Ncarter2

Eddy current brakes I believe.

Not a check rail, it is just the way the crossing has been cast, many of them like it, especially older castings. It’s technically part of the wheel transfer area, but wouldn’t actually have the wheel touching the section with the deformation. Side on view gives a different perspective, top down would make it clearer.

Managed to bag 2x boxes of the Accurascale JSA in British Steel for £35 per box, listed as new and unused, so providing they are as described, I feel that a bargain has been had.

Agreed, I have had one commissioned as I didn’t expect it to be produced. The only one I really would like is 90136, but I suspect this may need to be a refinish of another.

Yes, a sound version of 90128 was, and still is, available. £270 from Bachmann, not seen any at retailers, yet. I’ve seen the odd one on eBay, generally selling for less or on the mark. Maybe they want to shift excess stock, better to let some select retailers sell as opposed to having stock sat about. Waters down the collectors club IMHO, but I guess as a business, they don’t want stock sat.

Ravel was a nice unexpected arrival this morning. Really nice touch with the box, and the limited edition certificate. I was interested in 015 as well, but don’t recall in working on the network post being made into its current guise, so held off. Looking forward to Kernows now.

May have to treat myself in Jan to the Kernow model 😬

Fantastic service from the Accura team. I had an exchange agreed, from me sending to the replacement being in my hands was less than a week. Can not fault the team or their service. Just how it should be.

I may have gone slightly OTT with the 92’s but given the huge disappointment of the FGW HST coaches and the 91 issues, I returned all of mine to Hornby and retailers. Bonus is, extra pennies I didn’t expect and the 92’s are a much better investment, though I manage to slip in a 59. Only the sleeper pair and 015 from RoS are not in the new fleet. I am tempered by one of the sleeper locos for the head of the IPA wagons.

Very much so, but a nice bonus for some, been wanting the model, but didn’t want to have to join the collector club to do so, duly ordered!

I thought the Deltic was special, but these things have blown me away even more. I may have over indulged, but it had to be done. First of the fleet landed safely, just one coupling had dropped out. The only ones I’ve not gone for are the sleeper ones and 92015. One of the two 003’s is destined to become 92046. So glad the Accura team took this one on, so many memories of them in Rugby.

Not disagreeing, but the common sense element has gone. During the WCRM there were several sensible decisions made for the greater good. We don’t even entertain that now. Once a spec is issued, that’s it. Want to amend or change, cancel the work and start from scratch. Part of the issue is skill fade and the inability to pick things up and make engineering based recommendations.

The problem with 120’s is you struggle to get adequate JCT’s and given the rails are experiencing hot and sustained periods of heat, it still results in problems and speed restrictions. Even with good sleepers, more per length and LERP’s, if the expansion isn’t there, the rail will eventually go.

Agreed, complete waste of money, however we do ourselves no favours. As we live in a blame culture and common sense does no longer exist, it is hardly a surprise these situations arise. The fact renewals are largely completed by contractors, who will deliver what is set out with no concept of constructive discussion is now a fact of how things work. If that means a renewal adjoins another, but the spec set out inadvertently leaves a gap of say 5 sleepers, you can bet those delivering will leave those 5 sleepers. Again, interpretations on mileage will factor. Gone and forgotten are the days where engineers could be engineers and make decisions.

Generally yes, but renewals are still being delivered with E series on concrete, on Southern at least, predominately where CEN56 is used.

I get it is a testing time in the industry, but any engineer worth his salt would not knowingly let their asset get to a point it’s unsafe or be in a position where they bow to senior management who don’t hold safety of the line. Those who do, frankly shouldn’t be employed in the role. Maintenance will always be necessary, anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. As long as trains run on rails, there will be a need. What will be different is how we accomplish it, be that revised working practices or alternative repair/replacement methods. We can safely push timescales out, we can safely use different process, providing it’s done in the correct way. Remote monitoring, when used correctly, is a fantastic tool, one of many technologies we fail to exploit the full potential of. NR is on the back foot, its senior management/leadership is out of its depth, they are treating it like a business rather than an industry. I firmly believe that those in the Ivory tower need to removed and industry experts put in their place, but at the same time, we need to accept that as an industry, we need to modernise and move forward. Just because it worked back in the day, doesn’t mean it’s suitable now.

Good indication that the sleepers, while looking poor, are not as bad as they may seem.

Typical of NR, will probably remain that way for it last few years before replacement.

Generally referred to as the ‘Network Measurement Train’ these days. I may have some photos of the Millers. I’ll check tomorrow. Nice looking machines, but reality, this pair is not as good as the Schweerbau HSM which is due to leave the UK soon.

For the 10years I was at Rugby, we simply called them the HNRs or N’hampton loop. I think I only ever heard the called ‘new’ twice, generally by the OLE guys.

I’m looking for a Hatton’s Class 66 in the Large Logo livery. I would be looking for a DCC ready or fitted version, not sound. I have the sound version, but there is no chance I could convert my fleet, so I’ve decided to give up on sound. If anyone with a non sound one of interested in a sound version, I’d be happy to discuss, not looking to make profit.

Let’s just hope they cancel the refurbishment plans for the 458’s permanently and they get withdrawn. From a track perspective, they are horrendous units, they would do the Pompey directs no favours.

The 350 fleet did have modifications to the bogies not long after delivery. They were incredibly harsh to the track, rail was wearing out far quicker than it should. The 450 fleet didn’t, from memory, has the same level of modification, though I would argue they ride a little better.

Well, got 68027 back yesterday, extremely disappointed. Windscreen is scratched, fitment isn’t that great, the same end with the windscreen damage are not aligned correctly. Having read a few concerns on here and else where, I marked the inside of my body shell prior to sending away, it’s not the one I received back. Also, the packaging I sent it in is not what was returned, which wouldn’t have bothered me too much, but I wrapped in three layers of bubble wrap, used a three core box and they sent back in a box that was cut up to fit the model and no additional wrapping, it was no thicker that a cereal box! Hope for a swift response and resolution, but thought I’d give a view on my experience.

Has anyone been lucky enough to get an Intercity one without the rubbing? Ive just had a 6th delivered and the rubbing to the red strip and white in the cab is really bad.