Phil Bullock

Looking forwards to seeing how you go with this Paul. CHeers Phil

Smashing photos Chaz I cant get the blighters to pose long enough! There was a pristine Burnet Moth in Cheltenham park yesterday but the blighter wouldn't keep still long enough for a photo... Phil

Postie brought these today - amongst other things Yippee That will be https://www.flickr.com/photos/59835095@N02/6310128976/in/album-72157627920981333/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/59835095@N02/6309614977/in/album-72157627920981333/ http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_05_2015/post-6925-0-37539000-1430494508_thumb.jpg respectively - thanks to Grahame and NEil for sharing the photos as usual Should be a fairly rapid (Hee hee) job once they arrive - all renumberings with Fox transfers number sets, Brian's plates to fit and adjustments of OHLE flashes - and double arrow of course for Strongbow Bring them on Phil

That's all torque....! Phil

Good to see you back Richard and thanks for kind comments More hydraulics? Just wait until those Bacchy 43s start arriving.... Cheers Phil

China clays - like these then? http://www.miac.org.uk/class52.html#brd1048 First working in this clip And southbound return is later on either in that clip or part 2 of same date Enjoy! Will do more next time we are set up - as long as we don't have to relay all that track and point rodding!!!! Phil

CHeers Colin I do have something similar - rather more enclosed in fact - but its more suitable for keeping sunshine off rather than serious rain. Something better is needed... Kind regards Phil

Hi John Nice to hear you are back over. Yes the showers were really localised - could largely see them coming and this is also very useful.... http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/observation/rainfall-radar#?map=Rainfall&fcTime=1435039200&zoom=5&lon=-4.00&lat=55.01 We knew there was a high risk on Saturday but it was only supposed to be showers. Plastic sheets are available to cover things up but you risk damage every time you take them on/off. We now have a 7ft high lighting frame so a cover based around that should work much better. Any progress with your backscenes? Havent managed to get up Whittington tump yet, but have a couple of trips up to Worcester lined up Kind regards as always Phil

Hmmm - don't forget the overtime for all those excessive crew memebrs when the locos are sat on shed on depot layouts!!!! P

Largely confined to the upper Salwarpe basin IIRC http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB109054044200 So cant use that as an excuse hee hee The ficticious South Worcestershire Asparagus Mine perhaps? P

The sun is shining in Worcestershire again after the weekend floods - there's more in the Abbotswood Junction thread

Was that a peek - or a Peak Paul? Hee hee P

Absolutely! Nice plan. Looks like severe heave/mining subsidence at the moment but will leave it for a week or two to dry out thoroughly before deciding to relay..... Phil

Here our latest video China clay info to follow Cheers Phil

And a sprinkling of courage too sometimes!! Have to get crew in there though or MUD will be along to call industrial action - thats Model Union of Drivers....this is the late 60s/early 70s after all! Phil

Heres some stills to wet the appetite....... Frankly its a miracle anything ran on this track.... And the flying entertainment wasn't restricted to the aircraft which included a Yak as well as the Mustang, Hurrcane and Beech A low flying buzzrd hung around all day - he kept getting mobbed by jackdaws and gulls but returned for more Our presence wasn't going to stop a great tit accessing the bird table either. He normally gets crowded out by the starlings but they stayed away as our presence within two metres of the bird table was too much for them. Not so Mr Great Tit, who would sit in the greenery for 5 minutes singing his warning song before darting in for a quick grab and go. Goldfinches in the bird bath too. Excellent company on Sunday too in the form of Alex and his Dad and Steve G - great to see you folks, thanks for dropping by. Phil Phil

Many thanks Andy Looks like lessons have been learnt there then Phil

No worries Paul plenty of footage just needs editing Mid week I should think Phil

Thanks for all the kind words and support folks - really is much appreciated Would also have been much worse if a team hadn't been present to help with damage limitation - many thanks to Pierre, Nick Rob and Steve H. SO running today? Was under plastic all night which paradoxically may not have helped - there was a short on one board and one of the SMD 82s refused to play initially. But after a while all dried out and things got much better. The main long term concern is for the board that most of the flooding was on - track seems far more uneven than usual, photo to follow. So more derailments than usual. We had some great aerial performances today too. P51, Hurricane and what I am pretty sure was a beech 18 So movies tomorrow! CHeers Phil

Thanks gentlemen Believe it or not trains were running through there 5 mins later!! Whether theres any long term damage will probably be best judged tomorrow but initial thoughts are probably not - ply is not as susceptible to water damage as some other materials eg sundeala or chipboard A good blest of sun should dry everything out hopefully Phil

If the weather holds - what a joke!!!! Yes this is flooding Phil

Thanks Andy That does look like the class 40 system with the juice from the bogie carried up the tower by those brass strips to rub on pick ups in the chassis block. Just have to hope the non conductive grease hasn't been used... Postie did call today but was some Railtec transfers and quilting books for SWMBO Shame! Phil

Lifting rings? 3 link? Burning question is what are the internals like Andy - has it had the 40 treatment - and is there a decent speaker recess in the chassis? Cheers Phil

But hope they don't all come with that bent RH side lamp bracket.... Looks cracking doesn't it! Phil