papagolfjuliet

I think I'm right in saying that the oldest RTR model currently in production is the Bachman (previously Trix/Liliput) whisky grain hopper. The Hornby 'James' is technically even older, being in essence the Tri-ang 3F, but the tooling has been so heavily modified that it probably doesn't count. Overall the longest running model is probably the original Tri-ang 08, which first appeared in the early Fifties and hung on as 'Diesel' in the Thomas range until a couple of years ago.

They're not so much short as too tall, because until very recently Hornby models were all made to the coupling height of the former Trackmaster box van and seven plank which Tri-ang acquired in 1951.

I hope that the Night Ferry sleepers on the cover of the 2018 catalogue are a taste of things to come.

If anything I'd say that all of the manufacturers are moving away from their traditional source of income - essentially transition era modellers who want black steam engines and green diesels and lots of them - towards a younger customer base with much more eclectic tastes. We're seeing a lot more models of pre-WW2 prototypes in Big Four and pre-Grouping liveries and on the whole they're selling well, whereas models which not long ago filled the catalogues are now appearing in smaller numbers because, except where a model has been long awaited such as in the case of the Ivatt Duchess, they don't seem to sell as well as they used to. Similarly, pre-nationalisation liveries are becoming more commonplace on heritage railways. In both cases this is I think due to a new generation of modellers and volunteers coming to the fore who have no emotional attachment to the Sixties scene and are looking for something a bit different.

A new 92 is on the way from DJ Models, on which basis my cynical side is somewhat surprised that Hornby hasn't announced one.

The 'Cross Canada Diesel Freight' train set sounds interesting. Is this the old Tri-ang Transcontinental stuff, or something from Rivarossi?

Something Scottish at last. let's hope it does well and starts a trend.

Will these do you? http://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/cataloguelist.aspx?EraID=0&ScID=1000592&prTyID=1000640&supCatID=218

The forthcoming DJM 'Antwerp' is a model of a Hunslet example.

Interestingly this Bluebell driver, posting on Nat Pres, takes the view that the P is a much more user-friendly machine than the A1X: https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/hattons-announce-secr-p-class-and-barclay-14-0-4-0st.1002451/#post-1925216

That strategy seems to be largely aimed at knocking out new rival manufacturers though, and one rival manufacturer in particular. Hatton's has obviously been caught in the crossfire, but DJ Models was Hornby's real target. Targeting a major boxshifter would be very bad for business. To my knowledge they haven't laid a finger on Kernow or Rails.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that this was in fact the case. In one of Pat Hammond's books maybe?

1556 was hired to the Colonel Stephens empire for use on the KESR in 1936, 1938, and 1947, so you could base a layout on Headcorn or Robertsbridge and legitimately use a P.

That one has been rescued and is now at Bryn Engineering near Bolton.

The artist, conservationist, founder of the ESR and saviour of 92203 and 75029, has died. A great man, a great life. https://davidshepherd.org/news/david-shepherd-cbe-1931-2017

If you click on "Search preserved railway stocklist" on the left hand side of the page you'll find a much more user-friendly database.

I think I'm right in saying that the Bachmann Collectors' Club's model of 2085 in Caley livery was one of their fastest sellers and commands very high second hand prices.

Photo here: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/985595676_7ef8568efd_o.jpg

The two distillery examples which you referenced (both of which survive) are very much smaller 9" Barclays. I'm happy to be corrected but I don't think that any of the 14" type were ever used by the whisky industry.

I'm a bit puzzled by the description of "Antwerp". Does 'unlined maroon' mean the post-refurbishment red with white painted name which it carried during its final years in NCB service and for its first few months on the NYMR, or does it refer to an earlier livery?

The thing about Blaster Bates, who coined that phrase, is that he was an expert in his field and was making a joke about himself. If you didn't know how to use it, you shouldn't have brung it.

Deleted.

Starting this year the FR will be running a peak season 08:40 departure from Porthmadog precisely in order to tap into the growing tourist market at Blaenau. Whereas previously the earliest train from the Blaenau end did not leave until midday, there will now be a departure at around 10:00. This is due to the recent rapid growth of Blaenau as a trendy tourist destination in its own right, with lots of extreme sports venues and fancy cafes springing up. There's a market there which has never previously existed, and the railway is beginning to exploit it.

Not sure if this has already been replied to, but that looks to me like the (much better) Airfix Fowler tender from the 4F and 2P.

801 was indeed the Oswestry Alco.