Gary H

What was the fault with the HST set, Craig? DSD, AWS related? I wonder if this was a first for a 57 upto Newquay?

Contrary to or as well as my earlier posting, top and tail class 68's on Northern Belle to Cornwall next Saturday.

Indeed. PC's supply 415 v 3 phase ETS where as Night Riv stock is single 850- 1000 v.

Looked like a long night!

I doubt DRS can enter into another contract to supply another 4 or 5 brand new loco's TBH plus they need them for their own use. The real biggie though is that their use on the beds would push it over the edge into being completely unviable. It makes no money now as it is! 68's also have higher track access charge versus 57. There is also the rather large problem of lots of GWR drivers being trained to drive them, this would also be very, very expensive unless you use drivers from another TOC in which case you would see GWR drivers on the Night Rivera link out of work!! = very bad news!! In short, 68's on the Night Rivera- its never going to happen!!

No Rich. The plan is to run a rake of 4 or 5 MK2's with 68's in top & tail mode. This is to temporarily replace the NMT which is undergoing some maintenance apparently. Toward the end of June. I doubt we'll ever see 68's as 57 replacements on the beds anytime soon, far to expensive to hire in comparison as well as a higher RA number.

Not the most comfortable of loco's to be on a night turn at 30 mph all the way has to be said! How many times would you expect to be looped on that particular diagram at 30 MPH Jim? I figure on it taking just under 5 hours with NO stops, but that's never going to happen is it!

Definitely a first!

Living about 10 minutes down the road from there, I've seen that spot many times but I've never seen a photo taken from there. Yours proves beyond doubt its a total winner! Very nice, I'm impressed.

I take it you can do this with a Lok V4 and a Lok programmer then?? One other question, does this mean all subsequent Loksound V4 will come already programed with the new Full Throttle firmware??

I remember a night on Filton bank, Bristol probably about 17 years ago now. One of those "special some-ones' in an office some where thought it would be OK to roster a single 37 on our ballast train that was in the region of about 800 tons to drop ballast up the bank to Bristol Parkway. Needless to say we didn't make it to the top. Mind, driver made some racket trying! In the end he had to admit defeat and we were rescued by a 47 from Barton Hill depot. The noise of both of them from the cab of the 37 plus the red exhausts in the dark will be forever etched into my memory.

I thought that too, Mick. The pic you linked to seemed to suggest a variant as the axle box's look that way. The above pic of 6364 confirms it- thanks for the info! So, leads me onto my next question, what are these going to be used for? Translators for units of some description I'm guessing.

'BR1' bogies?? I thought those had been banished from the national network years ago?

That is a striking similarity to the operation of the Zimo decoder in the current 4mm Sutton Locomotive Works Class 24.

Especially the un-silenced 567!

Its a good question, Simon. Production constraints make it a tricky area as does the gauge issue plus side play in the wheels for tighter curves etc but most manufacturers do tend to make some effort in this area, Kato and Athearn being two straight off the top of my head! It is rather glaring on some models though and tends to remind me of a 1980's Lima model.

Its nice but Ive just noticed my pet hate, the fact that the brake shoes are no where near to where they should be. Stands out like tits on a fish which is a shame, other than that its a nice model.

Funny old world isn't it, I was standing over the other side near that van somewhere having just alighted from the train for a quick pic! Pic now unfortunately lost in the midst of time.

As far as S2's go, you cant beat these and especially at this price for a Loksound fitted version at the moment, its a steal - http://www.modeljunction.info/estore/product_info.php?products_id=42415 I bought one from a NA outlet when they first came out 2 or 3 years ago. The slow speed control is the best ive seen for a long time and the sound is only bettered by a Suttons Loco works Class 24.

When it blows down there, properly, they'll be horizontal!!

It is absolutely superb, Ray!! Its the sort of layout I aspire to and wish I'd built but didn't.

I have an uneasy feeling in automatically assuming that it was the signaller who gave the tractor driver permission to cross. The initial RAIB statement doesn't even say that the phone was used to call the signaller. He did have permission to use the crossing, but by whom?

Just after I bought 24081, I went to my local model shop and the chap behind the counter didn't know that such a model (the SWL version) even existed!!

Ahh yes, I thought it rang a bell, 67002 which ofcourse gained notoriety at Lawrence Hill, Bristol way back in 2000 after landing on top of an HAA hopper!

Not to worry, there will almost certainly be 24/7 security at the entrance to the site back up where the porta cabins are, that being the only exit / entrance to the site itself. Even for staff and NR personnel, they'll have a signing in / signing out point. No one would be allowed to simply wander in for a look.