Steadfast

Thanks @St. Simonthat's a lot to digest, no doubt will all slot into place as deployment becomes closer. Jo

So when shunting you need to continuously update the computer for each move? Not talking about attaching loco to a train, but proper shunting say I've got 15 Falcon on, knock out a cripple, pick up some Salmon, drop those off to another road, lose 10 of the Falcon then pick up 5 autos. Our yards most moves need a GPL to be clear to gain access to a headshunt so presumably would interface ERTMS when it replaces it. Hopefully by the time it reaches the darkest depths of the Western region it'll all be Ts crossed and Is dotted. Just had another thouhht, presumably lines worked by token or staff will no longer need them, ERTMS granting access instead? Jo

Nothing to replace the HSTs. Expect rejigging of Voyager diagrams from what I've heard. Likewise on GWR, nowt to replace the 2+4 HSTs, just short form other services to free up stock. Grand Central rumoured to be taking 10 Avanti 221s to replace the 180s. The 222s at EMR aren't compatible with the 220/221s, so would need to be run as a separate fleet if the did get taken on by XC. Jo

It's a while since I've looked at mine, but there are holes for the DBSO specific parts as the chassis is shared. There may be extra holes, but can't remember Jo

One common form of short train can be the Network Rail trips between the LDC yards. These are timetabled freights contracted to run every day, but the traffic varies depending on what wagons are needed for engineering jobs. Some days the trips may be lengthy, others as short as one wagon. They can also be used for shifting locos in connection with ballast trains. 59205 'L. Keith McNair' drifts past Brassknocker with a lightweight 6C41 Newport ADJ - Westbury - formed of just two IOA Mussel wagons. 59003 'Yeoman Highlander' waits time in Westbury Down Yard with 6O41 to Eastleigh. 66729 and 66754 were dead in tow after working a ballast train over the weekend and the heavyweight load comprised a sole OCA Bass wagon! 66783 'The Flying Dustman' and 66039 sit atop 6X39 Westbury - Eastleigh in Westbury Down Yard. Usually running as 6O41, the unusual headcode of the tripper was due to it having the Railcare Ballast Feeder (BFS) in the consist (the X-ray bit) and being routed via Chandler's Ford to turn it ( the 39 bit), the afternoon trip running via Southampton so the loco. This circuitous routing is often used to turn cranes, rail trains etc that can only work in one direction. 6O41 and 6V41 via Southampton, 6O39 and 6V40 via Chandler's Ford. Jo

The Helvetica style numbers started being applied to repaints in summer 2022. No idea why it's changed, but I preferred the previous style. Jo

So Verstappen starting 9th, what's the betting its a Red Bull 1-2 with a Ferrari - Aston blend following them home? Jo

Difficult to be certain from the press photos but it looks like the yellow front on the 70 may be a bit off, like the previous release of 805 was. They appear to have used a standard warning yellow shade as used on 70801, the 66s, 56s and 37s (all painted in the UK) rather than the lemon shade found on 70802-70817. Pic linked from Flickr shows the difference: 70804 has recently had its yellow repainted the same shade, in the last couple of months. Jo

44.95 I think it was, about 38 quid at Rails. Jo

Depends how accurately I can cut squares out of masking tape I reckon 😁 Jo

Well the mk2s are welcome, as are the WCRC mk1s, means I'll offload some of my non Commonwealth BR maroon Mk1s. The Virgin ones save me a few resprays, just need to fade them and patch the logos. The stash of cheapies I've got can go into Anglia colours. The lobsters are a nice surprise too, I didn't expect to see them shrunk yet. Jo

Yeah, it's a bit of an odd one that. The new logo has probably been on 70s about as long as the old one now as a guess They've chosen wisely. 811 still has the style of logo modelled. Think it's the only one left. Jo

Well that was famous last words wasn't it! I managed to get the artwork for the headstocks and side rails drawn in Illustrator, but that's as far as it got. Time that may be for modelling has been filled with a mix of other things, lots of revision for work, which thankfully now is all a thing of the past. The little bit of modelling time I have had free has been spent on something a little different. It's the wrong scale for starters... My mentor is ex Res Barton Hill and always speaks highly of the Res days, so what else could I do as a thank you gift when I passed out? It's a Lima 47 that I've tarted up with etched plates, Bachmann buffer beam hoses, fuel tank and class 90 buffers along with some ETH gubbins off eBay. The wooden plank is part of a book shelf picked up in a local second hand shop, cleaned, oiled and waxed with help from my dad once I'd chopped it to size. A nice gloss finish on the 47 adds to the presentation finish. Just don't mention having to respray the red, including hand masking all the Res logo printing... Res logo from Fox, number and name cut myself from vinyl on the Silhouette cutter. An M5 bolt through the fuel tank holds the whole lot together. Now I've got a bit more free time, I promise the next entry will be N scale! Jo

Several Farish steamers use traction tyres on bogie tenders. May be worth asking Bachmann if any of those are the same diameter? Jo

Nice livery, shame it didn't last longer. Nicknamed the ganja (is that how you spell it?) machine by some drivers. Jo

Even Toto has said the race was boring! https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-must-seek-answers-after-boring-baku-f1-race-says-wolff/10463556/ I love how it quotes a Red Bull driver complaining how it was difficult to overtake. Yes, those with the super duper DRS and finished 1st and 2nd. And no, the quoted driver isn't the Dutch whinger Jo

I quite agree another dull race. Foregone conclusion at the front with that Red Bull DRS. The commentary hyped up the bad timing of Verstappens pre safety car pit stop, but we all knew he'd finish second at worst, even if he fell to the back. Anyone else notice on the nose camera how much the top element of the Red Bull front wing was deflecting? Could be nothing, but I didn't see another from that angle to compare after I noticed. The horrid helmet cam seems to have replaced it. Jo

This version sits on the type of KFA done by Revolution in N and Hornby in 4mm Jo

Sounds pretty good, apart from the markers would change at each end for the light loco moves, because the white lights on a 66 can only illuminate when the key is in that cab. Think of it as when light loco the driver should be in the leading cab for the move, whereas with wagons on there'd be a shunter with a radio to call him back. With a loco such as a 37, what you suggest would be 100% doable, with a bit of laziness not swapping the lights over. Jo

Yep, all 3 lights are markers, the centre light isn't a headlight. Thus: Lights are on a 4 postion rotary switch, so you have: Day (3 markers plus secondman side headlight) Yard (3 markers) Night (3 markers plus driver side headlight). Off. Tail lights are on a on/ off slide switch and can be lit independently of whatever setting the rotary switch is on. Hope that helps? Jo

And then it turns out Red Bull are one of the 6 overspending... Jo

I did once (very briefly) convince a new shunter that it was helping push heavy trains up steep hills. He didn't take long to realise... Jo

Yes there is a single BAA derived wagon in the video, one that's been rebogied and the handbrake mounted on the frame rather than bogies. Bogies came from scrapped HTA coal hoppers. Jo

GERS JNAs. Pic linked from Flickr. Now Touax owned I believe, but still prefixed GERS Jo

Ahhh demonstrator's row, opposite the lavvies. Much as we jest, actually it was a pretty good position and you got decent footfall, ensuring not much modelling was done, chatting to people as they passed by. If this is unused space, seems a shame not to entertain people on their way to and from the loo. However, if it's got paying traders in it, then I can understand the economics of them helping cover costs and make it a sustainable show. Jo