Lambton58

Just to say that we as a family followed and thoroughly enjoyed the series for all sorts of reasons - the engineering challenges, the people, the locations and scenery*, the sheer entertainment of it and the achievement! So well done and thank you to all involved. *we have a lot of holidays in the Highlands and I have the midge bites to prove it!! Ralph Lambton 58

Found it! It's in Ken Hoole's The North East Railway Book (pub David & Charles) - the first ever pure North-eastern railways book I ever bought. Hoole says that shunting on the Newcastle Quayside was carried out by J71s and J72s. I should imagine that would have been the case in NER days (as E and E1s of course) alongside older NER 0-6-0Ts possibly. There's also a nice 1961picture in British Railways Past & Present, No 4 The North East by Robinson & Groundwater, showing J72 69024 working on the Quayside, alongside an Austin A35 van and an old BRS Leyland 8 wheeler. Ralph Lambton 58

Yes. Found this photo on the interweb, though I've seen it before in either Ken Hoole's North Eastern Album or the North Eastern book in the Then and Now series. Can't recall if the engine in the photo is a J71 or J72 https://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/503153-rescuing-railways-2.html#post7585513 (post 38) Ralph Lambton 58

Went today with Flying Pig and we thought it was a crackingly good show. Best yet and agree with the comments about the move from St Albans being a generally good thing. As last year, we had absolutely no problem parking and again easily found a space in the carpark immediately outside the venue. Favourite layouts were Keiper Colliery, Arun Quay and Hambleden Valley. The latter because right at the end of the day we were invited to have a go driving, which was absolutely brilliant! (Many thanks to Steve Howard if you're reading this). Also enjoyed Ynysybwl, Kingswear and Mauch Chuck. Some good chats too with the some of the operators, demonstrators and traders. All in all a good show, so thanks and well done to the CMRA team. Ralph Lambton 58

Just caught up with Andy's photos and wow, they are stunning! Shame they didn't make it to the North Eastern Region. Ralph Lambton 58

Went today with Mr Flying Pig. Thought it was a good show; a nice relaxed atmosphere and some good layouts. I was particularly impressed with Minories, Dewsbury, Enigma Engineering and Mount Woodville Works. Minories was a delight to watch and Dewsbury has a lot of potential - definitely one to watch develop. The oddest moment of the day occurred whilst we were walking back to the car for lunch and were stopped by one of the stewards who asked us where the car park was!! Amusing though it was, I think the lack of clear signage to both the show and the car park was one of the weaker elements of the event. A few more signs and stewards would have helped. Meanwhile, has Kernow finally unravelled the knot of Enigma Engineering or does anyone know if he's still sat over the layout pondering his next move? Ralph Lambton 58

Thanks, that's superb. You might enjoy the Amber online film of the Bowes Line This is a short excerpt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDaXXtG-XiI and this is the whole film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRMeNMJatpw Enjoy! Ralph Lambton 58

Sorry, missed Flying Pig's PM as I've been away from RMWeb for a bit dealing with junior cricket! Anyway I did indeed get such a tool. Not Alan Gibson, but Knowle Wagon Works. More here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/111164-knowle-wagon-works/ Have to confess that I've not used it yet, but it is a very neat little gizmo with a free Allen key Cheers Ralph Lambton58

Very pleased with mine too. Runs beautifully. Ralph Lambton58

Oh you tease!! btw - found your 3H one the other day. It's in stock box No 2 at Lambton Towers

Finally got round to getting the layout out and running my Q6. Apart from a couple of minor snags it runs beautifully out of the box. The snags are 1. the sanding pipes were catching on the pointwork (Peco code 75). As a temporary fix I've removed them pending tweaking or filing down. They seem to be made from steel wire so are a pretty rebust. 2. the centre wheel on the tender sticks a bit, so a little bit of fettling is needed. As I said, apart from those items, it runs beautifully and looks great pulling an assortment of 21ton hoppers or steel flats. Ralph Lambton 58 PS the K1 got it's first run too (it's only taken me 18 months!!) ,,,, lurrrrverly :-) Hats off to Hornby, with the K1 and Q6 they have produced two superb models.

Hi, Thanks to AGR I'm now the happy owner of a Hornby Q6. It's a smashing model. Once again superb friendly service from Anthony, I can't recommend this shop too highly. Ralph Lambton58

Got one :imsohappy: courtesy of Anthony at AGR Models in Leighton Buzzard. But as it's a Christmas pressie I can't play with it till Christmas day though Ralph Lambton58 Edited for clarity

One happy customer here! Finally made it over to the shop today. Looks good! Very friendly and welcoming. And good service too; I rang this morning to see if Anthony had any K1s in stock. He had 2 left and would put one aside for me, which I collected this evening. So I'm now the happy owner* of a K1 and delighted that we've got a decent model railway shop nearby again, which will get better as Anthony adds more lines, N-Gauge stuff and paints etc. I for one will be making it my first port of call. Oh and the mince pies were good too *well sort of ie from Christmas day!!! Ralph Lambton58

Good choice. Didn't call in today but the brewery and shop is only a couple of miles down the road from Stoke Mandeville. Also, and conveniently for me, the brewery happens to be en route to No 2 son's university They usually have Chiltern Ale and the excellent Beechwood Ale available, plus whatever seasonal brew they're doing. They're shut on Sunday's though. Ralph Lambton58

Oh goody! Probably won't make it tomorrow, but a trip to Leighton Buzzard is in on the cards then Good luck with the venture! Ralph Lambton58

I couldn't have put it better - this is superb work. I agree with the comments about looking at the materials the military and aviation modelers use. For those who haven't yet seen it, the Britmodeller forums ( http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/ ) are well worth looking at. Ralph

Yep ! Agree about the sending off. Looked innocuous from different angles

Happy... Newcastle 0 - 3 Sunderland ... very happy Ralph Lambton58

Nah, Sunderland for me. Diabolical league form*, but a semi final place in the Capital One cup and have already gone further than Newcastle, Man U, West Ham, Spurs, Aston Villa & West Brom in the FA Cup. * but getting better (couldn't have been much worse...) Ralph Lambton 58

Oh definitely! I'd like to add Lambton 32 sometime - it was an RHS standard 0-4-0ST with a cut-down Lambton Cab and I know that it was stationed at Harraton when my Grandfather worked there. Mind you I've got a Chilton Iron Works kit for No 29 to build first... You're spoiling us!!! Cheers Ralph Lambton58

Whippets surely? And they're going to be tiny ! Have fun Ralph Lambton58

Hi Les Yes - exactly that one. Like the photo. It's the first proper model loco I've done Mr Flying Pig of this parish has been nagging me for years to post a photo of it!! It's a Dapol Austerity with a Brassmasters cab. I'll finish it one day (coal, weathering, maybe redo the lettering). For my purposes it's still an NCB Lambton engine for the simple reason that my long term plans involve Lambton trains running to the staiths at Sunderland. Why the Lambton? My grandfather worked at Harraton Colliery. "I had a long chat with the guy from P.D.Marsh (is that Mr Marsh himself?) at Doncaster show on Saturday about the conveyor belt kits he's bringing out later in the year- these will be customisable so I can get the conveyor line I want leading from the colliery to the beach." Could be Mr Marsh - I don't know him, but they're based not too far from where I live. Sounds an interesting development though All the best Ralph Lambton58

I've come to this layout a little late but I like the look of it. Have you thought about covering that slope with a motley collection of pigeon crees? It looks like it's made for them! Ralph Lambton58

Don't think they'll have to wait that long - they go to Sunderland on Saturday and sadly I don't fancy the latter's chances. Pity, this looks like a good time to be playing Chelsea ... whimper Ralph Lambton58