APOLLO

Apologies - I didn't mean to offend, but it seems to be that a lot of so called "Green" taxes in many countries are not ploughed back into public transport, as I think they ought to be. Reducing council tax is fine, but probably not at the expense of transport in general. I agree re CO2 but we (the planet) are probably past the tipping point, huge problems going forward I agree - but all I see is tax, tax, tax. - doesn't solve the problems as people will simply pay more to continue their ways. Brit15

Tax tax tax - so what will the French Government actually spend the extra fuel tax on - subsidise French railway season tickets ? No - I don't think so. Brit15

Brass Deltics 22 of 'em !! Brit15

For my birthday my sister bought me the book "The Severn Tunnel, it's construction & difficulties 1872 - 1887" by Thomas A Walker (Nonsuch publishing). A very interesting book, describing in detail the water ingress difficulties etc, with many period plans and drawings. What hard and skilled men were bred back then. It is said in my family that my great grandfather was a young mine ventilating engineer from Wigan, and worked on the Severn tunnel ventilation system at some (unknown) time. He married a Welsh girl and settled in Pentrebach, (near Merthyr) working at local collieries in the area, his son, my grandfather moving "home" to Wigan in his youth. I wish I knew more about this, but alas time has erased the facts. Anyway, this is an interesting video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQho8DUMHJA Brit15

A nice selection and thanks to Andy & Hornby. A Peckett and a J36 will do for me. i'll pre order to make sure of a Peckett this time !. Brit15

With regards to "long straights and gentle curves" I could model neither on my O gauge North American layout. The Rock Island - my chosen line to model was a "Granger" (Prairie) railroad, most lines were (fairly) straight and level across the Prairies - no good at all for a 22' x 12' garage. So I had to invent. The Rock did get to Colorado Springs, on the edge of the Rockies, so my line is an imaginary extension from here into the Rockies via the long abandoned Colorado Midland railroad. Sharp bends and fierce gradients, tunnels and trestles a plenty, along with some (Bachman) Narrow gauge for interest. My trains are long (20 cars) and need two diesels which scream and slip over the road. The few old steam locos are now relegated to pushers (bankers) on the longer loaded mineral "drags" The couplings actually groan, metal wheel flanges squeal but the trains (nearly) always get over the road. I've had the odd coupling split apart, though derailments are few (but usually spectacular !!). I use Peco track thus the yard / station layouts were determined by the Peco point geometry. I really enjoy operating this layout - every train is a challenge !! Most construction is finished, but lots of detail / stock repainting / weathering etc still to do, and I must get stuck into the old "craftsman" kits I've had for donkeys years. Brit15

My last week of steam at Carnforth, Rose Grove & Lostock Hall photos here. Scroll down to 5 albums. https://www.flickr.com/photos/136789710@N03/albums We bought a North west rover that week. happy yet sad time, I was aged 16. Brit15

My wife just stopped, and said “You weren’t even listening, were you?” I thought to myself, “That’s a very strange way to start a conversation......”. Brit15

A BAC (The British Automatic Company Ltd) "Print your own metal nameplate" machine More info here https://pennymachines.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=631 Brit15

So it's five new engineers wagons then !!! Brit15

In my local area, Wigan, we had three locations where steam banking engines were used daily. 1. WCML Wigan North Western to Boars Head / Standish, heavy goods trains northbound, in the early 60's usually a Jinty or Black 5 (or whatever else was the station pilot at North western station). 2. Ince Moss to Platt Bridge jcn (Manchester bound goods) or to Rose bridge Jcn (Whelley loop). Also Bamfurlong to Rose Bridge jcn (Northbound goods over the Whelley loop). Usually a Black 5,8 or WD 2-8-0. 3. Westwood Park signal box (halfway between Hindley & Pemberton on the Pemberton loop) up to Orrell. Up to 1964 when the coal trains disappeared / re routed. Uusually a Fowler 4F tender loco. (Liverpool bound coal trains from Yorkshire usually 8F or WD hauled). The short stretch from Ince Moss to Fir Tree House Jcn (where the line crossed the WCML) was the fiercest, due to mining subsidence over the years. one of my favourite spotting points before the end of steam (and the line closed) firework shows were almost every hour !!. These views I took from Taylors Lane, just south of Springs Branch around 1966/7. You can see the fierce gradient. Can't find any banking pix at the moment though. I'm sure I have some somewhere. This off the web This shot is the Widnes to Long Meg (Settle & Carlisle line) Anhydryte empties, signal is off for the Whelley loop. A 9F on empties didn't need a banker here. Banker returning to Westwood park signal box (in the background). Courtesey of Wigan World website. Wonderful days. Brit15

Tony, your modelling is an inspiration to me (and many others), and you certainly can "cut the mustard". Here is some especially for (us) grumpy old gits - I got a set for Christmas !! I like Wibbles "Hornsey Broadway" layout due to both it's location and era. The last days of my trainspotting in the 70's, bunking Finsbury Park etc. I've said it before, the ECML was always of more interest to me than my local WCML that I've always lived near to, well, alongside these (boring) days. Perhaps it's the Deltics (which I did see and travel behind) and the Pacifics (which I saw only a couple, and never traveled behind). Probably also why I love Britannias, which I saw a plenty in their last days !!. Though I haven't a cat in hell's chance of achieving the same standards as Tony & Wibble, that's not to say that I don't try to improve. These days I'm mostly a (lone) operator, and operate I do, almost every day for an hour or so. - Get away from the gogglebox etc, up into the loft to run a few 12 coach trains & 30 odd wagon goods trains, or in my garage to run 20 car O gauge freights through the Rocky mountains. It's a wonderful hobby whatever your skill level / gauge / location etc etc is. Brit15 (sorry Tony, - Lindsey)

I see the problem as the constantly increasing near exponential rate of change of Capitalism. It has been forever thus, but never at the speed we see today. Money can be moved around the globe in microseconds, deals done, wealth converted etc etc.. Big corporations eat up the smaller ones, wring out the value, discard the unwanted bits (costs) which is usually people. The corporate CEO's etc are on a bonus induced mission to do just that everywhere, and care not one jot about the consequences to those cast aside. Its mainly fed by rampant greed, ambition etc, and will get worse over time, VERY worse as the ability to do such things eases due mainly to the advance of technology available to them. Government will allow this as it suits them (the lot of them). I fear in 50 years or less we will all be microchiped and micro controlled, (just like our model railways !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Brit15 - retired and out of the rat race - (40 odd years working at "The gas board" I was probably never in it !!)

Wasn't TOPS derived from a system used by the American Southern Pacific Railroad, or some such ? Brit15

You can't beat Heinz beans - made in Wigan of course !!!!! Factory motto - "Every little bean must be heard as well as seen" !!! Brit15

Just watched this also. https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-darlington-railway-1960-online Some more here. https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/railways-on-film Brit15

Just watched it - a most interesting film. Shame such rail freight has now long gone in the UK. Brit15

Is that Black Pudding from Bury ? Brit15

Here in sunny (!!!) Wigan we have 4 bins. Green = Compostable rubbish - Garden waste, food scraps, food scraps in bio-degradeable bags (supplied by the council). Collected every 2 weeks Blue = Paper & cardboard - Paper type drinks containers. Collected monthly. Brown = Glass bottles, Tin cans, Plastic trays bottles etc (no hard plastics or bags). Collected every 3 weeks. Black = Everything else - Landfill Collected every 3 weeks The system seems to work, council have built new re cycling plant along with other adjoining councils. I don't know if any is incinerated / recyclable goes to landfill etc. For me most plastic packaging is a disgrace. If it is used to store a (valuable) product (model locos etc) then OK. If it is designed to instantly throw away upon opening then ban it. (especially the hard to get into the bubble pack stuff). Bio-degradable see through plastic can be used. Throw away polycarbonate bottles are also a disgrace. I don't know the answer to replace these (water bottles etc) as heavier glass perhaps wouldn't be acceptable. All throw away type packaging should by law be made bio-degradeable where possible. Last year a new container train started to run through Wigan Wallgate. It takes Liverpool's waste from Knowlsley to Middlesbrough to be incinerated there. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/business/business-news/taking-shape-teessides-latest-energy-from-7969721 http://www.bulkmaterialsinternational.com/htm/w20160707.288056.htm Why can't this be burned in Liverpool (at the nearby soon to be closed Fiddlers Ferry power station).? Why are wood pellets processed in Louisianna, taken by train to a port, shipped across the Atlantic to Liverpool, loaded into Swish new trains for the long and indirect journey to Drax in Yorkshire, stored then burned as a so called "Green" fuel ?. (if you want a model they're £83 a pop for 5 penceworth of plastic (including packaging) !!! Brit15

I read a similar phrase in the railway Magazine editorial article quite a few years ago. Can't remember which though. Brit15

I use Gaugemaster for O scale kadees, they allways have them in stock. Decent prices and excellent service also. http://www.gaugemaster.com/search_results.asp?searchstring=%20brand~~721~~brand Brit15

Sometimes as far as back scenes are concerned, less is more (and easier to do). I'm not a great fan of the near perfect photo print diorama type - but I have seen some excellent ones. I suppose it's horses for courses and personal opinion. This one off this site And this off the web - an interesting City scene, winter as no leaves on the trees. I like the winter sky. Brit15

I arranged one of those fish pedicures for the wife as a Christmas present. The results were fantastic. Those Piranhas certainly don't mess around !!. Brit15

Didn't a brand new class 800 did the same the other week on the GW main line ? Brit15

I remember Shipley MRS's layout "Leicester South GC" layout has a very atmospheric backscene, anyone any photos ? Brit15