tetsudofan

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

Just received Cl.71 sound decoders from Charlie/Legmanbiffo ready to install when the locos arrive....... Keith

That's exactly what I was thinking. It does seem strange that my order was not cancelled when they decided they could not do the dcc-fitting. Kept on checking my pre-order list and decided to let sleeping dogs lie and see what would happen! Hope all goes well with your little project Andy! Keith

Photos taken, not that great but at least they show the decoder and related wiring: Hope the photos are of help. Keith

To be honest, before you asked, I hadn't bothered to look for the decoder because, at normal viewing distance, I couldn't see anything except for the wires but when I did look closer found that the decoder is stuck under the roof. I've taken a couple more pics and will try to get them on here later. Keith

Well, Yodel yoddled today and my dcc-fitted Wickham Trolleys arrived late this afternoon. As everybody says they are tiny!!! Have had the yellow one out of the box and onto the programming track, programmed its new address and gingerly placed it on the track and sent it off for a couple of circuits of the track before being parked up for a couple of pictures: Looking at the paperwork that came from Hattons the trolleys have been fitted with Hattons DCR 8-pin (harness) 2-function 1.1amp small and thin decoders with back EMF. The wiring is very neat and looking down on the trolley it looks like this: ...... and before anyone asks I'm not going to take the thing apart to see how Hattons have done it for fear of not being able to get it back together again . Keith

Just got an email from Hattons advising that my two dcc-fitted trolleys have finally been packed and will be yodelling their way towards the far south east with delivery scheduled for tomorrow....... Keith

Sorry having to say this but its getting rather boring reading your continued rants about manufacturing in China. Kader Industries (owners of Bachmann) was established in Hong Kong in 1948 and has certainly not suffered under 60+ years of communism. Hong Kong and the companies and people living there thrived on free enterprise which the Chinese government recognised and treated Hong Kong as its door to the world...... and still does.

....and when the model is released, which surely it must be, maybe an additional £5 added to the price to be donated to a charity of the family's choice. Keith

Bit of a surprise this afternoon, just received an email from Hattons that my order for two dcc-fitted trolleys (one maroon, one yellow) has been processed. Just checked my card account and the amount charged by Hattons is already shown as pending. My order was placed as soon as they announced that they would be providing a dcc-fitting service. I did not hear from them when they announced that the dcc-fitting could not be done and did not call them myself just leaving the order pending just in case they figured a way of doing it ...... and now it seems they have. Maybe Hatton's friends at Olivia's told them how it could be done. Further update when the trolleys arrive...... Keith

Crikey, just the thought of this makes me glad that I'm an ex-member of the Hochstadt operating team Enjoy the show guys! Keith

...and portrait of another red & yellow fronted unit ..... but seen at Frankfurt Hbf. Keith

.... and taken at the Bredgar & Wormshill near Maidstone in Kent a couple of years ago: Keith

Yes, modelling the RhB, particularly the Bernina line, can be great in the garden: Must admit, though, have not run trains in the snow!! Keith

Morning from a sunny and reasonably mild (at least in the sun!) south east corner of the country. M&S in Folkestone closed a few years ago and was replaced by a Wilko. Closest M&S stores are at Ashford and Dover but think there is a food outlet at a BP station on the outskirts of Folkestone but don't go there as diesel is dearer than other places in town. Normally top-up with diesel at a Shell station at Faversham when I make my monthly pilgrimage to The Hobby Shop. Still going through some of my old bits and pieces and came across this Freedom of Scotland ticket: £9.00 for a week of First Class travel in Scotland. 1961 would mean that I had just done my "O" levels and, together with a school friend, we headed off to Scotland to "do" Scotland and as many sheds as possible for which we had a pile of shed permits. An early lunch calls and then off to catch the bus to Dover to find the Dover Health Centre and then get a jab in the middle finger of my right hand. Had one three or four years ago and need a top-up now. Keith

Received my Dutch wagons today and got them running round the layout. They ran smoothly including being pushed and pulled through my most complicated trackwork: Then hung a brake van on the back and off we went. No problems: Will get some more Dutch rolling stock out later and see how we get on. Keith

Had another "dummy" moment last month when I withdrew some cash from my bank account using one of the cash machines at my local Sainsbury's. It was early morning for me and they had just installed some new cash machines which operate differently to the machines that they replaced. At the time I did not realise that I had inserted my credit card rather than debit card despite getting a screen asking me if I wanted to proceed with transaction. Of course I do I thought, that's why I stuck the card in the machine in the first place...... Realised what I had done the following day when I checked my card balances online and quickly made a call to Barclaycard. After minutes of pressing many buttons etc. got to speak to a very helpful guy in India. Explained what I had done and asked if I could repay the amount in question immediately. No problem he said and did the transaction using the debit card that I should have used in the first place. He also told me that when I get my next statement it would show a cash transaction fee and overnight interest charge so he had made a note on the file that they should repay these amounts once I get my statement. Phoned Barclaycard today, spoke to another very helpful guy in India and he confirmed that the amounts would be refunded and will appear on next month's statement. Can't complain about that for what was my stupid mistake in the first place, Keith

Bit chilly up top this morning. As I keep my hair short a few years ago I invested in a Wahl Self Cut Clipper so could do my own hair thus avoiding visits to the barber. Last night it was time for a haircut so out came the clippers. Whilst doing the hair and listening to the I-Spy on Radio Kent I thought the hair was coming off in greater quantities than normal. It was only when I was putting the clippers away and trying to remove the No.1 comb that I realised what I had done - I had not put the No.1 comb on the clippers in the first place so got a really close cut!! First class dummy!! Keith

My flying days after I shipped out to Hong Kong on the P&O Chitral started in the far east. First flight was on Philippine Airlines from Hong Kong to Manila in January 1968 to catch a States Line cargo ship from Manila to Saigon. First flight out of Saigon was a Cathay Pacific Convair 880 bound for Bangkok. As the Viet Cong controlled the countryside outside Saigon planes needed to get airborne quickly so we sat at the start of the runway as the Captain revved up the engines full blast with the plane shaking like the whatnots before the brakes were released and we were off hurtling down the runway like a rocket!! Returning to Saigon was just as interesting. Came back on a Thai International Caravelle when descent was left to the last moment. One moment we were up in the air, next moment we were on the runway!! Only made one internal flight whilst in Saigon and that was on an Air Vietnam DC4 up to Dalat in the Central Highlands. After take-off was looking out of the window and watched one of the engines conking out which meant our return to Saigon. A couple of hours later after they had repaired the engine we left for Dalat on the same plane. Final departure from Saigon in November 1969 was on the Air Vietnam 727 (they only had one, leased I think, from Pan Am) bound for Phnom Penh. Only interesting thing about this flight was that we arrived in Phnom Penh before we had left Saigon due to being in different time zones. Return to the UK was via Camdodia, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, USA and Denmark by various airlines/aircraft before catching a train across Denmark, the overnight ferry to Harwich and the boat train to meet the family at Liverpool Street Station....... three and a half years since I had said goodbye to them on a boat train at Waterloo Station. Keith

Surely your question has been answered in post #726 by Dibber25. Send it back to Kernow as mentioned above seems to be the best option........

I've always been interested in these teeny weeny and other related track maintenance things so, being completely and utterly useless at soldering, I've jumped at the opportunity and pre-ordered a dcc-fitted trolley from Hattons. Be interested to see how it performs. Keith

I renewed my licence last year in time for my 70th birthday but did not have to supply any picture, Did the application online and quoted my passport number so they could poach the picture provided for the passport application and stick it on my new driving licence. Total cost? Nothing. Keith