GWR8700

I thought the shared name of Borchester was merely a coincidence?

Where were the two lines meant to diverge to after the junction?

Ouch!

Great news! I hope the Blacksmith range has a future too. A lot of good stuff in there too

There's a few nice GWR things there, after a few years of not having a lot. It's the usual that I've now come to expect. Mostly stuff pitched at collectors, a few old tooling ancient models marked up well above what you would pay on ebay for an equivalent and a newly tooled LNER locomotive. They weren't in a good financial position a few years ago but since doing this things do seem to have picked up for them. Not to my taste but it seems to be working for them.

Yeah, I completely understand it being a more limited range given what is happening right now. I certainly won't be able to afford to spend much on the hobby this year. Despite that, there's a few things I like in there. Since Simon Kohler returned the thinking every year seems to be lots of high end collectors models with anniversaries that people didn't even know were on, and lots of LNER locomotives. Not really my thing but if it improves their financial situation then fair enough.

Ooh, 2 Castle Class locos! Very nice. Completely understand 100 year anniversary of the Big Four. However, an anniversary set, to commemorate 10 years since an anniversary (great gathering)? Have I got that right? Seems a little silly if I am honest. 85th anniversary of Mallard too? They make Mallard every year, just seems like they will add 'anniversary' to anything to stick a few extra quid on it.

Am I right in thinking the Penrhyn livery change was in the mid 30s?

Very excited by this! Glad they have chosen something suitable for Bodmin too

Very exciting. This range appears to be going from strength to strength!

Sounds like an ideal complimentary addition!

Hope this isn't a daft question, but if I was wanting to make the Aberdare to EM gauge would I be able to use the existing chassis provided in the kit? Would it be better to use an alan gibson mill frame? Would the brassmasters Finney chassis be an alternative I could use?

Very sad to hear this. I have always enjoyed reading his books over the years

Thank you very much all! Will look into getting those over the next month. For a railway which is quite well regarded and represented with the GCR it is somewhat surprising there is so littme available on it at the moment. That forthcoming book does sound interesting!

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that looks really tempting!