Steven B

Newspaper train rather than parcels, but nice to see a monster and a couple of Siphons at the head of the train: 14Sep77. Taplow. Brush Class 31 31241 (Ex D5668). [Slide_D045] by Mr_Western, on Flickr

Perhaps the land needed for the flask wagon siding was more easily available at Valley compared to Amlwch, or it was easier to fit in with the other traffic timetabled for the line. Valley's population is smaller that of Amlwch which may also have had an impact. Steven B

Make that 1988: Sunday Papers At Gledholt. by Neil Harvey 156, on Flickr Steven B.

I'm planning a trip to Games Workshop - Citadel Mephiston Red or Army Painter Pure Red look like good starting points. Steven B.

The 1980 catalogue has the answers you need: https://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Farish 1980 Catalogue.pdf 2304 = single vent GWR 2404 = twin vent GWR

Red Bank, 1970 (John Turner on Flickr) It's interesting to see the mix of maroon, blue and blue/grey alongside the green class 40. Does anyone recognise the blue van on the end of the train in the centre of the picture? It looks like a former LNER extra long CCT. Next vehicle looks like a Mk1 CCT. Steven B

Are you fitting twin sound decoders or speakers, one in each end? SB.

I have several of them, although mostly Poole era models. The body shell is very good given it's age but it's let down by the chunky underframe which is rather poor by today's standards. The depressed centre PCA is the other key wagon in need of an upgrade. Steven B

I've enjoyed seeing the workings of Acton depot on the current series - possibly more interesting than yet another ventilation shaft (however nice the tiles!). A visit to the PWay sidings at Ruislip would show something we've not seen before. It'd also give you a chance to have a look around the battery electric loco parked in the depot museum. Steven B

Some lovely buildings and the weathering's really good, but the mix of wooden body, steel hoppers and air-braked HAA is completely unrealistic. A brake-van special is rather clichéd too. (Gordon Edgar on Flickr)

Can anyone suggest a shade of red for use on NCB internal user wagons? Something in a rattle can would be easiest. (Gordon Edgar on Flickr) Steven B.

Lovely work James. It does show a much needed hole that needs filling with decent 1970s air-braked vans - VAA, VBA, VCA & VDA. Steven B

Mmm, renumber or wait to see if City of Wells in 1980s condition appears in a later batch... Bulleid Over The Rooftops. by Neil Harvey 156, on Flickr Steven B

You've clearly got a better memory than I do! 🙂

Thanks @Revolution Mike Does that mean the inner bogies are completely separate from the many wagon body? Hope you're got some spares on order if so (I'm having flash-backs to my old OO Gauge Hornby model being left unusable after one of my brother's friends "lost" the centre bogie) Steven B.

I've now seen photos of it elsewhere and the colour doesn't look as bright as in the photos above. How many more HST liveries have Dapol yet to do? https://transportdesigned.com/pictures-every-single-hst-livery-ever/ Great Western Merlin Midland Mainline (2004) Cotswold Rail Hornby Virgin XC Steven B

How are the segments joined together on the shared bogie? Steven B.

I do like the early privatisation HST liveries. The teal colour looks a lot lighter in the picture than I remember it being in real life. What proportion of the MML HST's received the revised head-lights in this livery? Steven B.

No RTR Class 45 or 46 (44 due from Rapido at some point, with others to hopefully follow). No early AC electrics or class 89 or 91. Plenty of early mainline diesels and shunters to have a go at too. There's no decent Mk2b,c,d or e or the later refurbished mk1 catering cars. No Mk4 carriages either. There are plenty of air braked wagons missing - more than have been done. BBA, HEA, VAA, VBA, VDA, OTA, FFA/FGA are missing from the BR owned fleet. Add in privately owned depressed centre PCA, SSA Scrap wagons, numerous designs of PGA and dozens of chemical tanks and there's plenty to go at. We've only seen one Mk1 based third rail EMU with no OHLE based units from the same era. We're also missing most 63' Mk1 based DMUs with only the promise of a class 120 from Revolution to look forward to. Add in breakdown cranes, engineers cranes, tampers and other on track plant and I'd suggest there are still plenty of holes to fill.

Perhaps it's more the case that you'll find more comments about TINGS on the N Gauge Forum.

If someone wanted to reach out to me after I'd fallen in the water I'd be quite pleased... Language changes - whilst there are plenty of grumbles on this thread by people who no doubt talk and write differently to their parents and grandparents) I've yet to see anyone suggesting we resurrect 16th & 17th century English which would make studying Shakespeare much easier. Steven B.

You're changing the shades of grey on Intercity liveried models to match the prototype rather than existing models so do the same on the hoppers. If silver is done I'd imagine many would upgrade - releasing grey models onto the second hand market for those who are happy to expand their trains. Steven B.

You forgot: High inflation. Public services on strike. Problems with Europe. A Prime minister who wasn't leader at the last election. Numerous political resignations. 2023 or 1975? Steven B.

There are a number of books that will provide good track-plans for a first layout (some of them are actually possible to build!). Get yourselves off to a model railway show and see what you can find. Make a list of what you see on layouts that you like, and just as importantly what you don't like. You'll soon get a feel for what you want to build. For a first effort, have a look at Hornby's track mats - they're supplied in some train sets but you can find many versions on eBay. One would give you a good starting point for building and developing your layout. The other option is to look at Lego trains! Steven B.

RAAC has been in use since the 1950s - if the 30 year life-span was known then I'd have expected the governments of the 1970s to be putting plans in place to replace buildings that used it. A report in the 1990s identified that RAAC planks were seen to be deteriorating - plans should have been put in place then. I can't compare the current 50 schools per year to numbers from when Labour was in power as I've been unable to find the numbers of schools being rebuilt under Labour's program nor if buildings with RAAC were being prioritised over buildings from the first half of the 20th C (or earlier!). As I said, all governments of the day should take some of the blame, as should the opposition parties for not holding them properly to account. Steven B