Railpassion

If you want sound at a future point, I think it's pointless buying a loco without it. The sheer cost of fitting sound to a DCC model is off putting. With sound there is an entirely new dimension to operating. It's also possible to switch off the sound and run the traditional way.

I should say I'm an enthusiast for TT and support Hornby. Alas, the launch strategy seems to have lost direction.

How many Pannier tanks could they sell in the first year? At £120 each, could they sell 5000? 20,000 over 3 years?

Journey times are extended. Pickering to Grosmont used to be 50 minutes but now is 1h10 minutes with a lot of waiting around. The 1200 departure to Whitby takes 1h50 minutes!!!

Hornby seem determined to miss opportunities and deny themselves sales. The range needs to be coherent. Flying Scotsman is all very well but nothing steam for GWR or Southern is crazy. A Pannier tank would sell like hot cakes. And then this text describing a home signal on today's announcements "The red arms are often seen before signals with yellow arms, which signify 'distant' or 'caution'. A semaphore signal is used as per early GWR and LMS operating days" Are they paying these people?

Is it me, or is the choice of models utterly chaotic?

I must say all the 25s I saw this afternoon at York looked stunning. The blues look particularly attractive.

An excellent show with something for everyone. I feel I need to go again on Monday. Not as crowded as it has been but nicely busy. A stand out layout for me was Sherton Abbas, a 7mm GWR branch terminus, set at eye level, with inspiring scenery and brass domed locos.

My Heljan wheels are the silver type, the poor running is mostly on corners where it simply stops. Maybe it's the pickups? I had a copper wheeled 27 once and it was useless so i put it straight on ebay. I'm chipping locos with stay alive at the moment but not got round to the Heljan.

Presumably the 68 will haul the air cons?

I have a Sutton 24 and it's superb. Fantastic sound, full blooded and deep a model that sets new standards in detail and reliability.

One axle was a fake. I had one whilst at school, it was a much better runner than anything Hornby. I bought a double-motored super detailed one on ebay in 2008. It was terrific and I sold it when I went HO in 2011. I got three times the amount I paid for it. I'm looking forward to the Bachmann version.

Lots of wonderful models from Heljan, but does anyone else find that after a few months performance becomes erratic due to dirt, dust etc? I have Bachmann class 20s and 24s and they have always been smooth tunners for almost 20 years now. I can't say the same for my Heljan class 26/27s. I've had to strip them down for a thorough clean to get them back to initial performance. Is this common to other members?

Does the foam set instantly, or can you work it a little? Super pics BTW.

Yes, you're right. Too many drinks for me tonight. A and B orange and green, as per your diagram.

No reversers are needed: the polarity is the same on all lines.

Good idea. The turntable could tuck into the space and the shed would have more room at X.

Sound offers a new dimension. Having bought a Suttons 24 (with superb sound) a while ago, I'm finally able to run it as I've just gone DCC. Previously, to intensify the experience of playing trains, I'd eventually run the maximum number and bring out most of the stock. Now, the layout experience is transformed as station work, shunting, running round, has become far more pleasurable and realistic with a sound loco. My layout is a 9x11 double track roundy with a branch to a single track upper level roundy, so trains can stretch their legs. Each level has a return loop. In such a moderate space too many sound locos would be overkill. Once sound arrives, it has implications for layout design - less is more.

Much work has been done on the line recently. 2 miles of new CWR North of Bridlington and the relaying of the entire station and resignalling. The service, since it became hourly, is better than ever and is well used at times. Comfort and cleanliness have never been better. I think there's potential to tighten journey times by raising speeds a little north of Bridlington to Bempton and between Filey and Seamer where trains dawdle at 50. Currently class 170s have to brake shortly after Sewerby, halfway through the 1 in 92 climb to stay within the 50 restriction. Just 4 minutes saved represents around a 10% improvement. Timing Scarborough trains to depart two minutes later would smooth things in the dynamic loop at Filey. The other problem is the long block section between Driffield and Beverley. An IBS signal on the UP would help when trains run up close due to delays. A later train from Scarborough (not 2113 but, say 2205) with a York connection would be an improvement. On the Scarborough - York line an hourly Northern service (promised, but not delivered) would be excellent and could be extended to Filey or Bridlington once or twice a day.

It's shameful. Millions of pounds of rolling stock investment, specifically for the North, has been withdrawn. It's an affront to northerners and a kick in the teeth. 34 five car trains are reduced to just 19 in order to save money. They will not return and nor will replacement stock arrive before 2028. The entire TPE franchise has been so badly run that the brand's hard won reputation is now in the dirt. Passenger numbers are way down and inter-city style rolling stock for journeys up to three hours long has been dispensed with. I know all the ins and outs of the past few years, and the coming together of so many poor decisions, on top of huge technical challenges, has created chaos. One day the papers and TV will have a field day, as new northern rolling stock eventually begins to benefit people in the South.

This train was filmed by Michael Marsden and is available on Marsden rail DVDs. Dets at Coxwold and a storming run up Nunnington bank are seen.

I'd like the correct BR blue and the right shade of yellow for front ends. Other companies can manage it, why not Dapol? I'd like couplers that don't droop or come loose on wagons. Basically couplers that work.

Before and after

Work finished on schedule at Bridlington The new arrangement allows the same speed on both lines and gives a better run for northbound trains out of No4 platform. The new turnout is close to the original 1973 start of the single line.

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