C126

Could not agree more. And also explain why they may not hire more trains/coaches to alleviate over-crowding. More back-bone, please.

Do not know if this is of interest, but this was the first time 60 001 crept round the side of the Brush Works, I was told: 23d June, 1989. Thought I had posted it elsewhere, but can not see it.

I am pleased to see what I think is a Southern Railway concrete lineside hut in photos 1 and 4. I knew they got everywhere, but... 😃

Glad to see you have posted a new thread in the 'Swiss Railways' section, with replies already. There is mention of helix construction (if HO) here which I hope helps: There are probably other, more useful, threads if you take the time to search RMWeb. I remember an article about Helix-construction in the Railway Modeller a while ago. Good luck with your new venture, and never be afraid to ask for advice.

Sorry, me again. I am genuinely interested in what you liked about the layout, 'mouldering and unobtainable'. Please do consider making a list of its good points, and a drawing of the layout (perhaps in another section of RMWeb), and we can give you suggestions/advice/etc., if you are interested. When your version is finished, and the ex-F.i.L. realises his has rotted beyond redemption in the garage, wasted and unloved, and tries to sting you for four times what it is worth, you can tell him, 'I no longer need it. Here is my own.' And he will be the loser. Nuff said.

Do not waste your life wondering about this 'original' and how you can (not) get your hands on it. Try and put it behind you. Make your own, based on the best bits you remember of his. Then you will have something that is wholly yours, and you can say to yourself with pride, "I made that!"

Sixth wagon behind the loco? And run what you want. When I was little, I had a 'Western' pulling a rake of a dozen 1920's P.O. 5-plank wagons on my 'roundy-roundy' in the loft.

They were also used (for road-stone) around Gatwick when building the M23 in the 1970's(?).

Well I always thought "Birmingham International" referred to 'Gateway's predecessor: http://www.internationalstores.co.uk/html/shops.html 😉

This is an interesting example I hoped someone would quote. Is it true the reopening scheme for this line started before the 'Restoring Your Railway Fund' was implemented?

There being no specific thread on RMWeb I could find for this DaFT initiative, I thought I would start one, even if it is closed now to bids for schemes. I have seen @The Stationmaster write about this in another thread, but if anyone 'in the know' would like to share their thoughts here, especially on recent progress of schemes accepted, I would be interested. The web-sites: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/restoring-your-railway-fund A document to read: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-your-railway-fund-programme-update Thanks and best wishes, Neil.

I used Precision paints on an ODA, thus : Brand chosen more because of my late father's devotion, than an expert comparison. Hope this helps.

I forget how long it takes him, but I am beginning to think the only way I will see a OO 4-CIG on my layout before I am quite gaga is by paying Danny Havlik for one of his exquisite models. Alas, approx. £800, I think (but worth it with the time and effort). Seen at D.E.M.U. Showcase 2023. Would a crowd-funded production-line bulk-purchase persuade him to reduce the cost?

Sorry, perhaps I should have posted my comment here. Forgot this thread!

Sorry to clutter this thread with marginal material, but I see from the 'Man in Seat 61' 's web-site, the V.S.O.E. no longer starts from Calais Maritime, but Paris Gare de l'Est in 2024. Bit unromantic, wot?!

I can only commend you for your 'glass half full' attitude. My comparative knowledge of passenger services is scant, let alone off the Southern Region. I was indulging in gloom about the freight services - my greater interest and default attitude. 🙂

Just to add my two-penn'orth, I think the whole network's staff are de-motivated, losing morale, and giving up. My T.M. was reduced to tears last month by the evening peak-time over-crowding and consequent abuse. What is the point in inspecting tickets on the train to get this, even if you could fight your way through? Station ticket barriers are left open, owing to reduced staffing or their indifference. On occasion, at peak time I have seen ticket barriers flung open because the queues are so long and slow feeding through. It is not just Cross-Country. Railway staff are talking about a 'second-Beeching by stealth'.

Shout me down if I am being daft, but it just struck me: could a manufacturer do a Mk. I carriage based E.M.U., using some sort of modular system? Like the convertion kits, clipping different sides and under-frames to a common floor/chassis. Bogies interchangable; cab fronts ditto (although I am thinking of the B.R. (S) family). Could this keep costs down? Alternatively, could @Darius43 be persuaded to set up a production line if we pay him enough...? 😀

At last bought and read my copy. Good spread of interest. Paul Shannon's Steel terminals making up for the delay in his book, and the photo of girders being unloaded at Truro Yard worth the cover price for me: very useful. Mr Rabone's article on 1971 York was a depressing list of 'What we have lost', splendid pics of 'Splott' I found impossible to photograph myself at D.E.M.U. Showcase 2022(?), colour photos of S.R. E.M.U.s. Something for everyone I hope. Many thanks.

I appreciate the economic arguments described above, but how can manufacturers get youngsters interested in the hobby, if they can not buy what they see when they travel by train, or just peer over the fence? Or do young people gain an interest in other ways? I assume rail travel is declining in this demographic group. Are they inspired by visiting preservation venues? I am curious about how the youth start hobbies that do not involve staring at a mobile-phone.

I was surprised to see no mention on RMWeb of Mr Andrew Martin's 2017 book (2018 pbk) Night trains : the rise and fall of the sleeper. Started reading it after my beloved, who enjoyed it greatly, and Martin writes knowledgably about the social and technical side of C.I.W.L., in the guise of following the old trains' routes. He also mentions Geo. Behrend as an authority. Anyone else read it? Enjoyed it?

I was very sorry to read this. I did not know it had ceased, and have many happy memories of pottering round it each year from the 1970's with my father and uncle. Second-hand Lima locos for a tenner, and a daft pre-teen desire to collect the entire T.O.P.S. loco list. Thanks @Redkiterail for all those pictures. Made me realise how much I had missed, and how one should put the effort in if possible to prepare an annotated map before arrival. Thank you all for a most enjoyable day.

I think it is this: https://www.keymodelworld.com/model-world-live-2024

O no! Just as well excerpts (I think) are being published in Traction. Bought the latest issue yester-day, for the steel terminals.

This is just wonderful. "Telex format" - a much loved phrase of mine. On cursory reading the system bares a resemblance to my trade's coding system, Ma.R.C. Thanks for posting.