tetsudofan

Talk of male/female health matters reminds me of the time I worked in South Korea from 1979 to 1982. At that time under Korean labour law female employees were able to take a "ladies day" once a month when they had their periods. Most of the female employees took advantage of this arrangement and claimed their monthly day off on a regular basis. I had noticed that a couple of staff members were claiming these days on an irregular basis and had a chat with my Korean deputy and, bingo, suddenly they started claiming their "ladies day" on a regular basis....... Keith

Back home after my overnight stay at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Follow-up appointment pencilled in for four weeks time to see if any nasties have found as a result of the procedure. Thanks to all of four your support and good wishes following yesterdays posting. Biggest challenge was getting out of the hospital today - the place is like a rabbit warren with bits and pieces built and added over the years and connected by a maze of covered walkways and passages. Needless to say, I emerged into the open at the opposite end of the hospital to where my friend was waiting to meet me. No bus journey home as the hospital made it very clear that they did not approve of the idea of me using public transport for the return journey. Being a good boy I did what I was told! Despite having had a reasonable nights sleep (no heavy snorers, equipment peeping away etc) it will be good to get back in my own bed tonight. Keith

Hello from the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Had been booked in for a procedure today but got a call last night saying that the procedure may have to be postponed due to bed shortage but they still asked me to turn up today. So today I was an ER proper. Alarm went off at 5:15, caught 6:26 bus to Canterbury and arrived at KCH at 7:30. Was greeted by the Matron who advised me and some others that they were waiting for beds but would try their best to get us sorted. Was surprised that an hour or so later the induction commenced and by 10:00 I had my bed.Theatre guy collected me just before 11.00 and by 12noon I was in the Recovery Room and at 1:00pm I was enjoying lunch of roast chicken, Yorkshire pud and veg. To be honest I'm gobsmacked at how smoothly everything went, the staff have been excellent and can't be faulted.The NHS is certainly facing a difficult time but the guys here are certainly giving their best. As I've got nobody at home to look after me I've got to stay here overnight before being discharged tomorrow. Can't complain at that.I'm a lucky bunny. Keith

I got it second time looking!! Jeremey at Digitrains called me today to advise that my loco is in stock. Paid Jeremey and called my brother (who lives in Lincoln and lurks on here) and asked him to collect it on his next visit to Digitrains. Keith

Yesterday noted that my credit card had been charged with the balance due on the green LNER version so phoned Dapol to ask which courier service they will be using for the delivery. The guy on the phone advised me that they use Interlink, asked for my address details and asked me to hold the line for a moment and then advised me that the package would be delivered between 1.15pm and 2.15pm.........and at 1.30pm Interlink were knocking on the front door. Not had a chance to get the loco on the track but had to smile at the layout of the "Owner's Manual" - it follows the format of that produced by Broadway Limited even going as far as telling you that pressing F1 turns on the bell . Must admit, at first viewing, the model does look impressive. Just waiting to see how many Pullman cars it can take up my gradients...... Keith

Just been looking at the Hornby website and note that arrival dates are now showing: Holland-Afrika line on 19/02/2017 Royal Mail on 02/03/2017 Clan Line on 09/03/2017 with no date showing for Channel Packet.........although it currently sits beside Clan Line on the "Coming Soon" page of the website. Keith

......but showing on their website at £87.00 at the same time as £139.00 on that other place. Bizarre!! Keith

Maybe best place to get this information is from the "Dapol Digest" on the Dapol website

...and couple of pictures of Lord Dowding about 10 minutes later arriving for its water stop at Folkestone West: .... starting off after having had a drink: .... and disappearing into the sun: .... and being given a shove up the rear as the next High Speed service to St. Pancras was not far behind: Think that Lord Dowding was the second steam special to run on the Dover/Folkestone line since the sea wall works were completed. Tornado stormed through a couple of weeks ago under the cover of darkness. Keith

Look at Post #348..... Keith

Collected my sound-fitted EKR Radial from The Hobby Shop at Faversham yesterday and been playing around with it this morning. Quite impressed so far: ....and with some more Kent coalfield wagons with an SR Pillbox on its way to Shepherdswell to hand over the train to the big railway: Most important thing for me is that this version of the Oxford Radial can actually climb gradients which my first Oxford Radial could not do. The EKR Radial took this short train up the gradient with no problem but don't think it can mange too many more wagons on the gradient. Loco comes fitted with a Loksound V4.O sound decoder with the speaker completely hidden from view. I've not taken the body off to see how they have done this!! What I do like is that straight out of the box the sound level has been set at, what for me, is a sensible level - no need to quieten the decoder. Apart from the Operations and Maintenance the model also comes with a very detailed Operating Manual for the decoder which, at the moment, I've not read in detail. Maybe bedtime reading.... Compared with the first release Radials Oxford, in my opinion, have certainly moved forward. So far I'm a happy bunny. Keith

If you really want your locos as soon as they arrive in country best thing to do is order them direct from Hornby and then you will get them quickly. Join the Hornby Collectors Club and you'll get 10% off plus free postage. Be interesting to see what you pay for your models from Hattons especially after paying the £4.00 delivery charges. Might even be cheaper to try The Hobby Shop at Faversham if you still want to deal with a shop. Keith

Just fitted my LNER B12 with a You Choos Zimo sound decoder and been doing some test running (having run the loco on analogue prior to fitting the decoder) and have been amazed by what the loco can haul up my inclines: Started with three LNER suburban coaches it sailed up and then added one by one until I had seven mixed coaches behind the loco which really amazed me as a Hornby A4 struggles with five coaches. Stopped and started the loco on the incline and it moved off without faltering. Most impressed. Plan tomorrow is to see how it can handle 5 Hornby K Pullmans...... Keith

Mine just arrived, 8573 posing with the Peckett: The B12, for me, is something sentimental. My grandfather was a fitter at Lowestoft Shed and, who knows, he could have worked on this loco at some point in the past. Because of this I was a supporter of the B12 for a few years at the M&GN and spent a day driving and firing their loco. Keith

Two gorgeous beauties just arrived, apologies for rather rough picture quality: Locos now running-in before dcc fitting, Keith

Looking at the tracking on Interlink Express mine is currently getting a conducted tour of Folkestone with expected delivery in I hour 45 minutes. Come in delivery no. 66 Keith

Not me m'lord, had mine ages . Got most of mine from the likes of the now departed Hythe (Kent) Models and other local shops and exhibitions. Think I also got a couple from the K&ESR at Tenterden. Keith

Just looked at the website of The Hobby Shop at Faversham and see that they have both versions in stock. Will be collecting mine next Wednesday (when my credit card clicks over!!) on my monthly pilgrimage to Faversham. Living not that far from the old East Kent Railway and having built up a collection of East Kent coalfield coal wagons over the years at last I'll have an off the shelf dcc sound-fitted EKR loco to haul them. As far as I'm concerned, a great release by Oxford. Keith

Just received email that LNER version arrived at warehouse and being prepared for despatch. Keith

but just looking at the Hornby website R3432 (Late Crest) is now showing as out of stock on the website (but available from stockists)

As Hornby use Inter Link to deliver to both shop and website customers I would think that the models will be appearing in shops by the end of this week.

Think the elves at the Hornby warehouse and at Inter Link are going to be busy!! Keith

....and minutes after getting an email from Hornby announcing arrival of my BR (late) B12 also got an email advising that my Huntley and Palmers Peckett has also arrived at the warehouse and is being prepared for despatch. Keith

Just got email from Hornby saying that my BR (late) B12 has arrived at the warehouse and will shortly be prepared for despatch. No mention yet of the LNER version... Keith