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I'm sure the Milwaukee would have de-electrified anyway, the scrap value of all that copper was far too tempting and who could have foreseen the impending oil crisis....? Another "what if..?" was the Union Pacific's and other RR's plans to electrify their high iron, which could have lead to this: http://www.trains.com/ctr/objects/images/railroad_electrification_1970s.gif Full article at: http://www.trains.com/ctr/default.aspx?c=a&id=43

Except on 86401. That looks quite good.

The Northumbrian coast section of the ECML is at a higher elevation, so you'd have to get some very big waves to cause the same amount of disruption as at Dawlish. I was thinking about the GWR electrification project whilst trawling through page 2....! I seem to recall four different locomotive types were envisaged, the model for which came from electrified US railroads such as the Milwaukee Road and Pacific Electric, so it's more likely 1500V or 3000V DC would be used.

I'm not saying I regard the yellow windscreen surrounds is an issue, as although it's it's a bit of a slip on what is otherwise the best RTR class 86, it's easily corrected. Unless there were any oddities, it's only the Intercity Mainline livery that had that style of front end.

I've had a quick trawl through Fotopic and not found any photos of 86213 as modelled, could someone enlighten me please...? There's a bit of a story as to why it's in unbranded Intercity, it was off lease but painted into Virgin by mistake (along with 86228), and quickly painted back into IC but without the italic lettering or swallow.

You don't need a big hole, surely a ramp could be used for the pan to ride under to clear low obstacles...?

Seems like the cheapest professional service in the country- take a few pounds off for the base wagon, materials and the listing fee and he's earnt £6 for four hours work.... On a similar note, how can I become a professional modeller...? By some definitions, it's a tag you can give yourself for producing models only for sale or offering services for financial reward, regardless of the quality. It seems similar to the much maligned "exhibition standard" tag...

The problem with MTK was it ticked a box on the "done" list, so other manufacturers who could have done a better or easier job weren't tempted to release a duplicate kit of the same prototype for fear of having already lost sales. I did like their ethos of supplying the basic parts and allowing the modeller to use the bits as a scratchbuilding aid, rather than assembling the kit according to the instructions then complaining when the finished model doesn't look like what it's supposed to. Not bad...!!

Don't discount the Hornby class 86 body, it's easy enough to shorten and fill the sides in, and the nose can be bent forward by making a vertical slit on the lower cabside where the yellow end meets the bodyside, and bending it forwards. The article in Practical Model Railways sounds like Graham Clark's, i'm also doing the same with a Triang body and Roco DB110 chassis. You're not modelling a Polish EU06 or something similar, perchance...?

It'd be good to see an 84 at BNS, although it might be a bit before your time period. I have a photo of 86401 sat outside the Power Box, I don't suppose everyone's favourite 86 on your list...?

Very nice Jim, that's what an 86 should look like. Any chance of doing a the same with an 84 in....?

How can you live in Coventry (like me) and not like 86213...? It was a solid performer 20 years ago on the EBW's (abeit in Intercity Executive). Likewise 86209 should be another favourite. The celebrity "Intercity 21" repaint worn by 86426 was criticised at the time, but Rail Blue was pretty close to the original livery worn by the first few members of the class and alot more accurate than the "ooh, electric blue is so pretty" repaints on 86233 and 86259. My own favourite livery is the Floyd Black and Pink...!!

Photos on Nigel Burkin's blog here: http://nigelburkin.wordpress.com/ I'm pondering over the proportions between the lower and upper body sections, but that's probably because i've been looking at photos of the Heljan 86 and the size of it's grilles. It definitely has the right look, and in my view is the best model of this type to date, in any scale.

It is because the builder's home layout is in his loft, and there isn't clearance for wires all the way round so one obvious answer is for locos to drop their pans. It's possible in 7mm and 4mm through the use of DCC controlled servos or memory wire, and manufacturers are including this feature on some RTR models, such as the MTH Milwaukee Little Joe.

The JLTRT is the MSL kit, and someone did comment at Nottingham that it doesn't go together quite right. Anyone who saw the homebuilt 7mm 76's at Nottingham will probably agree it's the best looking version to date. I understand the builder will be writing an article for Railway Modeller soon...

And the years since have shown that not every loco has been restored, famous preserved locos from the 70's & 80's have had their 10 years of life before sitting forlornely in the queue for overhaul, and the preservation world has realised the missing gaps can be filled with replica projects, even if this is at the expense of locos salvaged from Barry. Suppose someone came up with a plan to build a replica Baby Deltic, using the restored engine and components from a few 20's and 37's in a new bodyshell. Apart from a few luddites uttering "Ewww, replica" or moaning because their hellfire tractor was scrapped in the process, surely such a loco would be worth a dozen basket cases...? What do you make of that, Baby Deltic...?

Just a few questions: 1: Why is it's age so important..? 2: 45060 has split boxes, 45015 currently does not. I'm sure a restoration could include reinstating it's nose end doors and split headcodes, but in the grander scheme of things, those are trivial decisions. 3: Who is going to pay for the restoration...? The loco is supposed to be owned by a group, yet they don't even have a web presence. If I wanted to donate towards it's cause, how do I do so..? 4: Which museum would want it...?

It's not worth repeating any specific comments regarding 45015, as there is a good summary on WNXX: http://www.wnxxforum.com/interactive/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=10387 Looking at the general preservation scene, this loco wasn't rare and the fact that established Peak groups had dismissed it must indicate how low it was thought of. And being a dreamer is fine, as long as you understand how much it'll cost to restore a loco, pay for transport, fuel, parts, accomodation, etc... Thankfully the days of buying a loco then thinking a preserved railway will automatically offer you a home for free are over, and it's a hell of an undertaking for one individual to finance & work on such a restoration project on their own. It might be fine for a classic car or small aircraft to be kept away in a shed as someone's folly, but a 133 ton loco will take up alot of space in someone's garden...

14 wheels, two of the 16 aren't even touching the scrapline siding it is sitting on. In all fairness it shouldn't have been brought in the first place. There aren't the spares available and if preserving another Peak was so important, all the money spent on it could have been used on other locos rather than an unrealistic atitude of yet another dreamer who wants to be a loco owner.

Actually, are the public really bothered...? If all they really want to is ride behind a steam train or see Thomas, so anything else that adds to the atmosphere is a bonus. And are there any stations, on any preserved line, that are a true reflection of a branchline scene from 60 years ago...? I suppose it's only enthusiasts, like me, who are bothered the SVR engine shed at Bridgnorth looks like a Barn and there is a grotty Super BG next to the platform...

I'd like to see 34073 kept as it is, purely as a reminder of what a pre-restored Barry wreck looked like. Surely one day every preserved steam loco would have been restored and run, and the sidings and sheds will only be full of out of ticket locos awaiting their turn in the overhaul queue. If it was considered a piece of art then it would command a megabucks price and have critics singing it's praises, along with that Southern S15 tender with paint faded so much you could make out three different insignia. I agree it's probably wrong to comment on someone's "project" (especially as i've heard lots of negative ones about the AC Locomotive Groups Roarers, all of them unique but because there are no preserved lines with OHLE deserve to be scrapped), yet there are some absolute basket cases out there that need putting out of their misery. 45015 should probably have never been preserved in the first place, does the world really need another Peak when there aren't the spares available for it...? Then again, I always remember 26007 was a bit of a wreck at Barrow Hill, but now it's running again the transformation is incredible.

The DVT's weren't really designed to carry heavy loads, just a bit of luggage and a few bikes. They would have had seats, had the restrictions regarding pax in the front coach of a 110mph propelled train not been in place at this time. One advantage of their length is they are only just over 3' longer than an 86 or 87, so the same car stop signs could be used.

I believe it was due to the brake force within a set, the theory being a 110mph set wouldn't have more than two Mk1's within it and the disc brakes on the Mk3 making up for the clasp brakes on the coaches, whereas a Mk2 set would only have clasp brakes throughout. Anyway, speed limits on the WCML were always a bit of an advisory....

I suppose the nearest thing are the Irish Mk2 Generator vans: http://irishrailwaylocomotivesandrollingstock.fotopic.net/p12178262.html Couldn't you use the Hornby Mk2 brake instead...? You could get several for GBP 12....

But the Bachmann range is based on the TV series models, whilst the earlier books are clearly proper railway locomotives. As others have said, don't hold out too much hope....