tetsudofan

Finally got my Yellow Peril linked up with some NCB wagons and brake van: Not from the same colliery but what the heck, they look good together..... Keith

o yasumi nasai and pleasant dreams, Keith

Yes, yes. yes please Keith

Afternoon from a sunny but slightly chilly south east corner. Had to drop off a thank-you letter to the Stroke Consultant and return a 6-day heart monitor to the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford this morning and as parking at the hospital is a pita decided to use my wrinkly card and go for a ride on the bus. The No. 10 bus runs along the coast to Hythe after which it hangs a right and heads inland towards Ashford. The Channel was a millpond this morning with the French coast clearly visible - apart from many container ships looked as though there was also a drilling rig making its way down the Channel. Dropped off everything at the hospital and was back on a bus to the coast within 20 minutes. The whole trip took just over a couple of hours but it cost me nothing and its a pleasant drive through the country lanes - even saw a farmer herding his flock of sheep from his pick-up truck assisted by a couple of dogs. Attended the Folkestone MRC show on Saturday. In my view not as exciting as in previous years - the end-to-end layouts were interesting but the big roundy-roundy layouts seemed to be having problems - loads of stock in the fiddle yards, very little running, groups of operators huddled together and running around with soldering irons. Achieved my main aim in picking up some bits and pieces from Coastal DCC and Kent Garden Railways. In previous years rucksacks did not appear to be a problem but this year there were two over-sized rucksacks plus unconcerned owners making their way round the show. Time now to get out into the garden......need to get some more work done on the garden feature before winter sets in. Keith

.....and all this hassle to get a decent model of the Cl.92 on the market at a reasonable price. One thing I certainly do know is that I do not have the stamina and courage that DJM has shown in his attempt to bring something that many people want to the market. Having read some of the above posts if I was in his shoes I would have just said stuff it. I'm out. Give the man a break. We're lucky to have guys like him about. Keith

Its been a lovely warm sunny day down here in the far southeast corner. What made it even more enjoyable is that three friends on their way to the Baie de Somme dropped by this afternoon to run some mobile objects on the garden feature that I've developed during the last twelve years or so. It was the first time that I've just sat down and just watched what was going on as my friends took over the running of the mobile objects - four of which were running at the same time. Just fantastic!! Sitting at one end of the garden and watching what was going on was quite therapeutic. At times it was hard to believe that what I was watching was all my own creation .... but it was mine!!. It was also great seeing my friends really enjoy something that I had created. Made all the hard work worthwhile. Reality returned quickly though as I was today's coffee/tea boy...... and it was soon time to go round to collect the next round of orders....... Keith

Great news only concern is (bearing in mind recent Hornby releases) is the level of difficulty that will be encountered in fitting dcc and sound. Know it will not happen but one could only live in hope that Hornby would follow in the footsteps of a new entrant to the market and fit a 6-pin decoder in the smokebox/boiler with space enough for the decoder and small sugar cube speaker..... Keith

Agree that Shelvington is a superb layout but looking at the full page picture on page 24 something looked strange and it took some time to work what it was..... and then it dawned - the Western was leaving the points which were set against it. Keith

Hello from a currently sunny far southeast corner. Nearly missed my 9:27am flu jab appointment at the local surgery yesterday. Was immersed in bed with the latest copy of "Continental Modeller" when I realised it was 8:50. Panic reigned but managed to get out of doors just after 9:15 and clocked in at the surgery at 9:25. Was called for at 9:27 before having a chance to sit down, got jabbed and was home again at 9:35. Unbelievable. Am due back at the surgery for blood tests at 8:10am on Wednesday after which a trip to the Hobby Shop at Faversham for some retail therapy is on the cards. Must make sure that I make that appointment on time. Keith

Les, I decided on 19xx series for all my NCB locos and calculated the 19 as follows: N = 14 C = 3 B = 2 making 19 so my Yellow Peril becomes 1965 and blue No.7 becomes 1907. If I get your red one that will become 1900. Keith

Just heard the traffic news on Radio Kent saying that both bores of the Dartford Tunnel are closed due to a power cut with traffic being diverted to the Blackwall Tunnel with queuebacks already to Dartford Heath.......wonder how far back the queuebacks will reach........ Also forgot to mention in my posting above that there was another derailment on the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch yesterday. Locomotive and first coach rolled over after meeting a tractor on a farm crossing. Five people including the driver injured and luckily no fatalities as in the previous derailments. Train services back to normal today. Keith

Well, the weekend weather down here in the far southeast corner turned out to be perfect for working in the garden. The rain forecast for Saturday afternoon did not materialise apart from a few odd spots around 5:00pm. Progress was made on the "garden feature" so much so that I used my stock of mortar mix. Instead of online ordering a supply to collect from my local Wickes decided to get some from the Wickes at Ashford instead meaning I could give the car some exercise on the A20 (much more enjoyable than a sprint on the M20) as my brother keeps on telling me that I don't use the car enough and not using it much can be just as bad for the car as using it too much. Can't seem to win!! I thought doing 5,800 miles in 2 1/2 years was a respectable mileage . 15 years ago I was on holiday in Tokyo and had been out having dinner with friends, got back to the apartment, turned on the TV and saw the appalling news from New York. A few days later I was booked to fly to San Francisco and on to Chama to do a two-day charter on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Luckily flights to the US resumed on the day I was booked to fly so had a lightly loaded North West Airlines flight to San Francisco carrying very few passengers - most of those on board were stranded North West crew trying to get back home. As there were few real passengers about immigration and baggage delivery formalities were the quickest I've experienced at any airport in the US. Keith

Morning everybody. Still dry and sunny in the far southeast corner but rain is supposed to arrive this afternoon. Doing more work today on my "garden feature". Already done one mix of mortar, just finished morning coffee and chocolate coated shortbread biscuits and back outside now to do another mix of mortar. Fingers crossed that the weather forecast will be right,,,,,,, Have a good day, Keith

Seems like I succeeded. Not being a mobile or technical geek that surprises me. Have a good day. Keith

Morning from the far southeast. Bit sticky here last night so turned on the aircon in the bedroom (joys of living in a chalet bungalow) and slept like a log. Thought I would see if I could find RMweb on my mobile this morning and bingo seems like I found it. Let's see if I can do a post.... Keith

Maybe I can sneak in a picture of a couple of those things we are not supposed to talk about. Earlier today posted this picture: Just been looking through some old pictures and came across this picture: Believe it or not, the first picture was taken from the top left hand corner of the decking in the lower picture, 13 years or so ago when I caught the bug after a visit to Tim at Arcadia. Have to blame him for everything!! Keith

Yep, I did realise that ..... and have been recognised ..... but I did carefully refer to a "feature" in the garden and not those other things we can't talk about Keith

Hello and good afternoon from a warm and sunny southeast. Perfect, I thought this morning, for doing some more building work in the shaded part of the garden so a schedule was devised: 08:00 Order online "Click and Collect" 12 bags of mortar mix from the local Wickes 09:00 Collect 12 bags of mortar 10:00 Coffee time 10:15 Expected delivery by regular postie of a certain Yellow Austerity from the depths of the far southwest 11:00 Start work in the garden. Things, of course, did not work out as expected. By 09:30 no confirmation text had been received from Wickes. Phoned them, ringing tone for 2 minutes, gave up, rang again and got through. Order was discovered under a pile of paper with picking promised by 10:00. Aborted collection trip until after postie...... but it turned up to be regular postie's day off and relief postie did not appear until 11:20. The morning gone.......and nothing done apart from running-in the Yellow Peril. Work in garden now postponed until late afternoon..... and what will that involve? Well, about 10 years ago when I started building a certain feature in the garden the following was developed: On a nice summer day all looks hunky dory but when it rains like the clappers the area disappears under water. So, this year, decided to do a rebuild to raise the trackbed to avoid the flooding problem and, as of yesterday, this is what it looked like: Having the feature raised helps compensate for the fact that 10 years have elapsed and, like most others, I'm not as agile as I was. Anyway, time for afternoon coffee and back to the cement mixer!! Keith

Yep, Wanchai could be a wild place in the late 60's especially when both the Royal Navy and US Navy were in town. We normally avoided the place those days. We normally went own to Wanchai in a group just to drink to celebrate new arrivals, birthdays and departures as shown in this rather hazy pic. I'm third in from the right. As one of the younger guys in the group the others will now be in their mid/late seventies.... On the left of the above pic is a US navy guy chatting up a hostess. The advantage of going down as a group meant that you did not get introduced to a hostess and then had to buy her somewhat expensive "girlie" drinks....... unless you went into the bars on your own. Soon after arriving at the bank 50 years ago today I was also signed-up as a Constable in the Marine Division of the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force as we all had to do some form of public service. We were the only European constables in the Hong Kong Police and can be seen at our Passing Out Parade. I'm far right of second row of constables: Some weekends we were assigned a 70ft launch for a 24-hour cruise and, once out of harbour limits, changed into civvies: Smaller boats were used to get to shore. Good job I was wearing a life jacket as at that time just as now I can't swim: That's enough of memories, back to the future now!! Keith

Yes, those lampposts do get in the way. Taken on a trip organised by the late Peter Fox of Todays Railways probably around 2004/2005: Also locked away we saw the following: Keith

Hi there, Apologies for the delay in answering your request. Managed to take a couple of pics: Keith

Yep, I got my confirmation email this morning...... just as the guy at the museum I spoke to last week said would happen. Keith

Morning All, Its been many months since I last posted here so thought I'd say hello again. Today is a special day for me. 50 years ago on September 5 back in 1966 it was the start of my working career in the Far East when I arrived in Hong Kong. All started early in 1966 when I got bored working at the Lee Green Branch of Barclays Bank and wrote off The Chartered Bank (now Standard Chartered) applying for a job as a Foreign Staff Probationer. After a few months training and just after my 21st birthday in July (when, at that time, one could legally sign a contract) I was summonsed to the Staff Department to be advised that I was being appointed to the Foreign Staff by the Court of Directors and being sent to Hong Kong. Following my meeting with the Court of Directors I signed my contract (for 4 years with no holidays, apart from bank holidays, followed by 6 months furlough!!), was informed that I was sailing to Hong Kong on August 7th and sent home for a few days posting leave. As it happens I was the last new appointment to The Chartered Bank to sail to the East sailing on the P & O - Orient Lines Chitral via Port Said, Aden, Colombo and Singapore. Recently I found my travel documents: The Chitral was a small ship of about 14,000 tons carrying just over 200 passengers purchased second-hand from the Belgians after they gave up the Congo. All accommodation was First Class but there were 8 grades of First Class! As a lowly minion I was given a shared cabin but on arrival at Southampton I got my first ever upgrade and was allocated a single cabin on the boat deck. Travel to Southampton was by Special Train (hauled by a Cl.47 number unknown) at a cost of 47s. 0d First Class. Looking at my passage ticket the cost of the journey to Hong Kong was £334.00 including all meals. Drinks though were chargeable but sold at duty-free prices. Another interesting tit-bit is that passengers were only allowed to embark with Sterling Notes up to the value of £25.00...... any excess could be confiscated by HM Customs. ..... and all that happened 50 years ago but September 5th is a special day that remains in my memory. The ship docked at 7:00am (at the newly opened Ocean Terminal), I was collected by a guy from the bank at 8:00am and was at my new desk in the Hong Kong Main Office at 9:30am learning my new job as No. 4 Officer in the Current Accounts Department. That evening it was off to the Wanchai bars with some of my new colleagues for a few drinks and that was the start of my working life in the Far East. Only problem is where have those 50 years gone? Keith

Invoice 0002 received and paid. Another one looking forward to the arrival of the yellow peril....... Keith

Hi Robf, I'm in the same boat as you are. Yesterday I phoned the museum and was advised that the museum has not started sending out any of the models that were pre-ordered back in January but they hope to start despatching them next week and hope to fulfil all such pre-orders within the next two weeks. The museum also confirmed that they will be despatched by signed-for Royal Mail and an email will be sent to the purchaser prior to despatch. Just to be on the safe side I asked the guy to confirm the email address he had on record...... and he had the correct address! Keith