Bill

Well I did not take my advice and upgraded to Windows Ten

Now it worked wonderfully well for a while -

Then everything started to go south with a vengeance..

An intermittent buzzing and slight hiccup began when streaming videos..

I downloaded latest drivers and it went away..

Ok - minor hiccup..

Then yesterday something wanted to upgrade somethings and wham - NO START MENU...

You click on it and it tells you that you have an error and will fix it when next time you sign in.

Only there is no fix and you are now stuck in an endless loop if you left click on the start menu..

There is no current solution - and all the new apps are no more..

Then today the intermittent buzzing and hiccupping was back..

So in my opinion - Windows Ten is still being Beta tested..

It does not appear to be stable in anyway.

And because there is no start menu it is now impossible to revert back to Windows 7 and wait a year.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth - unless it comes from Microsoft..

Now I found I could and still can right click on the start menu and get back some of the functionality.

But I am still at a loss as to how to get rid of this monster!

My advice - In no way should anyone upgrade to this thing!

Hey - Somehow I think somewhere I might have the coaches that go between these book-ends!

Should I get them? - they look darn good - yellow grills and all...

Another good effort from Hornby... Very attractive..

But... Just then I fell asleep and had a dream..

..... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Where a familiar  voice then spoke to me words of wisdom -

For another 70 quid you could get the Bachmann S Stock - and have an underground railway!

Where both is not an option - perhaps neither is a better wisdom?

Decisions - Decisions!

How can you decide -  About  two models you might never run...?

What about all those Pullmans gathering dust?

Just waiting for King Alfred to give them a tug...

And..

The  endless list of over-optimistic purchases you made - stored rack upon rack..

Enough coaches and trains to take the entire population of London on trips to Brighton and Bournemouth and back..

All manner of railway wagons.. Just waiting for your imagination to again take flight...

SNOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Grunt

Then waking up with a jolt..

I took another look at the idea of a yellow banana train rushing around the layout taking non-existent measurements from a non-existent overhead line..

on an newly laid SR layout converted to run trains from the ÖBB - and thought, "Your love of trains is getting weirder by the minute..

Next you'll be wanting to reproduce the railways of China ." - and giving a shrug - thought - "Why not?"

Life is far too short, and should it tickle my imagination.

Then perhaps I should go for it!

I succumbed - I had reserved it and it duly downloaded it whilst I wasn't looking - which explains why my internet was running slow a couple of days ago..

The first attempt to install was met by a screen eternally juggling with balls and nothing much else..

So I quit and had another go - with the same result...

So on the basis of third time lucky - apparently luck is built into all modern programmes -

About 8 hours later just before retiring I tried again -

Bingo, it decided to play ball with more than itself and told me to go to bed and all would be well.

Well? Indeed it was the next morning was Xmas day - a brand new operating system -

It asked me a few questions and I was in...

Downside - where oh where is Microsoft Hearts? They get you addicted then drop you cold turkey!

Now today is day two of the saga..

So I logged in - zilch!

So I now have to log in with my Microsoft Hotmail account - extremely complicated and impossible to remember password and all.

It has started to show what many might assume to be its sinister side...

No longer is it "My Personal Computer" now is it to become "Slave to the New Roman Empire Computer"?

Ah! Well I guess the illusion of freedom  was bound to be shattered sooner or later 

So no problems really just a nagging suspicion we are being taken for the inevitable "Ride"..

... no longer is computing fully in our control..

Has anyone ever used the Tillig H0/H0e combined track, turnouts and cross-overs?

It would represent quite an investment..

But as I have a combined Ho/H0e layout in the planning/building/stock acquisition phase..

It might make for some interesting running..

Here is a place in Zurich that sells much of the range..

http://www.navemo.ch/tillig-h0---h0m/tillig-elite-gleissystem/h0-h0e-dreischienengleis/index.php

I'm looking for some encouragement to take the plunge or be dissuaded

Still waiting for them to announce a crimson/cream version.

I'm still waiting for them to do this..

http://www.kesr.org.uk/images/stories/railway-stock/coaches/vintage/LNWR_Inspection_Saloon_ED33_250509.jpg

But.. I agree - they would look terrific..

LATEST  Info from HATTONS:

 

Heljan 00-9  L&B 2-6-2   "Expected"  Jan  to  March  2016.

 

There must be lots of  lonely  Peco L&B rolling  stock  patiently  waiting,  ( and  quite a few abandoned or mothballed  projects I guess!)

 

 

Another  retailer  did say to me in Feb  dont  expect  the  loc for at least  a  year!

By way of refreshing this - Some lonely L&B stock is lonely no more.

No more waiting..

There is no need to mothball the project if one can obtain an alternative instrument of locomotive power..

So..

A Glyn Valley tramway model has been conscripted to fulfill the duties of the actual Loco until Heljan mange to deliver.

And..

It quite looks the part! (At least I think so.. The GVR to the rescue..)

Might it then void the need to acquire Heljan's offering...?

..Probably not.

But..

March is still a long time away, and a lot can happen between now and then. 

http://www.autotrader.ca/newsfeatures/20150708/weird-and-wacky-sidecars/?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=Display&utm_content=Native-NF&utm_campaign=CA-DSP-DM-EN-CONTENT#sVKqD6lcWfauDsOQ.97

The fifth image in might raise a few smiles...

When I look into my crystal ball - what do I see?

I see that there are 7 billion humans on this planet  - in short order to be joined by another 2 Billion at least.

I see and have noticed that the economy is beginning to reshape itself to feed these extra mouths, to house them and fulfill the needs of all these extra psychological (ego?) needs

I see them all wanting a consumer loaded experience of living..

I see that we are all going to find out, (and pretty soon) that we will have to make do with less, and share more, where price is the lever of guarantee that we will.

I see the model railroad club rising to prominence as we begin to share more of our bounty with each other...

I see that we need to gather what we can, whilst we can - because shortly this golden age of fulfilling every consumers desire might well begin to wane.

I see that this upward price creep must accelerate.

And that all things year on year in the realm of luxury goods (like model railroads - I think they are medicinal but that is not what the government will think !) 

...are going to cost more proportionally than the rise of inflation and wages..

Perhaps I am looking at this with the wrong filters and need some rose coloured glasses ..?

But we are so lucky to be living now and thus why should I complain about essential price rises?

The skilled people who make our models, and all connected with the process, deserve the best wages they can get, do they not?

And I would like to think that any model I might receive reflects the quality of fairness to one and all involved in its manufacture and marketing...

Many thanks guys for all the replies - this helps greatly.

Once again highlights the magic of RMweb..

In anticipation of Heljan's release of the Barnstaple and Lynton Locos..

I am exploring putting together a small OO9 layout...

Does anyone know if the OO9 track that Peco makes is identical to the code 80 N gauge.

The only difference being only the use of larger sleepers at a wider spacing for the OO9 track...

I have been trying to find out. And so far have not been able to connect the dots...

My suspicion is that they are interchangeable in function but not in looks or aesthetic suitability...

Well - I live at the other end of the food chain in Canada..

So ...

The Loco 700 has  just arrived and I must say very impressed with its running capabilities in either direction.

Slow, medium and fast...

Compared to Bachmann, Hornby do have their gears sorted out.

It is a smooth performer..

It managed all the many Peco electro-frog points -

Including all the bumps where the N.A. Atlas track idea of 100 meets Peco's idea of 100...

It pulled the test Maunsell coaches with consummate ease and overall I'm very impressed.

My eyes don't see as well as they used to.. so as long as there are handrails....

I don't mind too much concerning the authenticity of how they are fixed

Very nice model - I might even get another...

However..

I was not that impressed with the latest Chinese invention - 'Air Glue'.

Which was seemingly used to attach one of the tool boxes to the tender.

(At least the packer had the good sense to throw it in the box for the purchaser to find...)

But then I always open any Hornby offering with a tube of glue in my left hand - knowing that 50% of the time it will be needed

years ago

Picking up once more on the way back when railway theme..

The Penalty for improper use..?

A fiver and then some abuse;

From the guard on the train,

Should you pull the red chain

Without having a proper excuse

Spam-cans, 4 subs and Bils

Make for far better thrills!

When running on time

The trips, quite sublime

O'er Southern, Sunshine and Hills!

And I expect that it didn't need any tungsten to have sufficient traction? Plenty of volume in the side tanks, bunker and forward end of the boiler and smokebox to accomodate sufficient mazak ballast.

 

Alternative explanation: a very shrewd advertisment by the retailer as an alert to what you are missing?

+

It is a lot lighter than I thought it would be - When the parcel was collected from UPS it felt very light and I thought they might have sent an empty box..

However it will pull 7+ Hornby Maunsell coaches - not well because of the coupling problems and Hornby coaches can be finicky... very finicky.   

So that would probably translate to about 10 HO scale coaches - which is something in practice it might never need to pull but unless one had a large layout that could accommodate rakes of 12 or more coaches and the S100 was the station pilot of choice - but as you pointed out - plenty of space for ballast.

It will be interesting when the model rail OO gauge tanks arrive and we find out what they can pull in comparison

About the fine scale Peco track - I don't think the retailer in question is that well known for its generosity! But having deeply thought about it (i.e. pierced the bubble of my fantasies about my track laying skills) I shall stay with code 100 for now...warts and all..

The chimney looks like it's leaning severely backwards or is it just the photo?

Thanks - By gum you're right..

But It isn't no more - It's now vertical as the designer intended

There is some small play in the chimney socket. This provides two positions vertical and also as photographed, a bit laid back - like many an American

A Rivarossi  S-100 USTC has appeared. It came from Locomotion it was the only one I could find at the time.

(I discovered REE only after I had bought it!)

 It is a really lovely little machine and runs well...

And will be good company until the one from Model Rail turns up.

I have always been fascinated by continental railways and this will give me chance to get acquainted.

It has also made me all the more eager to receive the OO offering.

Coincidentally someone stuck an unordered Peco code 75 curved LH Turnout in a parcel by mistake.

And it is very clear that Code 100 looks terrible next to anything in HO gauge.

So I am now summoning the necessary financial and internal fortitude to dump all my code 100 track.

I had never realised before how out of scale it looks - you could almost use it for 7mm modelling!

Looks top notch. Just need to find some suitable stock to run behind it suitable for late '50s early '60s. Any suggestions? 

How about some of the centre coach(es) from the Bachmann birdcage stock in Lake?

Or even some Gresley suburbans in teak or maroon might squeak by until some authentic stock becomes available? 

They sort of resemble that era... sort of...

They would be completely wrong but might well look the part for anyone who lives north of Watford,  south of Kingston, west of Amersham and east of Epping

.....

Perhaps one could or might have to adopt the continental way of thinking - "as long as the scale is right...."

.....

out of scale

Bachmann collectors club magazine shows it at still early stages, so I wouldn't hold your breath...

I've got two HO S100s from rivarossi to fill my fix, one is a U.S. Only release "granite stone co" no 12, as preserved in Sacramento working my stone terminal appropriately enough, shared with the European rivarossi release of the USATC liveried one... Lovely models in HO, even on a OO layout, can't wait for these to be released.. Just then I have to keep the HO ones apart from the OO ones.

That's a good idea - they must look and feel much more like the real thing with their wheels properly gauged

(from whose demented mind came the idea of OH/OO?)

It is worth mulling over whether or not to go this route

Hi Bill,

Have you tried logging into the Modelrail offers website?

My USA tank pre-order also doesn't show up on the Kernow website, but I logged into the Modelrail offers one and there it was.

Regards Glenn

Thanks - I received an email from Kernow today - they really are prompt - letting me know that the order is still good.

They have been having some glitches with the new site which is apparently why it is not showing up in my orders section...

So all is well  - said he keeping his fingers crossed.

Does anyone know an expected delivery date?

I thought that might be the case, but the site no longer lists the Green late BR emblem version.

Maybe they ran out of Brunswick Green in China? :-)

I have emailed Kernow about this and hope to receive a reply - if it is interesting I'll post it here!

Does anyone know what is going on with the Model rail USA tanks?

I had placed an order for the green late BR crest version..

only to discover when checking my advanced order records that the order had vanished/been erased/gone without a trace and had to start all over...

So it now it appears that the green version is no longer in production...

Is this true? I hope not as I was set on getting one...

The BR Lined version of the E4 arrived today - It is quite the wee marvel!

Having converted to 7mm it meant hastily laying out some new narrower track to accommodate it...

(also the 2 HAL which has not had a serious outing since it arrived last year)....

It ran perfectly right out of the box. It is a superb model in every aspect.

The next thing, in the absence of the birdcage stock, will be to mate it up with Hornby's maunsell push-pull set pro-tem...

Also...

Its so good that the Southern version has now become a serious contender...

(Who needs an APT anyway?)

The problem now is how to design the 7mm layout in such a way as it can incorporate the 00?

Perhaps an elevated track as a part of the back-scene might do the trick?

Whatever happens its going to be a fascinating and creative year....

Seriously - if anyone is holding back on getting an E4 it is something you might well regret if left too late..

It's Bachmann's design team at the top of their game...