APOLLO

And it all started with "Press button B to get your money back " !!! Brit15

I once over lubricated a motor with electrolube, it got on the brushes and softened the carbon. Hell of a job to remove them, dry them out clean the resulting goo off the commutator etc. It eventually "dried out" and now runs OK. I use an electrolube pen (sadly no longer available) to lubricate (very sparingly) gears and bearings, Brit15

Perhaps their main problem is supply (over in China). Take the Pecket (which I missed first time around). A lovely model, but in serious short supply. They could sell lots more (at RRP) IF they were actually availiable. There are countless livery variations etc for this particularly popular model also. As to quality, perhaps I'm lucky but I've never had a faulty Hornby (steam) loco, and the Railroad Range was just right for me when I wanted a couple of 9F's and Black Fives a few years ago (again lovely models). I've no Hornby diesels, other than a Railroad 31. so can't comment re these. I wish Hornby well. Brit15

I witnessed and was involved in this mostly all of my career. first computer I ever saw was in 1969 at the North Western Gas Board HQ in Altrincham. A huge thing with the obligatory flashing lights and reel to reel tapes !!. It processed the regions gas bills. The North West Gas region was always at the forefront of introducing new technology. We were involved over the years in implementing many new pipe laying / pipe replacement techniques, nearly all of which saved money / manpower - but they never completely replaced the guy on the spade, not even today. !! It (for us) was a matter of just learning it and using it, providing feedback etc. Not everything was a success though, what didn't work was binned despite what the boffins told us, but mostly it was made to work. I never forget first seeing a fully automatic PE (plastic) pipe automatic but welding machine. Just clamp the pipes in the machine, set the diameter & pipe spec and press a button. The machine then cut the faces square, inserted a heater plate, applied the correct pressure for the correct time, removed the heater plate and made the join at the correct pressure and time, it then allowed the correct cooling time before a little bell rang and "joint complete" flashed up. Just enough time for a brew between joints !!! No un-inventing this stuff !!!! Brit15

Marine engineering - I did my ONC Mechanical Engineering at Riversdale Tech Liverpool (now long gone). It was primarily a merchant navy engineering college, the lecturers were mostly en MN, and boy they were strict (and also knew their stuff). When Riversdale closed some courses and lecturers moved up the road to Liverpool John Moore University - Marine engineering is still taught at Liverpool. Brit15

I've known good and bad managers, but mostly good, and in the Gas industry at least they were ALL qualified engineers (on the distribution / transmission side), even well past privatisation in 1986. The rot started with the "takeover" by National Grid in 2002, though this was after the BG split (BG was the exploration & production section, Shell bought that a couple of years ago- they wanted that back in 1986 - they've been waiting since then to pounce !!). Though I was never classed a manager my duties were many and varied. Planning, running & semi supervision of large pipe renewal projects together with standby gas escape / incident duties. As Jjb1970 rightly states, you look after your men. I've worked with many excellent teams (both Irish contractors and local direct labour) in difficult and demanding jobs many times in foul weather at all hours of the day - we all got stuck in and got the job done, bosses and all, occasionally including senior board members when the severity of an incident warranted it. I've few if any bad words to say about gas industry management over my career. (up to National Grid). Little tale. 1982, before privatisation there was a very big reorganisation in the Gas Industry (ROR _ regional operating review). The outcome for us was a brand spanking new office at Warrington. We moved in alongside other departments - all open plan. Soon after a computer appeared in our department- just one. Green eyed monster it was known (or was that the girl who operated it) - used to record jobsheets etc. We were all having a look and a fiddle (with the computer !!) when the district engineer said - you'll ALL have one of these on your desk in a couple of years - this building was designed for it. Rubbish we all said - what the hell do we engineers need a computer for !!!! Well, the rest is history. As others have said - no going back. (by the way Warrington office was demolished quite a few years ago and is now the Royal Mail rail depot). Brit15

This reads a bit more promising - finance agreed. Troubled toy-maker Hornby has started talks with lenders on a new deal in a bid to shore itself up in the face of slow sales. Fresh finance is expected to be in place by June and follows the company’s announcement in late 2017 that it would raise £12 million through a new equity placing. Barclays has agreed to waive a financial covenant on Hornby's debt in the meantime, which would have been breached after its profits were hit by delivery problems and a decision to stop discounting products. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-5573295/Toy-maker-Hornby-talks-lenders-12million-new-finance.html Brit15

Agree with the curious names. I always have a laugh at this, and wonder how it got it's name. (interesting colliery railways off to the right). http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/index.cfm#zoom=18&lat=53.5367&lon=-2.4157&layers=168&b=1 Back to garden railways, I spent an hour this sunny (now cloudy) afternoon cleaning the track with WD40 and an abrasive pad. 2 LGB 0-4-0's coupled together been running for an hour. I find if I run once a week the track will stay electrically clean till now till Autumn. I don't do what you do in the scenery department though Bob, my garden loop is purely a garden ornament, nice on those balmy evenings to have a BBQ, few beers and run a train or two. I often thought about live steam - but I think I'll stay electric. I built it for the lad back around 1996, he's now working away so I have to do all the labouring now - but the girls bring me a cuppa occasionally. I keep looking at your wonderful weathering, buildings etc - Hmmmmmmm !!! Brit15

The trouble is many (most ?) who question such things, join political parties or political organisations, strive to attain managerial and leadership positions etc etc see the advantages and perks of "the dark side", and move over to it, adopting the I'm alright jack attitude. Of course not all are like that, but too many are, I've witnessed it a few times. Again a trait of the good old British "class" system. There is an apt song "The working class can kiss my ****, I've got the foreman's job at last" !! Brit15

Yes grovelling and crawling at ground level gets a bit hard as you get on a bit. As for Leigh I know it fairly well, part of my standby district (gas emergencies) in the 90's. We went out as far as Wogden & Chow Bent & Bongs !! (Walkden Westhoughton, Atherton & Tyldesley). Chow Bent & Chequerbent, always got a bit confused with these !! Both had stations, Chow bent was renamed Howe Bridge on the Wigan-Tyldesley - Manchester Line Chequerbent was on the old Kenyon - Leigh - Bolton line. Both were interesting lines (I have the superb Sweeney books). Brit15

Wonderful work there Bob - I like the canal basin, a bit like the one that was in Leigh, was it Bedford basiin ?, though it was the railway that ran into the tunnel there. Bit before my time. http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/index.cfm#zoom=17&lat=53.4945&lon=-2.5133&layers=168&b=1 I'm waiting for warmer weather to do a bit to my outdoor line - us Wiganers are not as hardy as yo Leithers !!!!!!!! Eyup, currant bun's just shown up !!! Brit15

Change - That's the key, and boy have I seen it in many industries. After my 5 year gas engineering apprenticeship in 1974 I was posted to nearby Warrington, the district included Widnes Runcorn Frodsham & Helsby, we worked occasionaly in St Helens and Wigan (my home town). We worked closely with industry old and new regarding gas supplies. Pilkingtons glassworks at St Helens was so big and important a customer we had engineers specifically allocated to them. The chemical works at Widnes & Runcorn along with the remaining foundries were going through mega change (1975 on). I've witnessed lots of closures and yes new works also over the years. These new works were at the beginning of computerisation / automation in the 70's. No workers with clogs here !! A drive around these towns today and it's a whole new scene. Not exactly industrial desolation - the Victorian era places went many years ago and are now either housing, retail or (a few) new factories. There are a still quite a number of large modern works, Pilkingtons (now foreign owned) has a large newish plant (recently sand trains from Kings Lynn have been introduced). Those who work in these plants are by and large skilled technicians - little need for heavy labour any more. As to the future - who knows ? - just more change that's for certain. Brit15

R&D mentioned. British Gas (where I worked all my life in distribution engineering & planning) had wonderful R&D facilities at Killingworth Newcastle (and elsewhere). The Killingworth facility was distribution / pipeline oriented. We attended engineering refresher courses there every 3 or 4 years, saw all the new and future technology first hand before it was thrust upon us on the job. A lot of boffins etc worked there. Now all gone - sad. Not a clue if this type of work is done these days. Over the pond Mr Trump has promised to rebuild America and her manufacturing industries - well good luck to him but he should also tell all who voted for him that all these new industries will be exactly that - brand new, using the latest technology / robots etc - not going to be a lot of jobs there. Same here of course, and in Germany - but as already stated they (Germany) manage industrial matters very differently. I'm quite happy my kids want to go into engineering / science / medicine. True there is no promise of jobs. (but a professor at Salford Uni said a few years ago to prospective students on an open day event there will be jobs in engineering - 200,000 qualified engineers will be retiring over the next 10 years and most will need replacing). Time will tell, and good luck to all who have children currently in education. Encourage them in whatever they want to do (except Drama and Knitting !!!!!). Brit15

Not all bad news with our youth on the engineering front. My son graduated from Liverpool uni last year with a first class masters degree in Mechanical Engineering - now a graduate trainee with a large oil company. Twin girls at college studying A level maths, physics chemistry & biology. One wants to go into engineering, the other in bio medicine. Born and brought up in Wigan, local state education. Nothing "special" - they are just (bl**dy) hard workers. Want to know what ruined our engineering industry (started many, many years ago) - That "great" British institution - Class. (i.e us and them), and greed. Brit15

You can never have enough smoke !!! Brit15

Luckily our Hermes delivery person is a nice lady who knows where to safely "hide" my parcels if nobody is in. There tracking is sometimes wrong though, site says delivery today when it'll be tomorrow. Brit15

1964 was a good year, D1733 was painted blue and hauled the brand spanking new XP64 blue & grey coaches !! I agree steam wise the Beeching cuts and dieselisation / modernisation changed the scene fast in many places. It's an emotive subject, and a lot depends on your age and what you saw in your early years. In 1963 I was 11 and started spotting / train travels. just managed a few exotic (Hemyock, Halwill, S&D Bath to Evercreech) runs, and some downright tatty ones (Middleton & Royton branches, Wigan Central, Widnes CLC loop etc) - then quickly it was all gone. I stopped spotting in 1973 when the WCML was electrified and the double headed D400'ers stopped thundering through Wigan. Happy days though. Brit15

They lay chickens !! Brit15

The Ribble Valley railway at Preston Docks won't disappoint - a fantastic collection though the run is fairly short. An ex work mate has a loco there - he has been working on her for years and finally steamed last year. She is a blue Hawthorn leslie 0-6-0 named Linda. https://ribblesteam.org.uk/exhibits/steam/hawthorn-leslie-3931-linda/ Brit15

Wonderful tribute to the R.A.F. Thanks for posting. brit15

Unknown Clan northbound through Garstang around 1965. Dad took this photo. Brit15

Ah the good old days. 1966 - Saving up my 2s 6d weekly pocket money and 10 bob Christmas pressy from my Aunt and I was off to the Post Office for thirty odd bobs worth of postal orders and a stamp. A hand written order duly posted to to BEC models at Tooting Bec Road for TT gauge LMS 4F loco & tender kit. Upon arrival a couple of weeks later, rob the chassis from an old Tri-ang Jinty, and wheels for the tender from a scrap wagon, a box of Araldite and I was away !!!! Before painting I "borrowed" a finger full of car body putty from my dad (whose Mk 7 Jag was more putty than metal !!). Then scrape the bottom from a tin of blackboard paint found in a waste bin at school (along with a nicked sable brush !!) and she was ready for the road. I still have that loco, she still runs (just) - the tender still has (and always has had) 4 wheels. Happy days. Brit15

I heat my garage with a warm air fan heater. cheap as chips to buy and it warms the place up in about 10 minutes, then turn it down to half power. I don't run it when I'm not in, but the garage is fully insulated so no problems with damp / condensation. I'm afraid there are no cheap to run heaters, but I find my warm air fan heater does warm the place quickly. This one at Argos is around £20. http://www.argos.co.uk/product/4153238 2KW will be fine (mine is). Your TT layout is looking great. Brit15

If it's as good as the two "Great Northern Outpost" books it'll be a good 'un !!! Brit15

Seen in Thompsons travel agents window in Wigan a while ago -- Two weeks in Grease full bored £399 !!!!! Back on topic, I use an electrolube pen - never any problems. Brit15