Steven B

There are plenty of examples in the working time-tables of parcels or motorail vas being attached and removed en-route. Certainly by the 1980s vans would be dropped off at either end of the train - when removed from the front there was often a loco change (diesel <-> electric). Where trains were split to multiple destinations (e.g. WCML to Glasgow & Edinburgh) you'd see one portion left in the platform with a new loco being coupled on when the first portion leaves. I'm less sure about re-joining portions for the return journey - there must have been shunting with passengers on boards, but potentially this was minimised if the platforms involved had a release crossing half-way along. Steven B

Two years is nothing. How long did we wait for the Dapol class 142? The Farish class 158 and Revolution class 128 were both announced in 2018 - five years and counting! Steven B.

The Mk2 Pullman had air-brakes added (and vacuum removed) in Autumn 1986. They were given Lake District inspired names around the same time. They weren't withdrawn by BR until 1991 (last running in December 1990 behind a 86, 91 and 25912 on a rail tour). Earlier in their careers they would only run with an AC loco - needed because of the high electric train supply requirements (no diesel at the time could provide it). Later refurbishment work (including removal of asbestos) meant they could work with anything with an air-brake. For a good history of the Mk2 Pullmans, see https://sremg.org.uk/coach/coupe/coupe_se09.pdf Steven B

Which manufacturer & part number? Steven B.

In the 1986/87 and 1987/88 time-tables the formation of the Manchester Pullman changed in the summer, loosing one or the Pullman FO between the start of the last week of June and the end of the first week in September. Formations as follows: 1986/87: AE2D AC2G AC2G AC2G AJ1G AD1H AD1H AD1H AH51 AD1H 1987/88: AC2G AC2G AC2G AC2G AJ1G (AD1H) AD1H AD1H AH51 AD1H NH51 AC2G = Mk3a TSO AD1H = Mk3b FO AJ1G = Mk3a RFB AH51 = Mk1 RKB NH51 = NEA BG AE2D = Mk2d/e/f BSO (probably an Mk2F based on Wembley's allocation) Note the 86/87 train used a Mk2 BSO, whilst the '88 train swapped it for a fourth Mk3a TSO and a Mk1 BG. A triple set of Mk3b Pullmans would work for most trains but expect a couple of upset Mancunians modelling the winter of 1987! The choice of names could still cause issues! 😀 The Manchester Pullman sets ran to Paignton and Penzance on a Saturday. I've gone for the 86/87 formation as I didn't have enough space for an 11 coach train in my stock box. Still have to apply the Pullman transfers and names to my rake (once I've rediscovered the "safe place" I put them). If we're looking at train packs and new models, then the Mk2 Pullmans would be something a little different to have behind a 86 or 87. Steven B.

Looking good Andy. I received the latest NGS Journal on Friday - good to see you getting the Best in Show at the NGS bash at the NRM but bit odd that you weren't actually being presented it in the photo. Steven B.

The Manchester Pullman ran with four Mk3b. Merseyside and Lancashire Pullmans had three FO (ad Mk1 BG). You'd also need a Mk1 RKB and Mk2e or Mk2f BSO for the Manchester and Lancashire trains. As well as Pullman crests, the Mk3bs were also named with a mixture of famous Manchester/Liverpool/Lancashire names. I've got the transfers to convert some of the Mk3a's I have in my ever growing To-do pile. Other missing Mk3 liveries include DRS, Stowbart, One, Greater Anglia. Then there's HST in Midland Mainline teal & orange. Plenty for Adam to work through! Steven B.

Plenty due in Aug/Sept too - no sign of the Mk2F coaches though... Steven B

Hornby's class 87 can scrub up nicely with a bit of weathering. Shame about the fresh out of the packet ballast and the slightly overscale overhead wires. No headlights on, must be a DC layout.... (87013 left & 87031 Crewe Station 17-08-85 - transportsteve2011 (not me!) on Flickr) Steven B.

Sounds like it might be a fault with the loco - I'd wonder if there was a short between the track and motor. Might be worth fitting a blanking plug to the loco and testing it's OK on DC. Ditto taking the new decoder and fitting it to something known to work reliably (ESU decoder tester or another good loco). Steven B.

Ah, that makes more sense - I assumed you were just going for a 63' unit! I agree, the class 116 would be my choice of 63' suburban DMU - wide geographical area (most regions saw them at one point or another), and a good number of liveries & warning panel variations (green, blue, white/blue, blue/grey and NSE). A number received local branding (e.g. WM, Valley Train & TransClyde). I'd have one. Blue/Grey with Valley Train branding please! Steven B.

Does Revolution's class 120 not count? Steam loco - SR N15 & non SR 4-4-0 & 2-6-0. Oh, and a nice new J94. Diesel loco - fix the headcode box on the class 50. Electric - with the class 87 announced, just classes 85 and 89 on my wish list. DMU - Class 104 and 110; three car class 144 (and fix the issues with the body shape on the 142?) EMU - Class 304. Coaches - I can see the Mk2b/c coming from Accurascale, so big four suburban types please. Wagon - where to start? LMS Std van and PCA depressed centre cement wagon perhaps? Steven B

It's worse on pages with large numbers and large sized pictures - many users don't resize or crop large files before uploading them. As an example, the Bachmann quarterly releases pages are common culprits. Steven B

I've changed decoder addresses and volume levels on a couple of LokSound v4 (6 pin) and LokSound v5 (Next18) using a Sprog II (v2?) and JMRI without any problems. All provided pre-programed with the sound file, Olivia's trains provided the v4s and Legomanbiffo/DCKits the v5. I'd try the (next) decoder in a test-jig to rule out any issues with the loco/installation. Steven B.

Many preserved railways, the ELR included, have rakes of Mk2s which will be airbraked. The 58's might have had more life left in them, but at least they lasted longer in BR service than the 9F! Steven B.

Will the roof moldings be available as spare parts to allow us to correct the coaches we already have? Steven B.

How much of the ETCS hardware needs to be on the footplate? Could much of it be fitted to a second tender that could be shared between locos? Steven B.

GUV and BG vans can be distinguished by comparing the body-side profiles. GUV are flat, whilst BG are curved. The roof on the GUV is also slightly flatter. Compare the fourth vehicle (BG) to the GUV either side of it. The first few GUVs are Super-GUVs - hard to tell from the angle, but I suspect the rest of the GUVs will be the updated version given the date of the image (year 2000). The "Super" conversion for the BG and GUV primarily involved the removal of the outward opening double-doors and replacing them with roller shutters. This made it easier to roll trollies on and off. Internally new floors were fitted. The Super-BG also had integrated tail lamps fitted either side of the corridor connection. The opening ends of the GUV were sheeted over

(Dave McDigital on Flickr)

Class 60s, capable of hauling mountains. Honest.... 60 091 on the Longtown branch with freight 6C79. by Adrian Nicholls, on Flickr 60065 19 Oct 15 by John Neave, on Flickr Steven B

I've used them a number of times for orders large and small and never had a problem. Steven B.

Double the length of all trains and halve their frequency - fewer trains on the lines means less chance of a delay. Increase station to station times so that delays can be made up. Introduce standard design of passenger train that can be built under license by different manufacturers with the only differences being changes to the interior or door locations to suit the typical use of the unit. e.g. 2+3 seating for a primarily commuter set, whilst a longer distance cross country set getting 2+2 seats and a decent buffet counter. Introduce a rolling program of stock upgrades - no more waiting for 20+ years without introducing a new design, only to attempt to replace everything in one go and struggling to maintain services when new stock has problems. Make the toilets smell fresher. (Only slightly tongue in cheek) Steven B.

The ones on the Revolution shop pages match Paul's description: https://revolutiontrains.com/product/borail-bra/ https://revolutiontrains.com/product/br-borail-bra-rail-carrier-oo-4mm-railfreight-red/ Steven B

Agreed. Adults talk to children in front of their parents all the time - if big names like Tesco and McDonalds allow their staff to talk to children then I'm sure it's not a major issue at a model railways show. A child with their parent is a lot less vulnerable than some of the adults with learning difficulties that you often see at shows. Perhaps we should all lock our doors and never leave home? Or perhaps just accept that 99.9% of the population isn't out to murder or abuse us. Steven B

Yes, we now live in a world where the physical abuse of children isn't tolerated. There are plenty of well behaved kids in schools today - probably a similar proportion to the 1950s. Badly behaved children don't start behaving well with the threat of violence. If people did there would never have been any murders prior to capital punishment being abolished. I've been taking my now seven year old to exhibitions since she was a few months old. We usually take a step (unless we know we're going to a show where they're available to borrow). It's hard work keeping their interest up (counting wagons is always fun) but can be made much easier when exhibitors engage with the child. It doesn't take much but it makes the child and parents life better and probably helps relieve the boredom that can creep up on an operator later on in the day. Steven B.