Judge Dread

I tried to update the crane I have had for many years now. After changing the plastic wheels for more scale metal ones I had to give up because of the noise those wheels caused.

I shall be there with Hospital Gates if I can get up in time! Looking forward to this show having been before.

Try Charlie Petty at DC models. http://www.dckits-devideos.co.uk/ You can judge if the sound is accurate here, I like it!

This Union Street in Plymouth, is it anything like this street in Valletta?? I asked in a local shop as to it's location and was told it was no longer the street it was since the British departed!

I had on order a DJM Class 74, which I ordered it at the same time as a Class 71. The latter arrived in time for my layout "Meopham East Junction's" last appearance before I sold it. I liked that 71 so much that I did not sell it with the layout , exchanging it for a DC kits example (sorry Charles). When the cancellation order came out, I rang Kernows, and they sent my money back into my bank account with no delay. I am ever hopeful that Dave will be able to have this loco type built elsewhere and if he does, I will have one! Back in the days between 1998 and 2005, I was a member of a team which build, for the Hull MRS, a EM layout called "Chessington (Chalk Lane) and on that layout we had a MTK Class 74 example. Not wishing to speak ill of the dead, I shall only say, it went when the layout was sold. Here is the only photograph I have of said loco.

Several years ago I was exhibiting a layout at the Folkestone show in the Leas Cliff Hall there. The fire brigade where just leaving as we arrived on the Saturday morning. We were told a young love struck person had tried to end it all by driving his car over the cliff edge just close by. He had not been successful because he had made two basic errors. Firstly the cliff is not vertical, in fact it has many trees growing out of it and this is what had saved him. His car was lodged in one of the more substantial trees and the brigade had to use a ladder to get to him. Secondly, he had not undone his seat belt!

Been there, done that with a 1967 4 door 1098 Minor. The sound of engines much bigger than mine but not visible in the rear view mirror is some what frighting . I think the only way get a photo will be with the Traveller on an overbridge. Best of luck.

A few years ago now, I put a "Q Kits" Bullied body on a Lima class 40 chassis. The Bulleid loco is shorter than the 40 but as it is driven by a power bogie, it wasn't difficult to shorten it. As time went by I realised Lima products had two speeds, going and not going! The loco was put away into the fix it tomorrow drawer. Then along came the Bachmann class 40 and having secured a returned loco I set about converting it. This loco had a central motor driving both ends and a simple "cut and shut" was not going to work here. I cut the chassis at one end of the motor housing and took out a section. Then was a case of grind out the centre of the frame and glue the two ends together. Shorting the drive shaft at that end was the easy part. Incidentally, the wheels had modelling putty pressed into them with holes pressed in.

As can be seen, the turntable here worked the access to the other track in place of a full point, however at Hornsea, just up the coast, there was a point clear of the turntable and beyond a level crossing. This particular subject has been raised before and it was pointed out the turntable was in the goods yard. That was true but said turntable was removed in favour of the one across the road way.Just before the closure of this branch line to Hull, the turntable was removed altogether.

It is pure and simply a sun blind just as one would have in a car but bigger!

When Vincent motorcycles introduced the series D machines in 1954, one feature of them was a central stand operated by a lever above the primary chain case. A cartoon appeared in the owners magazine showing this fitment with a pair of hob nailed boots on the ends of the stand legs producing a shower of sparks and it had the title of "auxiliary brakes, to be used only in the event of an emergency!"

Several years ago now, a neighbour of mine heard the sound of breaking glass and looking out of his front room window saw his daughter's car had been broken into by a ner do well. Rushing out side, this one time amateur rugby league player, dragged a person out of the car with a head lock. It was then that he released there was a look out near by who wasn't very good at his job! This fellow rode his bike at the two of them but was beaten by the"side step" and a "stiff arm tackle". This caused the rider and bike to each do full loops, parting company in different directions. At that moment the police arrived (it was several years ago don't forget) and the usual questions were asked about the two herberts and my neighbour replied that the one under his arm had broken into the car and the other one had fallen off his bike.

Locos engaged on station pilot duties usually had a red and white lamps at both ends.

Just thinking of this "young" man when reading about aircraft landings. It would seem to me that grandadbob is the master of falling (read flying) but his landings need more practice! What was it the RAF said about landings, "any landing you can walk away from is a good landing!"

I had an uncle whose rank fluctuated so often that my father said he invented Velcro. The amazing thing was at the end of the war every one thought uncle Ron would be on the first boat home but he volunteered to stay on in the "army of occupation", marrying German woman in the process.

Why is it such a problem to get a car to float? After all, they got tanks to float! Seriously, when will the penny drop and drivers realise, you go slowly through water and not as fast as you can! Doh!

Further to the loose ignition keys etc. I drove a new Morris Marina van for the Hull City Corporation Engineer's department which shortly afterwards suffered a broken ignition lock. The key turned around and only the circuit was made for ignition, no starter motor. I rang the motor maintenance department and was told to short the contacts on the switch in the engine compartment. This I refused to do and insisted they turned out to rescue me. A van duly arrived with two fitters on board. One of them lifted the bonnet and thrust a screwdriver across the switch terminals with a flash and a bang. This action made the van start and blow a large hole in said screwdriver. Incidentally, shortly after I started to drive this van I had to return it to the dealership who supplied it for brake modifications. When I returned to collect it a week later, I observed quite a few Morris Marina cars but only the one van, mine! I was asked "What colour is your van?" "Yellow", I said, asking how many other vans there where. "Just the one " was the answer!

Same here with various Morris Minors I have owned. I even had a key fall out of the ignition barrel in one, mid journey, and it kept on running.

You are correct there. Try this link ​and click on the all photos below the tram. What you want is the second one to the right.

I cannot lay my hands on my copy of the 1950 Rules and Regulations book which I was issued with in 1959 at the moment but I'm certain there was reference to flags of any colour waved "violently" would be taken as a danger signal.

The third rail rests upon the "pots" and it not joined to them except in one or two places to allow the rail to expand. The "Southern Railway Group" did have made cast ones but these are long gone. I purchased the last 500 of them and I have about 5 left of them. Peco ones are fine but paint the ears which slide along the rail to hold them in place, so as them cannot be seen. The fact the rails are not fastened down is the reason for the rails to be installed in short lengths so as a faulty pick up shoe will not peal off long distances. The rail ends are still mostly painted white and bending down the rail ends should not allow them to touch down into the ballast. It causes earth faults in wet weather! If you want to connect rail sections "electrically" use lengths of multi-core solder, painted and installed so as it will not short the running rails. You have to glue these rails into place as "You cannot solder, solder!"

I vote for the Hornby-Dublo E.M.U. The one axle drive tin plate flyer of dubious parentage. I had two units which I bolstered out to four car units and I ran them on the club layout together. Much under breath muttering from those members running a kettle and five or perhaps six coaches, as my train thundered around at breakneck speeds.

I should have had my layout "Meopham East Junction" at York this weekend, thanks to a kind invite by "Big Mal" but I had to turn him down. Although my health is not as it use to be, my dear wife's is worse. She always called on our grand daughter to help whilst I was away but now she has discovered boys......... I have since sold the layout to a chap in York but he assured me he had no intentions to exhibit it anywhere! I wish everyone at the York show the very best and hope you have another successful weekend.

"Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes" I believe this translates as "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts". As we say in Yorkshire, "There's no such thing as a free lunch,thar noes!"

Harp players? How can anyone forget this man?