Moxy

Back o'th Bank Power Station closed in 1979, and I think latterly it was only the power station that kept that bit of the Astley Bridge branch open for coal trains. If the original picture you posted, with the 08 & the 25, is taken in 1981 that was in the very last days of the branch which closed completely in the August of that year. by Mike Serigrapher. The same battery electric after preservation, at Manchester Museum of Science & Industry, and a repaint into an earlier livery. (I don't know if this loco is still at MOSI)

I like that rule. I may just have to steal borrow it for my own railway !

It's not that big either. I would say the 25 is on the 'through' line to Astley Bridge and the 08 is on the siding leading in front of the goods shed. With a bit of selective compression that would make a nice model. I used to live not far from there, just the other side of north-south line on the right of the map (long after the Astley Bridge branch had closed, sadly).

Yes, very loosely based on a Plymouth switcher. This EBT example is pretty close to the Lima model http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1261998

Halling do a range of motor bogies in a variety of gauges/wheelbases/wheel sizes, including 16.5mm gauge. https://shop.ferro-train.com/hallingShop/product/home/antriebstechnik/drehgestellantriebe/drehgestellantriebe_h0165mm

It can be ordered from a specialist auto paint maker or motor factor, but it's no longer available off the shelf from the likes of Halfords. Rover Group went out of business 19 years ago, I don't think any Rover/BL colours are a stock item for the motor trade any more.

Already being discussed here

Yes it was Penarth, according to Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Whipsnade_Railway#Diesel_locomotives

Do you mean these things? (Not my photo, linked from Flickr) The Matchbox diesels would need a taller cab, but I like your thinking, There is similarity in style to those Fowlers.

I've had a generic 'welcome to Rails of Sheffield, former Hattons customer' email, that was sent on 18 March 2024. I haven't had anything specific about the Genesis coaches yet, but IIRC the original delivery date for these was May/June time? It's perhaps a bit early to be worrying about something that probably hasn't arrived from China yet. As you say, integrating an entire customer database into their system is going to take time, and we don't know where Rails have got to in that process. Don't forget this is something they have taken over in addition to their existing business, so it's not going to happen immediately. Once Rails have a confirmed delivery date, that's when they will probably start sending the emails out, and we can ask questions from that point. (I'm sure it will be announced on RMWeb). Until then, no news is good news as far as I'm concerned.

August 1980 Railway Modeller, but I agree, I loved that Silvertown plan too. Still not found the time/space/money to build it though!

I think it's unlikely Peco would get into RTR TT120. IIRC those n gauge locos they did, the Collett & the Jubilee, there was only one batch of each and they took forever to sell, which is why Peco haven't gone there since. Their most recent involvement with RTR in 009 has been in cooperation with other manufacturers, such as Kato & Heljan. I think it much more likely we will see GWR rolling stock (either RTR or kits) from Peco and that in turn will persuade another manufacturer to look at the Collett goods in TT120.

There was a Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T (895 of1909) at Bedlay Colliery in 1978, and there were the 4 Sentinel steam locos at R B Tennent's Foundry in Coatbridge. As you say, most of the steam locos in Scotland were Barclays.

I was listening to The Navy Lark at lunchtime. Still funny over 60 years later. Radio 4 Extra on BBC Sounds, if anyone wants to search it out.

The French Railway Society might be able to help http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/ When I was looking for info on French narrow gauge lines, I found it produced more results if I searched in French, rather than in English. Even if you don't put the relevant accent over a letter, that still produces more results than trying in English. Try searching for 'brasserie industrielle' or 'minoterie.' Hope this helps.

Not sure, but it might be a Chivers Finelines one. They did use to offer a few 7mm/O-16.5 loco kits, but they are no longer listed on their website. I suspect they are no longer in production.

Doesn't include a map unfortunately, but there is a description of one possible route here: http://www.prestonstation.org.uk/TrainsToLongridge_AStL.html Before the Preston & Longridge Railway became part of the L&Y/LNWR, there was a proposal that the Midland Railway wanted to buy it & extend it into Yorkshire. Perhaps that is where the Hellifield connection was suggested?

I don't think us users can delete a topic, only moderators can do that. The easiest way is probably to report the topic and in the comments, ask them to delete it.

Rails have not purchased the Hattons business, they have only purchased the brand name. The store (and the staff) have already gone. It's in the link johnR posted.

The email address given in the last issue of Railway Modeller was 'daveellis05@gmail.com.' They don't have a website.

Sadly, no it didn't. It was scheduled for preservation but was damaged in a shunting accident in 1968 and subsequently scrapped. Although the coach didn't survive, some of its internal fittings did and are now at Chasewater Railway museum. https://chasewaterrailwaymuseum.blog/category/museum-artefacts/

That is what always gives me a gentle reminder that I am getting old, when I go the Manchester Museum of Transport https://motgm.uk/ It's full of buses I used to travel on when they were in service!

So would I, but the Hornby track was cheaper, and I bought it in the first year when they were offering members discounts and post free over £50.00. It will do for my first TT:120 layout.

Yes, that is what I'm doing. I already have enough Hornby track to make a 4' x 1' inglenook shunting layout, a couple of the Peco laser cut buildings and some Scalescenes downloads that can be shrunk down to TT:120. Oh, and a blue 08 (which I might repaint into green or black to backdate it). Just need a few more wagons to shunt (and time to build it of course!)

The original delivery date was May 2024. There is plenty of time to sort out orders before then, if they are still on that same delivery schedule. I doubt the coaches have even left China yet. If anyone is struggling to remember what they have ordered from Hattons, the online accounts are still active. If you login and go to 'pre orders,' it will still show your original order on there. I have printed mine off so that I can check when I do hear from Rails.