APOLLO

On the WCML occasionally a Pendolino unit is "the wrong way round". Virgin staff / info boards here at Wigan are helpful and few problems arise. However as I wrote earlier, we also have twin unit voyagers for a number of years - there is still always confusion at station stops, so don't expect this particular problem to go away quickly with the 800's - it won't. Also many of the 9 car Pendolinos have been lengthened to 11 cars, I reckon the 800's will sometime be lengthened to whatever platform length constrained max (11 cars ?) in the not too distant future. Other the the above the 800 looks a rather nice train inside. Brit15

Apollos Strategic Review Following an initial review of purchases by Apollo, the loyal customer has determined that to maximise the value of its purchases over the long term, Apollo will no longer purchase large quantities of stock at RRP. Works both ways. Brit15

My dad used to say the Wigan Central to Manchester line was the money sunk & lost line - (MS&L - Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire) - Later the GC then the LNER (Late & Never Early Railway) - always the pariah railway in Wigan. Probably one reason why I model it !!! Brit15

Units coupled together. A couple of months ago we had a family day out in Edinburgh from Wigan. Out on a Pendolino return on an 8 car (2 x 4 car unit) Trans Pennine Express EMU. The EMU was gangway coupled, and the guard / conductor moved groups of passengers to available unreserved seating between units so they could be sat together. The trolley service catered for all 8 cars also - best cup of coffee I have ever had on a train by the way. These bi-mode 2 x 5 car GWR trains, no thanks. Brit15

Kev Regards locos slipping add as much weight as you can above the loco's driving wheels. Another "trick" I use is to roughen up the running rails surface on the gradient. I use an emery block or rough nail file cards. Don' go along the rails, wipe across them, not too hard though. It works for me, been doing it for years on a couple of sections of track and the rails are no worse for it. I need to re apply this treatment every couple of months or so when the roughened surface polishes and locos start to slip again. Some nice buildings there. I'm just about to go down to the pub at the top of Library St to meet some old work mates !! Brit15

Ahh -- the "New Train" smell !!!! Nothing like opening the box of a new Hornby or Bachmann model and having a whiff !! Up here we still have a couple of trains formed by 2 Voyager units coupled together. There is even now years after they were introduced always confusion at station stops with people getting on the wrong set, walking down the platform etc to the right set with Virgin staff getting them on at the first door in their correct set (but wrong coach) telling them to walk down to their correct coach with bags etc. Quite amusing at times. Two 5 car units coupled together with no inter unit access on mainline long distance trains is, to me, a retrograde step. Brit15

How's Dawlish tonight ? - sea is a bit rough down there today. Brit15

Same here in a now sunny though very windy Wigan. Strange this morning, red sky, just a little dust laden rain, no wind, Again washed cars on Saturday. I'll leave them for a few days now Looks rough though in the Irish sea 40 odd foot waves off Cork https://www.ventusky.com/?p=53.56;-4.37;6&l=wave Brit15 (More like Brit 22 "Tornado" !!)

YES, this is the best time ever for RTR models, without any shadow of doubt. I modeled in Tri-ang TT gauge back in the 60's, very little variety and not cheap on 2s & 6d a week pocket money (12.5 pence today !!) - but we got by and made do (enjoyed it also). Mates mostly had Tri-ang OO with one lucky lad having a Hornby 3 rail set up. I had the "bigger" layout though by using TT. Today I happen to model the 1965/6/7 era, green & blue diesels, last of steam, mixed rakes of maroon & blue/grey, some Mk 2 coaches also in blue grey, maroon & green (non air conditioned). Virtually EVERYTHING is available today for this era, Heljan providing the oddball diesel classes also. I also model in American O scale - and again lots of good stuff available - though these days mostly second hand. The glory days for this was the 80's, Atlas O was cheaper than Hornby OO back then !! No moans from me anymore !!! Brit15

Add a fight to your layout !! https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/15814-Noch-Fighting-Kids-H0-Gauge-Model-Railway-Layouts-Displays-Dioramas/1284406104 Makes a change from seagulls mid flight with a wire up there a*** !!! Brit15

You can download the Hornby service sheets from here https://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/downloads/service-sheets/ Brit15

There used to be an old ditty "It's wise to practice constipation whilst the train is in the station da de da de da de da de daa" Brit15

China has HUGE future problems looming in the next decade or so (along with many other countries). Internal politics will be well down the list of their problems. Water - particularly clean drinking water. Himalaya snow melt feeding the major rivers is slowing down. Ground water is over pumped and drying up. Polution - The above rivers are heavily polluted by uncaring unregulated rapidly expanding industry. Serious land and air problems are escalating also. Population - 1.4 Billion and rising Food - China is not self sufficient - import lots of food (Rice from Thailand & SE Asia etc). Energy - There is a lot of coal, but little oil or natural gas - hence the offshore arguments re the Spratley islands etc. China imports natural gas from Burma, and increasingly Russia. Raw materials - Iron Ore etc - China relies on imports from Australia. They are OK for rare earths though. Climate change - a bit of an unknown, but it won't be favourable, especially if China's food growing countries are affected. Of the above food & drinking water are of most concern. Brit15

Putting aside the farce that Brexit has become (on both sides of the camp, and within both major political parties), Hornby (and others) have a few major issues to contend with. Quite simply, 1. An ageing and diminishing main customer base. Old modelers are passing away at a greater rate than new entrants coming into the hobby. 2. There are not very many mainstream subjects (big sellers) left to model. The choice of models (from all manufacturers) is quite stunning today compared with 10,20,30+ years ago. 3. Because of the above two points, the market is saturated with stuff to buy, ebay, box shifters, most model shops, new, secondhand etc - there is absolute loads and loads of stuff out there ready to buy immediately, at affordable prices too. I myself rarely buy stuff new these days, as I "have enough" (and perhaps too much) !! 4. Current and ongoing inflation / low wage rises will have a large future impact on the hobby as model prices rise. This will relate to less sales. What would I do if I ran Hornby ? 1. Delineate Railroad and Fine Scale (upmarket fine detail) stuff. both have a market. I personally like my Railroad locos, Crosti included (which should have been a "fine scale" model). Don't sell junk, (Olympics fiasco). Railroad needs to be affordable and good quality (which it more or less currently is). Cut out sprung buffers and very fine details if you must, but maintain standards of running quality etc. Thinking of the railroad black 5's and 9F's here - damn fine models straight out of the "Railroad" box. 2. Perhaps stop selling direct and treat model shops more fairly. Guarantee your products properly also 3. Let the UK model shops stock & sell all Hornby products - continental Lima, Rivarossi etc. 4 Re-introduce concessions. I have bought the odd Hornby wagon etc from visits to garden centres etc. Anyway, my best wishes to Hornby. Brit15

Interesting map here. This was beechings closure proposal, Not all lines shown were closed (Liverpool - Southport for instance) - but most were. Brit15

This site may be of help Jim http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/ledcalc.php If not I suggest trial & error, use a few resistance values. Brit15

I'm sure she was transferred to Carnforth when Kingmoor (the steam shed) closed to steam on 1st January 1968 and all the other Brits went to scrap (70000 was already preserved). She was always kept clean, used for many specials etc in the weeks before the end of steam. Brit15

My nightcap - A cold can of Draught Guinness. Brit15

Update & story from the Rail Engineer https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/10/04/moses-gate-bridge-best-laid-plans/ Brit15

I saw the prototype HST at Shildon back in 1975. A long, long time ago !! As jib states, quite simply the HST worked, the APT didn't, it was a bit too far ahead of it's time, and over engineered with lots of unproven new technology (water kinetic brakes etc). There is an interesting BBC documentary somewhere (can't find it now) - BBC Horizon I seem to remember explaining the problems. Brit15

Not Leicester, but GC at Nottingham. This is a useful site for the GC modeller in BR days. http://www.annesleyfireman.com/ Hope it is of interest. Brit15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGBQxWwMbIA Fantastic train. Brit15

Thank the Lord for that - I thought they were northbound to C F Booth's at Rotheram !!!!!!! Brit15

Although I liked the "old" BR Maroon, Green and Chocolate / Cream (I was too young to remember Blood & custard), this was a revelation back in 1964. And to me, for a corporate railway livery it has never been bettered. 1965 saw the general introduction of Blue / Grey on coaches, a few catering cars at first. By the end of steam it was everywhere, mixed with the old liveries which were starting to rapidly disappear. I model the 65-68 period with quite a livery mix - it was "my" spotting era - not everyone's cup of tea though. Just look at the livery & stock mix on this short film. Today's liveries ? - well it's a case of the good (Virgin Pendelino) the bad and the ugly. I also abhor vinyls stuck over windows. Brit15

You really must visit the SS Great Britain at Bristol. Brunels ship has been really well restored. look at the tiny bunks - basically a 2 foot wide plank - and imagine weeks being cramped up here in sometimes rough seas. And this was THE BEST back then - others were much, much worse. I never complain about flying long haul - my parents and grandparents would have thought it simply superb, - as long as it departs & arrives more or less on time I'm O.K. !! We have it made these days, Australia in around 24 hours with emirates airlines via Dubai on the fantastic quiet & rock steady A380. Even in cattle class food is decent, the entertainment system is simply superb. What annoys me with flying these days as the faffing about & pallaver at the airports, a pain in the bum. Brit15