Ron Ron Ron

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/scotrail-mk-3-refurbishment-plan .

They appear to be already on there...... http://service.Bachmann.co.uk/downloadable-service-documents/ http://service.Bachmann.co.uk/instruction-sheets/ The index pages are rubbish though. .

https://www.grandcentralrail.com/about-us/news-press/grand-farewell-for-grand-central-hst-fleet/

I can't find a thread that is covering, or encompassing the standing down of HST's from front line, mainline service on several routes. So I've created this one, in the hope that by collating such topics here, it will save having several topics popping up and making any forum searches much more difficult. Examples: Grand Central have now retired their small HST fleet. A number of GWR HST's have already left the GWML, for conversion for short formed ScotRail service and to go into storage. In the coming 6 months, a large number of GWR HST's will be also be withdrawn and by this time next year, there will only be a relatively small number left. Within only a couple of years, most will be gone from the ECML too. Cross Country??? I'm sure most, if not all, will agree that the HST has been one of, if not the most successful passenger train on British rails. Now coming towards the end of its useful life, I thought it fitting to capture its phasing out with a dedicated topic. Ron .

Is that because they look good....taste good .....and by golly, they do you good? Errr Oops ! Sorry that was a Mackeson's. Coat Hat............ .

I had a look on some German forums and this question has been asked there... "can the WLAN WiFi MultiMaus be used with the Lenz system, connecting via the 23151 USB/LAN interface?". The simple answer appears to be a definite NO ! However, some clever Dickie has worked out that if an XpressNet interface and client is created, then a way can be made for it to work. Having had a quick look at the web pages linked to and the Wiki entry (all in German and I don't read German unfortunately), this one is clearly for the technically competent. One project involved the use of Arduino Uno, or Arduino Leonardo ETH....and I will confess to being completely lost there. Anyway, I hope that helps. As an aside, if using an iPhone or IPad, the TouchCab app can be used with the Lenz system. There's also a couple of Android apps too. One being RtDrive Lenz. For using wireless handsets with the Lenz system, the company announced last year that they'll be introducing wireless adapters that allow the regular Lenz handsets to be used wirelessly. 23210 - XpressNet Radio Base Unit 23220 - Radio Handset Receiver Module Lenz being Lenz, these have yet to see the light of day. They are currently saying 2018. .

Funnily though Simon, various NR documents in the recent past, such as the NR route studies and other docs related to the (then) future arrival of the Class 800 series, have referred to the "SET". .

Just a tip if using the metal earth blocks as junction connectors for the Power Bus and droppers. It might be advisable to put these into a connector box cover or box, to prevent the risk of shorts or damage if the bare metal junction block comes into contact with any other wires, or metal objects. Example here

Sorry to sound like I'm pi**ing on your chips guys, but the OP was asking about the possibility of connecting a WiFi MultiMaus to his Lenz system. Not about the Z21. Cheers Ron

https://web.archive.org/web/20171112221118/http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/branchline_products_by_item_no_rev11.pdf Sadly, it has not been kept updated for the last 5 years. .

So, if I read that correctly, in summary all 36 of the 5-car 800/0 have now been built, with half of them (18) already in service with GWR. Only a few of the 9-car 800/3 for GWR have been built, but are not yet in service. The same for the 5 & 9-car 802's for GWR. Both of these are at various stages of build in the Newton Aycliffe and Pistoia assembly plants. .

Since this was announced, I've had a sneaky suspicion that it might be a way of clearing out the stock of Dynamis Ultima systems. I've no idea if they actually sell that many (our retailer chums may be able to help here), but they don't appear to be very popular and are now quite expensive with a r.r.p. of £299 (lowest discount price £230). Add in the fact that ESU, who make this system, stopped producing their own branded version of it (ESU Navigator) about 2 years ago and have now introduced a far superior replacement (ESU Cab Control). Only speculating, but could this be part of a clear out of stock, before the Dynamis is dropped from the range? .

That would be great. Thanks. .

Good points guys. Thanks. I posted in haste earlier. I'll try and gather up the info later tonight. I intend to ask a similar question in the Hornby section about the current model, re-tooled Class 67. There are/were not so many of those and I only know about a few of them. Cheers Ron . .

Here's an appeal to all you weirdo and nerdy types..........Yep! there's lots of us on here. If anyone can help, I'm looking for a complete list of all the 00 gauge Class 66's that Bachmann have produced to date and that are currently announced for future release. This would include both main catalogue items, as well as the long list of specials, limited editions and commissions for the likes of magazines, model shops, freight companies, collectors club, etc, etc. I'm looking for... Catalogue number Operator & Livery Loco (TOPS) number Nameplate, is appropriate Commissioner or sponsor, if appropriate DCC status - i.e. DCC Ready, DCC Fitted or DCC Sound. I think I know of most of them, but there are a few that I've missed along the way. I'd be very grateful if anyone can oblige. Best regards Ron. .

Those technicalities wouldn't be the Christmas and New Year holidays perhaps? .

I'd do it, but my IT skills are not that good.

Is it that time of the year already? I thought January was better 00 ready to lay track............Mmmmm, or was it DC vs DCC ????? .

That's a perfect example of the misuse of an Era system. Locos shouldn't be pigeonholed into a specific Era, because the Era and what ran in that Era are not the same thing. One's a time period (Era) and the other is something that may have run during all, or part of, one or more of those time periods (Eras). In your example, the C Class in wartime black should be classed according to when it ran in that livery, i.e. late Era 3 to (or into) early Era 4, not as being intrinsic to a single Era. Personally I'd prefer they used simple timeframes by approximate dates, for each piece of stock, loco, train etc. (e.g. Late 1950's to early 1970's, or 1958-73); but for a relatively simple guide, if one is needed, an Era system with a more appropriate description for each model should work, if used properly. . .

Indeed and it adds to my little attempt at putting a bit of perspective on matters, timeline wise. The post was in response to the statement that.....

The main problem with an era system, defined by arbitrary start and end dates, is that people make the big mistake of then trying to pigeon hole the locos, trains, railway companies, into those era's. That's not how it should work. The era's are a separate categorisation or description, to the locos, trains and companies that operated through them. . .

Just for the purposes of perspective and comparison..... The "Big Four" - 25 years (of which only 16 years were pre-WW2). British Railways/BR nationalisation - 46-48 years (phased ending), mostly post-steam era. BR steam - 20 years BR green (diesels) - some 10-15 years or so. BR Blue - between 20 and 30+ years (reflecting the phased introduction & later sectorisation liveries). BR steam/diesel transition era - approx. 10 years. Post 1990's privatisation - 21-24 years (phased introduction). That's nearly as long as the "Big Four" period and will soon be passed it. Longer than BR steam. Longer than BR green (diesels) and the transition period. In a few years it will be longer than the BR blue era. South West Trains operated for 21 years. First Group have been running the GW franchise for 22 years, including 17 years under the "First Great Western" brand. Virgin Trains (west coast) - 21 years. Again, longer than BR steam, green diesels and the transition era. ....and despite the EWS brand lasting for just a smidge under 13 years, before being re-named as a DB company, the EWS livery is still commonplace and adorns the majority of the company's fleet, some 22 years after its introduction. Indeed, BR steam was a very short lived affair. .

Indeed, that has often been the way. Classic premium marketing. The general point though, was about the splitting of a single model (Class 800) into two separately packaged items and why it might cost more to buy it this way, rather than as a complete model in one package. Both examples, a complete train and a split train, should be available at roughly the same time. .

The coaches are the power units, David. .

The Virgin liveried pre-series Class 800, is supposed to be the "Azuma" launch livery. It was announced at the time of its unveiling as such, suggesting it was a promotional livery, with the production livery yet to be revealed. I asked one of the Hornby development team about it at Ally Pally last year and he said that VTEC had yet to finalise what the livery would be. With the Virgin preference for big PR, unveilings and launches, I think it's quite plausible that VTEC might be holding back on things like the livery and saving them for a big PR day. Even if Hornby have the livery details, they are probably restricted on its use until VTEC say OK. So we are non the wiser. VTEC Class 800's are due to enter service at the end of this year, followed by the 801's a year later. Whatever the livery will be, will no doubt be revealed before the trains are in full public view, sometime this summer or autumn. I'm confident you can almost bank on a VTEC Class 800 featuring in the Hornby 2019 range, provided the franchise issue doesn't lead to another TOC being appointed to replace VTEC. . .