RANGERS

When after leaving an elderly couple friends of mine who are both in their eighties and who I keep an eye on, not that its needed, I had a call on the drive home, from a charity for the elderly asking if I was coping during the cost of living crisis, receiving help with my heating bills and was there anything they could help me with? Deflated is an understatement.....!

You’re welcome to mine, they feel pretty useless after a day at the show…

It is an old name, it’s been in use for coach parking since the 1970s at least and though it’s over 20 years since I took a coach there, I think it’s still used for that. Very much looking forward to a return to what has been a feature of most Easter Sarurdays since my first visit as an 11year old in 1976. All set for the short ride over from our weekend location in Harrogate, I have the ticket I bought in 2019 when they went on sale for the 2020 show, are these still valid?

If a caravan combination is going to sink into the surface, it doesn’t bode well for its intended use as a coach park!

A humorous, witty, entertaining and caring gent who brought warmth and humility everywhere he went. Ive missed him on Radio 2 on a Sunday afternoon since he departed last year, he never failed to bring humour and I was looking forward to his return on Boom but sadly it’s not to be. He’ll be missed by two and four legged friends alike. RIP Paul, the world has lost some of its light this morning.

Last time I visited Access, probably nearly 20years ago now, they sold a range of code 3 buses and coaches in the colours on local operators, do they still sell them?

After Vaughan advertised the layout for sale, it’s now made the trip to the East Midlands and the relatively minor detailing work to get it closer to completion is now underway. The pics below are the start of the next chapter in its life, whilst progress initially will be slow, it’ll be after Easter before the pace picks up, it’ll be ready for its first show in August, maybe sooner.

You talked to them for four hours?…

That'll set another new thread of speculation running....

There used to be some photos of Somers Town on display on the South Eastern platforms at St Pancras. Ben for or five years since I was over there so don't know if they're still there.

If, after the pleas to buy the latest round of Fleetlines has produced enough orders to sustain the interest in rail replacement vehicles, a decent 1970s coach such as a Plaxton Elite III or Duple Dominant would be welcomed I'm sure. Both had sizeable production runs, the Plaxton in particular, and with Rapido's ingenuity in design, the different versions (coach and "grant" door, lower destination or dome etc) could be accommodated.

Pleased to say Ring Haw arrived on Wednesday, though not being home much this week, it was this morning before I opened it but I can confirm I wasn't disappointed, it is a superbly crafted model. Looking forward to the pair of sound fitted ones when Rapido let them out of quarantine!

My Ring Haw is hopefully with Hardy’s and my pair of DCC Jack’s Green’s are in the pending pile so reading all the great things about this model from the folks who now have theirs is irritating to say the least! 😡

A Duple Midland/ Willowbrook DP body on what looks like a Ford R192, not a great combination for a service bus and an abortion of a coach. It didn’t have a lot going for it though it looks to have found it’s place some 50 years down the line. Im amazed it’s lasted this long, longevity wasn’t a feature of latter day Willowbrook bodies, they were truly awful examples of the coachbuilders craft.

Looking forward to looking in at some point tomorrow, can I ask what the parking arrangements are for the show?

There’s never been any shortage of sound around your show stand….😉

In my days working in London, which spanned the introduction of ULEZ in the central area, on my regular walk from Kings Cross to our Holborn office I passed: 1984 Vauxhall Carlton 1976 Volvo 145 three VW T2s ranging from 1972 to 1979 1984 VW T25 1972 VW Beetle 1980 MB 230 estate (that was gorgeous!) 1977 Mini Clubman 1979 Austin FX4 195? Morris J van 1967 Morris Minor van Condition varied but all looked to be in regular use, the last two were “retro” commercials in business use, the J with a deli and the Minor with a florist. Why there were so many older cars did make me wonder but clearly the owners had a reason to keep them and as not all would be ULEZ exempt at the time, some still won’t be, that wasn’t a factor.

For anyone within striking distance of the West Midlands, Oakes annual round of bargain offers start tomorrow. http://www.aoakesmodeltrains.co.uk

That’ll be the Cooper S Quattro…

We’re these routed direct from Bowling to Invergordon or tripped to Mossend or Cadder and then onward?

Blue-Grey Mk1coaches, SK and TSO in particular, and at reasonable prices please! I still struggle to get my head around £50+ for a 4mm coach.

Aside from what looks like n interesting book, the publisher has an eclectic mix of literature on historic subjects and some very interesting model parts for those interested in 7mm and above.

From a young age, Sleaford held a fascination for me, Joint line freight, ECML diversions and Skeggy excursions gave plenty of scope for a variety of trains and as the station changed little from the 50s to the 70s steam to blue diesels were easily accommodated. 20+ years of research, planning, building and collecting stock and other models worked towards making a start and the shed to house it was at the point of being ordered, when a major health matter brought the stark realisation that I’d more years behind me than I’d in front, and taking stock of the progress made in the previous 20years, the reality dawned that it was already out of reach. Since then, the focus has shifted towards my usual fare of micro-layouts, the stock has been drastically thinned out, I’ve dabbled with 7mm, there’s two layouts in progress and a fair chance both will be finished, and I have more space around the place to build things rather than store them!

When they call you and say, “oh, I didn’t think you’d be working”, even when you are.

😢