APOLLO

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

Black coffee !! Brit15

Tony - Year 1957 Location Little Bytham Brit 15 - Year 1900 Location Springs Branch Wigan. What's your settings ? Brit15

A nice drink, better tasting than Jagermeister. £10 / bottle at Asda a few weeks ago. CHEERS !!! Brit15

I remember back in the late 80's the coal trains from Parkside Colliery to Fiddlers Ferry had 2 reversals at Warrington (Walton & Arpley). Trains from Bickershaw had 3 reversals (Springs Branch & the other two) Usually 2 x 20 hauled, a (successful) experiment was performed by putting a Class 20 at each end of the MGR train, "talking" to each other via radio control - only one train crew required. I remember seeing this train at Walton. Don't know the numbers of the locomotives. Very versatile locos and much missed around the North West. (as is the traffic they hauled). Brit15

As well as your wonderful "Little Bytham" book Tony, I got a set of secondhand bound volumes of "Railway Modeller" magazines from 1959 to 1970 (to replace the incomplete and tatty selection I had) from Ebay. What wonderful reads they are. Back in the 60's (my TT days), Proprietary Modeller and Railway of the Month were always my favourite articles. I suppose I still am a good case of a modern proprietary modeller, especially my loft layout. Many of the "Railway of the Month" articles back then (as you write) display a lot of scratch / kit built items of varying standards. To me David Jenkinsons "Marthwaite" and his subsequent layouts set the ball rolling back around 1964 for detailed layouts. We have never looked back from then as far as both detailed layouts and proprietary equipment goes (along with healthy mixes of the two). I wonder what folks back then would think of your "Little Bytham" layout ? As to pet hates, I agree with your list, mine are few. What I find particularly annoying, and spoils many a good layout is the often un-disguised "hole in the back scene" entrance / exit to the fiddle yard etc. In many cases a few trees etc would help disguise it. I find modern tension locks are rubbish, as are hauling capabilities of many RTR locos, mainly due to lack of weight, but these two problems I reckon are not present with your fine kit built locos. As to driving, never forget the Queens Highway is for all to use, Pedestrians (crossing), Horses, Steam Tractors, Cyclists, Caravans, cars, HGV's etc etc. If we all drove with respect to others than all would be fine. Finally a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year to all. Brit15

One of these. Brit15

Want HST performance where there are no wires ? Easy, bolt a couple of Jet engines on top !!!! Brit15

Long reach screwdrivers are VERY handy. I use my phillips head one quite a lot. Brit15

Ohh my God --- It's full of Stars !!!!!!!!!! Brit15

When You're A Marine I was standing at the bar at the VFW one night minding my own business. This FAT ugly chick came up behind me, grabbed my behind and said, "You're kinda cute. You gotta phone number?" I said, "Yeah, you gotta pen?"... She said, "Yeah, I got a pen". I said, "You better get back in it before the farmer misses you." Cost me 6 stitches . . . but when you’re a Marine--- who cares? ********** I went to the drug store and told the clerk "Give me 3 packets of condoms, please." Lady Clerk: "Do you need a paper bag with that, sir?” I said "Nah -- She's pretty good lookin' . . . . . . " When you’re a Marine -- who cares? *********** I was talking to a young woman in the VFW last night. She said, "If you lost a few pounds, had a shave and got your hair cut, you'd look all right.” I said, “If I did that, I'd be talking to your friends over there instead of you.” Cost me a fat lip, but when you’re a Marine -- who cares? ********** I was telling a woman in the Club about my ability to guess what day a woman was born just by feeling her breasts. "Really" she said, "Go on then . . . try." After about thirty seconds of fondling she began to lose patience and said, "Come on, what day was I born?" I said, "Yesterday." Cost me a kick in the nuts, but when you’re a Marine -- who cares? ********* I got caught taking a pee in the swimming pool today. The lifeguard shouted at me so loud, I nearly fell in. When you’re a Marine -- who cares? ********** I went to our NAAFI disco last night and saw a BIG woman dancing on a table. I said, "Good legs." The girl giggled and said, "Do you really think so?" I said, "Definitely! Most tables would have collapsed by now." Cost me 6 more stitches, but when you’re a Marine-- who cares? Brit15

I had a quadruple by pass back in 2011. The cause of my blocked arteries was purely cholesterol build up caused by bad diet over the years (before i got married). In on Sunday, Op Monday, out of intensive care Thursday, home Sunday. I have nothing but praise for the NHS & Wythenshawe Hospital South Manchester - BUT all main meals had to be chosen day before as they were cooked in South Wales & trucked up - the menu was not healthy - chips, pies, sponge pudding custard etc - the stuff my surgeon said had caused my problem in the first place !! - Then around twice a day came the cart selling crisps, chocolate and all the other shyte. Yes I remarked to the staff / surgeon and was told "This is what everybody wants" !!!. Unbelievable. I stuck with Hospital porridge for breakfast (and have kept with that ever since), soup and whatever for the meal. Actually the food was quite good - though "wrong". I now subscribe to the "Harry Secombe" diet, and it's quite simple. Rule 1 Eat whatever you want - BUT eat far less of it, and always leave yourself a little hungry at the end of every meal. Rule 2 If you are not hungry - don't eat & wait till you are - but then always apply rule 1. Simple, and it works (for me). Blo*dy difficult this time of year though !!!!. Brit15