river ewayon

The tunnel under Mdina is used as a mushroom farm and the station is a restaurant.

I actually got my Kirdon 10000 to work simply by stretching the coil slightly, shortening it and then re-soldering the coil together. Dunno why this should have worked but it did. I suppose it is the increased spring rate?

In answer to Coachman.' Why do "I" bother with all that crap'? Easy. because some of it were models I bought when young and have sentimental value. Others are interesting from a historical point of view such as my EM1, Kirdon 10000, etc. Others are kits I built or bought when manufacturers wouldn't dream of producing a WD Austerity 8 or L&Y Dreadnought. That is not to say I don't buy modern stuff I like it all. Having said that I do feel that the market seems (and I say this as someone who's interest has laid dormant and is now rekindling his enthusiasm) to now cater for those that have money at the exclusion of youngsters on limited budgets. I suppose I am harking back to the 1970s when Lima locomotives were available for pocket money prices. Remember the price wars between Beatties, Railmail, Guy Norris and others?

I like Romfords. Easy to use and nigh on indistructable. Those plastic centred wheels-I always seemed to knacker onewhen assembling. Too ham fisted.

Cannot really add anything instructive to this thread but my father and I Visited Rhymney in 1974 to visit the family my father was billeted with when he was evacuated during WW2. Caught the train to Merthyr, bus to Dowlais Top and walked across the moors to Rhymney. Amazing thing was that the ironworks at Dowlais were still operating to my knowledge, I clearly remember the dirt and soot that covered the town. In 1983 visited Cwm Coliery to see Maneleus but unfortunately was not operating that day. As a truck driver I occasionally do trips to the various valleys and always look out for evidence of mining and the steel industries. Cwm has been cleared and is just flat waste ground now, with the obligatory winding wheel set in concrete. Sometimes surprises occur. Driving from Crumlin to Pontypool on the A472 cresting a hill was confronted with the concrete water tank that was part of Hafodrynys Coliery. On another occasion delivering to a site in Garndiffaith on rounding a corner was confronted with the combined road/rail tunnel that was at talywain landsale yard, now a car park for the country park. On another occasion was delivering to a primary school just up from the new Ebbw Vale station to discover it was being constructed on the site of the steelworks. The name of the school appropriately being Hotmills Primary School. My most abiding memory was driving up the valley to Abercwmboi to try and clear my welsh 08s in 1983. At that time the Coking plant was in full operation spewing thick orange smoke and steam into the atmosphere. Clean air? Give me pollution and atmospherics anyday!

Railmail of Watford, Guy Norris of Neil Street? Not "Model" shops but enabled younger enthusiasts to expand their collections and what about Buffer Stops Nr Goodge Street? Owner seemed to open up when he felt the urge!

Just caught the end of operations and spent a week around Tintwhistle (apparently locally pronounced tintsel according to BBC traffic) and Crowden. The sight and sound of the 76s working up to Woodhead at night was quite eerie. Went on to incorporate some Tommies on a past layout courtesy of Trix.

Many of the John Summers hoppers were reconditioned for use on the ICI trains after Shotton ceased smelting. Check out the Cheona Publications Book. A real treat!

Years ago I believe Romford did 3mm wheels as I have used some on kits and Tri-ang chassis (or is that chassies). I say probably as they might have been 4mm ones on 12mm gauge axles. They looked OK so did not investigate further. A look on E-bay might source some. Great thing about Romfords is that they are self quartering. In most cases I have used my Peatol Lathe to turn down Tri-ang wheels successfully. If you know someone with a lathe that could be an option. When I was modelling in 3mm I was doing it on a very tight budget so had to use all my ingenuity to keep costs down.