Legend

I’m puzzled as to what people expect. This is not OO . I thought the announcements were fine . There’s a previously unannounced loco , the J50, some container wagons and renders of the new 37 . A few re liveries . Looked pretty good to me . I do like the signals . the HST may well be the clincher for me to start a new layout with sound , although still would like 37 and a 47

I do believe in such a thing as personal responsibility . Trouble is we seem to be legislating this out in everything we enter into . It’s always someone else’s fault . That bag of nuts should have contained a warning saying “may contain nuts”

Aye . I have to say I’ve changed my position on this . I was originally of the view that people should know how to open and lock doors . I remember in the seventies as we ran onto the platform into Paisley Gilmour St if on the Ayr dmu, that I had the window down and hand on the lock opening it before the train stopped - mainly because my main concern was not getting the door open and the train departing taking me to next station . I had never swung the door open before we stopped though . But times have changed . People are used to sliding doors and just don’t know how to deal with these doors . And I do remember sitting in a restaurant watching a couples kid as he ran and bounced off glass Doors . They thought it very funny while my heart was in my mouth . So always remember there really are stupid people out there that need to be catered for in rules and procedures . It may well be that we need to do something on heritage railways too

Good point . I always think of them as GWR celestories , as I’m old enough to remember them described as that in the catalogue , I think to go with the Lord of the Isles . But I had forgotten they’ve appeared as LNER , Midland and even Railway Children liveries . The later GWR celestories have been available in Midland livery too

I have to say on this particular stretch of railway I think the risk is overblown IF the stewards are in place . People die climbing Ben Nevis every year , but I note there is no proposal to put handrails up or flatten the mountain . However , these are the rules ! They have been in place for 30 years with various exemptions where it was also stated back in 2019 that these exemptions would end . So WCRC have known about it . And everyone else is complying . Do they really think they are above the law ( a rhetorical question because I genuinely think they do) and if they think this about CDL what else are they not doing ? We have seen examples of their running and practices in the past which caused near disaster . So like others you just want to tell them to get on with it ! However given their attitude I’m now thinking do they deserve to be on our railway at all, maybe it would be better if someone else took it over , even Scotrail running extra 156s in the paths created .

They’ve been like that for a while . We had one follow us on a Royal Caribbean. We had a nickname for it , the XXXXX of the Seas , which it won’t allow me to type here , owing to the tadpole like thing along the hull ( it rhymes with perm)

They’re are a few things here . Firstly Hattons announced first and were taking orders before Hornby jumped in . While Hornby had theirs out first , many people would have already ordered from Hattons Secondly the quality of the Hattons coaches are superb , and they really do stand apart from the Hornby ones . I have the LMS 4 rake and they really are beautifully assembled and decorated . Third there is the value for money . I can’t remember the pricing of each item now but I don’t think Hornby were that much cheaper , if at all . What you get with the Hattons models in terms of quality, paint finish , lighting is superb value for money Will this translate to bogie coaches , possibly but I’m not sure ? You’d be up against some actual models like GWR top lights , which appear to be going down really well . Also at the super cheepo end of the market ( where I usually exist) there are the old , but still available through eBay , Farish OO coaches in both corridor and non corridor formats . These are nicely decorated models that possibly were the original and forgotten generic bogie coaches - as opposed to Mk1s in the colours of the big 4 . I suppose it depends on features and value for money .

Completely agree . WCRC seem to be being completely pigheaded on this , and it’s a fair point if they have this attitude towards CDL what other laws don’t they think they should be adhering too . You really want to grab them and say for goodness sake (or worse) just get on with it . i think we now have to figure out ways of getting rid of WCRC completely and replacing them with another operating company . Won’t save this year , but hopefully we can get something better next year .

I do like the front/back lighting effect as they emerge/disappear into tunnel . Might have a wee trip to capture the old and new stock . I believe they are both running at the moment with the new stock being phased in I remember doing the full circuit when the new trains came in in 1980 . Makes me realise how old I am . I really like Geoff Marshall’s films

I’ve always been interested in the SLW 25 , I think it will genuinely be a superb product. However this drip feed of product , it’s had a huge gestation period , just puts me right off .

I thought they were both plus , but it’s irrelevant to me as I wanted one . Still very happy , but looking at it I do wonder if Hornby has got the livery details right . It has the Scotrail Whoosh which means it’s no longer British Rail but part of the privatised NatEx group . That puts it around 1998 , but by that time the Met Camm were having their front roof painted black down the the orange cantrail stripe . Also the Strathclyde Transport map logo had been replaced by the bold SPT around this time . I’m happy this has the full yellow end but wonder if it shouldnt have the good old BR arrows of indecision in black .

Interesting , is the new Queensferry crossing , which now takes most of the traffic ,similarly protected? Although there aren’t container ships going under the bridge , the Aircraft Carriers certainly do to get to Rosyth , and I think there’s still traffic to Grangemouth There was a YouTube excerpt from the Bay Transit Company ie San Francisco about the safety of their bridges . Apparently the supports are protected by Dolphins and indeed it showed damage to one of the dolphins and to a container ship where they had come into contact . While it’s easy to be wise after the event it does seem that this bridge was relatively unprotected in comparison , and in some very busy waters with bulky ships I’ll bet one of the outcomes of this will be a risk assessment of these bridges in busy waterways and possibly the provision of some deflecting dolphins added protection .

I must admit to being surprised there were no tugs . I’ve been on cruise ships with triple bow thrusters azipods etc which means they can turn in their own length . However there are certain ports where the use of a tug is compulsory even though the ship really doesn’t need them . Given that this was a tricky manoeuvre , ie a 180 degree turn close to critical infrastructure I’m surprised they weren’t required . I’m only a cruise person, I know there are lots of master mariners on here that will know the regulations

Is it me or has it all gone quiet on the KR front ? Shouldn’t the Leader and 4DD have arrived or be on their way ? Don’t seem to have had any announcements for a while - I think the last was the WD 2-10-0 .

And reasonably priced

I’ve just run it . Lovely and smooth . Intend running it with my Bachmann 108(masquerading as a 107) . Not sure it really needs the tyres .

Thanks for the replies guys . Kind of backs up what I was told about a Bachmann sound 37 barely making it round a layout it was crawling so slow . Would be interested in how an Accurascale model performs though , especially a Deltic . Again the plea is gor someone to review one on YouTube . I’m just surprised no one has done it yet

One thing I’ve never seen on YouTube is someone doing a review of a DCC Sound loco controlled on analogue or DC . Yes I know you won’t get all the functions but it would be interesting just to see how these locos do run . I’m analogue and with a huge fleet of trains I’m going to stay that way . But I do fancy having a sound loco I could use from time to time . Something distinctive like a Deltic , for instance , or the clatter of a Sulzer27 . Now I know Bachmann sound loco will run on analogue but I have heard speed very compromised . Would love to see how Accurascale and the new Heljan 47 locos run on DC Just a thought . A video showing what actually happens if you turn the controller up , when sounds kick in , what actual sounds you get, what the max speed of the loco is

Good point , well made

Yes it has traction tyres on diametrically opposing sides of the motor bogie . You also get a spare set of traction tyres and some boards to fit on under frame . The body is a click fit per the instructions and that looks to be correct . Can run a finger nail between body and chassis which seems to loosen it . Haven’t tried it though . It’s an 8 pin chip if you want to fit . I’m analogue do don’t need to bother . It is a nice wee unit

Not so sure it’s low margin Tony, or low growth come to that. While Hornbys share of market probably hasn’t grown much if at all , there are lots of other companies that have entered the market . Agreed that compared to his other commodities , sportswear etc , this is small beer . I really do wonder why he is dabbling with this , unless it’s to get into the actual profitability of the various segments , split them up and sell off . Might be a vehicle for Phoenix to get out of ownership of the overall group , by realising value splitting them up .

Just received my Met Camm unit today . Nice little 2 car unit in Strathclyde “red” (orange) &black . It scrubs up well for an ex Lima model and the paintwork is superb . I note it doesn’t have the radio box on cab roof which I think it should have ( not entirely sure) . However the humorous bit is the destinations . Glasgow Central - Paisley Central . Being a local I can tell you it should be Paisley Canal . No way does it interfere with my enjoyment of model , but once again shows Hornbys attention to detail !

Unfortunately never saw it all joined together . I think the best I achieved was seeing Prince’s Pier and St Enoch joined together , must have been early eighties , again the MacLellan Galleries . I think I can date it early - mid eighties because they were running lots of the then new Lima Class 117s to simulate local dmu services . These were great layouts , full of inspiration . It was the stuff dreams were made of ! Back home , full of ideas to rebuild my 4 by 8 !

I bet you can’t guess who has booked a cottage near Glenfinnan in June ! Actually aware of the WCRC /ORR shenanigans it won’t make a great deal of difference to me . The location was picked because of the stunning beauty of Arisaig beach etc etc . Had the steam train been running I might have gone to take a picture of it crossing the bridge . But there’s was always that uncertainty plus weather and midges ! However be in no doubt that this will have a big effect in the area . I suspect there’s a few outlets in Mallaig that might not survive the season , so people should not casually dismiss this as a wee spat . It’s not ,and yes you can expect the sticky stuff to hit the whirling blade on this , probably in the Scottish parliament !

Must have been Model Rail Scotland in the MacLellan Galleries maybe 1970 . I say this because I bought the Tri-ang Hornby book of trains and I think it came out in 1969 . Mesmerising to a wee boy . I remember a large O gauge layout with a wire down centre of track which was the pick up .I remember wondering why that was necessary as my model railway picked up from 2 rails ! Followed on with my Mum taking me to the show in 1973. Nigel MacMillans Campbeltown and Macrihanish layout which was an ingenious narrow gauge layout with two sides depicting different scenes , the harbour and the other side a mine . Then there was the Renfrewshire Model Clubs Elderslie . A huge layout modelling the double junction at Elderslie - special because it was only a 30 min walk from where I lived . From 1974 I was allowed to go myself. Model Rail Scotland as well as being an excellent show, still evokes all these memories even though it’s been in the Scottish Exhibition Centre since 1990 ? My poor Mum , feigned interest but must have been bored , but she spent the time because she knew I loved trains .