Steadfast

66152 was the first, it (like 59206 and the red 37s) has Gill Sans numbers. 66097 was June 2011 (per flickr link https://flic.kr/p/9WvTZq ) , and is also an RETB loco. It currently has a Highland stag on one side too. Jo

Intersting how the prototype are following the model! For many years Lima, Bachmann and Dapol issued Models with silver silencers, despite the prototypes all being built with them in a rusty finish steel. It's only the last few years of repaints that have seen silver silencers appear at the Toton paintshop. There may have been odd previous repaints of non DB locos that have gained silver silencers from Eastleigh or other paint shops, but they are few and far between. Jo

Pretty well everything operated by EWS got GPS aerials. Class 37 was on top of one nose, 47 and 56 above one windscreen, 59, 66 and 67 had it above one windscreen. On these types it was a horizontal bit of sheet metal, with the aerial on top. I'd have thought all the 60s would have got it in period, but perhaps a couple of early withdrawals didn't, and don't doubt Ted's research in the book given how in depth it is. Jo

Correct, but in real terms if they're available it's usually easier to take a set of back to back Motorolas. In practice, the GSM-R function is used so rarely, most drivers have probably never seen it, let alone remember how to set it up. Most, probably all, operators have non mobile phone use policies in the cab. Jo

Any chance of a link to the video please @PhilH? If the driver at the front can control the brake, its forward at 25mph max. If the only brake available is the emergency dump valve, it's 10mph to clear the line only. Both drivers sign the route, so even with wagons in front, the rear loco driver will still know if he's going uphill, downhill etc so would roughly know if it needs a lot of power or not. Comms with the lead driver then help fill in the gaps. If the rescue loco came 1Z99 from a yard, a set of back to back radios may well have been brought along. * Horns, wipers etc are fed off the air supply on the loco, but from the auxiliary not the main reservoir. If the loco is shut down, I believe there is no way of feeding the auxiliary reservoir from the main reservoir or brake pipes, so the train has no horn available, and thus the appropriate rule book requirements would have to be followed for horn failure. * Note this is how the 66s are setup, I don't sign 59s but would imagine they're the same. In normal operation, the compressor feeds both main reservoir and the auxiliary reservoir. In a failed or DIT state, the main res is filled from the yellow pipe, but there is not cross feed between that and the auxiliary reservoir. Simplistically, in a normal healthy loco imagine you're filling two buckets with water from one hose, but the two buckets are not connected to each other. So if the tap is turned off (ie loco shuts down), bucket 1 can't supply water to bucket 2 as they are not connected to each other. Jo

Indeed I do, though that's thanks to dad pointing it out on countless family trips in the car to Salisbury. Booked route Chippenham, Devizes, Market Lavington and across the plain. I'll be learning the B&H next month, so I'll officially know then! Jo

One of the best named bits of railway. "What 'appened was, I was going round the Rhubarb, and..." The namesake pub has been closed for many years, but still stands. Jo

I remember when I road learned they section, I was amazed that Box Tunnel was the same gradient as Dauntsey Bank. Jo

Dilemma indeed! I'd side with silver, since it's prototypically correct, however I can see the mileage in making them match. Selfishly, silver on future runs would mean I only have another 6 to mask up and repaint into silver, too. There are a few inaccuracies in the tampo printed labelling and signage on both the 4mm and N models, which you may well have picked up on anyway Adam. Feel free to give me a shout if you wanted to know more, about these or anything Mendip related as I've spent enough time with the real things. Jo

Should be, they're normally on channel 4 catchup for 7 days after. Sky Sports F1 YouTube channel usually has about a 20 minute highlights package, and that does me for some of the duller races Jo

A link to a post I've just made on the 4mm thread. Summary is, Tamiya AS-12 over the grey bits. Jo

Anyone who fancies having a go at the colour of their wagons, I've corrected mine with Tamiya AS-12. Correct silver wagon top, Dapol grey bottom. Rather frustrating, this is virtually a perfect match for the colour of the silver on the end slopes of the inside of the hopper. If this colour had been on the outside too, they'd have looked pretty much spot on. Jo

The lack of NEM is strange, especially as the JIAs from the same origin feature Y25s of the same style and have NEM sockets. Even if not the same physical mould, you'd think CAD would be shared for this common competent that could also feature under other future wagons too Jo

A predictable result, but at least it took a few laps to get there. Decent race, lots of overtaking. Maybe we need several rounds at Monza each year? There seemed to be a lot of helmet cam this weekend, and the more they use it, the more I hate it and its wobbly dizziness. No win, F1. Jo

If clever stuff like dimming the CVs leads to light flicker, how about a strip of masking tape or a dab of paint on the LED to dim them down? Also has the benefit of being able to adjust the colour temperature should you desire. Jo

Pass! Looks about right on the link from @ruggedpeakthough. I've got Wire Train Bus in the back of my head, but can't remember if that's this or another system. Jo

It's just the standard UIC multiple working system isn't it? The name escapes me at the moment, but locos all over the continent have the two connectors, usually just under the windscreen, and also present on coaching stock ends. Jo

Absolutely right, and that's something that Ferrari has in bucket loads, the passion and heart of the sport. I remember as a kid everything at McLaren was very grey and boring, Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh in smart grey jumpers, grey cars and no emotion, versus the gorgeous red cars with a passionate following and the mysterious words like Scuderia and Tifosi that led a young kid to discover who this Schumacher chap was, and all those who'd gone before him. Will digging a red shirt out the wardrobe tomorrow be a good luck charm or a curse? Chucked out according to Fred Vasseur, as you are allowed to exceed the delta if slowing to let a car on a fast lap past. Jo

Much as i agree with you and would love to see a Ferrari 1-2, realistically I see Verstappen in the lead from the first chicane and a yawn fest at the front, but a decent race behind him. That is, unless someone is a bit too brave into turn 1 and torpedoes him... Jo

Almost live from the scene - about 20 mins ago Jo

They're definitely not IFA multifrets or IKA megafrets, they're Transfesa owned 4 wheelers. The train ran as a class 7, so 45 mph limited. Possibly down to being European wheel profile if my memory serves right, or the fact they were variable gauge perhaps? Megafrets, IFAs etc would be class 4, 75 mph. Edit to add this link. Yes they are coded IFA, but no, they're not the same as the IFA / FIA multifret bogie wagons. One TOPS code covers several designs in this case. They are all internationally registered flat wagons, but there the similarly ends... https://ukrailwaypics.smugmug.com/UKRailRollingstock/I/IFA-flats/IFA-Transfesa/ Jo

How strange does that look. An ex bug eye machine fitted with latest style BMACs 66729 has the same look since its collision repairs, with the new BMACs on the larger back box, but is a low emission machine. Jo

Looks like a handbrake indicator, so should be on the bogie somewhere I'd suggest Jo

Further info: 66001 and 66002 can't be fitted due to the design of the dragbox preventing the buckeye being fitted. 66003 - 66200 were modified in the UK 66201 - 66250 were fitted from the factory. Jo

Yes it's the buckeye uncoupling lever. Pull the handle away from the buffer beam and it raises the pin in the buckeye, allowing the loco to be uncoupling. Here's some close ups showing how it locates, obviously the buckeye is stowed here rather than deployed. Jo