Davexoc

July 83 Modern Railways mentions a possible BT10 development based on the workings of MagLev. So the primary suspension would be magnetic, but whether it came to fruition I don't know...

The class 115s went to Bletchley from Aylesbury prior to the arrival of 165/6 Turbo servicing facility. Milton Keynes then needed aggregates which came up from the west country by way of the line to a depot just outside Wolverton. And then there was the Akeman Street fertilizer, or was that just an undercover operation to feed into the Top Secret MOD rocket test facility at Westcott? The line now being a road connection from the A41 for all the lorry bound waste to the the Greatmoor EFW facility.

Evidently, it wasn't the only one so fitted, this link shows BT35s on 42257, where you can just about see the inboard discs, but it does have more dampers... https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/42430509350

I don't recall curtain linings being a thing in the 70s. Bright colours yes, but once the roof is on the colour might become more subdued, unless the houses are being lit internaly...

The place name threw me until I saw this photo, then I realised exactly where it was. Just above the loco is a bridge over the M1. I've driven past here many a time, but never actually seen a passing train. As the train rounds the bend heading north it will shortly pass behind Toddington motorway service area. It also passes the site of Sundon cement works, which had only recently closed when the photo was taken, something that I don't recall ever seeing, but apparently it was connected to the mainline and also had a 3' gauge system internally. Well that's something that I've learnt today.... A bit of info here https://www.flickr.com/photos/28083135@N06/17495091344 Then nowadays, just to the left is the newish junction 11A of the M1 with the start of the sprawl of warehousing and distribution that has sprung up around Leagrave to the left and behind....

If I may, some then and 'nearer' now shots to go with your posts today.... The Aylesbury photos are now 4 years old... Firstly the Tarmac Planet Then I believe this is the Peckett Aylesbury looking north, at least one of the pylons is in view And Aylesbury station

Maybe she couldn't be bothered to read through the entire Encylopedia Britanica to see if it yielded the answer...

Check your WB, 'white balance' settings. I've seen it before on an old camera of mine. I think I'd inadvertently adjusted that rather than changed the shooting mode or something...

I've been testing the RevolutioN class 128 haulage capacity, and it is seriously good for it's size. Anyway, here is a drone shot from this evening, or as they wouldn't have existed at that time, maybe it was from a low flying balloon....

So I thought I would run my 128 with a tail load, then it became a bit of a test session. I ended up with this ensemble... That is 2 x GUVs, 3 x CCT, 2 x SPV, a SR CCT, then 5 more bogie vehicles including a Lima Syphon on Dapol bogies, 13 vehicles in total. Now that lot could circulate as Express Parcels in 30 seconds, 45-50 would be a more realistic speed. But then how would it perform at slow speed? Well, it works better over pointwork with power bogie leading, and the drag on the tighter bends leads to a little wheelspin. Going in the powered bogie trailling mode, the trailling wheelset would drop into the gap on the crossing of Peco code 80s in the fiddle yard, requiring a nudge to get going again. But, powered bogie leading the whole ensemble completed a circuit in 4.5 minutes.... That to me is impressive for such a low profile motor driving just 2 axles. Bring on the missing units....

I've got one of the original 04s, which have quite a good haulage capacity. I found that hauling 50-odd 27T tipplers was a good form of stay-alive, the loco faltered, 50+ couplings close up and nudged it back into life....

Interesting difference in rail weights on the road in front of the loco. I'm assuming that was a siding, code 100 meets code 75.... Just wondering what the yellow is in the distance. It looks like someone has drive a loco up there on the ballast of the lifted line...

Just as the service retoration was approaching, looks like there might be a further delay. I heard on the local radio the other morning that one of the 'test' trains, as they put it had been involved in a level crossing incident. Unit requires repairs, but the car driver did a runner..... I believe it was reported as having taken place on 12th October.

There was a rail delivery train in the Mursley area just this morning. Last week there was a ballast delivery in Falcons just east of Winslow, t'n't Freightliner job, left overnight on the bridge over Little Horwood Road....

Went to GETS with daughter and 2 grandchildren, and had a most enjoyable day. Good to see a healthy N gauge presence at the show, really liked Scarlington. Any way, came away with some West Hill Wagon Works detailing bits, and this pair at a bargain price. I know, they are totally out of era, but as large logo versions sell out very quickly, I thought at the price, a fairly easy respray job and some new 3D nameplates from Railtec was the way to go....

Went today and arrived about 11.45, having hopped on the bus at CMK at 11.30 with 2 grandchildren in tow. The venue was the busiest I have seen it on the Sunday, but nothing was more than 2 deep to get a view, and patience soon leads to a front row view. We all thoroughly enjoyed it, and later in the day got prime viewing at CMK miniature. Good to see there were far more seats out this year, but still most taken which could just be down to the higher numbers? For anyone driving in, just park somewhere near CMK station and hop on the bus from stop Z6, half hourly double decker both ways. It might cost a few quid to park, but for what it costs, it ain't gonna buy you another loco....

Yes they are the same length. The 128s had the beefier 230bhp engines compared to the 117 paltry 150bhp type. The problem with a RTR 117 is that Bachmann do it in 00, RevolutioN now have the underpinnings, but dare they announce it? I would have no problem though if they went for the 115 instead. I mean, the livery variation is there for umpteen 4-car sets as the real thing never ran in anything remotely like fixed sets.... When the 120 comes out, that will have the lower powered chassis, so I can live with the non-sound Dapol twin powered 117 with its inbuilt sound effects for now....

Looks like very flat, faded but fairly clean olive to me. Touch of white and the mattest of matt lacquer you can find, probably even on the windows. I quite like the Halfords offering....

RevolutioN DPU arrived today, via a drop through the letterbox.... Survived and tested, all good. Runs very quiet and creeps along, well done guys, just need you to do the 117 to the same standard.

My first RevolutioN powered offering, and it survived the trip/drop through the letterbox! Silky smooth and far superior to the Dapol mechanism, close in some of the speed range, but so much quieter.... Running with a class 117, well two modified Dapol 121s.... Picking up the evening mail, well if the staff come out to load it...

Impressive but, who left that Gronk in the background? Could have got a Teddy Bear instead....

We couldn't get a decent sized factory off the ground to make automotive batteries in this country, so I fear something to power trains and like is a pipe dream. In 10 years time they'll probably look at the IET and decide they are too near to end of life to spend that much to modify them anyway....

Typo there I think, the horns either side of the headcode box indicating it is a class 25...

All 4 sub-classes turn up in Milton Keynes, although the /3s might be a bit less common.

And the cable looming goes on. But a bit of light relief, some 70s traction with a Whizzo on stone tipplers destined for Wolverton, and a double headed Rat hauled up van train. Must do something with those old red curtains, feeling a coat of sky blue or light grey emulsion coming along at some point....