tetsudofan

Like Tim above I've got a SIM only contract and bought my phone...… I'm not a phone geek with the most frequently used app being used (apart from texting and reading emails) is the Roco Z21 app.….. so I got an ordinary Samsung J6. Sometimes I even use it to make a phone call. Keith

Missed the thunder and lightning down here in the south east corner. Would have liked some rain to refill the water butts. One of the joys of living in a chalet bungalow is that the bedrooms are in the roof space which means they do get hot when temperatures and humidity rises. At 10:00pm last night the bedroom temperature was touching on 30c but, luckily, once the aircon was on the temperature gradually fell to 22c and a good nights sleep followed. The aircon is a luxury and does not get used that much but, compared to six years ago when it was first installed, its getting used more and more each year. Reminds me, must get it serviced next year. Keith

I've just plonked my class 60 on my analogue test track and it does not move. Placed it on my dcc programming track, read CV29 as 2. Then placed the loco on the dcc layout and it ran perfectly sound and all on address 3 Keith

Not been posting much here recently but work has been continuing in the garden with the completion of the (Japanese-style) Summer House and the set of steps to gain access to the top of the mountain: All that remains to be done is to paint the uprights orange as they do in Asia so paid a visit to the local branch of Brewers this morning who were very helpful in mixing be a tin of orange paint for me. Next mini-project is to get the waterfalls functioning. Have obtained a catalogue from Water Gardening Direct and currently sorting out the pond and pumps etc. after which the friend who built the summer house will help me get everything fitted and working once the temporary bridge has been replaced by something more permanent: Keith

…..and LGB do a G-Scale version as well: Keith

… and talking about buildings in the garden this is the latest building appearing in my garden sitting atop Big Mountain: Roof shingles currently being laid so still quite a bit to be done until its finished. Keith

Hi Phil, Have been to the HSB a number of times, fantastic railway. Don't forget that (if you are into trams as well) the town system at Nordhausen runs onto the HSB using bi-mode trams. Some pics from the past: and once you are home you can start replicating the HSB in your garden: Enjoy!! Keith

From my childhood memories of the Sentinels working at Lowestoft in the sleeper depot and along the harbour (where you can't walk now!!) the Sentinels did not make much noise, nothing like a steam loco shunting. One could creep up behind you and you would not know it was behind you. Keith

Hi Thomas, hope you're happy with your Spur 1 Kiss BR 120. Over the years I've purchased a number of their Spur 2m models and must say that I'm pleased with what I've got. Most recent new arrival is the DFB HG 3/4 Rack loco: For me this is a special model as I saw the original locomotive rotting away in Dalat in the Central Highlands of Vietnam when I was living in Saigon in 1968/69: and when I visited the DFB in Switzerland in the early 2000s the loco that was hauling the train I was on was the same locomotive that I had seen in Vietnam many years ago. I took copies of the pictures in Vietnam with me and was able to take some matching pictures in Switzerland: Hope you get as much enjoyment out of your Kiss locos as I do mine!! Keith

Dapol don't comment on this site so you won't get any comments from them here.

Agree with you completely but the good burghers of Hastings seem to want it and have been quite active in pushing it forward. 3rd rail electrification is not the flavour of the month at the moment and bi-mode trains are preferred over overhead electrification...….

Interesting talk about the 395s. I understand that buried in the depths of the documentation for the renewal of the Southeastern franchise one of the requirements is the replacement of the 395s. The 395s were based on an early version of the Mini-Shinkansen in Japan using the same data systems which (in data system-speak) are somewhat antiquated and will be costly to maintain in the future. There is also talk of taking the high-speed trains through to Hastings via Rye which would mean that the Marsh line would have to be electrified or bi-mode trains will have to be used once the point-work on the London side of Ashford is altered so that trains off the High Speed line can cross over and get into platforms 1 and 2 and on to the Marsh line. Passenger use on the high speed line is increasing all the time and many of the London-bound 395s are full before reaching Ashford as they pick up a near full complement of passengers whilst circumnavigating the Isle of Thanet, Dover and Folkestone. Unfortunately the overcrowding cannot be resolved by using 12-car high speed trains due to the restrictions imposed on passing through the tunnels between Dover and Folkestone. All-in-all interesting times ahead and, as the new franchise is still to be decided, it will be at least 2 to 3 years before the 395 problems are resolved.

Easy explanation for Kent which is a big county split by the River Medway with those on the London side being Kentish Men and those on the coastal side being Men of Kent. I was born a Kentish man but am now living in the land of the Men of Kent so do I get a Kentish Man or a Man of Kent version? Or do I ……….. Decisions, decisions.... Keith

Obviously our European friends don't think that new electric multiple units won't sell. Last year Piko announced that they will be producing a DB-AG ICE-4 electric multiple unit which is due on the market very soon - yes, announced last year, released this year. The ICE-4 is a seven car unit so Piko is putting it on the market as follows: 4-car base unit of 4 cars fitted with sound and (assuming one euro is £1) will cost frp of around £590 2-car add-on coaches around £170 1-car add-on coach around £90 making a total of around £850 Comparing things to the UK market closest item would seem to be the Bachmann sound-fitted Western Pullman at frp of £950 which, of course, also includes a dynamis dcc unit. Taking the dcc unit out of the equation not much difference to the price ICE-4 but I think that also includes a servo-driven pantograph. As far as Hornby goes closest comparison is the LNER Azuma 5-car set at £395 but does not come fitted with dcc/sound or servo-driven pantographs so, price-wise, think Hornby have some way to go before they catch up with Bachmann and Piko. Keith

Dave, my local council promotes such a service, maybe good idea to see if your local council does. Keith

Exactly what I did!

Looking around can't seem to find a thread on the forum that shows trams both old and new in the UK or abroad in one thread. Earlier this month I attended the AGM of The Tramway and Light Railway Society held at the Wirral Transport Museum. Two trams were running on the Heritage Tramway that day and a third was put in service to give us some rides after the AGM. The service trams were representing Birkenhead and Liverpool: whilst the Wallasey representative was rolled out after the AGM: Not running that day was one of the Hong Kong built trams parked outside the museum and inside a single-decker from Portugal overlooking the site of the AGM! What better place to hold an AGM. Hope to see many more pictures both from the UK and abroad. Keith

Some more pics of my "voyage" across the Mersey last Saturday. First of all a Stena ferry just starting from Birkenhead as we were starting our journey from the Liverpool side: and some more ships seen on the voyage across the Mersey: Keith

Was up in Liverpool for the day last Saturday attending the AGM of the Tramway and Light Railway in Birkenhead and, not having visited Liverpool before, decided to use the ferry rather than the train. Was quite surprised when this rather bizarrely painted ferry turned up!! Moored next to the ferry landing dock was this rather weird looking thing: Didn't realise what it was until it departed on its way to the Isle of Mann.... but it still looked bizarre as it headed off down river!! Keith

I think "Ole Jack" must relate to Jack who was the Station Foreman at St. Johns in the late 1950s/early 60s. My grandmother lived in Lind Street, not far from the station and he seemed to be on duty everytime we passed through the station. Mum always had a chat with him, seems as though he was quite a character. We lived at Mottingham on the Dartford Loop and, from what I remember, all non-rush hour Loop trains used to stop at St. Johns. Keith

Carry on looking Paul, you know you want to...... Keith

Same as the document that I received except that the number at bottom right is 4. At bottom left it says limited edition of 750. Keith

Seen on Saturday just approaching Norwich station: from my seat on this earlier generation DEMU: Wonder if there will be any of the Stadler units around in 50 years time: Keith

Reading Natalie's story above reminds me of the time when I was caring for my Mum when she had dementia and reaching the end of my tether. Luckily for me the Admiral Nurse at that time realised what was going on and arranged to get Mum into respite care in a couple of hours. If that nurse had not been around at that time I hate to think what could have happened. On a much more happier note I went for a long train ride in this train: This was the first time I had been on a trip operated by Hastings Diesels Limited (in conjunction with GBRf). The train started at Hastings which I joined at Tonbridge after which the train headed for Bromley South, Kensington Olympia, the North London Line, Stratford and Norwich before reversing for the short journey to Lowestoft. Everything ran to schedule until we reached Norwich and headed for Lowestoft where we arrived about 30 minutes late... and guess what caused the delay? Yes, it was swans on the lines!! Father swan was leading the pack with Mother swan and family following under the careful watch of one of the guys from GBRf and once the family was safely across we continued our journey to Lowestoft. Just before the train reached Lowestoft Station I took the following pic from my seat on the train: Why take this picture you may ask? The second house from the end (with the newer tiles) was my grandparents house and from that window my brother and I spent hours watching trains entering and leaving Lowestoft back in the late 1950s/early 1960s - the cause of my continuing interest in railways! Back in those days the bushes were not to be seen, the area was devoted to allotments and you could just see the ground floor of the house from the train. Keith

Just pre-ordered my copy!! Keith