mdvle

While I wouldn't rule that out, I would also guess the IOW has been bumped down the priority list by the change in government ministers and the all encompassing big issue that has seemingly taken over all aspects of the government, and the uncertainty from which the treasury make be reluctant to okay any expenditure for something as minor new train for a little island off the south coast. Either way, as you say very unfortunate.

Rapido made the N scale Pendolino for Revolution trains under an arrangement where Revolution sold it in the UK and Rapido elsewhere in the world.

This is false, Torbay and Teignbridge (and arguably the South Hams) would not be served by the Inland/SR route you are proposing. Paignton to Newton Abbot is 16 minutes, call it 20 minutes to allow for change in direction. Newton Abbot to Plymouth is 40 minutes. Forcing the populations of Torbay and Newton Abbot to take a 40 to 60 minute "detour" to get to the rest of the country by rail will not work, practically, politically, or financially(*). As for what happens to the populations Teignmouth and Dawlish, do they just get forgotten? Chopping up the population statistics so that you can remove all of the population centres that work against your argument doesn't change the reality on the ground. There is only enough government subsidy to operate one line through Devon, and regardless of the charms of the former SR route that money by necessity has to be spent on a line that provides service to where most of the people in Devon live, which is the southern portion. * - property prices are in part driven by access to public transit, aka trains, and removing said access will result in many lawsuits are property prices plummet.

Kato products now arriving and later this year

Posted by others, a selection of links to photos from the St. Louis RPM meet that might provide some ideas / inspiration https://www.icloud.com/photos/#0PSP8ABgUf2ELq3N5H9HNi0fQ https://www.flickr.com/photos/116454307@N06/albums/72157709978355821 https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/37122

Businesses factor in assorted items in choosing where to locate, and costs are certainly one of them whether it's rent/land purchase price or the amount they have to offer in pay to get the employees they want. Being able to offer lower costs can benefit the north only if they get good transport links to help offset the negatives of not being in the southeast.

Kato have already announced that they are doing the Class 800 in N. It is unlikely that Kato will do anything in OO as they seem to really only like N scale, with their American HO line essentially abandoned with only very occasional reruns of old models.

Athearn - preorders due August 30th, eta July 2020 except the SD45-2 which is due January 2020 Genesis SD45-2 - SF (Freight / Bicentennial / Kodachrome), SPSF, Conrail (Blue Early / ex EL), Clinchfield, CSX (Solid Grey / ex CRR), Helm Leasing http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/01_GEN_SD45-2_072619.pdf Genesis SD70 - IC (white stripe / yellow stripe) CN, Conrail, NS (ex-Conrail patched / Horse Head) http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/02_GEN_SD70_072619.pdf RTR - 50' Combo Door Boxcar - Cotton Belt, Chicago Burlington & Quincy, Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac, Rio Grande, Milwaukee Road, CP http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/03_RTR_50ft_Combo_Door_072619.pdf Roundhouse - 50' Plug Door Boxcar - Frisco, BNSF, SF, Golden West, http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/04_RND_50ft_High_Cube_Plug_Box_072619.pdf Roundhouse - 3-Dome Tank Car - Deep Rock, Sun Oil, Cook Paint & Varnish, Shell Chemical, Union Tank Car, General American Tank Car http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/05_RND_3-Dome_Tank_Car_072619.pdf Roundhouse - 50' Flat Car with Stakes - Alaska Railroad, Rio Grande, MOW, PC, Monon, IC, NdeM http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/06_RND_50ft_Flat_Car_072619.pdf

Athearn - pre-orders due August 30th, eta July 2020 EMD SD70 - IC (white stripe / yellow stripe), CN, Conrail, NS, EMD Demo (3 different schemes), SPSF, National Railway Equipment http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/07_N-scale_SD70_072619.pdf 50' Plug Door Boxcar - Frisco, BNSF, SF, Golden West http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/08_N_50ft_High_Cube_Plug_Box_072619.pdf 40' 3-Bay Ribbed Hopper - UP, CSX, Herzog, Conrail http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/072619/09_N_Ballast_Hopper_072619.pdf

The point I believe is that the sub-forums are essentially about UK prototype model production, thus what Kato does elsewhere in the world really doesn't matter. And until Kato at least indicate an intention to do a real selection of different models there really isn't any need to create a sub-forum for what is (at least at this point) essentially one model given the other product is a Peco exclusive.

It all depends on where Kato things the primary market is - if they view it as a "collectable" for Japanese customers who want a model of a Japanese designed/built train then they may well use the Japanese standards.

Uber would like you to think that, but no Uber drivers aren't earning that sort of money https://www.vox.com/2018/10/2/17924628/uber-drivers-make-hourly-expenses

For those interested, it's MRJ 272 and a picture of the table of contents is here:

Which might be good in as much as he will possibly argue to continue, but really the decision to continue / change / cancel is the privilege of the PM. As for the majority, 320 votes are required after taking account those who don't sit, and those who can't (speaker, etc). Conservatives currently have 322 (with DUP), but that is expected to decrease to 321 with the Aug 1st by-election. They also have an MP in legal trouble who could theoretically be forced out sometime in the future. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-22/u-k-s-new-premier-risks-majority-declining-to-one-in-parliament

Wonder if maybe a reflection in the time lag for GPS / satnav systems to be updated to reflect it being open?

My guess, little will happen this year outside of the elephant in the room of current UK politics as said elephant takes up all the time, and any appointed cabinet ministers do their best to not cause anything that could bring the wrath of the new leader to use them as a scapegoat when the inevitable fantasy meets reality.

Far enough in the past and roads like motorways were built and took years to reach capacity, but that isn't true anymore and is pretty much consistent worldwide. The only way today to build a road and prevent it from being clogged with traffic would be through using tolls to discourage use.

I suspect it isn't one reason, but some possibilities: - the passage of time plays with our memories, and unless dredging up specific memories we have a tendency to think of things as being better than they perhaps were, and overlooking any negatives (if any). BR is now far enough in the past that those that had problems are either forgetting them, or deciding they weren't as bad as the current problems. - much of the public believes the railways are an entirely private run entity, and if that isn't working then the obvious alternative is to bring it under government control. - in some cases it does seem, at least superficially, that "a" government running things works better - London Overground seems to work (at least when they have the needed rolling stock), Scotland seems to be more responsive to problems that happen while improving services, etc. - there is a general disillusionment amongst the younger generation with capitalism, as they have matured into adulthood into a world that seems to be conspiring against them - many / most of them have no chance to get on the property ladder (unless helped by the bank of mom/dad), good paying jobs with normal hours seem non-existent, etc. and so they don't have the same pro-capitalism feelings that most people since WW2 would have had. - alternately, and somewhat my opinion, if the government is running things anyway then if you at least remove the illusion of the railway being privately run there is more of a possibility of the government treating it as a higher priority and reigning it some of the current problems thanks to voter scrutiny. If the government can longer hide behind LNER, GWR, SWR, Southern, Cross-Country, etc. then there is more opportunity for railway issues to influence elections, hence more government focus.

Perhaps, but I don't necessarily see someone coming from the airline business where most of this fare structure stuff came from being the one to simplify it.

Easy answer, find a club/organization near you that has a modular layout that you can join and then use whatever standard they have decided on. Otherwise decide do you want to create a layout that you like and hope that you can participate in a larger layout in the future, or do you want to try and start your own modular layout group / club? For the former, then decide which of the 2 main options appeal to you - the "racetrack" style of traditional n-trak or the more realism oriented free-mon. If the latter, then try seeing what interest you find from people in your area.

The problem is there are few companies that work that way anymore - the changes over the last 30+ years means that private companies are in some way even more short-term focused than governments are whether it be an executive paid with stock options worrying about the stock price or an activist shareholder wanted to make a quick windfall. But in the end it won't matter because it will come to nothing, a prediction based on the following quote: "Fares and ticketing should be overhauled, he said, but warned that reform would “require tough decisions” and “create winners and some losers”." I suspect that is a way of saying the regulatory limits on tickets prices need to be removed, and there is no way the commuters will accept that and hence no government is likely to implement it.

Lionel is returning to HO, with a section in their latest catalog. Much of the product is apparently former Model Power items as Lionel bought Model Power a couple of years ago: http://catalogs.lionel.com/19c2/

Hornby a couple of years ago either officially/unofficially indicated that they were leaving the US market. I would guess with different management came a re-evaluation of the situation, and perhaps a decision not to necessarily tool up new items but that there might be an opportunity to make some money from existing tooling. The Big Boy was an obvious choice given the return of the real thing, and might have been helped with better timing - one of their big competitors (Athearn) only announced their Big Boy models in late June with delivery not happening until June 2020. Unfortunately it was somewhat bad from a PR perspective as they labeled their box car release as "Soft Boxcars" in the poster which doesn't really make any sense unless someone confused "50 ft Boxcars", and they don't yet have the items on their website which could cause prospective customers to look elsewhere. See image of poster: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/37008#comment-394841

Were announced at the initial time, is a partnership with Locomotion / Rails of Sheffield / Accurascale