Ian J.

New thread here:

Hi all, I'm starting a project to 'clean up' the Coach Sets Excel file from SEMG (link on this page https://sremg.org.uk/coach/sets.html) to make it easier to interrogate the information. I will eventually put the data into an Access database file, where, if the data can be structured well, it should be possible to enter a set of parameters (one or more of set; dates; locations; services; etc.) that should allow for understanding what ran where at a given date (possibly not to the day, more likely the month). Any help in understanding the data would be gratefully received, as it's in a bit of a mess. I'm currently just looking at the 'Area' column, and there's lots of variants, typos, etc, and abbreviations that aren't explanatory. I'll reply here as and when I make any progress. TIA

I am going to attempt to 'clean up' the Excel file from sremg.org into an Access database, in order to make it easier to do interrogations of the data as to sets, dates and services*. I may need some help as even on my initial view there are oddities just in the services (as well as rather a lot of typos). I'll probably create a new thread for it so as not to overload this one. *services are called 'area' in the file.

I'm presuming, and I could be wrong here, that this set 69 could be in any formation that went to the West of England, most likely beyond Exeter. In terms of actual other sets likely to be in such formations, I'd need to consult the Excel list as per https://sremg.org.uk/coach/sets.html, and Mike King's book on Southern Coaches.

I've just ordered the two BR(S) green ones on Rails where they are now (21:00, 22/10/2022) showing stock available, so it looks like they're here 🙂

Much as I grind my teeth at our litigious society stopping anyone from helping to avoid accidents in the first place, as might be the case here, I will shut my mouth as where litigation is concerned it's best left to those involved to sort out without any 'interference' from internet commenters.

My feeling on seeing the video at the very start, and the narrow size of the tail lift, was that someone else should have been there keeping an eye on where the pallet was and making sure the forks operator knew that the pallet wasn't going to be on the lift out of alignment in an unsafe fashion. The guy in the warehouse seemed to be doing nothing else but looking on, when he, as far as I can tell, should have been there providing guidance.

Why, when someone is looking on at an accident event about to happen that they could do something about to help prevent happening, oh why don't they actually do something rather than just watch on and let it happen...?

I'm not sure that the very un-aerodynamic vertical windscreen is very good on energy consumption on faster runs. Lightweight construction ideas are essential for EVs though, got to get that weight down and it's interesting what they did with the seats. I like the idea of a car just being a car without so many screens about, putting the focus back on ergonomically supporting the driver rather than taking too much of that control away (as per Tesla).

Bearing in mind that Revolution and Dapol are doing a 59 in N, I think there's scope for a 'battle' in OO...

I was thinking toilet paper...

Based on how this Dapol model has turned out, I'd happily wait on Revolution to upscale their N 59 to 4mm. I think they would come up with a better end result. In that sense, Dapol have lost out. I could same the same with Heljan as well, if an 'upstart' producer did a better 45, though I have a feeling Bachmann may be doing something with that, at least for N, and with the way they keep quiet these days, may also redo their 4mm model. Edit: of course, I'd forgotten that Rapido are doing an N 44/45/46, so maybe they could upscale that to 4mm? I think Rapido take getting the shape right seriously. One can only hope...

The most likely cause of the derailments is the Close Coupling Mechanism cam point. As you've done that, that should be what has resolved the issue. I don't think the brake chains are a cause of derailing.

Only 99%? I'd have thought more like 99.99%... 😉

Oh for an original 37/4 in one of the initial batches. However, I can wait. Like I'm also waiting for any stuff for early mid eighties. It seems to be a neglected period for work horse banger blue and non-orange stripe revised standard liveried locos...

'Mining' waste is going to have to be a thing for all the products we produce. The old economy of 'pillage resources, over produce and throw away' has to go if the planet is to be reasonably habitable. EV batteries are no exception. It's true that manufacturers simply don't want to do that, so it'll take public pressure and appropriate laws to make it happen.

IIRC the original naming of 37 425 had 'Sir Robert McAlpine' on one side, and 'Concrete Bob' on the other, so if that's still true, it needs to be taken into account.

Sorry, but couldn't resist with the typo...

The picture of the underside of these coaches on Graham's site (https://southern-railway.com/2022/10/06/Bachmann-bulleid-coaches-are-arriving-soon-a-review/ part way down the page) seem to show the couplings mounted with a close coupling mechanism.

I've just watched the LV@KC game, and I think there's an important difference in the sacks. Jarrett didn't land on top of Brady, but rolled under him first, then in the roll over didn't put any weight on Brady at all. The KC rusher ran into Carr head on and landed on top of him, with only a feeble attempt with his left arm to stabilize himself. Other than that, his full weight landed on Carr. To me, Jarrett's sack was one of the safest I've ever seen.

Are the marker lights on the flush end too big as well, perhaps?

The consumers of our hobby are changing. 30+ years ago, manufacturers were still supplying to teenagers and upwards as hobbies were still relatively limited and modelling, railways particularly, were seen as a general hobby. Now, many people, teenagers/20s/30s/40s, have many other interests they can and do follow, plus social media is a time consuming activity that many of those people are connected with. Hobbies like model railways are becoming a specialist hobby of a much smaller part of the population, one that at its older end can only dwindle. Therefore the idea of continuous production of a given model is very difficult, and probably reserved for a few very specific items (Flying Scotsman, etc). The rest, unfortunately, has to be by limited runs (but hopefully not limited editions). The only hope then for getting a new example of a limited run of a model that has run out, is for additional runs. But that's very much dependent on demand, storage space waiting for sales (in a world dedicated to 'JIT'), and whether other models are in development that will take up the production space.

I watched the NYG vs GB on NFL Game Pass. Shame GB couldn't get the win. In the ATL game against TB, we had a very questionable roughing passer call that pretty much destroyed our comeback that might have coat us the game. I'm not at all happy about that 🤬

Moist?

Isn't that IP67...? I'd like to see one or more mid-80s versions of a 31/4, plain blue with plated over headcodes, suitable for Cardiff/Bristol - Pompey services when a 33/0 isn't available. Oh, while I'm on... how about a 33/0...? 😉