Ron Ron Ron

Meanwhile VW have been releasing details of their new ID electric vehicle platform and showing photos of a concept version the first of several ID models, that will go on sale next year . This is a worthwhile read.... https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/vws-meb-electric-car-platform-full-details-revealed

A few recent bits of news regarding the electric and hybrid car revolution that is about to become mainstream. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have both unveiled their new pure EV SUV's, designed to compete with the Jaguar i-Pace and Tesla models S and X. These are the production cars that will be delivered to customers, starting next spring.

Derek, why have you posted your enquiry in this section of the forum? [Edit: Now moved to a more appropriate section of the forum] .

It depends on what method you use to control points, routes and accessories with DCC. The addresses of the points and accessories do not need to be remembered, or used, if controlling them from a DCC mimic control panel (using switches or buttons), a DCC point lever frame or a DCC "glass screen" control panel. Even on certain DCC handsets, individual points and accessories can be given names (using letters, numbers or a combination of both), which can be used rather than remembering their (hidden in the background) DCC addresses. .

The Gaugemaster DCC75 Tech 6 Controller is a rebadged MRC 0001200 Tech 6 Sound Controller 2.0 . It's basically a combination of a standard MRC DC controller (they call them power packs), with the old, discontinued MRC/Gaugemaster "Black Box", built in to one housing. ( Note: Gaugemaster used to sell a rebadged version of the MRC "Black Box" under the product code DCC70 ) It's a dual mode analogue DC and limited DCC controller. It is not so called "sound on DC". It can be used in either..... mode 1 - as a straight forward DC controller, or.... mode 2 - as a limited DCC only controller. In mode 2 (DCC only), only a single DCC decoder equipped loco can be present on the track. All analogue (DC) non-decoder fitted locos must be removed from the powered section(s) of the layout. The only loco address that can be used is #3. So if you have more than one loco with different DCC addresses, they must all have their addresses changed to #3. Therefore if the locos are to be used on another layout controlled by DCC, or if they are to be used with a different DCC system, the addresses will have to be changed back again to more useful, individual addresses. The questions are.... If you already own and use a DC controller, do you really need to buy another one? If you already own a DCC system (the NCE PowerCab you mention), why do you need to spend money on buying another one, just for limited use. Add to that, the DCC capability of the Tech 6 is very limited...far more limited than any normal entry level DCC system. For someone who doesn't already possess a DC controller, or any DCC system......only wants to use a few DCC sound decoder equipped locos, one at a time..... ....and won't be using those sound decoder equipped locos on any DCC controlled layout. Then there might be a case for looking at the Tech 6. Otherwise, these devices appear to be a waste of money for what they offer. .

..........and popular opinion supports handing over the running of all train services to these clowns !!!

https://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/news/Hornby-launch-popular-pre-school-olly-the-little-white-van-toy-products https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.toynews-online.biz/.amp/media-pr/hornbys-olly-the-little-white-van-toys-launched https://toyworldmag.co.uk/news/Hornby-saddles-up-for-breyer/ https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/business/2009/jul/21/Hornby-london-olympics-2012-models https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10234525

The Squared PA2 originally came with the older non-backlit display handset. The backlit screen was introduced later on.

I doubt they'd like mine either. Where it asked something like, what alternative (or other) approach to vegetation management NR should use, I said poison !!! I was being facetious. In the comments section and quote box at the end, I said that "the railway isn't a nature reserve....and that the concept of biodiversity with regard to the operational railway land, was inappropriate and irrelevant etc,". Somehow I think such opinions will be discarded or not scored favourably. .

Jonathan sums this up very well..... That whole area does appear to have been subject to continuous and relentless development of housing and commerce over the last decade or more. Take a look at housing developments in and around Steventon itself ......on Google Maps (satellite view). The number of new houses built in the last 10 years must now constitute something like a third of the number of homes in the village? In addition, hundreds of new houses are being built, have been approved or are being planned in the the surrounding areas. Replacing the bridge is going to be the least of the village's problems in the coming years. .

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/16392259.network-rails-steventon-bridge-plans-refused/ http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/16405005.steventon-to-keep-fighting-bridge-demolition-as-network-rail-appeal/ http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/network-rail-electrification-plans-stalled-after-council-rejects-bridge-removal-bid https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/electrification-scheme-hit-as-network-rail-loses-bid-to-demolish-bridge/10033918.article https://www.railengineer.uk/2018/08/30/steventon-bridge-demolition-local-voice-rejects-proposed-10-months-of-disturbance/ .

London Reconnections have some insight into the reasons behind the announced delay in opening phase 1. https://www.londonreconnections.com/2018/crossrail-a-hole-new-world/ .

A real shame they discontinued the Expedit range. The Kallax replacement is very much an inferior product. Expedit was available in real wood veneer finishes (natural Birch was very popular), but if looking for a wood look finish, Kallax only has wood effect foil wrap. The Kallax internal sizing is much reduced too - down from 455 x455mm to 335 x 335mm per bay. . You can still store vinyl albums in them...just less of them in each bay.

I see that the original site chosen to house AIMREC, the former Klondyke Works site, is going to be developed for housing. The works site was declared contaminated, but AIMREC said they couldn't afford to pay for the required site clean up on top of the purchase price. Presumably the new housing developer is able to meet these extra costs....or was it waved through? https://www.clague.co.uk/news/ashford-strike-gold-thanks-to-klondyke/ .

Old stock. .

Prodigy Advance2 .

TfL Rail Class 345's at Ealing Broadway. Paddington to Hayes & Harlington (terminators).

These two interpretations (from LR & GM) are basically guesswork, based on the bits and pieces of detail made available. There are still lots of questions to be answered though, so nobody outside of the people involved in the timetable planning, is able to give definitive answers. .

London Reconnections recently published their own interpretation of what the Croosrail service pattern may look like. This differs from Geoff Marshall's guesswork shown here earlier in post #664 on page 27 of this thread.

A bit like........"if you can remember the 60's, you weren't really there". .

You're a long way out there Phil. The Heathrow branch and Heathrow Express have now been running operationally for just over 20 years*. Construction of the tunnels and lines began 25 years ago, so I assume the equipment spec. dates from earlier than 25 years ago, in the earlier planning stage. * Note that in a only a few months time, HEX will have been operating for longer than the whole BR steam era. .

Not in part. A sub-fleet of 387's will be modified, repainted and refitted to take over the whole 4 tph HEX service. GWR are going to be operating HEX on behalf of Heathrow Airport (HAL). It's still going to be HEX, owned and managed by HAL, on HAL's open access licence. The other 387's will be operating Thames Valley services, except for the relief line local services between Reading/Heathrow and London, which will go to TfL's Elizabeth Line. They should be serving Oxford too, but we know what a massive c**k up has happened over that. .

It's a little over 3 months to go before the initial service through the Central London core section was due to begin, in December. The signs were fairly clear that some of the new central core underground stations, were not going to be ready in time. Even without knowing anything about the amount of full operational testing required, it doesn't seem right that there was enough time left to carry all that out in something like 4 months. The next bit of important information will be the revised timescales for the phased opening (they say the same staged process will be followed). Ron

Another variation on the tribute band, is where a former member of a band revives the old band and tours under the original name, although they may be the only member of the original line up. There are two versions of Wishbone Ash. Each version of the band only features one of the original members. The original member of one of the bands having legal title over the name. The "official" Wishbone Ash plays not only the music from the original bands 1970's heyday, but plays lots of more recent material. The "unofficial" Wishbone Ash just plays the original 1970's material. It's sole original member actually founded the original band. Which version of Wishbone Ash could be considered as the real band? Could either or both of them be considered as "tribute bands"? .

The current 36-557, which is just a rebadged ESU LokPilot Standard (21-pin version). .