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Stanier Jubilees, in their various guises - (nearly) guaranteed to be a very popular choice!

Got to be a Stanier Jubilee, in all it's variations. Bachmann have produced very acceptable but limited variations - many preferred remain in the old tooling, if wanting to replicate preserved locomotives. Al.

Well I mentioned my dilemma to Rails, where I purchased Splendid, and within minutes, there's an email and postage label - FANTASTIC SERVICE (so far, here's hoping) and thank you Rails. Al.

If the Pendolino is the same as my Hornby one, it's top end is overscale, I reckon can approach 150mph, so 'not as fast' should be more than fast enough. I suppose it depends on the settings. Al.

Excellent photo. As stated without jumpers and also with window deflectors, as 'that other company' have applied to one of the 2 I have. Al.

I love my Dapol TPE 68's .... but: Splendid, which I fitted the front / rear handrails - reasonable but not perfect I admit - only runs in one direction. Separately powered the motor is fine, so that'll doubtless be a PCB issue. She's already on her 2nd motor as well. I only generally ran her with the A/Scale TPE 5-coach set. Brutus is on at least her 2nd motor, and needs another. I will set trains going at 'an appropriate setting' which for these is typically ~60% and can leave for perhaps one hour at a time, but I've plenty of Hornby and Bachmann locomotives still comfortably on their 1st motor with no drivetrain issues / motor wear problems. I admit I'm a little reticent to approach a 'Warranty claim' for the PCB as I was knocked back on a Western a couple of years ago. Splendid was purchased off Rails last year when they came out. Anyone have any ideas who could check out the PCB, and possibly repair it? Thanks, Al.

Did anyone mention the Class 40 ( ..... recently?) 🙃

Wasn't certain but thanks for the confirmation. Yet another '4F' 0-6-0, but in keeping with other Maunsell products, not a bad looking engine. I still reckon a U1 would be quite a challenge - a 'British Big Boy' you could say. Al.

I think this one wins 'the prize' !! Token idea no more! Al.

Where does the decoder go? ..................

Evening Star for me .... to run alongside my Bachmann 9F! Al.

Hornby's Q1 is still pretty decent in my eyes - can't make an ugly duckling look pretty! Al.

Had to look a few times to understand what was happening with the valvegear on the LHS!! Just an overlap. Lovely model - just needs glazing and crew. Al.

A nice challenge for somebody, how about a U1 ? !! UK's biggest mainline steam beastie!! Al.

Hi BB, yes and no. The hard part is drilling the holes into the lamp lenses. I failed on my 1st attempt - the blue one - I couldn't get a hole into the rear lamps, so I got modern image Springside BR lamps, removed the 'jewelled' part and drilled them out, painted black and glued onto the cab in place - been working perfectly ever since. Pulling the cab moulding off the body takes a little 'gumption' but the cab is simply a push fit onto the body, simply gently flex/pull out the front leading edges of the cab at the bottom, and slide up and off. You'll see in the video, the cab light is a little bright, so I'd 'dim' it slightly with a darker clear lacquer - I've done this on the new one. Any success on the new one? NO! Still had to replace what was the lamps with Springside ones. I've a 'reasonable off Ebay' replacement for my failed Dremel, but only figured out how to get a good adjustable clutch head onto it after I pinged the original lamps - got fed up of the pin drive! The kit's a perfect fit. If not received, ask Jason for fitting instructions, but the led pieces are perfectly proportioned to fit. Al.

This was the 08 last night - obviously running well - train a tad long but managed it! I'd had a few issues with a recently purchased over-weathered (I've removed a lot) super detail 56. Finally got her running, and needed to fit a light set to her: Another Stickswipe kit. I think in assembling I may have misaligned one amber lamp slightly, but it's still looking excellent. Main thing is, that 08 is running beautifully again - yes, I know about the coupling rod 'wobble' - happens where it's articulated, and the same on the other one I have. Related to power transmitted to the end axle I reckon, but she works very nicely, so I'm not worried about it! Al

Interesting temporary dilemma ... I've got 2x Hornby super detail 08's (a blue and an EWS one) and a Bachmann BR green one. All now run superbly. My favourite was my - actually most recent build - longest owned BR blue Hornby one. I'd often left her circulating at a fast snail's pace for hours on end ... then she finally cried 'ENOUGH!' - new motor time. I found a new one at a fair price on 'that auction site', opened her up - this I've heavily 'weathered' and have fitted a Stickswipe light kit (works perfectly), received the motor and fitted ... needs a lot of power to move, yet I'd tested the chassis and it was super-smooth. Turned out the part of the mounting cradle supplied by Hornby had displaced itself and was binding on the flywheel. Has this happened to any of you before? A touch of gentle persuasion later and ... bingo. Better and smoother than ever! A little beauty! I've another light kit to fit to the EWS one, a recent addition, and Jason's now made a few kits for Bachmann 08's as well, so will light up that one in the near future. It's a nice contrast to have something ambling around, completing loops within 4 minutes' time, and not 20 seconds! Al.

A lot has obviously changed - diecast running plate and tender chassis frames by the looks of it. A lot of 'details' look identical to existing Super Detail 5's - I've got 3 of them. Al.

Must admit, I'm quite looking forward to the streamlined B17 - that's an interesting choice! I still reckon a good DoG is a friend for life! Al.

Agree with Jubilee - with firebox options. No need for A4 .. if going to Dapol Black everything, why not pick something not already done. Totally disagree - 71000 is a prime target - fine engine and deserves a better representation. Al.

Curved ball, and steam locomotive as well. She was a one-off, but got to be about the most popular 'one off' in existence. Already done to Railroad Plus standards - aka looks OK, but - by another organisation. 71000 Duke of Gloucester.

It was just last week actually, but who's counting .... 🙃 Al.

Horror of horrors but doesn't the 43 come without spring buffers as well? Al.

My bad. Not realised Bachmann were going ahead with a 69. Al.

With the 56 so advanced, has there been any consideration for 'future alternatives' to this model? Perhaps the 69 could be on the agenda? Al.