jchinuk

I'm new here and newly returned to railway modelling, however I have found that the 2mm Association sell rail and sleepers suitable for 9mm gauge track (though as you assemble it the gauge is really up to you). Unfortunately, you have to be a member to buy the products. Products I hope this helps. jh

I don't think the electric car market (in Europe anyway) has a sufficiently accurate mileage test to properly compare cars. Unless something accurate is devised, the car buyer will feel cheated. In many parts of Europe, and all the UK, half the year you need lights and a heater while commuting, both of which will drain the battery in an EV. Okay, LED lights are better, but there is still an effect. By the time you add in a radio, music player, phone, it all mounts up. Obviously, if you are on one of the Economy tariffs, cheap electricity over night, charging at EV at home makes sense, but only if you have a driveway or off street parking, trailing cables across the pavement is just inviting a law suit when someone trips over it. There is unlikely to be a "Vehicle Excise Duty" (there is no such thing as Road Tax in the UK) on EVs, most likely there will be a road charging system, dearer in the commuting and school times, less during the day, very cheap at night. This should be fairer, those who use their cars the most pay the most, those with longer memories will recall that adding VED to fuel was mooted at one stage. One side effect will be that the Government knows were every vehicle is at any time, which raises issues of 'civil liberty', mind you ANPR tracks your car pretty effectively at the moment. jh

A lot of model engineers with workshops use '3 phase' motors for their lathes, milling machines, etc. jh

Remember many new estates in the UK are specifically designed to discourage car ownership, no street parking, no driveways, no garages. jh

If you are uncomfortable with any service or hardware (be that smartphones or DCC control) it is best to be cautious. It's also worth mentioning that using false names on Facebook is a breach of their rules, though I guess virtually undetectable. Using Google gives up as much data as using Facebook, that is why there alternatives that do not store search data, notably DuckDuckGo, but there are others. All websites, Google, Amazon, Argos, gather information on your purchases, as do 'loyalty card' schemes at the supermarket. It's really a bit naive to be concerned about Facebook, Twitter or any other social media, when Tesco (or whoever) know more about you anyway. Getting back to your original question, assuming the water (or electricity / gas / broadband) goes off, I think the networks have a Freephone number you can call to get a recorded message with further information. jh

According to Google Earth, the track is still there, though it has been cut in half (circled in red). There seem to be a number of tipper wagons on the isolated loop, though they are outside the museum grounds, at least the parts the public can access. The IWM never really made much effort to promote the railway, yet it always seemed busy when it was running. The static exhibits are still inside the Stygian gloom of the Land Warfare Hall. jh

It was possible, conversions, but like most BMC and BL cars, great ideas were never properly developed through the lack of cash for investment. jh

I was in my local branch of 'Hobbycraft' (Romford) yesterday and they are selling the Hornby Christmas Train set at an agreeable £12.50, not bad for an oval of track and the controller, let alone the locomotive and wagons. I can't find it on the 'Hobbycraft' website, so it might be in stores only or that might be me! They had about five sets left in Romford, upstairs right at the back, next to the jigsaws. jh