Downer

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this looks like a platform-to-platform bridge, like most of the others on the market. Would you consider a taller, non-station footbridge at some point in the future?

A common view, I imagine. These days any new release from the major manufacturers seems to conjure up trepidation and pleasurable anticipation in almost equal measure.

Certainly had a half-cab in May 1960, so I'd guess the answer is no.

I just have to ask - how long is the box?

There's also a 25th Anniversary set retailing at about £250, but no indication so far of what's in it.

After following this thread, I am seriously considering cancelling my three year-old order for the green sound version. Am I over-reacting?

A 1st/3rd brake is a brake composite - a BCK A brake 3rd is a BTK (or a BSK after 3rd class was renamed 2nd class sometime in the 50s.)

According to my trusty 1955 Combined Volume there were five sub-sets of this class at the time. One retained the decorative footplating, and so isn't relevant for the moment. Then there's the one that Hornby seem to be producing (if the numbers suggested are correct), which had the larger round-topped boiler and modified footplating. The final three versions had these as well, but one of these had eight inch piston valves, one had nine and a half inch piston valves, and one retained slide valves. Now, I don't have a clue what piston or slide valves are, so I've no idea whether they're visible, or big enough to matter if they are. Can anyone help?

They didn't get to London either, but one was sent to Bedford for a couple of years, so I'm thinking why not Kentish Town? It could have provided cover for ailing Fowler 2-6-2s on the T&H.

Now showing as July/Aug 2014 on Bachmann website. Which is better than not showing at all.

The same dictionary describes an emergency as, among other things, a 'pressing necessity.' And if someone's wish to own a limited edition model is less than vital in the wider scheme of things, it remains a 'pressing necessity' for the person in question. One which the profiteer is exploiting. But this is all becoming a bit silly. Can we just leave it that some people, like myself, find this sort of behaviour morally and socially unacceptable, while others, like you, do not.

According to my dictionary, a profiteer is 'one who takes advantage of an emergency to make exorbitant profits.'

There's a difference between making a profit and profiteering.

I'm sure the high price won't put off GNR and other modellers who really want one of these, but for someone like me, who'd like but doesn't really need one, it does seem prohibitive.

An N7 0-6-2T. Those people who bought one would probably buy three.

I used to be a rivet counter, but now I'm counting spokes.

I recently bought 16001 - D8400 with a grey roof - wrongly assuming that it would be the loco more-or-less as built, and ideal for my 1958-59 modelling period. I can get rid of the warning flashes easily enough, but as far as I'm aware D8400 didn't acquire the eggshell blue cab end until the early 60s, and removing or covering that would be trickier, so I'm considering a number change. D8404 is the favourite, working on the hopeful assumption that Heljan had a photo to hand when they gave their model of that engine a grey roof (albeit also with yellow warning panels). Of course that doesn't mean it had a grey roof in 58-59, but so far, after consulting numerous books and picture libraries, that's the best I have to go on. Has anyone seen a photo of that or another Class 16 with a grey roof, eggshell cab end, and no warning panel or flashes c1958-59?

Bachmann open? As far as I know there's been no word as to why the Porthole coaches have receded beyond the foreseeable future.

Thanks for that. I'll have another gander next time I see it, and look out for the succeeding volumes.

I've admired Steve Banks' model press articles a lot over the years, but am I right in thinking that this book deals almost exclusively with ex-GN LNER, and has little of note about train formations on the ex-GE section?

Or via the Tottenham & Hampstead?

Oh no. This could prove very expensive. Do you remember where this was reported - I haven't seen any photographic evidence myself.

Trouble is, the windows are wraparound, i.e. the glass is curved. I think you'd need a pre-shaped piece of clear plastic as well as a bendable etched frame.

Rails now have the BR Compound (early crest, DCC on board).

I see that Bachmann have not done a BR version with the footplate sandboxes, and seem to remember reading somewhere that these were removed before BR days. However, I've just found a lovely picture of a BR grey one with the sandboxes at Alton Station in January 1961. A rare exception or something more common?