Gary H

Indeed. People really do need to do their research before parting with their cash! A fool and his money etc etc.

Amazing to see that steam loco watering tower thing still in situ in what must have been circa 1980?? Looks like Riverside yard to me? ( picture 3).

If you mean track inspection / patrol it depends on the category of the line concerned which is influenced by line speed, track fastenings used and gross annual tonnage and also wether its CWR, jointed or switches and crossings, so there's a few variables! Being as its not my patch, I'm not 100% sure but I think its a Cat 3 line (60 mph to 75 mph along the wall) CWR so once per 4 weeks. Around the corner towards Powderham its over 90 mph so the frequency will increase to once per 2 weeks for CWR. Don't forget though we also have the NMT go down and up over it all every 2 weeks aswell.

I don't think Il be able to sleep tonight just worrying about missing out on such a valuable, un missable money making opportunity!!! Who knows, I may even earn enough to buy an equally worthless load of crap on the back of it!

I agree, the screening process on there is very tight! I must have checked in there to look at new shots every day for the last 8 years! Its an excellent site indeed.

Looks like we made the Railpics website which is no mean feat in this day and age I can testify!! http://www.railpictures.net/photo/493614

What happened to the one that was in it then? I take it this is another, later incident after the main generator trouble it had a fair while ago? I would think getting one from a Portuguese loco was severely scraping the bottom of the barrel! Class 50 spares must be getting low. Edited to say that the following answer's the question: Quote: 50044: Failed on the mainline in July 2012. The failure was crank shaft and big end bearing related. A replacement power unit has been obtained from a Portuguese 18XX, this has been overhauled and modified to UK specification. This replacement unit was paired with teh existing Generator at Brush in Loughborough End Quote.

Cant say Ive ever seen an Ivaran marked container, not even on a train in the U.S!! Im assuming that it must have finished its revenue earning days a far while ago to be still in those markings if its since been taken over by 2 company's. That one's certainly been around the world a few times if its an ex CP Ships box!! Im glad its not just me who takes notice of container markings. Must be something to do with being interested in American freight trains much like yourself ofcourse Martyn.

Any idea why its there? Its normally something big and expensive if a heritage loco visits Loughborough!

Crikey, look at the distance between the buffers in that last shot! Was it under power by any chance? That and the possibility the screw coupler was wound a little to long maybe.........

Dynamically it is very difficult, but I agree with your own findings on the 645E3 where Loksound is the closest you'll get to the real thing with Soundtraxx coming in second. Reference the earlier question of DCC systems, I use an NCE Pro Cab but to be honest this is probably overkill for my needs, I totally concur with what the other guys have said reference the Power Cab, its an excellent system and the point made about one handed operation is a valid one, especially where switching is concerned! Ive noticed that MRC throttle has the speed control right at the bottom of the throttle in comparison which is NBG where switching is concerned! The NCE gear is indeed very intuitive and fantastic value for money. Ive had my NCE cab for must be 8 years now and I've never regretted the choice for a second. By the way, Ive just noticed that Model Jnc have some of those ESU S2's in stock but I bet they wont have them for long! I cant see the erie Lackawanna model there but they may have sold out of those already within 24 hours!

Another recomnendation but this is simply to good not to share my experience. Ive just bought an Atlas Alco S2 with Loksound V4 and is only my second ESU sound equipped loco, the other being an Intermountain SD40-2. After being a Tsunami buyer for the last few years, the sound from the ESU chip of the S2 switcher totally eclipses anything Ive heard (or indeed owned) from a model before now. Moreover, the motor control offered from this model straight out of the box, is nothing short of staggeringly good! MB Klein sold all there's within days but if you can track one down sometime you wont be disapointed, never have I had so much enthusiasm in recommending a model locomotive! Simply blows everything else out of the park. It would be a joy to switch cars with. MB Klein have actually got a small few back in stock again.

Cheers, Mick. That's something new Ive learnt today then! Thought I was seeing things.

Mick, maybe you can explain this. On this picture of 47790, http://www.wnxx.com/14/1407/290714/47790B.htm Its obviously a 47 but it has class 57 style radiator grills. Certainly a new one on me! Are there any others so treated?? (47's).

I so wish they'd get rid of that delner coupling rubbish on the front, looks like the things had an accident of some sort. It ruins an other wise nice looking loco.

Yep, pilot end mounting. Sorry, I thought your model was having them on top of the pilot (hence 228's) In that case, fitting the 229's is a lot easier and they are easier to route the wires. As for lighting them up, you can use the excellent DCC Concepts "Nano LED's". These come pre-wired and will fit inside the bore of the ditch light castings. Handily, Hattons stock them- http://www.ehattons.com/stocklist/1000511/1000594/1540358/1000828/DCC_Concepts_Any_or_Multiple_Scales_Lighting_equipment_Country_unspecific/sceneprodlist.aspx Ive found the Ebay seller who is very useful for detailing parts if the usual suspects in the UK don't have what you need. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/T-J-Model-Trains-and-Things They are also very kind when it comes to 'pricing' your shipment.

I have to say, this gadget- http://www.jewelsandtools.co.uk/products/Jewellers_Tools_and_Equipment/Magnifiers/Optivisor.html is one of the best things Ive ever bought! An absolute god send, I wonder how I ever got on without it! Edited to say, if you do get an Optivisor, I would suggest you find somewhere that sells it with a #5 lense, you'll find it great for just about anything. Some vendors sell the lenses separately. The strongest is #10 but the focal length is very short and will be total overkill unless you need to count nats whiskers! When I bought mine, I never realised just how much I needlessly struggled when it came to detailing and modding diesels.

I would say Details West #228 would be your best bet. Ive noticed that on some 40's the tops are rounded but you could easily do that with a needle file. Ive fitted lots of 228's to Athearn's SD70ace's and one or tow other loco's. They can also be fitted with sunny white micro LED's. Its dam fiddly and tricky and takes some patience but the it pays off. http://www.needtrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=49_58&products_id=3615&zenid=2634b2960a5c51790388e586bc7c3cb5 The above link is a random one to show the pattern of the DL but Ive got mine easily from TJ Prantle on Ebay in the past, great seller for those hard to get detail parts. Below is a pic of my now departed MTH SD70ace #1989 using the same DW #228 ditch light castings and the reworked front hand rails using a pair of Kato stanchions. These are a flipping nitemare to do! MTH- never again!!!

Never mind, easily disguised later on. Ive not got an issue with any light switches but after careful consideration at the wiring stage, (obviously not carful enough) I ended up with a one particular double socket that I now have to poke with a stick to turn on and off!

Very cleverly made!!

I agree. Typical 'Euro looking' junk, looks just like its cars! It should have a Citreon badge on the front and even makes a Voyager look attractive. Makes me appreciate American stuff even more but Britain so needs to build its own again! My opinion

I am so going to dine out on this one latter when he gets home!

These are going to be 'civils' guys rather than us NR 'railway' people! We are two very different breeds indeed! The reasons for the periods of inactivity can be varied and without seeing or knowing what it is they are actually doing there at the moment from the comfort of a keyboard, it would be inappropriate for me to judge. The one fundamental difference though between real 'railway work' par se, (sleepers, rails etc) and civils activities tends to be that with the former, that clock never stops going round but the latter, maybe slightly less so! Could they perhaps be relying on very few windows of opportunity between train movements or maybe the tide? Edited- my colleague Mr M beat me to it!

Here you go Brian! Turn up the sound to notch 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBHuwJfPd3A&list=FLMKlE9XhHaMu9-1K0lOp2zA&index=68

Like my mother in-law would say- Some people really do need to get a bloody grip on reality!