Nova Scotian

So it’s possible that what’s seen here isn’t owned by the parent company - if the best of that collection went to margate. This could have any number of potential owners, though it’s presence in the UK seems odd? Surely it’d gain higher prices on the continent?

I have an early Rivarossi E8/E9 and it's extremely good for the age. Very quiet too - but apparently the motors are quite flaky. They're metal geared in the rear bogie, with a round motor (pancake like?), but vertically mounted driving what I think is a spur gear? Anyway, I've been quite impressed, and been trying to pick another chassis up cheap for my unpowered unit so I can reverse the wiring and run double headed (the criticism is that they're a little underpowered). I really like some of their french outline HO too - they were some of the best at moulding in Europe at the time I reckon. Them and Lilliput. Added it up, at the mid-level estimate I'd drop 4000 GBP on what's listed there (30-40 items). Obviously that's not happening - but if I had some lying around I'd definitely take a punt on a couple of my favourites!

Couldn't find this existing, and wasn't 100% where to put it. E-mail from Rails of Sheffield informing an auction on April 12th, the first, of about 400 Rivarossi items from the archive. https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/special-auction-services/catalogue-id-srspe10484/search-filter?brand=Rivarossi&mc_cid=f34d19bd8a&mc_eid=24f8e8e809 I went through and told my partner we'd need to sell our belongings as there's a couple of grand I want to spend there! Always had a soft spot for some of their HO. However, is this because there's no museum anymore? It seems sad that this is all being flogged off, when it could be better served as a history of the brand? Maybe people aren't proud of the brand anymore, as it's very much a shell of what it used to be, and with foreign ownership why would the parent want to buy it all out?

The last time I went through Heathrow I had to use the non-UK queue - but maybe I was being stupid. I do not particularly like using my Canadian passport for my return to the UK - although both don't let me through the gates anymore as I've lost 4 stone since the photos were taken and my face changed shape! My kids can get a UK passport, so I'll do that at some point, but my partner is Canadian and she's not eligible in anyway. She would love to move to the UK, but we're here because of my kids.

Best looking for a bogie diesel - especially if you have tighter curves. If looks etc don't matter you may be able to pick something up that others don't like, especially in HO. There are some US outline models by Life Like (proto 1000 and 2000) that are bo-bo or co-co, have twin flywheels and heavy chassis blocks. There's one on ebay for 20 quid right now - two of those (top-tail) and you'd be sorted. The challenge with those is they sometimes split gears, but there are ahearn and others that are capable too. For continental outline, Fleischmann and Roco. For UK - I'd echo finding some Heljan. Or make a frakenstein - find a random co-co, with a beat up body, old lima/Hornby pancake stuff. Then find another motor bogie. Drop a big lead weight in the middle and over each pancake motor. If it doesn't need to be smooth/quiet/accurate you could have some fun with it. I've been thinking about a pugbash of a garrett type loco - hinging three jintys or pugs together, all wired up, with some movement in the hinge (so not just side to side, but 3 axis), all for fun.

Lovely feedback - thank you. My partner and I have discussed returning when we can for a more proper "highlands" holiday - in which we'd also do Orkney (I've been once and loved it). I'd plan on Fort William and a few other places. If our finances have changed hopefully we'd be on the caledonian sleeper from London for it, but that's not realistic at the moment. I think Wemyss Bay is a winner - but that might just be because I love ferry rides, train rides, station architecture etc. We only have one "floating" day, where we're in a hotel near Glasgow Central in the morning, but then in the evening we're staying out near the airport as our flight is early the next day. Very disappointing they cancelled the airport connector link around the time I left the UK - would have made all the difference to our timing and spending pattern in the city on that final evening.

It's only 67-72 minutes - I'm trying to get a variety of traction. Did Bristol Parkway to Newcastle 16 years ago on one, and it was awful because at night and after a funeral, so would like to rehabilitate it!

Ah, must be 1S40 - the outbound is end of May, so that makes sense.

Well, I booked our first round of tickets last night - Glasgow Central to Carlisle, and then back again eight days later. The timing and costs worked out that we're Avanti West Coast down, 1M09, and then TPE inbound on what I think is 3S40. Now looking at our day returns Glasgow to Edinburgh - leaving from Central is easier due to our accomodations, and the timing works that I think we might do Cross Country (Voyager) there, and LNER (Azuma) back - both are via Carstairs right?

Hopefully no-one's letting Josh Anderchek mock this up in Intercity Swallow livery? The photos shared by @grow45 and video from @ardbealach are brilliant - thank you for sharing those - love it.

Yeah I saw the 6 month thing - and I left twelve years ago! I have a Canadian passport, and even enter using that passport so my partner and kids don't have to go through a different line. I only use the UK one when travelling alone - or when they had the "passenger locater form" last year and seemed confused by my status. I've e-mailed to get a quote and confirm - tickets in advance are quite cheap, so it may be cheaper for me to just book individually each one, but the brit pass would be a lot more flexible.

Interesting, will look this up - thank you! I've not heard of this - and I am a UK citizen so hopefully that's not a problem (I'm a dual national, British originally but met a Canadian girl, divorced her thank god, but still here!). Most of our travel is off-peak, and booking in advance the prices don't seem outrageous. Not like a hirecar in Glasgow! (900GBP for two weeks hire - hence lots of train travel, and doing an 8 day hire in Carlisle for just over 300 quid)

Thank you for this - luckily we only have planned the airport to glasgow central on the Sunday - Edinburgh on a Monday (with a forth bridge diversion). Carlisle on a Tuesday. Then Carlisle to Glasgow a Wednesday, and I'm thinking the Thursday is either Wymess Bay or Falkirk. Appreciate the heads up.

Yep - that exact one is sitting in my cart! Appreciate all the other info - fantastic, thank you.

When I looked at our schedule I think I can make an early cross country glasgow to edinburgh work (though a voyager isn't that exciting for me) - followed by a scotrail return on a 385. I'd like to do Shotts, but it may not be worth the extra travel time - it depends on whether we do a Falkirk day or not. 334 is interesting... I've not been on a Juniper since the Darth Vader Gatwick express. Central and Queen stations aren't far apart, so I'm happy with either. I think a 385 would be more interesting to me though. Appreciate the plug for Wemyss Bay - we both like architecture and thought we'd then go to Rothesay and go across to the Isle of Bute. Funnily enough I used to live in a place called Rothesay in Canada. Thank you both for feedback on TPE 68s... looks like a crapshoot at present - hopefully a bit more predictable in late August (when I bring my kids across) or by next summer. Is there anywhere guaranteed to be a 68 + mk5s?

Yeah, I'm looking at North Queensferry, to get a view of the bridge off the bridge, and it's only 10 minutes before going back the other way. At about 12 quid for two adults (return) that seems pretty worthwhile to me, and will be about an hour out of our day

That is a great suggestion - going to see if I can line up the timings for a quick back-and-forth-over-the-forth. If we can get across, then run across to another platform for the return train - and it's maybe one hour total, I can probably get buy-in. But I don't want it to take away from other plans we have in Edinburgh that day.

Oh and any tips on getting the tickets cheap - anytime returns seem almost as good value as "on sale" singles, but give a lot more flexibility. Should I be careful of any restrictions etc?

Good afternoon. Excited to have RMweb back! My partner and I are going to be in Northern England and Scotland in late May and early June. For most of if we're travelling without a hire car for the first time in years, as my kids aren't coming with us so we're travelling light. We have a few train trips planned, and some other potentials. What I'd love from the RMweb hive mind is if there are particular days/times/routes where we can go on a diversity of traction, and potentially see some interesting stuff enroute too. Glasgow to Carlisle - planning a roundtrip - and was thinking Avanti one direction, TPE the other, to get different traction. Glasgow to Edinburgh - at least three options, right? Two Scotrail, one Cross Country. What would be some key tips here? I've never been on a 385, so that's interesting for me - doesn't need to be a top-tailed 37! (incidentally my last UK train trip on the Waverney line was top-tailed 37s). Cross country seems less environmentally friendly as diesel traction, but the train's going to be running anyway with or without us... Looks like a cross country ticket would be much cheaper though. And route is different? Glasgow to Falkirk or Stirling or Bulloch or Wemyss Bay - thoughts/opinions? While in the Lake District I'm going to try and persuade my partner on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, but I've been told this "isn't a railway trip", so I'm trying to use our multiple train journeys to maximise my enjoyment. Note, the next visit I'm going to insist on Manchester to York by TPE, as that's a 68 with MK5s right? I have a soft spot for TPE livery, and desperately want to do some loco hauled traction at some point (not been behind a 68!). Thank you all for suggestions.

Wow - how did you get it that cheap? Part of my problem is I can't face 21 hours in a seat, so want a sleeper cabin, which obviously increases the cost massively. I have seen the "discounted" rate that's sometimes available, but not seen offers like $21 for that distance. Is there somewhere on the Via website with offers or codes? Or just checking what's available on that train.

Good news that the Chateau sleepers are coming back to the Ocean. Promised my kids I'd take them on the train as soon as I can. Reckon that might end up being a December trip to Quebec city due to other costs this year. Also the tickets aren't cheap, I thought they'd be trying to stir up interest, but given how quickly it booked they didn't need to cut the price to fill them!

For someone obsessed with facts, you make statements that sound factual, but unless you have inside information you can not possibly know for a fact that the two highlighted statements you've made are true and accurate. (or public statements from the company to that effect)

"Con" is an extremely loaded suggestion, one that doesn't fit the scenario you're describing and is certainly something that can not only cause offence, but also commercial damage.

Don't really like the real thing - I find the tender rails and cab handrails too thin, they don't look realistic.

Four pictures tweeted out of 69004 in Derby Rail Research Livery