chris p bacon

12 hours ago, geoff west said:

Can anyone tell me which set i would  need for Biggleswade 1956 ? I believe there was a Hitchin to Sandy train which consisted of quad arts.

I've no idea about 1956 but there is an HMRS article for July 1958 which gives details for the 16.06 Hitchin to Sandy.

It was a short working utilising a 4 car set which had been worked back to Hitchin as empty stock, for the week it shows sets L78,L74 & L71 being used.

33 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

Misrepresentation?

 

I don't think the avian flu regulations have been lifted yet...

 

We're 500 yards over the border and the same rules haven't applied here.

10 hours ago, Bucoops said:

 

Nearly forgot.

 

I stand corrected. No idea why I thought that...must be my age...🙄

8 hours ago, Bucoops said:

The LRM N1 kit certainly has the centre axle slightly higher than the outers. I believe that's a Paul Craig design.

IIRC it isn't a Paul Craig kit, but the name escapes me at present of who it actually was (Steve Barnfield??)

10 hours ago, micklner said:

Slot should be to one side, not in the centre.

It worked fine in the centre.

1 minute ago, cctransuk said:

 

.... not from Wizard models at present - I had the last few and, on advice, won't expect the balance of the order any time soon.

 

CJI.

Andrew does have a note on the axle page

Please note that this item might not be restocked, as Markits may be switching production wholly to the slotted type (our code 00SLOTAXLE).

I purchased 10 of the slotted ones a couple of weeks ago, very handy for the grub screw on a high level box. 

This is typical of eBay bidding and how people don't know the value of what they are purchasing.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275780772284

Today 6 Used Markits axles sold for £17.75 inc postage.

Or you can buy 6 (or more) new ones from Andrew at Wizard for £15.42 inc Postage

https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/shop/wheels/00axle/

Or the new slotted ones for £15.78 inc postage

https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/shop/wheels/00slotaxle/

I know who I'd rather purchase from.

3 hours ago, woodenhead said:

 

Must have been a mid morning stock move as 1A03 was the 07.25 Leeds-KX

On 10/04/2023 at 22:06, Jeremy C said:

I can't think of any example where the end of an overhead electric railway joins a more important non-electrified line. Where this might have happened, such as the 1978 GNR electrification continuing to Cambridge, the usual practice seems to have been to truncate the electric line short (Royston), rather than spending lots of money electrifying a main station for a relatively minor service.

I worked at Royston from 79-83 (on/off) and the decision to stop at Royston was a commercial one. There are a lot of small villages between Royston and Cambridge and Royston picked up the traffic without going to the expense of electrifying to Cambridge. Royston had more 1st class season ticket holders that nearly all other stations combined, as well as one of the largest car parks to cater for commuters who switched from Cambridge/Liv St to Royston/KX.

It was finally wired when the GE electrification was extended from Bishops Stortford to Cambridge.

On 11/04/2023 at 19:10, Michael Hodgson said:

Cambridge and Royston are of course both through stations.  As the gaps beyond Royston to Cambridge and beyond Hitchin to Peterborough (also a through station but the commuter terminus) weren't wired in the 1970s, but some of the commuter service had to serve them there had to be diesel hauled trains as well and DMU shuttles until the wires were extended decades later.  This combination was presumably operationally a bit less efficient and more expensive than just using one form of traction.  The practice of stabling two electric trains in each platform at Royston overnight must have been inconvenient as it removed the GNR Cambridge route from the ECML diversionary options; at least Hitchin had a stabling siding for that DMU.

 The patronage beyond Royston wasn't that great with only a 2 car DMU (Matt Cam) on an hourly service. Whereas each hour to KX there were 2 slow services formed of a 4 car 312 (Ashwell, Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin, Stevenage, Knebworth, Welwyn Nth, WGC, Hatfield, Potters Bar, Finsbury Park & KX) and one fast service with 2 x 4 car 312's (Letchworth, Hitchin, Stevenage, FP & KX). The DMU always connected with the fast, although most patronage was from the all stations.

No units were kept in the platform overnight, all incoming electric services went back to Letchworth carriage sidings and the DMU to Coldham lane Cambridge for re-fuelling. (Royston wasn't a crew signing on/off point).  The DMU's that were used at Hitchin for the Huntingdon to Hertford North services also returned to Cambridge for re-fuelling (coupled together)

6 minutes ago, cctransuk said:

 

Our loss, their gain !?! ☹️

 

CJI.

Only if they want drama and politics.

There's no laughing emoji when you need it...🤣...Aaahh there it is..

6 hours ago, AY Mod said:

 

Special offer: Holiday for Life.

Now on Western Thunder 🙄

Game of Cricket?

10 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

I like having wood.

 

Mike.

Soft or hard?

4 hours ago, Dava said:

All you need is your product price list as a pdf file. You can have it downloadable in a 1 page website, or just start a thread on here with the scale & type of your etches. People can email you with orders and pay via PayPal or bank transfer. 

Dava

I agree, but I've had some that want to pay with a card as they don't trust BACS (probably think I'll do a runner with their £20...)

I'm not averse to setting up a website with a simple payment option, but I find it a bit annoying when some with no idea of time or cost, tell you they must be able to order that way as if it is a right. I'm quite happy to share stuff, but my time is very limited.

30 minutes ago, WM183 said:

Do people in the UK even want modellers in other countries to model UK prototypes? Man it sure doesn't feel like it sometimes.

 

As someone who has helped you in the past by purchasing on your behalf then forwarding as personal mail, I’m noting a ‘deja vu’ about this subject. The last time it was a Dave Bradwell product. 

 I did suggest then that the easiest thing to do was ask a relative or engage with someone who would be happy to receive and then forward on to you.  I do this already for society members outside the UK. 

19 minutes ago, WM183 said:

Yes, and also for the buyer, wouldn't you agree?

 

Only if the buyer doesn’t agree with whatever taxes their own country applies to incoming goods. 

1 hour ago, Andy Hayter said:

Books is a classic example where 20% VAT is imposed here even though the UK seller cannot remove the VAT because in the UK VAT is set at 0%.

A trader would be breaking the law if they tried to reclaim 20% vat on an item that does not have vat applied. 
if the item is zero rated in the UK but an importing country applies vat that’s an issue for the importing country, not the UK. 

8 minutes ago, WM183 said:

 

As a modeller in Europe, it has been a MASSIVE problem for me. Eileen's would not ship to the EU for a year following Brexit, and has now gone under.

Eileens insolvency was nothing to do with Brexit and was due to overextending themselves with loans without the income to support them.

Quote

Slater's refuse to ship here unless the order is over 140 pounds. Sure maybe it's not an issue for you, but for a load of sellers, it seems to be a hurdle they're unwilling or unable to leap.

We're back to the trader deciding what is best for them.

Quote

Also do keep in mind, we have to pay customs fees and VAT here, on top of the cost of the item and shipping. That adds a lot to the price.

You've always paid VAT, it's just that it isn't added at this end for an export. The fact you pay customs fees is a matter for the Dutch revenue service and what they apply.  I regularly order tools and tooling from Europe and the rest of the world, and have none of these difficulties.

I produce my own etches and have been willing too share them for cost price + a small % to cover the hassle of packing and posting them. I have looked at setting up a website and may do so in the future, but the costs of doing so with a payment option to order adds a significant cost which would have to be covered by the sale of goods.  

I already have enquiries from potential customers who question the cost as they have no idea of the costs of etching, I would no doubt have more with an increased cost and I'm not sure I want the hassle of updating another website (I already look after 1 and help with another)

5 minutes ago, WM183 said:

Alas, until the dust from Brexit settles,

Having a quarter of my sales to overseas and Europe, that has presented no problems whatsoever.  

19 minutes ago, garethashenden said:

The only book I have is Volume 2 of Bill Simpson's Oxford to Cambridge. Which other ones would you recommend? 

I'll try and find them later. My books are boxed at present while we undergo some building works, so it may take an evening to find them. 

I've also got some magazine articles, PM me your email address and I can send them later this evening.

I'm modelling Sandy circa 1900, and the easiest way is to study any photographs both for motive power and wagons.  There are several books on the Oxford to Cambridge, do you have any of them? 

1 hour ago, Keith Turbutt said:

 

Yes, I had hopes for an 04/8 from Moussa and even paid a small deposit to show interest but nothing has ever come of it. I think Bill abandoned resin casting and has moved on to 3D printing.

 

I found this link for an 04/8 :

 

https://www.shapeways.com/product/KYYMUFD6T/b-76-gcr-o4-8-loco

 

The design is by Recreation21

 

I have no idea about quality or whether the price of nearly $60 ($48.05 plus shipping) is reasonable.

 

A pity Little Engines kits nolonger available. Does anyoneknow what happened to them as they did a number of 04s which occasionally turn up second hand. Dave Alexander kits was another sad loss to the hobby. 

Don't touch it. It's the wrong material altogether and would be dreadful.  

It is one of many 'designs' that have never been test printed prior to offering for sale. They are printed in a nylon material which does not take  glue and is incredibly rough, it is chosen for cheapness with no alternative given by the designer (the cost would be ridiculous) 

24 minutes ago, rob D2 said:

There’s a bloke at work called , “ three sh*ts”.

Because if you’ve had two, you can guess how many he’s had 

I remember a comedy drama from the 1980's called 'The Ritz'  in it a bouncer was asking another called 'Kai' how he was such a big hit with the ladies. Kai told him that he had to impress them. so when chatting to the next lady he said "I've had 3 sh*ts today"

Sadly I worked with someone who thought that sounded like a good technique....🙄

Fnarr fnarr...