Bazza

It's green locos and chocolate and cream coaches for me too. Remember the first time I saw it on the up Cornish Riviera in late 50s when it was reintroduced on named trains. Magic! Crimson or maroon looks good with a deep shine on it but that did not seem to last very long. Bazza

To my mind one of the problems with modelling current freight and passenger trains is the length of the vehicles, not so much the perceived lack of variety. Unless you can have very generous curves and or length of run, you end up with short trains which then limits any variety there may be. Large exhibition layouts (remember them?) can provide the scene where longer trains can be displayed but for most of us, trains of shorter vehicles provide a more realistic basis for our layouts. Bazza

I think I would like to see the GWR broad gauge in its heyday. Bazza

I think another problem with modelling the current scene is that things change so quickly, particularly liveries. We see so many modern layouts where many locos or units are in different colour schemes rather than the majority in the dominant normal livery. In the LB period change came slowly and there was a homogeneous look to the railway which has been captured so well on this most realistic layout. Anyone wanting to correctly model the modern scene will have a more restrictive timeframe than those of us who model steam or even BR blue periods. Bazza

Congratulations on achieving 1000 pages! All very interesting and thank you for sharing Peterborough North and yourself with us. Bazza

A couple of points. Many diesel loco failures in the early days were just because of steam heat boiler failures. Having them in a separate van would not have helped. The second man would not have had access either. ETH would have meant the the early underpowered locos would have had even less hp for traction. Re Mk1 crashworthiness, they were better than much previous vehicles but inferior to the later integral body stock. I seem to remember that one of the post Clapham recommendations was elimination of Mk1 vehicles. Bazza .

Now you have almost reached 1000 pages, perhaps you ought to check with Andy York that there is no charge for a super size thread! Congratulations in advance for a very significant achievement and thanks for all the extra entertainment during the lockdown. Bazza

Lion was closest to cl.47, different electrics but the same Sulzer engine I believe. Falcon had Maybach Md655 engines as in Westerns but with electric transmission. Dp2 was the forerunner of Cl.50 but the production series were made more complex by addition of many electronic features which caused many problems. I think it has to be Deltic, dp1, even though it only led to 22 locos. They showed the way forward, high speed, high mileage a foretaste of what the h st would bring.Bazza

I would nominate the HST, front line , high speed service since 1976 and still going strong. Its replacement sadly is inferior in terms of ride and comfort. Bazza

It has to be the Class 52, Western for me . A good looking and powerful loco unlike Class 40s etc that were overweight and underpowered. Hardly an advance on the steam locos they were replacing. Bazza

Really enjoy this layout thread. Why is there so much noise on the video clips - is it granite ballast on a rigid base, or some external noise as well. I know I can turn the sound down. Keep up the good work, Bazza

Hymek (class 35) for me please, a very pleasing shape, they sounded good and often took me to work. Also had an official cab ride from Oxford to Paddington which included an unofficial drive from Reading to approaching Slough. Almost as exciting as the previous footplate ride on a Castle from Padd to Oxford! Could never understand why 101 were ordered unless someone thought that 0 to 100 was 100 units? Bazza

You have really improved the Lima small prairie no end. So long as you do not put it next to the Bachmann model it looks fine. I originally wondered if it was really worth bothering with it, but I think you have proved me wrong! Bazza

Hi everybody, It has to be the Castle class for me., Bazza

Hi, Very pleased you got your Ivatt Atlantic, a very attractive loco. Behind that footstep by the driving wheels is a finger width gap between the driving wheel flanges. No wonder Bachmann went for undersize wheels. I'm a Western Region modeller but I bought one of these too. And I nominate the 47XX as the most impressive 2-8-0 in Great Britain. Bazza

I too would go for the GWR City class. Remember seeing City of Truro regularly on my way to school mid 1950s. A wonderful and elegant sight. Bazza

Just a brief note to thank you for sharing your wonderful layout with the increased coverage during this lockdown time. With the little asides about the weather, daytime refreshments, how you are feeling and coping, I am appreciating your sharing something of yourself too. Although we may never meet in person, it is a pleasure to have met you in this way. Looking forward to your new sequence when the present one reaches the last train of the day. By the way, how many trains feature in the current sequence? Bazza

I remember signing up right at the beginning of Rmweb and although I have not often contributed I have been an avid follower of a good selection of the threads that interest me. I have often marvelled at the quality of the models , and the passion and commitment to this wonderful hobby of ours. I have also marvelled at the patience and dedication of Andy and his team as they have dealt with the occasional bush fire when tensions have erupted into virtual fist fights. It feels not seem to have been 15 years since it started and it is quite amazing to see how the hobby has changed in that time. I'm sure rmweb has been a great influence and will continue to be that in the years to come. The next weeks and months may see record completion of projects and record attendance as we have to spend more time at home. Thanks again Andy. Bazza

Hi Graham, what a fantastic project! Have you set a date for the grand opening? It will then be "Hills of the North, rejoice!" Barry

Hi, might just be the angle of the photo but are the new cylinders inclined outwards enough They look more like Castle cylinder positioning to me. You have certainly made a silk purse from a show's ear with this loco. Bazza

Hi David, that's great news. Look forward to more details when you have made the necessary decisions. Bazza

Hi, I might have missed it earlier in the thread but are you planning to make your interiors available for purchase, please? I used to travel on Wren and Thrush when they were allocated to the Ealing Greenford service. Your interiors look excellent. Bazza

Hi, great to see the Big Boy in action. Have you fitted the cab handrails? Hornby has not been able to advise me on how to fit them. Bazza. sorry to be way off subject. The layout looks great!

Hi Castle, A brief note from Mike and myself to thank you for the weekend tours. I have been to Didcot many times but with access to restricted areas saw many things for the first time. Some of the background stories were very interesting too. A super weekend with Didcot and Fawley, I rounded it all off with a trip to the Glos Warks yesterday for a ride behind Didcot's King and to see the Caley tank. Thanks again Barry (aka Bazza) and Mike

I agree that the detail on D601 is exceptional, but there was not so much detail to capture on the D800 model. I'm really pleased with my long awaited Ark Royal - it runs as well as it looks! Bazza