John M Upton

Network Rail Class 153 153376 is spending the weekend snuggled down in the old freight bay platform at Barnham. There is a picture somewhere of the Bulleid Leader 36001 in exactly the same position somewhere!!!

Seems to be an out and back trip on all weekdays except Tuesdays according to my reliable sources, Merehead to Crawley New Yard via the Coastway West and Arun Valley and return working in the evening. A 59 was on it today. Explains all the Freightliner route learning trips a few weeks back.

I read said article and quite frankly, what a load of proverbial reproductive sphericals...

I picked up a Proto 1000 Budd RDC off ebay the other day, supposedly never been used or the box opened. Reeked of Old Holborn like a 1960's east end boozer and had a distinctive yellow/brown hue or tinge to it which I presume wasn't intended to be a weathering effect of brake dust. Fortunately, a bath in soapy warm water and a toothbrush saw off the worst of it and left a slightly weathered finish that actually looks the part, but more importantly got rid of the smell. Had to bin the box and inner packaging though.

Engineers train through Barnham this morning: The wagon formations are a bit dull now, I used to like it where you would see a couple of grotty old OAA/OBA/OCA rattling along at the back.

The utterly ridiculous AI created description fails to hide that this is a wreck. What on Earth has happened to the front bogie/truck though, it looks like someone gouged out the centre of it?!? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285599524957

I think people have to remember that actually everyone should be paying tax on all purchases regardless, it is only the way the system operated that gave many a nice discount with the only the occasional tax payment plus fee demand. As IT accounting technology has improved, the Governments of many countries are simply closing the loop holes that many have been lucky to be able to take advantage of.

Given how utterly awful the Royal Mail service seems to have descended to recently, the guaranteed 24/48 hour thing is meaningless. I paid extra for guaranteed 24 hour ParcelForce delivery a couple of weeks ago and it took over a week to be delivered.

I managed to get hold of just one VEA from the first release and have been very pleased with it, nestling in among my NGS kits built ones and warmed over ye ancient tooling Farish VAA's. I shall get some more!!

Never ever EVER use Evri, not even if your life depends on it!

How about splashing out a hundred and ninety five sheets on a one photo listing, that photo being so badly out of focus that it could be Lord Lucan riding Shergar and with a description that most definantly does not even closely resemble said blurred mess? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386376349633

Hmmm, not sure about the VEP now although it did move under its own power under SWT ownership after the slammers, Lymington oddities excepted, had been binned, I still cannot see what 313201 will actually be any good for though, trundling up a short bit of track at 5mph inside Eastleigh Works a couple of times a year for eternity seems to be rather pointless and away from the third rail it is nothing more than a paperweight that no heritage line will touch with a bargepole. I looked at the preservation groups Facebook page and some of the comments and suggestions from some right nutters that have been posted are at best seriously ill informed and at worst, just plain laughable.

Where is the 'How did they manage that far without it either catching fire or breaking down?' response button when you need it... First non NRM third rail to run under own power? Try 4-VEP 3417...

As an analogue dinosaur, I look forward to everyone upgrading their 47's so I can snap a couple of the old ones up at sensible prices!!! No need for all that overly complicated technogimmerickery here....

Is it my imagination or do the depot signals still proudly hold onto the Bournemouth West prefix?

Is the Chessie one still carrying it's custom job? Whoever is doing it must be doing an awful lot of careful planning, (I suspect some inside help) as it requires a loco from the right fallen flag to be in a suitable location (presumably aware from prying eyes) with all the correct paint and markings to hand in the right conditions and with enough time to apply it, and all supposedly without getting caught by CSX officials or anyone else! Nice work though. Also a good study in GP front ends, debunking the myth that they are all the same....

Unusual working this cold and very wet evening. Engineering works north of Pulborough all weekend means an extra train down the valley and the three car from the days Bognor/Littlehampton shuttles was used. 377304 seen waiting for the off at Pulborough in the pouring rain!

Those of us who avoid the GSP like the plague, may wish to check your account settings again. I opted out of GSP some time back and specify specifically UK buyers only, however when I sold something last week I discovered it was going to the GSP clearing warehouse for forwarding to Australia! On checking my settings, it seems I have been opted back into the GSP again without notice and so I have had to opt out again. The item cost a fiver, the GSP postage must have been five times that...

Yep, they all appeared when the 313's were on the way out, lots of noise all over social media, etc. As soon as the last one was retired, they promptly started to disappear again and when they were asked to put their hands in their pockets to stump up the eye watering two and a half grand a month just to park up the infamous blue rust bucket, they vanished completely.

Atlas HO scale locos in my experience are pretty much bomb proof so I would expect that is just a seller to lazy to test it rather than anything majorly mechanically wrong. I have my eyes on a High Nose Geep from the same seller at the moment.

That should have the Pot Noodle enthusiasts suddenly pop up and follow its every move, demanding it be preserved until they are asked to stick their hands in their pockets to pay for it, which is when they will mysteriously disappear again...

Trouble is all that requires money, money which large swathes of the preservation movement simply haven't got. Expect to see a lot more supposedly preserved stock and locos get weighed in over the next couple of years.

Indeed, although, unlike some ebay sellers, I would have expected a professional retailer to provide a description that was accurate and reliable.

Walthers under the Proto 2000 range also make a GP30 which is much better than the Bachmann version and older pre Walthers ownership examples can be picked up relatively cheaply.

Be aware though due to apparent shortages of train crew on Saturday, a very reduced timetable is running on Southern with no trains at all west of Barnham towards Chichester/Havant so this will be the only train in that section of line all day and if you were intending to use Southern services to meet and or follow it, my advice is don't bother...