Peter Kazmierczak

As someone noted above, there have been precious few photos of the model on RMweb by those buying it. If someone on here has a model, how is it? So far, we only have an anodyne magazine "review" ansd some YouTube offerings to go on.

My final thoughts... Pros: 1. The model looks excellent. Maybe a few glue marks but weathering would remedy that. 2. The bowed running plate. Obviously the straighter the better, but it doesn't look THAT bad. On looking at photos of Stanier locos, they are not always perfectly straight anyway. 3. Running (when you can get it to) appears smooth, controllable, and with reasonable gearing. Cons: 1. Those lamps. I think that's been fully discussed. 2. Loco/tender connection. Clearly not fit for purpose. Easy enough to ditch the present arrangement (especially if you're not bothered about the lamps) and hard wire between the two. The prototype have hose connections between loco and tender, so wires no big deal. Also making a new (closer) drawbar shouldn't be that difficult. 3. Price. As I model the Midland Division of the LMS/LMR then a Class 5 is an essential element. Would I buy this one at £200+? Not as it stands. Which is a shame, as Hornby could've had a real winner here.

Thanks Keith that certainly looks like one. I've use the more colloquial term 3-way/4-way; am I correct in that these were termed tandem turnouts? If so, how would a tandem that diverged three ways be differentiated from one diverging four ways, in terms of nomenclature?

My youngest is watching "Britain's Got Talent". Not wishing to be sexist, ageist, racist, etc but why is there an act from Japan currently performing?

Sam's done another review of the Black Five, with a replacement. Check it out: (2) Let's Try Again | Hornby's New Black 5 Take 2 | Unboxing & Re-Review - YouTube

This is British...

I know of an example of a 4-way point that once existed, but were there any 5-way turnouts? And were 4-way points quite rare? Just a wondering...

Just ordered one on the Class 22s from you Kevin; you're the cheapest I've found at the mo, even with the postage.

Re-Rails version of Eric Treacy. As the model isn't available until November, then presumably Rails haven't seen a copy yet and are under the impression that it'll have a flywheel. Though they clearly state in their advert that "features include" said flywheel. So do they know FOR SURE?

When I was a nipper, my old (Tri-ang?) push-and-go vehicles had a flywheel...

A raft of three 455s worked down from Wimbledon to Bournemouth this lunchtime. This must've slipped under the local enthusiast grapevine, as I was the only one at Branksome to see it.

I think we're going round in circles with all these lamps/lights whatever. And I'm not talking lighthouses. For me, the Hornby model looks like a Black Five and has a very good finish, with some great detailing. Lamps I can give or take. Main issues I see, which are not easy to remedy at home are: 1. Electrical (or lack of) connection between loco and tender. Is this a design issue or poor manufacture? 2. No flexibility to close-couple loco and tender. 3. Lack of flywheel on a £200 model. We don't all do DCC or have "stay alives"... 4. Quality control. In Margate days, each model was run on a test track to check if it was OK. Does this still happen, or are just a % fully checked?

Where did the idea of changeable lamp positions come from? Did Hornby have focus groups to see what features modellers wanted on their locos? Or was it more just one person in the firm saying "let's try this"? I haven't seen much groundswell on RMweb, for example, for this feature. But then again, Tri-ang/Hornby have long been into "features". Remember Magnadhesion (have I spelt it right) from the early 60s and the Seuthe smoke units of the same period units. The M7 with opening firebox door (and illuminated firebox) from 1967, etc. So they have "form" for this.

They could've fitted Chinese lanterns, I suppose...

Does anyone know when the curve between Derby South Jn and Derby North Jn opened, please? Gough, in his magnificent Midland Chronology, states it opened for passengers on 1st Oct 1846, but was it open earlier to freight? And what passenger traffic would've traversed that line at such an early date, totally avoiding Derby station? Any ideas?

Nothing much happenin' at Aston...

Human evolution: 1. Beaker people 2. Tumbler people 3. Cup people 4. Cut glass people 5. Mug people

I used to work in a noisy environment until I told the children to use their indoor voices...

Just been watching a piece on YouTube comparing the finales of various interpretations of Mahler's 2nd Symphony - as you do on a wet Monday afternoon... Very impressed by the performance of the Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Stewart. Spine tingling.

Dropped off some stuff at the local charity hospice shop. Came away with a couple of books; one on buses about Southern National by Colin Morris. Talking of buses... I remember when I worked in the Civil Service in London. Would catch the 68 at Chalk Farm in the morning. If I timed it right I could jump onto the Routemaster as it waited at the lights. In the evening I tended to walk back and pop into KX on the way to see (and hear) the Deltics.

Just back from watching the sunset at Sandbanks. Condor Liberation passed en route from the Channel Islands to Poole.

Yes, I just watched his review too. Gimmicks are all well and good, but why no flywheel?

Does anyone have a clear picture (sufficient to read the small lettering on it) of the MR/LMS Control Board that was (still is?) at the MRC in Butterley? This shows all the running lines (passenger in red, freight in blue) plus all sidings etc. I'm particularly interested in the section showing Derby St Mary's Yard. I did take photos of it a long time ago, but didn't cover all of St Mary's. I have found an example on the internet, but the definition isn't too good when you zoom in. Thanks.

It's black over Bill's mother's. The view just now from our front door.

Haircut this morning. Thought it impolite not to pop into the local model ----way shop which is nearby. Outside said shop was a large skip - they were having a spring clear-out. Help yourself, they say... Came away with lots of old cab ride videos (social history now), PC Pressfix transfers (luckily for the LMS...), and some card buildings I can alter for my Aston-on-Trent lay---. I also did buy something too: £5 for an LMS coach which I thought was a bargain. My wife was none too pleased to see all the videos though...