Trevellan

A couple or geezers on the door with long black overcoats and bow ties asking "where's your tie, son?". "Your name's not on the list, sushine. Jog on".

No problem. I'd just tell them that I'd be reporting the matter to Andy Y and the Mods. Enough to scare the most belligerent of doormen...

Here's one from 1974, known as The Ghost of Newton Abbott.

My mate and I were down in the West Country chasing Westerns and had decided to spend a chilly evening on Newton Abbott station. While there I experimented with some long exposures, including this one, with my mate in the frame for half the exposure as the "ghost" perpetually waiting for his train. Well, we thought it was funny at the time...

It was always a talking point in the days when I used to give slide shows to local clubs.

I am sincerely hoping Dapol doesn't put high-intensity style LEDs in the Western headcode boxes. While the latest Bachmann Warship is yet another superb runner the brilliant white headcode illumination is so powerful as to require both staining of the "glass" and blocking of light bleed when running in dim to dark conditions if one is not game to replace the entire LED unit with something more akin to an incandescent bulb.

I think I'll ask Dapol for this version of the headcode box :

(A late afternoon shot at Exeter St Davids in April 1974 - loco not identifed.)

In the spirit of the OP, what happens if someone decides to convert all their Hornby Dublo to P4? It sort of defeats the second half of the brand name...

The 60 wasn't too bad, but those poor 37s - yuk!

What number was Western Meerkat?

Desert sand?

Frankly, I reckon that Loadhaul was probably one of the worst liveries ever, gaudy and unrelated to the lines of the locos it adorned. It always reminded me of crudely printed packaging for biscuits or some other product.

Still, life would be boring if we all liked the same things.

Yes, certainly some very interesting interpretations and extremely well edited. I'd often wondered about a Western in large logo blue...

I have no doubt that someone, somewhere will find something else that's half a millimetere out, but to me it looks absolutely spot-on. Could this become the best r-t-r diesel yet produced?

Note to self: must start saving for at least three of these.

I received a letter out of the blue yesterday from Hornby's customer care team, apologising for the delay in repairing and returning my blue 31. They themselves do not yet know when replacement parts will arrive in the UK, but I am assured the model will be repaired and returned a.s.a.p.

Given the criticism of Hornby's customer care of late, I felt I ought to pass on this information. Okay, it doesn't say anything new, but from my point of view it is a nice gesture of reassurance.

Welcome to RMweb chuck. About time too.

At least I now know what the switch on the control panel marked "Scotch" is for. Shame it's not something for the benefit of operators...

So why is it called a high speed line and not an extra capacity line then? What is the point of having trains going at 200mph if it isn't to speed up journey times. I will post about what I want to post about, you post about what you want to.

It is called HS2 because it is being built to high speed standards, just as HS1 was. And yes, faster journey timnes will be one benefit.

I am not denigrating your views Natalie, simply asking that people take all the facts into account rather than concentrate on those which make good soundbites.

It seems like an awful lot of money, not to mention digging up an awful lot of countryside, to save maybe 30 minutes on what is already not a particularly long journey. I wonder how many of the passengers on this route will start and finish their journeys at New Street and Euston. Not many, and for the rest a good proportion of their travel time will be taken up getting to and from the two termini on slow connecting trains, or on busses or in cars fighting through congested roads.

Could we please stop fixating on the time savings for passengers as being the sole raison d'etre for HS2? It is the capacity freed up on the classic network that offers some of the greatest benefits.

Having served in the public sector (local government and DfT) I am used to hearing arguments against projects which look at issues in a very narrow way. In local government I had Local Transport Plan schemes which attracted DfT funding, yet no matter how many times I explained to politicians and the public that the money could not be used for health or education, the same tired old arguments were trotted out.

I concede that is very difficult for people to envisage the benefits of a project which is so many years away, but that is the nature of infrastructure planning. A classic example is Crossrail. The Central line has been horrendously overcrowded for several years now, yet relief in the form of Crossrail is still several years away - and still people complain it is unnecessary. There is something about the British psyche that focuses on the short term and finds it difficult to consider the future needs of the population. That sort of long term planning is not irresponsible - it is essential.

The first shot of D5310 puts me in mind of her current stamping ground: the approach to Carrog on the Llangollen Railway.

Interesting shot, with new blue/grey mk2s in the formation. It's easy to forget that this livery was very much a part of the last years of BR steam.

Well, if the finished model lives up to the design work it's going to be a real beauty. My wallet is aching already...

My brake 3rd arrived from Liverpool this morning and I have to say it's my favourite out of the whole lot. It really exudes character. Close-coupling and light weathering beckons. Although slightly peripheral to my layout planning, I'm glad I gave in to temptation!

I now have news from Hornby. A telephone call this morning revealed that the delay in returning my model is down to lack of chassis spares in stock at Margate. I was informed that fresh supplies will be arriving in the New Year, at which point my model will be repaired and returned. I'm more than happy to wait on that basis.

I hope this helps others in a similar position.

What is fundamentally wrong with traction tyres?

It's a personal thing, but I detest them because they pick up dirt more readily than metal tyres, they can degrade over time and can adversely affect running quality. If you're happy with them, fine. However, I'd rather have models with an adequate power/weight ratio so they can shift themselves.

Gordon and followers....

Steady on. I know we've had a Second (and Third) Coming, but isn't this pushing things a bit too far?

For me, one of the most fascinating aspects of this thread has been the range of interpretations of and suggestions for Gordon's plans. However, this debate could last several more years and I suspect there are many like me who are looking forward to the project progressing to lots of trains running.

I trust you sent it Recorded Delivery as a minimum?

I certainly did and a check reveals that it was actually delivered on the 30th rather than the 28th. That's still a month without any news.

Please post the details of your phone call. I admit to a vested interest in your outcome.

No problem. I'll update the thread as soon as I have any news.

They've had my self-destructing version of 31 270 since October 28th and not a dicky bird yet. Time for a phone call to Margate, methinks.

Looks like it has passed out after sitting in your trainers Peter! It is an ex-Redback, it is deceased, it is no more...

BTW, love the shot of the 08 with the TTAs.

This frustrates the hell out of me.

Yes, me too and I find it utterly baffling. I know we've experienced a lot of repetition on this thread and I myself have alluded to circular arguments being unhelpful. However, I would suggest that several contributors have gone beyond the call of duty to address deficiencies in the product while trying to be as constructive as possible and to understand commercial pressures which may have dictated what is, after all, a very unsatisfactory outcome for many of us. Just imagine a similar situation in the car industry and the likely response.

It’s obvious that Simon is a company man, but a lot of RMwebbers have acknowledged his positive influence at Hornby. I think now would be a good time to listen and I sincerely hope the offer of a dialogue is taken up.

30585 paid a visit to Llanbourne today along with the good folk of BRMA where it was something of a star attraction.

I do hope some spotters & photters were on hand to record this amazing event Rick! Or will Peter invoke vague anti-terror laws to prohibit publication?