Gary H

Excellent report Simon. Ive heard rumours in the not to distant past of plastic sleepers being trialled on NR infrastructure. Given the Americans 31 ton axle load, it should be a breeze to use them here I would have though? We shall see. I had a few trips along the FR must be some 33 years ago now! I can definitely recommend it, its a stunning and very interesting ride. Its funny you mention the confusion with the clips, you'll quite often see the same thing done (wrongly) on the big railway every now and again. E Clip = tail on the rail, Pandrol 401= tail on the sleeper / housing!

Is that the 'new' re tooled version? It looks the part!!

Without any shadow of a doubt Bob.

I think its a little concerning that upwards of 3 million quid's worth of kit has been sitting on a dockside for 2 weeks now instead of being out earning money for the owners. Down time and all that!

Im not sure but one thing these have that 56's, 66's and 70's don't is a lower axle loading! That maybe the clincher for something specific.

Word on the grapevine is that there is a specific contract in the offing these will be used on.

Hmm, I don't think it would make much difference if they were covered in 24 carat gold leaf to be honest, they'd still look ugly. Abit like polishing a turd.

Today it finally occurred to me! The front of a 70 looks abit like one of those old fashioned TV sets we had in the 70's. You can probably tell I really took my time with this project

Those are special flats they use in the yard, they wont be travelling out on the road on that trailer! There's a name for them but I cant remember what it is. The 2 A4's brought back from the states used them also and were trans shipped again onto proper road trailers. In the case with the Fugly's, they'le just be dropped (pun not intended) straight onto the railway.

You know what would really finish that off?? Rub an HB pencil over two thirds of the buffer heads circumference. It is a superb picture!!

Somebody needs to show the "professional artist" my arse what real rust looks like. And I was thinking the same thing David, that Weltrol would be over loaded I think.

Just when you think it cant possibly get any worse!!

I can remember going into the GW staff association place for a pint a few years ago. Cant remember why I was in Bristol that day but I was with another railway colleague who's name also escapes me now. It must have been quite close to its closure, ive been in some rough looking places in my time but that place really was in a terrible state! Shame it was allowed to get so run down and uncared for.

Not the best shot but not to bad either. Wish I could remember who's make the traction motor was laying in the foreground.

"""This coach would look great dumped in any scrap line.""" Hmm. No mate, it would look great dumped in my dustbin!

It looks like a 31 to me aswel, Sarah, Tri-ang-ish / Airfix also. All the lot is about 20 quids worth??

yeah, a steam roller would have probably improved it!

As they say, fools and their money etc........... It looks like it was painted with a roller.

Interesting website, Mick. Cheers! Live progress for ships!

Well I did actually write an appropriately worded and polite message to ebay which subsequently didn't even warrant any kind of reply on their part! I would assume that they must be inundated with similar emails especially since RM vastly inflated their charges. I sometimes think that a lot of buyers who do a lot more buying than selling simply don't realise how expensive it is to post items now.

On the subject of postage and costs, I had a proper moment a couple of weeks a go. I sold 2 wagons to a guy who won them through 2 separate auctions. I weighed them and input the info into the postage calculator. He already asked me if I would combine shipping, I ofcourse agreed to. The shipping cost came to £6.50 for which I thought was abit steep for 2 bogie wagons, 2nd class recorded. Of course RM cots have skyrocketed recently. As a good will gesture, I refunded him £1 of his postage cost. I packed them at my own expense and also drove to the PO at my own expense! He then marked me down on postage costs on my 5 out of 5 star detailed seller ratings. I sometimes wonder why I ******* bother.

Slightly for a moment but on a General Electric theme, Ive seen a fair few fire damaged GE machines over the years, but it looks like this one http://www.railpictures.net/photo/462852 was a real big fire! This particular 4400HP loco was 3 years old in March 2013.

Mal, is this any good to you?? http://www.dccsupplies.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=1250

I did have a laugh at the comments under this shot of these whatsit's-- http://www.railpictures.net/photo/462432

I think that was always the problem with us being "first" with railways. Maybe our rail pioneers thought it would be big enough....... Brunel aside!