Giz Puk

Shouldn't Theresa Mays' next election tune be The Beatles 'Help'??? All together now.... HELP... I need somebody,HELP!!!!.... give me anybody!!!!!!!!!!! Yours Aye, Giz

trawling You Tube last night i came across a cover version of 'Sympathy for the Devil' which someone had done for Donald Trump........ I'd recommend it as being funny if it wasn't that scary in reality... particularly when he's seen nodding along to it!!!!!!!!!! Does anyone else wish we still had those treasures such as Kenny Everett and Spitting Image? Yours Aye, Giz

Is it time for another dose of humour to cheer us all up now that it's cold dark and wet .... no anatomy jokes please. So..... Would the main reason for HS2 being electric is that it can get around the extortionate congestion charge???? Obviously some muppet thinks that stopping dirty diesels from entering Utopia will help reduce air pollution for those rich enough to live in their penthouses there? Well hello...... there is a thing called wind you know!!!! my wife says I suffer from it too. Yours Aye, giz

Whether you love modern art, classical art, the stuff Salvador did whilst tripping over his bowl of 'Cream of Magic Mushroom' soup, or Picasso did whilst obviously experimenting with an early form of 'Crystal meth' the one thing that still gets me is how can anyone produce something be it drawn, painted, sculpted, composed or written that's takes our breath away when we find it not just the first time ... but time and time again. Whether it is on the finest canvas or the poorest quality medium, a signed limited edition original, print or photocopy, valuable or worthless doesn't matter to me, all that matters is that I LIKE IT!!!!!!! Everyones' tastes are different and that's what makes it special. In all true honesty.... isn't everyones' favourite piece the one that their child proudly brings home and says.... 'I did this for you'..... those are the ones of true value!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yours aye, giz

My missus used to get on my nerves and I couldn't wait to get a hearing aid so I could turn it off too. Trouble is now I miss all those little squeaks and whines........... from the trains that is not her. WHAT WAS THAT?? SORRY LOVE... THE BATTERIES ARE FLAT AGAIN.... THAT'S WHY I'M SHOUTING!!!!!!!! Yours Aye, Giz.

sorry but can anybody tell what the story is with tourists............. it's just that i'm not from these parts...........just visiting.!!!!!! Yours Aye Giz Did I mention I'm here with two other associates of mine.........Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox...... they're both Tourists too.

In the words of The Fast Show ............ 'aint modellin' brilliant'!!!!! Loving the cake box challenge so far boys and girls....... what a fantastic means of getting ideas for those cameo scenes to fill those small areas of our layouts which normally remain a blank canvas. 'Aint it brilliant'. Yours Aye, giz

As they say.... Nice one Tiger. When you look at it logically poor old Beeching was a sacrificial scapegoat for the system. The rail network at the time was inefficient, tired with rolling stock way past its best and the country's economy was in no position to bring the service up to the standards required to bring it back to having a decent chance of becoming a profitable organisation.... sound familiar????? Although the Beeching axe hit both the railways and rural communities hard, you could argue that the savings made through these cuts enabled the railways to cling on.... only just mind you... but still providing employment for many working families who may have suffered without it. It possibly led to the preserved heritage lines of today due to the inability of scrap yards such as Barry Island to cope with the massive influx of redundant stock thus allowing the newly formed preservation societies to raise the funds required to save those that make up those fleets we are so lucky to have today. For any public service to succeed and make a profit (which after all is what it is all about to be honest), it has to be correctly funded, efficient, needed and most importantly cost effective for its users as without their support costs spiral...prices rise and they become another white elephant. Hopefully as we keep mentioning and without getting into political debates, the new technology available within the industry, the use of an intelligent and enthusiastic minded home grown workforce of engineers and operators ( and with correct funding ) the world is our oyster as Frankie keeps telling us. ( I bet he's glad he's not in Hollywood at the moment ). Tj he company may be Japenese..... but it was Brunel and the others that tought the rest of the world how to build a railway..... the only difference is they invest in theirs!!!!!!!! Yours Aye, Giz

Couldn't agree more Black Hat. I only wish that everyone could afford to have a locomotive with working lights, firebox glow and associated shovelling and an acceptable degree of authenticity of true operating sounds. this also goes for the diesel brigade and not forgetting the upcoming electrical fleet followers. With so many excellent services being offered by those you have mentioned and the advances in technology we have today who knows? Afterall who who have thought ten years ago that the level of DCC control we see today would be readily available to the modeller on an average budget... Sound...N gauge? ...Never!!!!!!!!!!! Yours Aye, Giz

I didn't think that many people still held such resentment for Mr beeching? My youngest has just left Birmingham University and his cabin overlooked the main line where HS2 is destined for with fantastic views over the lines from Leicester and the south coming into Moor Street and New Street. As you say Snow Hill (one of my favourites) is almost unrecogniseable apart from those features that remain on the north west wall should people take time to look. Having spent many an hour gazing out of his window whilst waiting for him to unpack his latest student red cross parcel, kindly donated by the bank of mum and dad, i was suddenly aware that regardless of era, this part of the city still displays a diverse range of rail traffic in a rainbow of liveries. Why is watching trains so theraputically relaxing to some people yet so boring for others.... with just the odd 'Oh theres another one....... and another one'. I soon got my revenge though as it wasn't long before it became....'Oh theres a Pendolino......and another Pendolino'..... HA HA missus the seed has been sown...... trouble is she still loves A4's ( the only ones apart from Pendolinos that she knows) and insists that all trains should be blue. I can't argue really as she did by me the Bachmann Blue Pullman. In response to #2025, surely speed is irrelivant as its the no of seats that determines the ammount of passengers not how fast you get there. Also there is only a finite no of drivers and guards not to mention cleaners, maintenance staff and service engineers to turn the trains around ready for the next trip. Turn around as in preparing not on a turntable just in case anyone thinks trains can't be driven from both ends. In order to speed up the journeys significantly you need to reduce the no of times you have to slow down or stop which in turn means more direct services. One good example of this is the trip south of Bristol.... I have to go through my stop, get off at Taunton, change platforms, wait around for ages and then get the north bound train to reach my stop that I passed through sometimes up to an hour earlier depending on availability of services. Sometimes I think rail travel is like riding a motorbike.... it's not just about how fast you get there.... its more about enjoying the journey itself. Whats more some of our railway journeys rival anything johnny foreigner can offer, be it the Settle and Carlisle, ECML, WCML, or the commuter run from Leicester to Birmingham...... take note Mr Palin and Portillo i'll take your Rocky Mountain Railroad or your Orient express and raise you a day return to Scarborough and the 'Harry Potter Hogwarts Express'. Game , Set and match I believe the saying goes. Yours Aye, Giz

You only have to look at American politics or Brexit to answer this question. How many people are misled either way..... is it about belief in the promises or the hope for change? Information is power.....it's how it is used that makes history. Yours Aye, Giz

Once again this is all about spin, why can't everyone agree that it doesn't matter who closes the doors!!! What does matter is that the driver can be trusted to concentrate on driving SAFELY, and that the guard can look after the SAFETY of the passengers. Lets stop both sides bickering and agree that both positions are equally important and that neither will be interfered with by people who do not understand what they do on a daily basis... yes management and union leaders sat behind your desks in your comfy offices I mean you........... BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU THE PRESS STOP SENSATIONALISING THIS. The easiest way for the Management and shareholders to justify changes is yes you guessed it MONEY!!!!! As I mentioned earlier the people who have most to lose are the employees themselves and we the customer. You only have to look back at the miners strike to see hove people on both sides of the argument lost out...... it was only Scargill, who carried on driving round in his Jag with Mrs scargill in her fur coat whilst some families of miners were living a hand to mouth existence, and the FAT CATS who eventually sold the land, stocks and shares and still made money who won. Why is all about greed for more money.....yes if you are expected to have more responsibilities and be accountable for them then you should expect something in return but at this time none of us can afford to be stubborn. As they say 'Pride comes before a fall'.... lets all hope its not too late for both sides to offer a supporting hand to the other for the benefit of all of us. enough said I think. 'Diversity...Its what makes us all individuals' and while we may not all agree on everything... we should all be man enough to 'agree to disagree'. I'm off to stand in the naughty corner now, but I might be able to come back out to play once I say sorry. 'SORRY' Yours Aye, Giz

Having just had a bit of a lunch time rant regarding HS2 and the new Hitachi 800's, I have taken my medication, had another great cup of tea (British of course not some of that foreign muck you get on your cheap package holiday to colonies outside the empire... sorry still in my steam era utopia) and pondered over the latest spontaneous thought that entered my tiny little brain... apart from... how about another cup of tea? The thought is this........... Debates rage over the possible destruction of items ranging from ancient woodland, natural habitats, rare colonies of butterflies, bats and indiginous populations not to mention railway bridges, areas of natural beauty and that area round the back of wherever where courting couples used to frequent in Ford Cortinas or if you were really flash 'Del Boys Capri Ghia' ( obviously I'm talking about the days before McDonalds car parks and Premier Inns). But what makes something worth saving and who decides this? For Trains... we have the iconic ones such as 'The Flying Haggis', 'The Mucky Duck', 'Evening Star' and others within the 'National Collection'.............. but what about those that we didn't save because they were common and insignificant? Who now would love to hear that Crosti 9F, the 7F, many of those diesel classes that disappeared under the cutters torch or unique marques such as the Radstock Sentinel with its vertical boiler? Passions on this subject run deep... just listen to Pete Waterman when discussing this said subject and as well as hearing the bitterness in his voice you may catch the glint of a genuine tear in his eye. Arguments range over whether to fight to preserve that old goods shed or even the old collection of milkchurns and platform benches instead of watching them be lost forever. after all are these items not as much an important part of our railway history as those 'Great Cathederals' of steam... afterall who cannot stand in front of Euston, St Pancras, Bristol Templemeads, Swindon, York and many others be they great landmarks to Brunel and alike, or rural halts in deepest Wales, Scotland or Kernow!!! Whilst on the subject of buildings what about that monstrosity of 1970's architecture with its slab sides and plate glass... or the local cornershop with its wares still hung outside as per the 60s and 70s.... or the local Woolworths, the bank soon to be another trendy winebar or the public library now made redundent by Google!!!!! Just because we don't like something now doesn't mean that we won't look back in fondness in the future. I hated modern diesels back in the 70's now I model that era whilst still having a love of steam. Likewise if I'm still here in 20 years I will look back fondly at the memory of Class 66's, Pendolinos and those new fangled Pacer DMU thingys that look like a bus on rails ( now where have I thought that before?). If you have a spare minutes, put down in print what you think may be worth saving..... cos once it's gone...you know the rest. As the adverts for Yellow pages used to say ( you know the ones ) Its the little things in life that matter.... and yes I have got the Hornby signal box it's in the sideboard alongside a copy of 'Fly Fishing' by JR Hartley........... Yours Aye, Giz

Looking through some of the earlier comments, they seem to have switched focus to the political issues for HS2 rather than the new trains. Firstly if we are discussing the politics of HS2 then one has to ask why are we spending millions on improving a route designed to reduce the time taken to get from 'UP North' to attend important, no... vital, meetings in the heart of our economy; the Utopia known as London. (part of the Governments manifesto in the first place). With todays technology people use video conferencing and therefore do not require to get to meetings faster, travelling whilst oblivious to the plight of those plebians such as you and I who could not afford the cost of an all inclusive ticket for the Venice Simplon express and whose communities may be affected by its construction. Statistics show that modern rail travel, complete with the latest, fastest electriceral trains is vertually identical to the times achieved by 'The Flying Haggis' and 'The Mucky duck' nearly a century ago.... the problem being that what speeds up.... must slow down and with stations inbetween this is a problem.... unless all trains run from Leeds to London, or Bristol to London etc without stopping to pick up those peasants who cannot aford to live in Utopia. Finally shouldn't we be looking rather at improving the current everyday trains provided for ALL travellers so that everyone gets a seat rather than the majority of commuters spending the first half an hour of their journey standing in the toilet with three other passengers, four suitcases and a dodgy BR sandwich with curled up corners thats been there since the 70's. Why is it you can't stand on a bus or not wear a seatbelt in vehicles on the road .... but it's ok to pay an extortionate ammount for rail travel and be expected to stand..... even when doing a ton-up???? Now to get back on topic, I hope the new Hitachi's will provide comfortable travel (seated not standing) and if numerous enough will entice people to start using the railways again...... more trains/carriages means more patrons which in turn means more revenue to help maintain jobs and a decent wage for staff ..........and hopefully a reduced fare for customers. It works on the continent ...so why not here? Jimmy Saville and BR told us that with the advent of the APT and the HST, which revolutionised and helped pioneer rail travel worldwide, the 1970's was becoming the 'Age of the train' sadly with the current ongoing disputes and generally poor service the twenty teenies are replicating the early 1960's and unless we wish to avoid another 'Beeching' we all need to get back to the ethics of the 'Golden Age of Steam' when A4's and Coronations were the envy of the world. The 800's in my opinion give us the means to do this and I for one can't wait to see them running through Dawlish and Cogload Junction here in 'Apple County' let alone get the chance to ride one. Here's hoping we are now on the verge of 'The Age Of The Train' again. No offence mean't to anyone who disagrees as I appreciate emotions on this issue run deep, now lets gewt back to talking about the trains themselves and not politics.... we've got politicians to give us all that Bull !!!!!!!!! Yours aye, Giz. (eagerly awaiting the release of the OO scale version)

Couldn't agree more Chris, I'm sure everyone would love to see a small layout be it only a 3' scenario of a shunter on a siding, with the sounds of brake squeal, clattering of buffers, clanking of chains and all the associated noises, all accurately represented in correct sequence be it steam or diesel..... at the correct volume levels to make it enjoyable, but not too intrusive for others. What could be more motivating on a cold wet day like today.... especially for enthusiasts old and young who do not have the ability to access a local modelling group. I would love to hear the Valetta scream of an HST as it pulls away from Waterloo, or better still the wheel slip associated with the big 9f's and alike, and who would not embrace the sound of an A4 or a Deltic at full pelt on the ECML. (Other regions and era's please substitute locomotives of your choice). When I started this thread my thoughts were is sound essential, nice to have or neither, hopefully many of you like myself starting with option c (neither) are slowly becoming more inclined to lean toward option b. Who knows if DCC sound continues to improve so that steam sounds are as good as some present diesel offerings (or hopefully better), maybe it won't belong until the issue of sound/no sound and lights/no lights replicates the current trend of DC/DCC?? as option b nice to have or option a essential and the choice for most modellers with regard to decent affordable sound is not if... but when? Todays environment holds so much in store for the next generation of modellers, not just in how control our layouts be it DC/DCC or those few who may still have a ZERO1 set up but how we accurately demonstrate the sounds associated with our hobby. We've come a long way from those days of sticking 'Sounds of the Great Western' on the gramaphone whilst trying to synchronise our movements. (thats trains not bowels Dudders and co !!!!). Yours Aye, Giz

Just managed to get into this thread,so in true naval style I'll jump straight in without reading any previous threads so appologies first then an explanation of my entry to follow before going back through the comments already submitted. I envisage a layout designed for and dedicated to the management and staff of our modern railway networks and the Southern in particular. Yes it is aimed at those who are visually impared... but hopefully have a sense of humour. It consists of a platform packed with commuters, a section of track.............. but no trains. I think as its in a cake box I'll call it.... cue drumroll........... THE GREAT BRITISH STAND OFF !!!!!!!!!!!! seriously though... please get a grip people... surely the issue is about maintaining the safety of passengers whilst maintaining jobs for drivers and guards alike.. not grinding our transport network into the ground and causing undue stress and hardship to everyone...Passengers, Staff and Management..... remember what happened to the coal industry!!!!! Anyway enough ramblings from me...... perhaps the next challenge could be using a soap box..... I m,ight have a chance at winning that one. Happy modelling and look forward to the excellent standard of modelling and comedy scenes i know this will create. Yours Aye, Giz Political Correctness Statement on behalf of the Common Sense Party: No children , animals or hard feelings were intended to be hurt during the production of this rambling rant and the author has now been sedated and taking his medication again.

First of all why is it when you need to get something down before you forget the internet always goes on a go slow or shuts down altogether forcing you to give it a re-boot (or is that a boot?) Anyway, EUREKA!!!!!!!! how about ... with regards to annoying sounds at exhibitions, what if visitors were given a headset like those at art galleries and stately home tours..... not that i would be interested either but whatever floats your boat as they say. Each exhibitors layout would have a corresponding number and the sound files uploaded to the headsets. So>>>> For Little Muddle...... Press 1, For A Nod to Brent.... Press 2, For that annoying layout with the screaming Class 20 sat idling at full volume for the past 20 mins......Press 3. etc For those who prefer to admire without sound............. Don't bother to wear it. Problem solved and everyone happy, plus the headsets could be reconfigured with links to exhibitors live sound files before every exhibition, so once you have a headset and a means to update it you are good to go!!!! All we need now are 'Smells in a can'....... the aerosol range from 'Sniffyman legobrick', incorporating, steam, diesel era and countryside smells for layouts of all size and gauges. Yours Aye, Giz

Back on topic again, must agree that the main reason i would get into DCC would probably be sound but also possibly the ability to double head or shunt on the same line. As it has been pointed out, the quality of sound files and speakers have improved dramatically.( compared to the sand paper strip fitted under the tender of my old models to give that chuff chuff that i thought was so brilliant as a child.) When sound is done good it can be very good and enhances the realism of a layout, but as commented on in other threads, when done badly or TOO LOUD... it can detract from the emnjoyment of a layout (especially annoying if you are admiring a steam layout but can only hear the scream of the CLass 20 which has been sitting stationary in a siding on a layout at the other end of the exhibition hall.) I have nothing but admiration for the likes of 'Legomanbiffo' and others who have helped to transform our hobby over the years. The introduction of TTS for those thinking of dabbling with sound in the future has provided a cheapish means of approaching this new element for those of all ages..... and before people comment on how this system is not accurate (wrong no of chuffs per revolution, or whistle/horn not realistic) lets consider how this in time may help make sound more popular and acceptable to the masses and hopefully help to reduce prices for the top value items. (remember when a video recorder was £400 with remote control being by a handset attached to a cable........ now you can get a DVD recorder for less than the cost of a day return ticket (standing only and off peak times) from Reading to London. Sorry Train service providers but if you dont make train travel cost effective people will stop using it.... and we know what that means don't we Mr Beeching!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just put the kettle on and enjoying the sound... just like Ivor the Engine..... Barp, Barp!!!!!!! Steam doesn't smell the same though.... must give it a squirt of WD40 to see if that helps Also love the TT gauge layout doing the rounds at the moment... not only does it have that raw edge to model raiways we were used to .... but it also has that burnt oily electrical smell of carbon brushes I so fondly remember Yours Aye, Giz

For those of you wondering about the bicycle with the white rear mudguard it is on Engine Wood propped up against the shed. Further to the smell of steam, last year I took a dozen or so youngsters ( aged 18-65!!!!) on a leaving run ashore for one of the lads who was leaving the navy to go to university in the hope of setting up his own photographic buisiness. (Andy Y take note as there could be some top class competion just around the corner). As a surprise we took the train/booze cruise from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead as for many this was their first experience of steam trains, and for us oldies it definitely brought back childhood memories of sights, sounds and smells long gone. For me the smell of steam and oil and all those others you mentioned in the thread comments above, took me back also to those old steam fairs we used to have where you could watch farmers threshing the corn or ploughing the fields with either a pair of 'Shires' or two ploughing steam engines moving in unison as the plough traversed the field on cables. I know they still have the Dorset Steam Fayre and one at Langport /High Ham in Somerset but sadly I believe those such as the one they used to hold at Castle Ashby near Northampton are long gone. Funnily enough that has just reminded me of the steam organ that was playing next to the carousel when i was about 5 or 6 and the council workmen in their camp at the bottom of the road, boiling up the tarmac whilst the steam roller got a head of steam up........ but sorry I digress again. Back to the real reason for this ramble.... regarding the comment above of embers in the eyes... after copious ammount of beer and money spent in support of the railway in the buffet car, dits spun to the youngsters by the train staff, engine drivers and us oldies of times gone by, they spent nearly the whole 20 + miles on the way back, at a sedately 20 -25 mph I might add, with their heads out of the windows grinning inately and teeth covered in dead flies and embers relishing their new found sights and smells. In all it was a brilliant day out and one which they have been heard to talk about fondly over a few beers with their own peers thus hopefully introducing more people into the source of our hobby. Hopefully reading this might just bring you to question.... how much do we really value our heritage railways and the staff and public who support them? It's very easy to suggest that the lines are not very long... tickets are expensive ( or are they when you look at the price of a taxi or car running costs these days?) and that 'we can always go another day'. Unfortunately we all tend to take these lines for granted and I believe it is a sad fact of life that if we don't take time out to support them, and the small shows and venues put on by clubs then I fear that like many other lost memories they will just slowly disappear but if we can get new blood interested in them they might just survive long enough for our grandchildren to enjoy. must sign off now as the boss has arrived and its time for work Finally do you remember the sights and smells of the local shop (see Arkwrights Open All Hours), I remember looking art the iced fingers in the window ( the ones that were there all day and you could buy cheap at closing time: 4.30 mon-fri and half day closing wednesday), then asking the shop keeper how much were his wasps. 'We don't sell wasps' he'd say.... and we'd reply....'well you've got one in the window.....'. No matter how many times we asked he'd always reply and laugh....... god how I miss those corner shops todays self service just isn't the same. Yours Aye, Giz

Just noticed that reference to weathering platform sides has already been mentioned at # 1271 so apologies to all concerned. Also looking at those great shots of the temporary station building at # 1261 the back scene is very remeniscent of Minehead for anyone modelling the west Somerset Railway. Yours Aye, Giz

Evening Brian, I know this may sound a bit stupid, but with regard to the platform edges have you tried giving them a thick coat of matt varnish such as the aerosol type used for model wargaming figures? I had a similar issue with some walls which this rectified............. although I also had others which it did not. Alternatively how about using weathering techniques to dirty up the platform sides as this brickwork would have received more track grime mixed with steam and oil than other structures. It seems a real shame that the only option might be replacements as I know from experience how demoralising this can be, especially when you have done such a good job so far. Fingers crossed these options may reduce some of the workload and help get you back on track. Bye 'eck its grim up north.........'Dirty Leeds'. Yours aye, giz

You Jammy dodger, all I seem to get from work is toilet rolls and light bulbs.... (as was mentioned by someone else on the radio this morning.) Mind you someone must think I work for the coastguard... as sometimes when I get home from work early and unexpected, a man rings up and asks if the coast is clear!!!!!!!!!!

Now thats what i call a narrow gauge. Yours Aye, Giz

Carnival was saturday gone on m'hansum. Wessun super mud tonight, also known as 'bright lights big city near sea'......... thats if them there trains still a runnin'.

Yep, thats the one, love his paintings but hate his sermons, political debates and he's rubbish at football hence he's always the last kid to be picked and permanently in goal. He is better at spelling than me though.... must be that public school education where they done get tought proper!!!!!!! Yours Aye, giz