APOLLO

Too many people in the world and not enough resourses. Everyboby wants the "Western" lifestyle - but the planet cannot support that. If they can't get this lifestyle in their country they will march en mass to where they perceive they can (as probably you and I would). The problems we face in the UK are nowadays seemingly universal, however, The basics (UK) Energy We were self sufficient (coal, oil, gas) but no are longer. WE all (should) know the story. Transport New ICE cars gone by 2030, EV's still many questions, HS2 fiasco, Our new trains are rubbish, Smart motorways an expensive and dangerous disaster. etc etc Food Far too much is imported - look at news re farmers in France, Germany etc. Housing - A disaster area. No way my house is worth 4X what I paid for it in 1993 - but "the market" says it is. Employment - Another looming disaster area, AI, etc etc Also the scene has changed, working from home etc etc (not neccesarilly a bad thing). Climate Change links everything, and, wether you believe in it or not, to whatever degree, CC WILL change everything. Then we have the Politics, the15 minute cites, ownership (or not !!) of anything etc War - Ukraine, Middle East and perhaps China, N Korea, Iran etc - The world certainly cannot afford this. It need not be like this in the UK, Energy. We are STILL energy rich with wind / second highest tidal range on the planet with several large and suitable estuaries (Bristol Channel, Morecambe Bay, Solway Firth etc etc. We need to develop all of this, with nuclear as baseload. We need to electrify as quite simply our (UK) oil & gas reserves are much depleted, yes still some last but all the big, easy stuff has long gone. I doubt coal will come back, as I doubt shale gas etc. But it aint going anywhere and will be availiable for future generations if ever required (which I doubt). Transport HS2 should be built in full, Golborne link and Wigan by pass included. New trains need customer input (seats etc) at the design stage, The long running situation re industrial action needs sorting as a priority - it is killing our railways. New lines often discussed need reopening, our bus system is also a joke. Car manufacturers need to work harder on more affordable vehicles. Public transport in the UK is DEPLORABLE in 2024. Food We CAN grow all our own food if we so wish as approximately 36% of the land is croppable (arable), or approximately 25% of the total UK land area. Most of the rest is permanent grassland, rough grazing and other land on agricultural holdings. Housing can and should be more affordable, build more council houses, affordable houses etc. Introduce price & rent controls (?). In the direction we are heading our offspring (and theirs) will own nothing - but will they be happy ? Employment - We need to manufacture the basics, especially raw new steel etc - as green as possible. Electric arc recycled steel is OK for many, but not all uses. China is going into freefall economically. They have had there day. It's not all about cheap labour anymore, those days have gone. Climate Change. We emit under 1% of the planets CO2. We are doing our bit (and more). Politics / Policies I'll just say I have no faith in anyone anymore. War - A difficult one. We need to at the minimum ensure are services are well manned and equiped. Don't ever write this country off. The Romans wanted it and got it (well up to Carlisle / Newcastle !!), The Normans took us in 1066. The Spanish, French and Germans all tried several times after that with no success, WHY ? - Because we are Treasure Island of course !!!!!! Brit15

EV depreciation, insurance and eventual battery replacement costs are rising issues, as is range and charging anxiety. I do hope that when HS2 eventually opens it gets to Euston, is affordable and not beset by strike actions etc Time will tell. Brit15

We won't need motorways soon as only unaffordable (for the majority) EV's become the mandated norm. I don't know where we are heading, but it won't be nice for most folk. 15 minute cities, Own nothing and be happy !!!!!!!!! Brit15

Most world railways are not profitable, but we need them, especially going forward to 2050 & "net zero" Brit15

Being a Wiganer I've never heard that one !!!!! George also won the Isle of Man TT race once !! What a Hero !!!!!!!!!! Brit15

A few more around Springs Branch from around the same time if you don't mind. Brit 33 "Charlie Dick" backs onto the coaling plant. I once could rhyme off every Brit name - had to look 33 up in my Summer 1960 combined volume !! And received some of Wigan's finest coal dust !! Invader on the Branch !! Banger Blue cometh - southbound test train !!!! Oliver heads north A thingy and a mickey mouse Northbound Brit, Southbound Brush 4. The big building to the left was the locomen's overnight lodging. An ideal location for a sound nights sleep !! Lots of steam - is that a Brush 4 far left, your new house is nearly ready !! Right hand locos had interesting front number styles This is what we 14 year olds got up to back then !!!!! Brit15

I think there were few (if any) nationally "approved" locomotive nicknames for steam, diesel or electric locomotives. Here around Wigan (& Springs Branch) since I started spotting (mid 60's on the WCML) Black 5's & 8's was commonly used. Black 5's were also called Mickeys, 2-6-0 Tender locos Mickey Mouse. Jub (Jubilee), Dub Dee (WD), Mickey, Jinty, etc. All standards were known as standards, except 9F's were "Nine Two'ers" and Brits were, of course, our magnificent Britannias !! Nowt much else as the Semis, Princesses, Citys and Pats (Patriots) had all gone just before. On the diesel scene we had mainly Big D's (EE Type 4) a Peak now and again and ever more and more "Brush 4's", shunters, all types, just shunter and every DMU was a bug box, never even took their numbers !! "Sulzers" (Type 2's) were rarely seen until the rat infestation of Springs Branch started in late 1967 when 8F closed to steam. All these shots off the same roll of 35mm, Taylors Lane, Springs Branch Wigan around 1966/7. A common hour or so's trainspotting. (Can I have another roll of film please Dad ?) Southbound on the Up Fast - Brush 4 on oil tanks. Passed by northbound Big D on a parcels. New diesel depot nears completion. Those signals were noisy !! Turn around and a Black 5 slogs up the bank at Fir Tree House Jcn, on coal empties and is about to cross over the WCML Sign of things to come - A rare rat shoves a brake van up the bank, Ince Moss Jcn and the Liverpool line in the background. Signalman was quick with the levers !! A black 8 (or 5 ?) heads on the Manchester bound fast line past Crompton Sidings box (shed inlet roads to left). Probably off towards the leigh area collieries. Unidentified Brit northbound under the Lancashire Union line. (No show without Punch !!!) Up top the far signals were on the Manchester line and the near ones for trains coming off the Whelley Loop (WCML Wigan loop). Complicated area indeed. A black un on shed line, wonder what's due on the Down Fast ? No, not a Streak or a Spam Can, Why, a mucky owd Black 5 on parcels of course !!!! Up on top again, a nine two'er with steam a plenty rolls down towards Ince Moss with a Long Meg to Widnes Anhydrite train. A last "long drag" up to Garswood in a minute or so, then an easy last leg for the fireman down to Widnes. A mucky but vibrant place back then, action 24/7. We have lost so, so much, but I suppose we are lucky in that 8F is now a swish new EMU stabling point. Brit15

The 70's stereo was at the other end of the layout, along with a home made nixie tube digital clock !! Those were the (young, daft and happy) days !!!!!! Brit15

https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/10687/the-big-bird-that-flew-too-far-2/ Brit15

Lets hope she doesn't ride a WCRC train !!!! Brit15

This may upset some - On my OO (and O) layouts - all peco track i use rough sanding blocks to both clean and roughen up the surface, especially on inclines. I find locos run and certainly haul better with little or no slipping. Some of my track is 40 years old and has had this treatment occasionally. No problems. I also use a touch of contact cleaner also (Servisol or WD40 spray). Brit15

First OO layout, around 1973, under construction 3 Codar controllers, the bees knees at the time, slide controls with regulator & simulator (acceleration / brake). I still have them, one controlls the colour light signals brightness and the other 12V layout lighting. I later went to ECM's, and when they died I now use Gaugemasters - they're superb. Brit15

That Spam Can sounds like a Springs Branch Dub Dee with all that clanking. "Summats not reet wi' it" !! Brit15

Who needs tanks, guns, artillery, aircraft carriers etc these days. ? The Houthi rebels are causing havoc with home made missiles and drones costing a few thousand dollars. The yanks are downing these with 2 million dollar+ missiles. War has changed, it's digital now and remote controlled. We need to change our game, Quickly. Brit15

Iain.D - Why not leave them "as is" ? Nothing in real life is perfect, many (most) railway stock in the real world had such dents, dings etc. A lot has been written regards kit / hand built V RTR stock. Perhaps RTR stuff is too perfect out of the box, hence the weathering "craze". Does anyone add dents and dings to their RTR before weathering ? Probably not many (and certainly not me), but if adherance to prototype is the aim, then perhaps, in some cases, one should. http://www.westportterminal.de/H0-USA/Diamond_Valley/07-12-25_IMG_2744_1200.jpg I remember buying a Bachmann green standard class 5 loco from Hattons for around £50. I was going to "Patricroft" it, (mucky, rusty, no front plate etc) but out of the box the model looked so superb - I kept it as is. I do have some weathered, (O & OO) stuff, some factory weathered, some done by me, but most as is out of the box. Not for everyone I agree. Tony (and others), all your scratch & kit built stuff, expertly painted (and many lightly weathered are superb). At exhibitions such stock stands out from out of the box RTR. Reason - (to me) - the slight "imperfections" - just like the real thing !!!!! As to Ellis Clark, a firm I have bought quite a bit of N American O gauge from, a very good firm to deal with. Brit15

It's criminally insane to sell land / property purchased for the Manchester (and Golborne link) lines. As we march forward to 2050 etc (net zero) the line will be needed at some point. The route must be kept and mothballed. Property and farmland etc bought can be rented / leased, always with the proviso of future railway construction. But our Governments of all colours only see ££££, mostly for themselves and their mates. What a mess we are in. Brit15

Many years ago the west feared The Cossacks, brave and fearless fighters. The Cossacks are mostly eastern Ukranians. The Russians have bitten off more than they can chew. Brit15

Wobbly wheels ? -- Russians have huge balls of steel !!! http://pigeonsnest.co.uk/stuff/yarmolchuk/monorail.html Brit15

When I worked for The North Western Gas Board at Longford works in Warrington back in the mid 70's there was a grey telephone in the entrance lodge. Pick up the receiver and only a ticking sound could be heard. It was connected to the UK "early warning system" so I understood, 4 minutes (or so) warning. What was funny was that nobody, boss included, had a clue what to do if ever that phone rang, and the lodge was unmanned overnight. !!! (It did occasionally the lodge man told us, just a verbal "test only" message). Happy days !! Brit15

I'll be off to here. It's a secret place, (well signposted) so it's easy to find in an emergency !! £15.80 entrance fee, A bargain !!! https://www.hackgreen.co.uk/ Brit15

The Northern Powerhouse will get these. Brit15

Just announced - New HS2 stock. Non tilting, third class only, no toilets, 3+2 seating. Whaw don't they look swish !!!!! Brit15

Gawd it goes from bad to worse. No tilting, shorter trains, no first class, no doubt knifeboard seats AND no doubt a premium to be charged for the high speed bit from just north of Birmingham. I bet the drivers plan a strike for the opening day also !!! Forget the "problems" around Wigan, the "problems" lie ellsewhere, in London, by the side of the Thames. What a fiasco. Anyway this is the flyunder still existing at Standish Jcn. They can't cancel our dreams (yet) !!! Brit15

Interesting videos. You learn something every day, the Douglas viaduct exists (there were two of them and one crossed the other !! Brit15

The problem is not really the M6, it's getting to it from around Lowton to Orrell and getting back to the WCML at Standish. Very hilly and many new houses. The Whelley line is a no brainer, route exists, not many problems etc. No tunnels are required. (And it's not in my backyard either !!!!!!). Brit15