Mike at C&M

Omitted from the above list of Bachmann retailers offering a mail order service is C&M Models in Carlisle

Oops! Now corrected. Thank you, Barry, for pointing this out. To clarify: C&M Models will be more than happy to provide a mail order service. We will answer our phone when we are in the shop, which is not necessarily our full opening hours. Our online shop is now re-opened, but we are only able to take Paypal payments, or you can flag it as an "Advance order - payment later", and we will contact you for your payment details. Now back to those cash flows to see how much money we haven't got.

C&M Models in Carlisle are still dealing with mail order. We can be contacted by phone on 01228 514 689, and we will be here for as close to our normal hours as possible. Subject to going to the bank, or doing the essential family shopping in the city. Our online shop is still available from our website, https://candmmodels.co.uk . However, please be warned that our credit/debit card payment facility ran into a problem this past weekend, and will be down until normality resumes. There is an option of "Advance payment", which you can choose, and we can then ring you to sort out the payment. Paypal payments are working as normal. Mike at C&M

Is it possible to post the floor plan on here, please

Oh yes we are! Although it is a different face behind the counter

I trust the organist at his funeral will be suitably attired. Now resting in peace after his horrible illness. Thank you for all the laughs, Terry

For those of us in the Carlisle area who have to battle with the traffic in this area, the link to Kielder on the above map is very pertinent. There are huge numbers of log-carrying lorries come out of Kielder Forest along what are unsuitable roads in southern Scotland. By putting much of this traffic on rail, it removes many of the lorries from roads, and the destination of many lorries are rail-connected, so the traffic could continue on rail beyond Carlisle. Whilst a financial case may be difficult for passengers alone, some joined-up thinking to include this timber traffic would more than likely tip the balance in making the financial case viable.

From above the Neeferberg, the view towards the east. In the distance is the Kaiser Wilhelm Tunnel. At this time, it was the longest railway tunnel in Germany (4,205 metres), and was just a single bore. Longer tunnels have now been built on various Neubaustrecke, and the Kaiser Wilhelm now has two bores due to geological problems. A Class 141 hauled local train crosses the Ellerbrucke over the river Mosel, heading west towards Bullay. One of the first 10 Class 181/2 electrics passes through Neef village on a westbound express toward Trier.

In the 1980s, many of the coal trains to the Saarland were hauled by double-headed Class 140s. However, to see two in the older green livery was rare. This train is passing Punderich, just to the west of the hanging viaduct seen previously. Climbing up to Bullay station, with the Mosel river behind, A class 181/2 leads an express towards Trier. (apologies for the dirt on the scanned slide) On the same stretch of line, between Neef and Bullay, 181.212 heads west towards Trier. At the time, this was one of only 3 named locomotives running on the DB, it was called "Luxembourg", and name is the blue 'stripe' on the ivory colour behind the cab door. 181.215 passes the huge river lock at Neef, on another westbound service. The next westbound express has a streamlined Class 110 at the front as it approaches Neef station. Taken from above the tunnel through the Neeferberg, a westbound freight train heads towards Bullay Picking it's way through the vineyards near Neef is an eastbound express headed by a Class 181/2 electric. The blue livery of the locomotive identifies as one of the first 10 examples of the class

A few of mine from various trips to the Mosel Valley in the 1980s The Kaiser Wilhelm tunnel at Cochem, before work was started on the new bore. The Bullayerbrucke Little and large: The branch line service from Bullay to Traben-Trarbach was operated by single car Class 798 railcars. Express passenger duties were shared between Class 181 and Class 110 electrics. A blue liveried Class 110 leaves the Bullayerbrucke as it arrives in Bullay, on it's way towards Koblenz. A Class 140 hauled freight approaches the Kaiser Wilhelm tunnel as it passes Ediger-Eller, heading towards Koblenz A Class 181/2 hauled express from Trier to Koblenz crosses the hanging viaduct at Punderich. The vineyards below it will be turned into Mosel wine. The same train. The tunnel the train is about to enter emerges on to the Bullayerbrucke

The trade open day is on Tuesday 4th February, so I would assume this will be when Bachmann make their announcements public.

What a wonderful collection of pictures to remind me of my Swiss jaunts in the 1980s. Is your hotel in Chur the Franziskaner? I stayed there many times for precisely the same reason as you - handy for the station through the city arch.

Andrew, we stock LS Models which are a Belgian company, and they rarely cover anything Italian. LE Models are a different company However, we are also one of the few companies who deal with the Italian company of ACME, who for a while did work hand-in-hand in LSM. We are also able to obtain Rivarossi and Roco who cover Italian prototypes with their ranges As Andrew says, we are pleased to discuss any requirements from LSM, ACME, Hornby International and Roco.

Thanks Anthony, We have got our EORI number, and that bit was straightforward. Next step would appear to have a word with the likes of Parcelforce and DPD, and see how they will handle it.

We have applied for the "simplified transitional arrangements". However, the latest list of things to do ahead of Brexit lists many things that we haven't previously been advised of, such as customs forms. There seems to be an assumption that all businesses are the size of Amazon or Tesco, and are importing by the wagonload. Presumably the carrier contacts us when they have a parcel entering the UK to complete the relevant clearance, and therefore we don't have to alert anyone that we have a parcel coming in from Italy, Belgium or Denmark. If this is incorrect, please feel free to correct me.

POLITE NOTICE: This is not a place for the politics of Brexit, it is available for anyone to use if they have questions how importing will work after Brexit. With the end of October now approaching, HMRC seem to have woken up in giving us guidance as to what we need to do to import from the EU once the UK leaves it. However, this seems to be far more complex than was initially suggested to us. I have a couple of questions to ask to help me proceed in getting ready for Brexit. 1) HMRC have sent through a check list of steps to take to "get your business ready for Brexit". One of the early entries states "Customs forms will be needed", but it doesn't specify what forms. Does anyone know which forms they are talking about? 2) It was also suggested to me some time ago that if we import small amounts (i.e.: a large parcel worth up to around £1,000) through the likes of Parcelforce, DPD, Fedex and other carriers, that they would deal with everything to do with clearing customs for a small fee. Is this true? Answers, and any other questions from traders are welcome. Thank you for any help, in advance.

Youtube might be your best source. There are plenty of cab rides video there. However, because of their very nature, I doubt there will be many, if any, rack operated lines that are fully signalled. There isn't usually the density of traffic on them.

Definitely one of mine. The castle keep in Newcastle has been a much favoured spot with railway photographers for many years, so there will be many of us who have a similar shot to this within our collections. From up on the keep, you could view most of the activity around Newcastle Central and around to where Gateshead depot used to stand. For those of us who followed the Deltics whilst they were in service, there was the added bonus of them opening up, with the resultant exhaust, as they departed on their way up to Edinburgh.

Excellent news. If I had a pound for every time someone has asked if anyone does the Carlisle - Chirk timber wagons, I could buy a very long rake of these wagons! Mike at C&M

Being based on the route of the Carlisle - Chirk log train, we regularly get asked for these wagons which I believe use the Cargowagon chassis (please correct me if I am wrong) Announcement is on Friday morning, and should appear on their Facebook page at 9 a.m. (UK time)

The website is http://www.railcam.uk/ On the menu bar running across the top of the page, click on "Donate" and you are presented with a number of options to cover different membership times. Click on the one you want to choose, and then click on the "Paypal - Click here to pay" button. Once you have joined, you have access to all the railcams, and a host of information. If in doubt, there is a chat facility, and you can ask any questions on there - there are plenty of helpful people to assist. I hope this helps.

Jason, There are two railcams on the Swanage railway. The one shown above at Corfe Castle, and another looking into Swanage station.

I have to confess a certain addiction to railcam.uk, as it allows me to see things that would normally pass me by. For example, at the weekend, I was able to follow the steam specials heading to/from Carlisle at various railcams, plus watch the final HSTs on the Great Western. And then to end it all, an incredible sunset at Corfe Castle. There is also plenty of information on the railcam.uk website, such as live diagrams showing where trains are across most of the network, working timetables etc. This requires a donation of £20 per annum to become a supporter and gain access to it. Definitely one of the best £20s I have spent recently. The images are copyright of railcam.uk, and they have given me permission to post the following show from Saturday evening.

John, you will just have to order another one and take the corridor connections off! [Thank you for your business]

Perfectly put, Barry The Terriers have also sold incredibly well with us, despite their territory being at the opposite end of the country. We have found that both the Great Model Railway Challenge and the James May programme have had a positive effect on Hornby sales. The brand has been put back in front of people's eyes, and they are responding.