Nova Scotian

What it should be; detailing that doesn't constantly break off when handled. What it could be: I think we're going to see a progression from either factory/shop weathering to a far more nuanced weathering as offered (at higher prices) by some of the better places. Replicating through tampo printing the sheen of something greased/lubricated, the way dirt becomes trapped in the steams, where limescale runs etc. Weathering by the factory as part of the main livery application, not airbrushed after. Also the whole "opening doors" in coaches will become more widespread. I'm okay with this, but it's going to make prices pretty eyewatering on a full rake! What it'll probably be: Steam/diesel exhaust - they'll have another crack at it. It'll still look stupid to my eye. Some will like it. What I'd like it to be: cheap, effective, realistic cab + coach figures that fit the era What it won't be: Working brakes

I also bet @mdvle would be a fount of knowledge on this question

Planned merger was announced in 1999. Called off 2000 - 2001, there was a moratorium for 15 months on any class 1 mergers, followed by a ruling that only Kansas City Southern could be merged as a class 1 (setting the scene for this year!). Lots available online, you just need to tweak your searching, use the full name for legal documents "Burlington Northern Santa Fe" and "Canadian National". You'll find stuff from SEC, but also various newspaper articles like wall street journal where they've kept their back catalogue online. I caught it in a document/brochure in 2016 that must have just made its way through new versions since 1999/2000 without amendment, so a 2006 book doesn't sound too bad!

This. Supply chains are utterly fubared. Add to that massive increases in the price of primary energy inputs; coal, oil, natural gas. China is not the only place going through and looking at rolling powercuts. India is struggling, and there are countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans who are having a very unhappy time. There's a reason so many UK utilities are going bankrupt, steel producers are talking about shutting down etc... This is the thing, there are global trends - and then there are national decisions that can either make things worse, or better, depending on the investment that countries have made in strategic reserves, diversification of supply, long-term supply agreements (on the energy side). There's also how "frictionless" they've made their trade, it's not all about tariffs, the more quickly you can move goods through a border the better. Storage is always limited, it's always costly, it always slows things down. This is why brexit has become such an issue; the friction at the border slows everything down, everything backs up, that delays everything else moving around behind it, to new ports etc etc. The problems compound. In the UK you can then add the haulier issues because brexit, long-term trends, and stupidity. There's a reason the UK is faring worse than average. But no-one is "free and clear", every country has painpoints they're experiencing. Global trends - everyone cancelled and postponed orders when the pandemic hit. Typically you'd expect a recession, recession means less purchasing. Everyone acted like this was going to cause a deep recession (it did, for three-to-six months), but the massive government interventions around the world prevented that, and then all these companies are trying to catch up on pent-up demand, there is/was no major recession that was sustained, and everyone's ordering and production is off. Then add in the issues with containers, moving empty containers, the cost of containers, the cost of air freight etc. We have seen product moving by air that would never have moved by air before, but it's created such supply constraints (of aircraft) you have companies that are left shrugging their shoulders; ten plus grand for a shipping container that's going to be 6-12 weeks, or much more than that for air freight that might be 4-8 weeks if you're lucky. And even if you paid for it, and you have it on the apron, it might get left behind if you're gazzumped by someone paying more! Energy wise, hopefully that's a non-issue within six months, China is ramping up coal production (ugh), and there's more capacity coming onstream for other sources of energy too. However semi-conductors are going to be 18+ more months where there's issues. The logistics chain... anybody's guess. Building materials here more than doubled, then crashed, now climbing strongly again. It's an absolute bloody mess.

Did any make it to Weymouth?

That's a lot of Green Stuff putty...

It looks really brilliant

re. that guardian article The peak hourly mean NO2 on Marylebone was 198 in 2019 (took a pre-covid number), despite the OVERALL mean being lower. The peak on the bi-modes was about 210 (although the guardian graph and story clearly is very confused about different types of peaks and averages etc). Ultimately the UK needs to move to electric/hydrogen propulsion, and more rapidly. Suck up the extra cost because the health impact from air quality isn't worth it. I'm sure you can engineer in air cleaning (for PM, not NO2) on fresh air intakes, and try to tweak the airflow, but in the end the way to stop NO2 being produced is to stop producing it. Our lungs would be very appreciative.

With the glazing replaced and some super-detailing, those Lima mk2s really do spruce up quite nicely.

These are great photos. I ended up down a rabbit hole on livestock carriers a couple of years ago (after a spate of sinkings) and I can advise that if you want to remain calm this weekend not to fall down the same rabbit hole. Living in Halifax I love the working port here - my office window I get a good view (reflection, as chair faces the wrong way) as container, bulk (liquid and dry), and naval vessels come in. Couple of times I've even been on the waterfront as a submarine comes in. Grew up in Berkshire, I think the only way you could persuade me to move away from the coast would be the offer of mountains.

Typically if you're not including a link to a bargain the posts seem to disappear - trying to make it focus on the bargains. And to stay onside, and plug my favourite little model shop (no connection, just like them), here's a Bure Valley link for a Bachmann 2EBP at 160GBP. That's 30% off, down from 210 GBP. I can't find it cheaper than 170GBP anywhere else, and the box shifters no longer have any in stock http://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/8234/31-379---2-EPB-2-Car-EMU-BR-Green---Full-Green-Ends There's a green with full yellow ends and a blue/grey NSE.

Hornby mailing list had a few new "bundles". Some of them are... questionable.... However, Hogwarts for 100 GBP in scuffed packaging from their value bundle is pretty good https://uk.Hornby.com/products/scuffed-packaging-hogwarts-express-train-set-bunhhp13 Of their hobby bundles the King Arthur plus 4 (5 pictured?) Maunsell coaches for 250GBP seems like a great price https://uk.Hornby.com/products/arthurs-return-bundle-bundleh5 Same with a Royal Scot and 5 Stanier coaches at 265 GBP https://uk.Hornby.com/products/ranger-rover-bundleh8 Others are available, but I don't really "get" their mystery bundles, their Southern and Eastern bundles don't appear as good value. Actually, the mystery bundles are really bothering me - they state they're "selected to match", but... really? And then two modern traction for 250gbp... okay, but they could give me two railroad 66s and walk away with 100gbp of my money? Their other value packs (coach expansion packs) seem pretty decent, the LMS one in particular. https://uk.Hornby.com/products/ranger-plus-bundleh9 Six for 153 GBP

That birds eye maple with inlay is stunningly gorgeous. When my partner and I bought our first house we had a bit of cash leftover and had a frivolous day - bought a lovely serving platter out of the stuff. When oiled up it brings out the grain and it's just gorgeous. I want to build a furniture piece for our house in time out of it. Really glad you got some 1:1 pieces. That's a great story.

If anyone is interested this was the response to my inquiry re. cabins: "While equipment changes can happen at this time we only have the Renaissance equipment on this train which has the maximum two person cabins."

That's a very good point - I'm getting a faint memory that at one time there was only one loco in each formation with HEP and it had to be coupled on the inside (separate generator?), but can't imagine that's still the case? I had a look through instagram and a couple of other places for photos, didn't find any that were geotagged. I did find one video from today, shows the locos back to back, a number of budds, then the renaissance, but the video cuts before the end of the train (and any dome cars) can be seen. I'll give them a call later in the year when they're up to the full timetable and when the fall situation is a little better known. Also gives my credit card the chance to recover from a recent house purchase. A 3-person room would be great, and I might be able to persuade my partner to come with if there's the potential for a 4-person and she's feeling positively disposed to me at that time. Let me know if you'd like the link for the video I found. I'll go check through a few of the facebook groups here too. I'm only starting to get connected into groups here - haven't really had the opportunity to indulge my hobby in a decade plus. Edited to add a video link to youtube showing the deadhead move coming into Halifax. Clearly shows no dome car. 4 Budd, rest Renaissance. And not surprisingly mdvle is completely correct re. the locos.

Interested if anyone will be able to take photos of the departure on the 12th from Halifax. I won't be able to, am in meetings all day. Interested in what changes have been made to the formation. I hope to take some photos of arrival on the 16th, but they likely won't turn the locos for a bit? Assume they have a Y somewhere in the yard there to turn the locos, even though they're not turning the whole train in the loop at the port now? Looked at tickets and they don't seem to have the bigger sleeper cabins (for four) they used to, or maybe I'm imagining they used to. Anyway, not useful when I have two young kids - I would need two cabins (they don't let me book one and have the kids share), but then they also won't let me book two cabins as I can't leave a kid, or both kids, alone.

That looks spectacular. I hope @AY Mod can find the time in his day to drop the link in the Bachmann 47 thread, as it was quite categorically stated there that there would not EVER be another EFE product Adding one of these to my wishlist. The liveries look brilliant; top notch paintwork.

Spotted on Instagram, but now almost a day old. NCE powercab for 160GBP. Rails of Sheffield.

I know this would be cynical, but I think Hornby could have the option to move some of their own products over to the Oxford Rail brand. Few different ways you could do this, but the easiest would be to either can "Railroad" entirely, or move some of the better products out of it. You'd segment your brand, railroad being the toughest and lowest fidelity, followed by Oxford Rail taking over some of the better railroad products plus incorporating their own. - Railroad by Hornby - Oxford Rail by Hornby - Hornby - Hornby Dublo What's fun about this is that with the emerging diecast capabilities of factories used by Hornby, we could see a Dean Goods with a diecast boiler under the Dublo range? Wonder if there's a way to combine the best of the two adams radials models, although quite possible they'll just pick one.

Rails advertising some 57s on a flash sale Prices seem pretty decent https://railsofsheffield.com/collections/Bachmann/class_class-57+scale_oo-gauge+availability_in-stock?mc_cid=b03467bfb7&mc_eid=24f8e8e809

Not surprised, supply chains still severely distressed, commodity prices way up, which is driving up components, shipping as per someone above is much more expensive than it was. For example, here's copper 3yr (from marketwatch): Drops when the pandemic hits, then everyone tries to catch up, demand is up, prices over twice what they were pre-pandemic.

Buy it with one of these, do and engine swap and you've got yourself your very own Class 69 https://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/preownedbargains.aspx

E-mail from Hattons re. warehouse clearance https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/web-view?a=JGQeXh&c=MnyT4p&k=9774ff3a36cc1e7bb7ed12b94e8926fe&m=W8pjs2&r=ADdnE8Z The best prices (for condition) appear to be Heljan diesel, dmu, electric (not steam). Some of the prices are pretty eyewatering for poor runners, non-runners etc, but I guess that's the second hand market situation at the moment. Might still be the ability for someone to bag a noisy runner of a special edition they've been waiting on and fix it up. Some older Bachmann steam locos at good prices without anything stated as being wrong with them....

For n gauge fans, 50% off weathered Arriva Wales 57 by Farish https://www.themodelcentre.com/371-659-graham-farish-n-gauge-class-57-3-57315-arriva-trains-wales-revised-with-value-weathering-by-tmc Farish Western Pullman at 300 GBP is at least 20 GBP cheaper than other major retailers, and 100 GBP off RRP https://www.themodelcentre.com/371-742-graham-farish-n-gauge-br-western-pullman-6-car-demu-br-grey-blue Some GWR Hawksworths at 21 GBP, example: https://www.themodelcentre.com/374-512-graham-farish-n-gauge-gwr-hawksworth-brake-second-corridor-br-maroon Triple pack of SE&CR birdcages at 75GBP is pretty good! https://www.themodelcentre.com/374-910-graham-farish-n-gauge-se-cr-60ft-birdcage-3-coach-pack-se-cr-wellington-brown Some farish wagons 50% off, example: https://www.themodelcentre.com/377-089-graham-farish-n-gauge-7-plank-fixed-end-wagon-sr-brown

Some really good deals in here as per previous comments. Some that stood out to me: - Bachmann Station Pilot set, 137 GBP https://www.themodelcentre.com/30-180-Bachmann-oo-gauge-station-pilot-train-set - A few Golden Valley Janus 50-55GBP, these hung around a long time at other retailers, but now seem out, so if you missed you chance... example (there are 4, one ncb, one bp, one port london, one... other): https://www.themodelcentre.com/gv2012-golden-valley-oo-scale-ncb-janus-0-6-0-diesel - Oxford Rail LNER N7 for 57 GBP https://www.themodelcentre.com/or76n7002-oxford-rail-oo-gauge-n7-0-6-2-steam-locomotive-lner-8011 - Hornby H class for 65 GBP https://www.themodelcentre.com/r3631-Hornby-oo-gauge-br-h-class-0-4-4t-31265-era-4 - Heljan 07 at what appears to be an amazing price, BR blue 70 GBP https://www.themodelcentre.com/2907-Heljan-oo-gauge-class-07-v1-as-built-br-blue-d2998 - Heljan dutch 33 at 70 GBP https://www.themodelcentre.com/3439-Heljan-oo-gauge-class-33-0-33009-dutch-engineers - Bachmann 4-CEP at 225 GBP https://www.themodelcentre.com/31-427c-Bachmann-oo-gauge-class-411-4-cep-4-car-emu-7106-br-blue-grey-weathered On rolling stock there's some Hornby coaches 50% off including: - Some BR Collet at 22.50 GBP, example:https://www.themodelcentre.com/r4687-Hornby-oo-gauge-br-collett-coach-corridor-composite-lh-crimson-and-cream - BR 57' maroon at 23GBP, example: https://www.themodelcentre.com/r4689-Hornby-oo-gauge-br-non-corridor-57-composite-coach-br-maroon - SR Bulleid 24 GBP, example: https://www.themodelcentre.com/r4884c-Hornby-oo-gauge-sr-bulleid-59-corridor-brake-third-2862-era-3 - Some Dapol trucks at 6GBP each, example: https://www.themodelcentre.com/4f-040-002-Dapol-oo-gauge-4-plank-b-w-co-1100-weathered - Bachmann shunters truck at 8.50 GBP https://www.themodelcentre.com/38-677-Bachmann-oo-gauge-gwr-shunters-truck-gwr-grey-old-oak-common - Bachmann 14t tank wagon https://www.themodelcentre.com/38-775-Bachmann-oo-gauge-class-a-14-ton-anchor-mounted-tank-wagon-benzene Lots of others, but those are all at a significant reduction on new RRP and as cheap as I've seen elsewhere (but I am not omnipresent)