'CHARD

Two well-trodden paths here, unsurprisingly, but possibly linked by Hornby's new model criteria/ philosophy and business case. Dealing with the D49 first - it's something of a Cinderella type, secondary in profile and significance, and even in a Scottish context shaded by other pre-grouping classes. Yes it's been in the Hornby range, but akin to the Class 29 rather than Flying Scotsman. High priority for reworking? - somehow I doubt it. Electrostars - the sheer diversity poses the question 'where would you start,' and would it be pitched at Design Clever levels of fidelity and detail, risking the usual catcalls, just to keep it affordable? Hornby has chosen the Azuma and Flirt to take this category forward, so I wonder if the hunger for the previous generation Electrostar fits their criteria.

Award of the year for the best unpublished FALL lyric goes to....

Edited versions of classic songs, like Fairytale of New York, by The Pogues. Leave it alone, no-one's getting offended.

Conventions with which I am quite conversant 😏 Aye!

I may have missed this if someone has already raised it, so please forgive me if indeed this is the case, but on page 2 of the latest Hornby TT:120 magazine, is this claim: 'Introducing Hornby TT:120, a Table Top model railway format that uses an internationally recognised scale of 1:120 or in simple terms, 1" to 1'... Is it just me, or is that a howler? It certainly does't sound 'perfect for those of all ages who maybe limited for space.'

During the bidding process for the (present) Northern franchise, I hosted the new trains presentation on behalf of Abellio, which Adrian Shooter led for Vivarail, with their D78 stock proposed as Pacer replacements. This was precisely during the short phase where the Secretary of State was being lobbied, successfully as it turned out, to disqualify refurbished trains from the fleet strategies of bidders. Despite surely knowing that the odds were stacked against 78-stock in such a fashion (AS was always very well informed and well-connected), the Vivarail pitch was that of a consummate professional, delivered with surefooted engineering pragmatism and reassurance. The entire life cost was explained in detail, with a full range of commercial options and alternatives. I'd seen him at work before, but never in his element in this way, truly invested in the proposition, with the infectious enthusiasm of a visionary engineer. Looking back now, he would have been past conventional retirement age at that point, but you'd not have known it! In later years I supplied a number of engineers who were embedded in the Vivarail operation at Long Marston; feedback off these guys was always glowing, AS was 100% personally invested in his team, always willing to listen, challenge and be challenged. He was never too busy to spend sufficient effort getting the detail right, down at shop floor level. Big Jim's observations above ring very true. It feels like a substantial chunk of the 'old' railway's can-do values have passed with him.

Bit of a tough one to write, this. Adrian Shooter, former MD of Chiltern Railways, and credited with that route's sensational turn-round and renaissance, amongst other great achievements in a long and illustrious career spanning over 50 years since 1970, died peacefully yesterday at a Swiss Clinic, aged 74. He had been suffering from motor neurone disease. One of the greats. Rest in peace.

I recall the early Triang open-axlebox version also appeared as Iron Duke (70014) with a smoke generator; a friend had one second-hand in the late-70s, in the distant days long before I knew the class had been 55-strong!!!

AFAIK the 171s will be re-modified (back) to standard Class 170 operational/ coupling spec. The units transferred are/ were the ex-ScotRail Class 170s. Southern retains 171s, it has residual 4-car sets on its books too, can't recall the precise quantities off-hand.

I have voted, really hope that the Flying Scotsman and a Class 37 finally see the light of day.

Did you ever build this? I've got an Arkitex stash that's itching for construction.

Yes, they've never had that in their range.... 😏

Pacers and Sprinters are not strictly nicknames, as these were bestowed officially by BR upon launch. 08s are commonly referred to as Jockos or three-fifties in operating circles. 03/ 04s - at least certain ones were referred to as flower-pots because of their chimney-shaped exhaust. 17 - Clayton 24 - fruit machine (I think) 26 and 27 - McRat (by the infantile bashers of the mid-80s Freedom of Scotland) 28 - Co-Bo or Metro-Vick 35 - Hymek 37 - also Syphon Warship refers to D600s and TOPS Classes 42/ 43 45 - Crompton 56 - grid or gridiron. 57 - bodysnatcher (idiotic nickname IMHO) 73 - ED 76s - Tommies 81 - 85 Roarers 86s - Cans 90 - Skoda 92 - Dyson

I hate to disappoint, but it's a Modelu tie-in, featuring Graham Hubbard dressed as Father Christmas with Sams Trains perched on his knee. In a gimp mask.

Getting back on track after the car-driver tropes, did the Blue Team ever deny that there would be a natural spin-off from the Class 69?

That much is relatively easy. Favourite single: Favourite song:

My point stands; that the Consett wagons were tweaked is not in dispute, but the following contention is risible nonsense: 'the Class 40 itself is an example of KR listening to feedback'

How is it? What feedback? If I read somewhere that people would like another Class Doo-dah bringing to market, and then announced a new Doo-dah, that is about the equivalent of what we have here. Whereas if I showed said folk the first Engineering Prototypes of my Doo-dah, noted their feedback, interpreted it and incorporated the valid parts of it into EP V2 of the Doo-dah, then THAT would be the substantive and relevant example.

Swordsman Upas Trollope Starfish

Another band added to the bill for Download 2023. 😏

I always think it unfortunate that the inescapable Only Fools and Horses was imposed on society when it was, forever tainting this loco name. (You may detect a level of antipathy from this quarter to 'Britain's favourite sitcom')

What a great tennis player he was.

I'm getting in touch with Baroness Gisela Stuart of Edgbaston about obtaining one of her famous ejectors for my maroon example.

Didn't realise she was that age already. Super-talented and gifted lady. R.I.P.

Niche liveries that had a chance of becoming reality, Episode 49. In 1998 50002 and 50050 were back on the main line under the auspices of D9000 Locomotives Ltd (DNLL). Directors of the organisation approached West Coast Traincare (WCTc) with a view to establishing a thunderbird fleet of around 7 Class 50s, starting with their existing pair, that would be overhauled to main line standards and allocated to Willesden (owners of other locos had been approached by this point). WCTc was running a procurement exercise for Thunderbirds at the time - even at one stage speculatively purchasing 47484 and 47802 from EWS at Wigan CRDC. (History records that this eventually resulted in the Class 57/3 conversion programme formulated by Porterbrook for Virgin.) Livery drawings of two alternative Class 50 designs were prepared in the Black, Red, White and Blue house colours of WCTc. Either side of a Lima model were painted in the two schemes; its fate hasn't been established*. Postscript: Possibly the first time this 'what-if' (that had a chance of becoming reality), has been revealed outside the small team that was directly involved at the time. * not strictly true. The loco was sourced from Sleepers Models in Erdington and ended up repainted BR Rail Blue and flogged on Ebay, I think.