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Already built in Bangkok !! They have also built an underground system as well !!!!!!!!!!! Brit15

They are uploading the rest of the UK also, though slowly, working from the south of England upwards. http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=6&lat=55.2509&lon=-4.7803&layers=168&b=1 A brilliant resource, well done Scotland. Brit15

There is a nice TT layout here in an old Railway Modeller mag https://archive.org/details/RailwayModellerJanuary1963 From this site https://archive.org/search.php?query=railway%20modeller I started my model railway interest back around 1959 with a TT set, a Jinty, two coaches and oval of track on a 4' x 3' board, gradually extending it over the years. I still have most of my stuff, but it's basically worn out. I changed to OO when we moved house back in 1972. I would have stayed with TT but the running over Tri-ang steel pointwork was always jerky, this together with the limited range of items and Tri-ang ceasing production made it for me a no-brainer - never looked back. Still, I enjoyed my TT years. It's nice to see work being done again with Tri-ang TT, Golden Fleece 30 especially, doing some grand stuff I could not have dreamed of back then. I dug out my TT a few years ago, but it ran poorly, so I'll stick it in a display cabinet one day. A few of my early TT layouts are on my Flikr Album here, my last TT layout being London Kings Cross, along with some photos of my first OO layout Sheffield Victoria(ish !!) built in 1972. https://www.flickr.com/photos/136789710@N03/albums/72157680682249085 Happy days !! Brit15

In coming decades London (along with other near sea level mega cities like Bangkok, Tokyo etc) may be flooded by rising sea levels caused by polar ice melt. Time to move up north & higher above sea level (long term) ? Interesting map http://flood.firetree.net/ Brit15

Thanks nick that explains a couple of my Wigan P.O. wagons that are indeed overall black with the colliery name bottom left. Brit15

I think all you need is some of these "Top Hat" bearings. I've used a few on worn plastic bogies with success. I heat them up with a soldering iron & "melt" them into position. http://www.petersspares.com/markits-m83-romford-4mm-scale-shouldered-pinpoint-bearings-mppbs-pk50.ir?cName=detailing-markits-markits-detailing-oo Brit15

Thousands and thousands of wagons were made in Wigan by a quite few companies, some of them merging into the central wagon co in the 30's Central wagon went on to be a major wagon and steam locomotive scrapyard, and in the late 60's started to manufacture the new fangled containers. A very interesting book is this. Lots of info re new build wagons, dates, liveries, black & white photos etc. 190 pages hardback, Published by HRMS. And a very sad, but again very interesting book is this one We built em & wrecked em in Wigan, hence my interest in my local area !!! Brit15

Not quite on topic but around Christmas a few years ago the (very) important diamond crossing just southeast of Salford Crescent station fractured. This is where the Victoria & Piccadilly routes diverge. It was a special casting, had to be ordered from (I think) Romania and this crossing was out of action a couple of months causing absolute chaos. In British rail days this would have been an overnight fix, or perhaps a couple of days max. Costs are out of control because no one gives a damn about controlling them - an open government cheque book will be milked to the maximum by all. Lots of people are therefore to blame, from the very top to the very bottom. HS2 will be paid for at the expense of the rest of the system I'm afraid. Brit15

Forgot to add, Photos of my trip mentioned above in my Flikr album here. https://www.flickr.com/photos/136789710@N03/albums/72157680434802146 As mentioned, oh for a Tardis !!!! Brit15

I have a nice (and growing) collection of private owner wagons for Wigan and the surrounding area, mainly colliery wagons. Hornby, Bachmann and Oxford have done quite a few local ones, and The Red Rose Steam Society have also offered some Dapol repaints for the area. I bought a couple from their stand at the Wigan model railway exhibition - they do different ones most years. Technically most of these shouldn't be seen together as various collieries closed, merged etc over the years. The Wigan Coal & Iron Co becoming the Wigan Coal Corporation before closing the works at Kirkless, Wigan around 1930 and moving to Irlam whilst amalgamating with the iron and steel interests of the Pearson & Knowles Coal & Iron Co, and the Partington Steel & Iron Company. The new company was renamed The Lancashire Steel Corporation. Some interesting PO wagons I've yet to obtain !! My collection isn't really for my layout, rarely being run, and I won't weather them either. I'll stick em in a showcase on the wall one day for my future generations (if any) !! Has anyone else got a "local area" private owner wagon collection ?. Brit15

5 August 1967, my brother & I traveled from Wigan across the Pennines to ride on the 10.17 Leeds (ex Birmingham) to Carlisle (the train then went on to Glasgow behind Britannia 70028). A gleaming Jubilee, 45562 Alberta took us from Leeds to Carlisle. A few other Holbeck Jubs were still in use as mentioned above, also used on the S&C expresses at this time. Our journey from Manchester to Huddersfield was behind Standard 73045 (train went to Scarborough I think), Carlisle to Preston was behind a Black 5, 44911, Head out of window all the way, and we were both as black as it when we got home !!. Brit15

Quick question. Had a day out in Edinburgh on Friday. As our Pendolino flew over Beattock lots and lots of Wind Generators are seen on the hills most of the way to Edinburgh. Most were turning & in use. I didn't realize there were so many over the border. I was thinking - How many of these are needed to power one Pendolino up Beattock ? Brit15

Lots of photos of the ongoing Manchester - Blackpool electrification works here https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157661069863633 My local Wigan - St Helens Liverpool line was one of the first of the new schemes to be completed, along with Liverpool - Manchester. Although we have "secondhand" refurbished Class 319 EMU's they are more than adequate, fast 4 car units replacing mostly 2 car sprinters and nodding donkeys - vastly superior. We have 2 trains / hour, an express that goes through to Preston (soon Blackpool) and a stopper. The Preston - Blackpool line is advancing as per photos above, and I read last week a new TOC is going to use displaced East Coast class 91's and Mk 4's on a new Blackpool to London direct service. I doubt the cancellation of the Blackpool line electrification. I'm not sure about the proposed electrification of the short Lostock Jcn (Bolton) to Wigan NW link, they are about to rebuild a bridge over the Wigan line at Lostock so it might still be going ahead. The Windemere branch is also scrapped, not as great a disappointment as other cancellations but still a retrograde step. Among the excuses is "ugly masts in the beautiful lake district" - Cobblers !!!!. Stupid politicians are "cashing in" on the Bi Modes (doubtful) diesel capabilities. I doubt bits of the Trans Pennine route being electrified, I reckon it will be all or nothing, more than likely nothing. As already said, bad news on two fronts on the last day of parliament, Railways & Pensions. Do they think we will forget ?. Are leaders are utterly clueless, ignorant, mean and spiteful - all parties. Brit15

Definitely not as interesting but certainly faster, efficient & more user friendly (especially train frequency). Yesterday we had a great day out in Edinburgh. With our Family & Friends railcard 3 adults & 2 children Wigan to Edinburgh advance return was £79 - a bargain. Outward was the 07.38 Pendolino arriving at 10.17. Shap & Beattock ? - just nice scenery whizzing by these days, no thrill of the climb. Straight off the train and up to the Royal Mile. Kids wanted to climb Arthurs Seat, I had a pint of Heavy !!. What a wonderful city Edinburgh is, not been there since 1985 & it's hardly changed. A nice Thai meal, then onto the 20.14 8 car Trans Pennine EMU home to Wigan - almost as fast as the Pendolino, We arrived more or less on time at 11pm, Home & in bed by midnight. A day out that was not really possible in the days of steam. Brit15

Tried to get my head round this - and failed !! http://www.quantumspaceelements.com/?gclid=CICF7prs-9QCFUJmGwodfVcMhA QUANTUM SPACE ELEMENTS (QSE) INTRODUCTION This is a non-mathematical proposal introducing a cosmological model that is cyclic, deterministic and infinity-free. For the purpose of achieving this objective a number of new concepts are introduced. The framework of this proposal is structured over a number of assumptions, leading to various considerations of cosmological concerns. Furthermore, verification methods are suggested of both, observational and mathematical nature. I'll stick to Network Rail time !! Brit15

Women drivers !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brit15

I've been a Dr Who fan all my life, since the first episode. My travels notebook reminds me that I bought the paperback book "The Dalek pocketbook and space travellers guide" for half a crown (a weeks pocket money) back on the 30th October 1965 on Sheffield Midland Station, Brush 4 D1520 hauled us from Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield, A B1 hauled us back to back to Manchester and Britannia 70027 "Rising Star" took us home, Manchester Victoria to Wigan Wallgate on a 3 suburban coach stopper !! Who needs a time machine !!!! I still have the book. I reckon the best recent doctor was Christopher Eccleston - he gave the role (to me) a scientific twist, and I found his episodes interesting. Good luck to the new doctor, I look forward to the new series. Brit15

I wonder in what future episode she will encounter Davinios, the female Dalek !! Brit15

Jim your photos are not showing for me, the links don't seem to work on the photobucket site either (for me). Brit15

Mobile phones !!! Nuff said !! Brit15

Owd Bob, glad to hear your home and on the mend. Take your time with everything and take it easy. As others say, I wish you a speedy recovery. Best wishes, Brit15

Water hose in use - Carnforth August 1968. I think the fireman got a sprinkling !! Brit15

I also modeled (loosely) Leicester central back in the late 80's. A great prototype as there was so much variety in Locos used. Later years a Brush Type 4 (class 47) or occasionally an EE Type 3 (37) was used on the Newcastle - York - Poole - Bournemouth daily train. One set of southern green coaches was also used on this service. Occasionally an EE Type 4 (40) and Brush type 2 (30 / 31) were seen. Some useful pics here http://railwayanamichael.com/index.php?cPath=271_1_7_46 There is lots of info on the web, and some good GC sites also. Brit15

Severn tunnel mentioned was earlier. Here's another interesting video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy70knz4n9M Brit15