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APOLLO

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Posts posted by APOLLO

    Hornby Discount Limits

    in Hornby

    Posted

    Again some interesting points raised.

     

    I just bought (quite cheaply on Ebay) a set of bound 1970's Modern railways mags - which I find very interesting indeed (I can understand 1970's engineering !!!).

     

    Saturated market ? Probably. As Ouroburus asked Too Much ? - maybe for most - definitely for me (RRP).

     

    I buy very little OO these days (this year just one bargain Heljan O2 from Hattons. I have however bought several s/hand (practically new) North American O scale locos, all at very good prices. £200 for a brand new boxed never run twin motor lighted Atlas F unit with DC sound !!, a GP38-2 twin motor job is in the post , less than the cost of two Bachmann DC non sound diesels.. I've also found quite a few freight cars for around £20 - £30, some superbly made kits, some Atlas and mostly Weaver, all in good or new condition. A set of trucks and Kadee couplers would set you back £20 these days. Some of the new release prices are just (for me) simply not value for money.

     

    I try to use local model shops for bits (they don't stock American O - indeed hardly anyone does these days), but my nearest local shop is 10 miles away, 

     

    We have heard of Peak Oil - I think we are now at a time of Peak Model Railways - enjoy it while you can. As to Lima - wonderful locos - I still run mine - they're like cockroaches - indestructible - no scrappage for mine !!

     

    Brit15

    • Like 1

    Hornby Discount Limits

    in Hornby

    Posted

    Hmm, have you visited Waitrose lately?  As a result of having to reduce prices and offer more 'value' or 'essentials' level products they have made severe cuts elsewhere in their business resulting, most noticeably in our part of the world in an overstrained internal logistics operation which has led to empty or poorly stocked shelves in their supermarkets.  Same old story - cut the prices, cut the costs (I know how they did some of that in their logistics operation as it happens) and the customer suffers - net result we could not buty any pork fillet when we visited our usual branch last Thursday = sale & revenue lost.

     

    And Phil has already drawn attention to what has happened with overall John  Lewis profits this year - down to price matching (i.e. price cutting) according to their Chief Exec.

     

    By the way I thoroughly approved of what amounted to price fixing in respect of milk, but then one of my grandfathers was a dairy farmer.  And of course the end of that arrangement through the MMB has resulted in the disappearance of numerous dairy herds so one is left wondering quite where some of our milk and milk products comes from because it sure as heck isn't the three dairy farms which once existed within a 4 mile radius of where I'm sitting typing this; race to the bottom once again. 

     

     

     

    Waitrose ? Pork Fillet ? - It's Aldi's basics beans (no sausages) on dry toast for me - (I'm sure I saw Andy Y in there recently !!!!!!) it's the only way I can save for Hornbys new stuff !!!.

     

    But I agree, the whole world of retail from is in turmoil and change these days. It's getting to be dog eat dog for survival out there. Tesco Jacks isn't the only new entrant. I went to our local Sainsburys yesterday, close nearby is a small Asda (was once Netto). Alongside sharing the same vast car park is a large B&M (mainly food) and just opened next door is a new food store - The Food Warehouse by Iceland. I called in the Asda first (as some basics are consistently & considerably cheaper). The new Iceland store had some bargains, I noticed Sainsburys had a load of completely empty shelves (unusual). There is a new Argos recently built into Sainsburys. (we have two Argosses 2 miles apart, neither are in the town centre).

     

    This lot won't survive I reckon.

     

    Our once vibrant town centre with its nearly new £ multi million shopping centre sees major closures almost weekly - Marks & Spencers (in the new centre) is to close.

     

    Hornby will the least of anyone's problems soon.

     

    Reasons - Not enough (spending) money around - inflation - rising cost of living (housing mainly) - frozen wages (or under inflation rises) - poor working terms and conditions for many jobs - etc etc etc. Where this will lead to I just don't know. I don't know where our milk comes from (geographically !!!) either.

     

    Brit15

    • Like 1

    The McMullen Coal Company Light Railway

    in My Garden Railway Topics

    Posted

    Bill Oddie was born in Rochdale and moved to Birmingham at an early age. Brilliant comedian & presenter.

     

    Yes Wigan (council) are overboard and up their own ****s in their bouncy castle at Westwood these days, bring back the old local councils !! - (no chance).

     

    Many years ago I went a couple of Friday nights to a folk music night at a pub in Westhoughton (the one on the corner opposite the church - can't remember the name - now gone). Not a particular fan of the music I only went along for the beer !!!

     

    Brit15

    • Like 1

    Insertion of crossing on Webcam Deshler Ohio LIVE NOW

    in Wheeltappers

    Posted

    I watched the interesting operation most of yesterday - very interesting. The webmaster of the webcam wrote in the comments he will make a time lapse video of the whole operation and post it on youtube - when he does I'll post a link here.

     

    I think the track lads over there deserve a big "well done" from us webcam viewers - there were over 1500 viewing at one stage yesterday

     

    The trains crossing the new diamonds are a whole lot quieter now - I bet the local residents are pleased !!

     

    Brit15

    • Like 1

    Insertion of crossing on Webcam Deshler Ohio LIVE NOW

    in Wheeltappers

    Posted · Edited by APOLLO

    Just seen this on the Webcam (two at this location)

     

     

    CSX is inserting a new single over double diamond at the very busy Deshler crossing Ohio. It's been planned for months.Work is finally underway

     

    Very interesting to see how the Yanks do it (the workers have just had their morning exercise !!). The crossing was pre fabricated months ago - after today no more trains bouncing across the diamonds (hopefully !!).

     

    It's 11.55 am here in the UK, 06.55 in Deshler. Dark and a bit foggy - sunrise soon and lots of hard graft to be seen today.

     

    Brit15

    • Like 4

    The Guardian: "Millions of trees at risk in secretive Network Rail felling programme"

    in UK Prototype Discussions (not questions!)

    Posted

    Teslas ? Watch some of these very interesting videos. I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole - talk about control freakery !!! (Tesla turns your car off (i.e insurance write off for any reason) your car is wiped from their database - NO spares, NO updates, NO supercharging etc etc. 

     

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfV0_wbjG8KJADuZT2ct4SA/videos

     

    By the way I was over in Bangkok when the cave boys were rescued. Musk was not mentioned on the news but the Brits and everyone else who found and rescued them were (on TV) portrayed as hero's. Well done everyone involved.

     

    Brit15

    • Like 2

    Wigan Springs Branch re-born !

    in UK Prototype Discussions (not questions!)

    Posted

    Nice photos Bob - I've not been for a while due to Hols. I wonder why they've not connected the new lines to the existing point on the goods lines ?

     

    The 4 points & crossover seem a bit complicated for a manually point worked headshunt - still nice to see new track at "The Branch"

     

    I believe there is soon to be a Liverpool - Glasgow service introduced via St Helens Central (or perhaps Golborne & St Helens Jcn). Are these new units for that ?

     

    Many moons ago a Clan hauled Manchester Exchange to Glasgow express would pass this way having come via Tyldesley & Hindley Green - a "proper" train !!

     

    Brit15

    • Like 3

    Wright writes.....

    in Modelling musings & miscellany

    Posted

    Graffiti is surely an integral part of weathering modern image stuff, unless you have an idealised view of the world.

     

    Rule 1... etc.

     

    True - but probably just one (of the many) reasons why I don't model post 1968 (either British OO or American O) though a few of my models are 1970's - modeller's licence !!

     

    Notice I didn't mention "Modern Image" which started with the Railway Modeller back in 1964, (an oft discussed subject on this forum !!).

     

    Brit15

    Wright writes.....

    in Modelling musings & miscellany

    Posted

    Graffiti - a modern scourge if ever there was one. It's bad over in the USA, virtually every freight car is now "tagged". I like to watch these live streams of US locations - it makes you weep when a mile long train passes - where do they get there massive amounts of spray paint from - it must cost them an arm and a leg.

     

    Pick any of these live railroad streams - you can also rewind an hour or two - very interesting.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIkT9bq-1N2BvrsBjhNlag

     

    It's also sad that the American modeller can buy graffiti decals to add to his / her modern model railroad scene.!!

     

    A while ago I won this O scale freight car on ebay quite cheaply

     

    0-scale-2-rail-Conrail-covered-hopper.jp

     

    The graffiti is a decal (both sides different) - they will be "patch painted" out as will the Conrail logo (too modern) ASAP.

     

    Sad world when this stuff spills into our modelling !!

     

    Brit15

    • Like 4

    The McMullen Coal Company Light Railway

    in My Garden Railway Topics

    Posted

    UK bankrupt ? - no way - it's just the distribution of wealth is skewed to the (less than) 1% (and the debt to the other 99%).

     

    Anyway I agree skills are being lost, but the computer (IT) revolution is mostly responsible. My son finished a masters degree in mechanical engineering at Liverpool Uni last year, (he got a first and a good graduate trainee job virtually the week he graduated). I did ONC mechanical engineering many years ago, slide rules and steam tables !!. Not so now, I was completely lost with most of the engineering my son was taught - relevant to today's world but unrecognisable to mine !!

     

    He had a couple of weeks "workshop training" at St Helens college in the second year of his degree course, and came home with a couple of niceley made objects - I remember asking how he made them - oh, I just programmed the CNC machine and stuck a piece of metal in it !!!  Same with some 3D printing - it's all about computer skills now I'm afraid.

     

    Brit15

    • Like 1
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