Graham Heather

Inverness. Can vouch for the Black Isle Brewery Bar , really great place for a beer. Can recommend the Black Isle Red Kite and the Black Isle Stout. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff were good. Cheers. Graham.

Just spent 3 wonderful days at the York show. The quality of the layouts on show was incredible. British modeling is second to none. I expected to see some great trains on the layouts, but I was especially taken by the time I spent standing at the north end of platform 3 at Grantham. Just like being a trainspotter during the 1930’s. Broadford was well done but I think I have been through there sometimes. While I didn’t see any trains that I model, it was great to see something different. Well done to all involved. Worth the price of admission. Graham.

By the time I get to York, all my expenses will be prepaid except for the food and beer! Hoping to enjoy the train exhibition. Cheers.

Thank you all the responses. It is certainly a very different situation to that here in Australia. I will be attending both York and Birmingham exhibitions from next month, hoping to be impressed by the quality and variety of exhibitions. Here’s to a good beer or two as well. Graham.

Is anyone prepared to explain the different types of expenses that could be covered by attending an exhibition. Does this vary by the venue and the number of attendees at the exhibition. In Australia, the exhibition spilts the revenue between the exhibitors and the club holding the exhibition after the event expenses have been made. Sometimes a donation to a specified charity is part of expenses. Trade stands pay according to the floor space required and the layouts get reimbursed an equal amount according to how successful the exhibition was. Private layouts get to keep the whole amount, while clubs pocket the money with some expenses taken out. Amounts received from attending exhibitions over the past two years are usually between one hundred and three hundred pounds paid either on the last day or in the next few weeks. Graham.

If your interested in US prototype, there is a group called AMRA, American Model Railroad Association, based around the southern part of the North Island. They conduct monthly meetings on a round robin basis at different members homes and are very active modellers. A bi annual convention is also held in June, which is well worth attending. I managed to see some fantastic home layouts from the group. Graham.

Brings back a few memories. Building a Athearn model and then adding some detail parts and paint to bring it to life. Painting the handrails and usually white on the vertical rails and the step edges always helped. Look forward to seeing more progress. PS. Not as much work required these days on a new model. Sometimes, it was the extra effort that made the model. Graham.

During the 1950's and 1960's, how much coal would be found along the track? Would there be enough to see small piles in a yard between the rails? Did the coal ever build up to a level where there was more coal than ballast, say in a interchange yard? Would a coal merchant go after every last piece along his track? Just trying to justify using some loose coal on my layout, other than for wagon loads. Coal shows out so well in a yard where it has fallen out. One of the problems of modelling something before your time. Graham.

Yeah, definitely coming in September. My LHS has them in stock here down under. Graham.

A little improvement to most Amtrak passenger equipment is to paint the inside of the glazing flat black. You can't see through the real cars unless you are square on to the car in question. To represent the dark tinting found on the more modern cars. Graham.

When these box cars first came out, they were in the Genesis line. With coupler lift bars and air hoses as standard in blue and yellow boxes. Great looking cars and run well. Graham.

Received my P42 last week, number 144 as I model the year 2003 and that is the only one with the correct nose for the year. What a great improvement over the previous RTR versions. All the extra details look good. My only comment would be that it can't be run with any other P42's. It puts them to shame. Enjoy the model. Graham.

Was purchased May 1999, for $8.99 US.

Always better to buy the train souvenirs than not. Might not be there next time, if there is a next time. Great memories and photos for us all. Thanks. Graham.

Really enjoying this story. Hope there is more to come. The photos bring back great memories for you? Two things though. Do you have any more photos of the Pride of the Fleet business car train in Cheyenne? And did you leave Cheyenne via Cheyenne's wonderful airport? The smallest commercial terminal I have been through. Was there in November 97. Graham.