YT-1300

Very nice layout! Always good to see switching layouts on here

Any model is a good base, as long as the physical details are correct

Hi As above I'm looking for an HO GP-9 phase II (with the 6 grille cluster on the bodysides), or a GP18 Runner or non-runner, even just a shell (or 2 actually!) any livery and any condition as long as there are no chunks out of it! Ideally Proto 2000 but any make considered Needing the shells for RS-2m and RS-3m conversions.

The view of a factory worker gazing out a window in Feb 1974 observes CRI&P SW1500 #943 switching in the concrete canyons of Seething's industrial park...

You can always support the small traders and buy some transfers...

I got mine from Amazon, warm white (the effect can be seen in my link below) Easy to cut and add jumpers between boards

I much the same as you, except I enjoy the research side of modelling, but have no real interest in full-size railways beyond a cursory glance.. However, I do appreciate those who do, and recorded the current scene, and recorded the past railway scenes

I have a model railway on which I run sets of trains!

I've a few first issue HJ 47's which must be around 20 years old now, and a fair few 26/27's (and a Clayton) and I've never had a single issue with any of them. My 47's haven't run on a layout in probably 10 years or so, they run like a sewing machine when I give them a yearly service - so much so that the service isn't really needed but I do it anyway. HJ drive trains are bombproof.

When people have to watch lots of videos just to open a box, then it's a no brainer to have a removable panel

I wouldn't say the US aren't willing to follow the latest developments, more that they don't need to. Their prototype railroads don't have the complex lighting configurations that UK railways do, and, in my own experience, modellers in North American don't go for all the superfluous sounds that are found on European products. They don't seem to feel the need to active a list of functions for 10 minutes before the loco turns a wheel.

Well said! We all have to start somewhere and have fun whilst doing it. You may decide to stick with that style of layout in the future, or change to another style, but as long as you are having fun, that is all that matters. I'm guess you didn't watch the video, @Cymru Rails explains the reasoning behind the plan, and details the testing etc that took place. I'll look forward to part 2!

Would be 47256 instead? Lack of ETH equipment on the cab front rules out a 47/4

No need to dilute it or add anything to improve flow, I don't use it for ballast but for scenics

This... is the latest version of it. Comes out milky but dries completely clear

So before the internet you sat about and done nothing with your life? That is an absolute insult to all those who live with ND issues Who said man up and deal with it?

Those conditions existed before the internet and people still manged

Businesses want extra sales of course, but that has to be weighed up against delivering a good service, Extra sales may not generate enough revenue to take on an extra employee, so part of the business will suffer. Just seeing the amount of stock they take to shows week in, week out, and travelling all over the country, it makes me wonder just how they have time for anything else.

But how less so? You fill out the order form, they get back to you with payment details, you pay then get it delivered. Simple and easy.

You don't need to transfer your bank details over email when ordering from them For a properly functioning live stock e-commerce site it cost far in excess of £2k, and an incredible amount of time to list all the stock. And a fair amount of time maintaining it. Then, if this results in extra sales, more time is taken up by extra packing and posting tasks.

I do agree with you, however Squires have a HUGE product inventory and it would take a lot of time, and a lot of money to set up. Considering that Squires attend shows up and down the country, practically every weekend, I'd rather they continued to provide the great, reliable, service and products that they do, than divert time and money into developing a slicker e-commerce site that may, or may not add value to their business. Newer isn't always better, sometimes we need the traditional way of doing things to exist in this current hi-tech world.

I didn't mention turning the clock back, merely pointing out that we managed to order things remotely, very successfully, before the internet.

What ever did we do before the internet...

Thank you CK, I just let those comments go over my head, I find it funny that some people can be so blinkered. I had a chat at the same exhibition with a guy who asked why I didn't do Union Pacific, Santa Fe or CSX, my reply was because most people who do US models go for the big roads, I wanted to model a railroad that's not seen very often, and it required a lot of research to get even the basics right.

The things I look for in a layout at an exhibition are good modelling, reliable running and a consistent finish. It doesn't matter to me whether its a GWR branch line or a German high speed mainline. Things that jar with me are flashing lights and gimmicks all over the layout, mixed era stock, figures frozen in movement (running for that train even when there is no train!), in-consistent finish (highly detailed loco's with basic random stock behind them) and ear blistering sound. My current layout is a US railroad set in 70's Chicago, on the Rock Island Railroad (see link in my signature). At its first showing there where a few comments of 'foreign sh*te' and even 'German(!) crap' . Even had one guy telling me I was wasting my money on 'that' rubbish! Some exhibition goers can be very blinkered.