy to open" rip tag along the side. I have not seen these anywhere else (includong Amazon) but well done Hattons. A few coppers more presumably but presumabale much fewer returns of damaged locos.