Claude_Dreyfus

I am not sure a similar approach to the 'prestige' range would work in the UK. In many ways the Japanese market is similar to Germany, where you get the range specifically targeted towards the high-end market; especially the beautiful quality kits available (Weinert for example). We don't seem to have the same modelling strata in the UK (some could argue things like the 'Railroad' reflect this, but similar approaches are adopted by many manufacturers - Roco for example (and at least they have the decency to price 30 year old tooling models accordingly!!)).

Tomix Prestige is certainly a notch below Tenshodo or others of their ilk, but they are also a manifestation of the fact their "base' models come with a load of extra fittings (as your photo demonstrates). UK models come with a few bits, not sure that level of fitment would go down too well (nor models with all of the bits being fitted costing nearly about a third more in some cases).

The DD51 is one of my favourite locomotives, although sadly age is catching up with them a only a few remain in service. In H0 I had a Kato example until very recently, and was extremely impressed by the standard. Tomix is excellent, but as the OP says, both are very similar standard. I am not convinced that the Tomix 'Prestige' offerings are worth the considerable mark-up. Yes, they save the time and sanity for fitting the parts, but the body mouldings and mechanism are the same.

The majority of the route can easily be covered using a Southern DaySave ticket for a fraction of the price, albeit without the guarantee of 313 travel. I appreciate that there are limitations to the routes the units can take with passengers, but it does not seem much of a draw... especially given the more interesting route the 455 farewell tour used.

I also understand a 321 farewell tour is on the same day? Would that dilute the potential number of users?

Lets see if we can sneak an imposter into this thread! 😁

171402 waits at London Bridge, having arrived on a service from Uckfield on 7th April 2017.

Officially neither unit featured in this picture are around today. The 171 has since reverted to a class 170 identity, now running as 170924 on EMT services. The transformation of 455812 beside was a little more radical; meeting its end with the other Southern 455s at Newport last year.

I saw these vehicles whilst at Southampton back in November. They are certainty interesting...

I recently used this chap for the first time. Very good service, with prompt delivery.

For those interested, there is a very useful book dedicated to the subject. Memory is a little faded, but I believe it is called 'Passenger Class Distinction' by Charles Lee. I found a copy in the NRM library/archive when I was writing my dissertation (yes, I wrote my dissertation on this very subject!).

24 minutes ago, John M Upton said:

One 701 was dumped down Portsmouth & Southsea low level carriage sidings of all places a few weeks back.  It vanished overnight as mysteriously as it had appeared.

I saw a video on Facebook recently featuring one of the GBRf class 47s hauling a set down the Portsmouth Direct route to Fratton. Not sure if it was for training (I didn't think they would be operating down there) or simply to get it out of the way.

That is a beast! 

I suspect the new ROG class 93 and GBRf class 99 will look quite similar. If so, we have a treat coming up!

170 action at York on 9th July 2022.

170457 arrives from the north

170474 awaits its next duty.

I would suggest Bodiam Castle, but sadly it looks to be closed between 20th and 24th Feb (which I guess is when you are down there).

42 minutes ago, Not Jeremy said:

You too buddy, just keep away - please!

Sorry, not sure what you mean?

Ah, I get the context now. Okay, fair enough, I am not welcome to any of the shows you organise for disagreeing with you on a discussion forum... 

Just as an aside, I have organised small shows in the past, and yes I have fretted about whether or not the show will be successful. The last thing I want is for our club to lose money, so if something as simple as this can get just a couple more punters through the door, then great! If simply doing this gets a show a few more visitors - you are hardly likely to put visitors off if you have a decent range of layouts on offer - then that is a good thing.

The important thing is that nobody is demanding organisers do this. If they don't want to, then fine. Just seems odd that you would not want to maximise your offering with a little more information.

23 minutes ago, stan williams said:

I am losing sleep, thinking about all the exhibition managers around the country, walking the floor all night

and pulling their hair out desperate to attract a handful of railway modellers that frequent forums.

Stan.

What, by telling potential customers what they are actually offering? So far I have seen nothing unreasonable about the OP's request. The counter-arguments seem to run something along these lines or telling him he is being selfish.

Your comment also ignores the fact that there is a lot of competition between leisure activities. Railway exhibitions are competing for our money and time just as other events and activities. If an exhibition manager can attract just 'a handful of railway modellers that frequent forums' by having an additional line of information in their layout list describing the era and location, that that could make the difference between the show making a profit and one that makes a loss.

Is that really such an unreasonable suggestion?

But hey, let's all make fatuous comments instead of thinking, 'actually that approach could gain my show a couple more visitors' for just a few minutes extra work. Organisers do, after all, know what layouts they are inviting*.

* Aware that this can of worms has been opened in other threads on here ..

Oooh! Another prototype photo thread...

170456 and 170460 at Leeds - 15 June 2019

Sorry Jon, are you reading the same thread as me?

51 minutes ago, jonhall said:

Or to put it another way you start a thread criticising volunteer exhibition organisers for not doing their job the way you think it should be done...

Where was the criticism? I see it as an appeal for a little more information about layouts attending a show, put reasonably in a discussion forum. Most exhibitions already list the layout name and scale, why not a couple more words, such as '1980s Scotland' or 'Epoch 2 Germany'. Many do, but this is not an onerous request for chapter and verse (or trackplans as someone facetiously added here - don't go there, I recall another rather involved thread about that!).*

51 minutes ago, jonhall said:

you might well use that information to their disadvantage (unless they happen to be a mind reader and know what you want and that sufficient others have the same interests as you) , so they might be wasting their time and costing their club a significant amount of money.

Swings and roundabouts. Of course if there is a show you probably weren't attending, but then you see that have they have 5 Western region 1980s layouts attending, then they have actually gained. 

3 hours ago, jonhall said:

As a (not very good) analogy, do you pay your taxes because you know will need an Ambulance this year? or because you want an Ambulance to be available when you do need one*

Not quite - it's a terrible analogy and utterly misses the point. Those shows known for catering for a wide variety of interests will stand a much better chance of survival - those that don't won't. C'est la vie - I am not going to subsidise a show who's exhibits do not interest me, much like I will not go to a shop that sells things I don't want to buy. I like music, but if the concert program does not have the music I want to hear, I won't go to the concert.

I model overseas prototypes, so I won't really bother attending shows that have UK-only layout. I will look at and enjoy British layout at a general show, but I also want to see something that specifically interests me, so will target shows that have at least one overseas offering.

I am waiting for the barrage of criticism because I chose one manufacturer over another because they make models I am interested in. I don't buy Hornby offerings - why not? Because they don't make German epoch 4 models. That's my selfish choice denying them custom...

* I have organised small shows in the past - and this information is always included. 

Nice to see the layout 'in the flesh' so to speak today. Some very impressive modelling.

Huncoat Lancs back on 1st July 2017. Plenty of traffic passing through, but I did find myself wishing I was there 30 years previously when the nearby Padiham power station was still active. My first visits to the area came 5 years too late!

158910 hurries through the rather neat little station with a York - Blackpool service.

150268 heads 142046 on a Colne - Blackpool South service on the eastern approaches to the station.

150119 trails 142064 with a Blackpool South - Colne service.

150116 with a Blackburn service

158844 speeds past with a York service.

And thence to Colne...

150268 rests at Colne station before returning to Blackpool South.

Finally we get to Clitheroe.

150140 rests having arrived with a service from Manchester (or Rochdale - I'm afraid I cannot really remember!).

7 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

And if the council deny responsibility (they almost certainly will) then the small claims court is worth a punt - I suspect the council will roll over straight away cos' it's cheaper than trying to defend the claim.

The fact that it's marked with white paint suggests that they know about it - which I suspect is a good thing for any claim.

Yes, I hear mixed messages about this. Either the council will reject the claim due to the white paint, or they reject it if it is not marked (the latter more logical if they do not know about it). In any event, I will be making a claim and will pursue it...

Work stained 08941 rests between duties at St Blazey depot - March 2000

EWS class 66 activity in Cornwall, March 2000.

66116 rests outside of the cement works at Moorswater.

66046 departs from Burngullow Junction with a Parkandillick service. 60044 brought the wagons up from Lostwithiel, but I believe was not cleared for the branch so made its way back to St Blazey light engine.

66125 passes Burngullow Junction with an oil train bound for Penzance.