Natalie

Whilst undoubtedly good news and still early days, is there an intention to continue to invite specialist societies as occured with the Warley event? For full disclosure I am both the Exhibition Stand Organiser for the Signalling Record Society and a member of Warley MRC.

Hi I enjoyed the show and found all the stewards, Warley members (of which I am one) and NEC to be friendly, helpful and pleasant. I thought that I would share my experiences of being at the show as an exhibitor. I organised a Society stand where I am allowed to sell our own products and memberships. I get a 6' x 2'6" table free and pay for any additional tables, I pay for an extra one giving us 12' x 2'6" of table. We get 2 free wristbands per each 6' table. If I require any more wristbands then I can purchase some at the same cost as an advance 2-day ticket, rely on the generosity of the Exhibition Manager or purchase additional public tickets. The downside of this is that before and as soon as the show closes it is classed as a construction site and only those with wristbands will be allowed to remain. Additionally we have to pay for the space that the tables are sitting on plus 2'6" behind them. If I want an electrical supply then I pay for that. I receive one car park pass but no tea or food vouchers. Additionally I am unable to claim travel expenses as far as I am aware. Be aware that things like extra car park passes are strictly controlled by the NEC and are not decided by Warley. I simply tell my people (!) the situation and that they need to bring their own food and drink. Any claims an individual wants to make are taken up with the Treasurer of our Society. Why do we attend? Because we feel it is important to have a presence at the show. I have found that people think we have folded if we are not at a National show.. It gives people a chance to speak to us, ask questions and seek advice. This helps to partially satisfy our requirements under the Charity Commission for education. We are happy to break even or make a small surplus but that is not our reason for attending. My fellow volunteers came from Telford, Oswestry and Reading amongst others. We attend because we enjoy it despite the time involved in organising it and physically being at the show. Remember this is not held in a school or a church hall or leisure centre but a professional exhibition venue who have very different requirements. Nat

My suggestion is for a Maunsell Mogul, more specifically an N class. In the section about the Bulleid CIE wagons, unless I misread and misheard the text Fran intimated (apologies if I did mishear) that they were also developing/producing a suitable Irish steam loco for IRM. Guess which railway also had a version of Maunsell Moguls? I'm probably wrong but the Bachmann N is not that new a model. Natalie

My understanding of the plan is the same as yours. I have updated the description to the Flickr image giving details of what it actually is. It is from a set of SR Traffic Control Diagrams located currently in TNA, Kew which although not dated have a covering letter dated November 1947. The plan is a small section of the Southern Division Area No 3 map. I have the rest of it and the other Southern areas too. I also have some from the other divisions if of interest. One point of possible interest is that this plan shows Portsmouth (was Town) Loco yard which was later removed to make way for some stabling sidings which may well have had various elements of electrification installed. I think I have copies of a later control diagram which should include the stabling sidings. Portsmouth Town / & Southsea is/ has been an interesting station track and signalling wise of which a lot of the BoT Inspection files and plans are thankfully saved for us at TNA Kew. Potentially still on topic are a few more locations which might be worth exploring. At Wimbledon and Richmond the bay platforms are electrified for both 3rd and 4th rail dc as a result of sharing the station with LU services. The return 4th rail in these cases I believe is bonded to the running rails to allow dual use of the line. The services at both stations tend to use separate platforms possibly for passenger convenience. Let us not forget the LBSCR ac overhead system at Victoria and London Bridge that potentially shared track with the SECR dc 3rd rail especially towards the end when the SR converted it all to dc 3rd rail. Going back to Manchester Piccadily I have photted the ohle wiring diagrams relating to the 25kv ac system. These again are in Kew. What is of interest is what the plans show is there is continuous wiring between the ac and dc systems with only an insulator separating them electrically. An interesting thread indeed.

That looks like Euston's Motorail set of mostly Mk1 FK vehicles without the carflats. When not in use for Motorail service (it went to Stirling IIRC) as here the set was available for special traffic. 28th April 1987 was a Thursday. Great photos Steve. Do you still have access to the old pics that you posted on a different site to your normal one. Sorry that I can't remember the name.

A great photo Steve. Of much interest to the coaching nerds such as myself is the fact that the Wolf is hauling a West Coast Mk3 Pullman set AND via Coventry instead of the Trent as was usual. There were no booked workings of this stock via that route at the time as far as I recall. The 17th April was also a Friday. Not sure if anything was causing the Trent Valley to be closed which is a bit embarrassing consideringthat I was a signalman along there at the time. It is possible that Coton Crossing box was being abolished at that time but despite being the last signalman on duty there with my closure entry in the block book being made with the book on the bonnet of my car... I don't recall the closure involving a weekday as it was a fairly small job with only a new diagram being required at Tamworth for the Coton area. Great photo though. Am enjoying seeing some of your classics again.

I think that was the day that I had an 'encounter' with a rubbish bin in a car park at EH as a result of ending up working a late then a night shift and the person in charge never thought to do anything about the fact that I didn't have a trained nurse to whom I could leave the keys with after the night shift ones went sick. It was still a good trip involving a well known modeller and railway writer walking into his closed patio doors whilst we were there having a BBQ...

The top windows in the side on view of the trailer look to have lost their upper curve but they seem to have some element of it in the view showing the trailer end... The front end is not a game changer to me but the curvature of the upper windows are. I suspect that it might be an earlier sample we are looking at but have no definive proof. I shall await the opinion of someone who I respect ie Graham Muspratt who seems to see the same things as me or look at a finished sample at a future show before I decide if I can make a purchase of that magnitude. I remain hopeful.

Am not into cars at all but wasn't pink an option for Cadillacs in the 1950s? I believe that the King had at least one and there are several rockabilly songs that tell about or are titled "My Pink Cadillac." I have no problem with pink (as long as not neon) and quite like pastel versions of it.

Regarding Yorkshire Pud, when staying in Wakefield last year for a discerning shiny parallel pieces of metal show, Kelly and myself had breakfast at a local pub-based emporium named after a jug. We were amazed (me hailing from Coventry/Nuneaton and Kelly from SE London/ Kent) to find amongst the usual fare of bacon, saussies, baked beans (love these- have them with roast dinners including over the so-called festive period as I don't like veg, sorry but I can't keep quiet about it anymore), fried eggs etc that there was a huge - size of a dinner plate - Yorkie on offer along with a gravy boat of thick gravy. Having never seen this for breakfast before I was assured by the chef that it was normal in that part of the world. You live and learn. Back to being tortured by Spurs... Nat

Hi and all best wishes to all. I am around and do read at least once everyday so am lurking in the background (in the Shadows but am no HBM...). I just don't have anything worth sharing most of the time so don't. I do appreciate it when my whereabouts is mentioned so thanks for that. I wonder if some of our more educated, learned and sociable members could please explain to me the logic of letting explosive devices off prior to (ie just had some now at 2218) the accepted celebration time seemingly to 'celebrate' the arrival of a new year. I am not a fan of it but can understand that as the countdown reaches zero you would let some explosives off at that point to mark the transition. But over 90 mins before??? In the days of Auld Lang Syne and a glass of bubbly I seem to recall this took place at 12mn. If you watch the 'celebrations' from around the world they are all characterised by the countdown then a firework display. The display takes place at the actual time. If you are going to mark an event at least do it at the correct time. I don't understand the whole concept at all. Best wishes to you all and I hope that 2023 brings a better year (more caring, compassion and consideration) than the appalling 2022 which I bid good riddance to. Here's to all our furry friends who keep us safe and have to endure the explosions too. Finally a thought for all those in pain, despair, poverty and sorrow and we remember most warmly our much missed friends and family members. Much love and friendship, Nat, Bracken (the Dog) and Minnie (the Mop)

Exactly Bazza. Additionally they were certainly not tube tunnel friendly either. Tube friendly is of course much lower than the main line sizes. As regards Edwardian's interesting comments, he misses out a group of people who welcome these coaches as we want to model the upper section of the Circle line that they ran on. Maybe instead of criticising Dapol for creating a model of real vehicles, he should be critical of Hornby and Hattons for introducing generic freelance coaches rather than a specific model for one railway and then fictional livery applications for the others. But that is a whole different argument which has been well done elsewhere. I'm looking forward to a set of the preceding 4 wheel Main line and City and Gas train stock... ideally Dapol will do the associated articulated versions of their new announcements. I could go further and hope that an enterprising manufacturer announces a suite of met dreadnought/ steam stock and electric unit relatives which are even more restrictive geographically than the ML & C stock. Those of us who wish to model train formations correctly are probably in the minority whilst the rest of us will no doubt buy something as it is the correct company for them or it simply looks nice. It is an individual choice. Our hobby is big and mature enough to enjoy a broad church of opinions and likes.

Wow. Totally shocked and stunned to read about AndrewC. Much love and comfort to his wife, family and friends. I just can't get my head around this world anymore. It just seems to have gone bonkers. Nat x

Hi Thanks for asking about us. Sorry to hear about your relative and hope that she remains on the road to a sustainable recovery. I am fine overall, a couple of episodes with black dogs but nothing prolonged. The DWP finally caught up with me to do a Capability Assessment which was over the phone a device I am loath to use as it involves talking to human beings. My assessor was a seasoned nurse just like me so I was able to communicate with her a bit better. She agreed that I was a complete and total lunatic and basket case who had some mobility issues that affected my abilities at times. Her opinion was that I easily fitted the criteria to go into the Support Group which meant no more fit notes needed and an increase in my ESA. It had to be agreed by a Decision Maker but she said that she worded her report such that they couldnt really decline it. Fortunately the decision maker did agree and into the Support Group I went. Best of all it would be backdated to when I first made my claim which was 8 1/2 years ago. This meant that a substantial 5 figure sum was coming my way to the extent that prior to payment I received a phone call frome them to warn me that I would be receiving a substantial payment which was legitimate and did not have to be paid back. Apparently it was to stop me freaking out at the sudden appearance of a large amount in my building society account... I have since been busy converting it to unmentionables amongst other things. Have had stands at various shows for two societies but as Kelly has been unable to help with any carrying it has been down to me to load the car, drive, unload the car and then set the stand up. I knew that this was the situation. Having Kelly physically there makes it viable for me to be at a show as despite our minor bickering at times (mainly through pain and tiredness) as it is reassuring and comforting for me to have my best friend there too. Onto Kelly now, I have noticed that her mobility has greatly improved since getting the crutches but she still has to use the "impossible to move wheelchair" at times. At times I feel like her carer but I am just looking out for my friend to make sure that she can access things. As Kelly said we were at Scaleforum over the weekend (where I spent far too much money) which is really enjoyable but really pays you back with extreme tiredness and the usual pain at the time and then extreme stiffness of muscles and joints for a few days afterwards. But it is all worth it. ChrisF was chatted to briefly there and reassured us he was fine. I've finally tried grouting the shower for Mother after about 4 months but I'm not sure how well I've managed it. I've got to finish one side off and a couple of parts before it can be tested. As long as water doesn't drip through the ceiling onto the kitchen light swith below then I'll be happy. Im not really a DIY person either. Hopefully Mother can then use the shower again as neither of us is keen on her climbing into the bath especially if I am not there. Makes a change for her to take my advice as she is fiercely and proudly independent and very capable. Having worked in A&E has made me anxious possibly that I want her to avoid falling and sustaining a #NOF especially. It does cause heated words at times as I find it difficult to see her potentially put herself in danger but then that is her decision. I do have 3 other siblings who live in the same town yet do nothing to help yet are seen as the blue eyed wonders.. It does cause me a lot of stress and resentment but since I had my house repossessed as I had lost my job and most of my belongings in it to I have definitely changed my personality to become the embittered, angry, suspicious, onionated, gobby, anti social Socialist that I am today. But no mental health support available so am left alone to struggle at times including self harming. It's not clever but it does help and it is only minor harm. The one thing that does me the world of good is going to shows which is why I am prepared to put up with the discomfort during and afterwards. There is something therapeutic about those unmentionables that run on parallel bits of metal be they 12' to the foot or much smaller. The human beings that congregate around them tend to be good company too. To finish of my unitended diatribe I hope that everyone else is doing well. Bring back Bear''s blue ink and was sad to hear of Brian''s passing. He seemed a nice bloke. That is why I frequent ER, not that I am good at being an ER (mornings are for sleeping in) but it is a wonderful mix of decent blokes and ladies who provide a unique form of companionship which I look forward to reading, sharing and being a part of. Long live ER and all who sail in her. Nat

I have this very evening been to Bermuda but not left the Midlands of England...