Steven B

As far as I'm aware they were standard Mk3b FO with additional branding on the outside. They'd have ended up being use as per any other Mk3a/b FO. Not all went to Virgin - 11088 ended up with Anglia for example. Steven B.

The trouble is with RTR bogies is that they look nothing like the prototype once you're removed the body sitting on them: West Hill do a OO Gauge Y25 which for a cosmetic item looks so much better than what actually runs under a model wagon. Steven B.

I'm looking forward to working on a couple of conversions using the unpainted and chassis only ones: The bogie carrier conversion looks simple - were they used anywhere else other than NSE land? (All from Paul Bartlett's collection). Anyone know where I can get some decent cosmetic bogies from? Best I've found are West Hill Wagon Work's class 47 but want some four wheel bogies for the bogie carrier conversion. Steven B.

Two catering cars may still happen - do the likes of class 220 and 800s carry two catering trollies when two units are multipled together? The 1986/87 timetable had both the Manchester Pullman and Liverpool Pullman sets with two catering vehicle, Mk1 RKB and Mk3a RFB for the two Manchester Pullman sets whilst a Mk1 RBR and Mk3a RFB could be found on the Liverpool sets. 86214, Tamworth by Jason Rodhouse, on Flickr ^John Dedman on flickr ^Carl Brunnock on Flickr Steven B.

Martin House helped friends of mine - it's an amazing organisation so thanks to Revolution and everyone who's bought the biomass wagons for playing a part in helping them carry on doing amazing work. Steven B

Thunderbolt's red looks rather bright - perhaps I'm too used to 1950s colour film transferred to DVD. Steven B.

I'd be surprised if you didn't have an eye on the Mk2d in OO Gauge given their use by CIÉ as well as BR. N Gauge versions would be lovely, especially a Mk2d BFK commonly found on many secondary/cross country services. Steven B.

Take a trip around Scunthorpe with the Appley and Frodingham Railway Preservation Society: https://www.afrps.co.uk/ Not only will you get to see the four queens (Anne, Bess, Victoria, and Mary as the furnaces are known), depending on the trip you take you'll see the coke ovens, run past the continuous casting plant, visit the exchange sidings and potentially see inside the shed where the raw iron is tipped for conversion to steel. Steven B

It's worth checking that the close coupling mechanism is working correctly - the Hunt magnetic coupling results in a solid link between them. Without the slack in a standard rapido it's quite possible that problems may occur if one coupling has been knocked out of alignment during transport to the show. I'll be interested to hear what you found at the YAG meeting this Saturday. Steven B

Any news on a shop commissioning the IoW Dinosaur livery? Steven B.

Good to see that Kato have enough confidence to do the longer train. I wonder if they'll turn their attention to the class 802 used by TransPennine, GWR and Hull Trains. Steven B

Congratulations on getting "Best in Show" - well deserved. I wonder if you can do the York double at the Race Course next Easter?! Steven B.

TOPS codes were carried on the vehicle ends rather than next to the running number for standard passenger stock so may well have been the case for some BGs too. Steven B.

My guess is Sonic was involved with the R&D for the N Gauge Society VIX and decided to produce one in OO off the back of that research. Fare-play to Sonic for holding back until Rapido had cleared their version from the warehouse. I would hope they look almost identical given they're both based on the same prototype! Steven.

It's perfectly acceptable to run short trains. Trip workings, wagons heading to/from repair are perfectly valid reasons for running something that wouldn't make a profit. (John Dedman on Flickr) (Jason Cross on Flickr) Then there are the trip workings where you wonder why they didn't allocate something a bit faster: (Dave Sallery on Flickr) Steven B.

Mk2d had the toilets in a different location to the E & F variants (same side rather than opposite corners). Mk2d & Mk2e shared air-con designs, whilst that on the F was simplified. It may be possible that Farish have plans to replace the underframe gubbins to allow them to make a Mk2E (I believe the body is basically the same). As it is, with the Mk2F they've chosen the most numerous type (there were almost as many Mk2F as D & E types combined). My guess is that Farish will stop at the Mk2F - anyone wanting Mk2D (or B & C for that matter ) will probably be best looking towards Accurascale, Rapido or Revolution. Steven B.

The NGS show is being held within the NRM Conference rooms. Access is via doors to the side of the current main museum entrance (what I call the "Old" entrance near the loco wheelset): https://goo.gl/maps/LMNDgC8jVXm3bkLW7 (the white car in the Google Streets image is parked outside the conference suite entrance. The main museum entrance is through the doors between the two posters. There will be signs and marshals inside and out to show you the way. Whilst entrance to the show is free for NGS members, NGS and non-NGS members will need to go to the NGS pay desk at the entrance to the conference suite to collect a wrist band that will allow you to come and go as you please throughout the day. You will not be allowed access to the show rooms without having first collected a wristband! Lectures are at the same times on both days (subject to everything running on time!). Steven B.

I usually get the Cookie request after a browser update, or if I've manually cleared cookies. Do you have your browser set-up to delete cookies when you close it? If so, that's what's causing the problem - see if you can add an exception for RMWeb. Steven B.

Have confirmed it's the wagons at fault? I.e. have you tried a different loco with the wagons? You don't need to get as far as the bearings, one probe on each axle should work. The other option is to put each wagon on a length of track and connect the probes, one to each rail. Disconnect the DCC system before doing this! If there's low resistance then you've found a problem wagon. You can then test each axle in turn. Steven B

Get a test meter and check the wheels are isolated from each other. It's also worth checking the back to backs, and if the shorts occur in the same places, double check the track and ensure the wheelsets aren't bridging rails when passing through turnouts. Steven B

And in which direction the train was running - certainly by the 1980s the Ford trains (Using Silcock branded cartics) ran loaded in both directions between Halewood and Dagenham. Halewood built Capri and Escort would travel south whilst Fiesta and Cortina headed north. You'd see a similar distributions of makes/models on trains heading to/from the ports. Steven B.

Beware! The Templot file you get might be completely to scale - the points and crossings as designed may not be available within the standard FineTrax range. You may find yourself having to build some track parts from more basic parts unless your volunteer tweaks the layout for the range that is available. Steven B

Would you need a flush-fronted DBSO for correct rakes of Anglia MK2fs? Steven B.

+1 for dark grey. Another option is to make up some half-relief machinery or shelving to fill some of the window space. Steven B

76003 passing Godley Junction by Arnie Furniss, on Flickr Another photo here: https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/2186/famous-line-memories-wonderful-woodhead/ https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2017/05/RM-May-p36.jpg Suggests MAT blue. I'd go for either of the blue, (removing the motorail branding if needed) and weather them! Steven B.