A Murphy

Post 51, the Mancunian selection is just brilliant. I used to travel home from school on Crossleys right at the end of their lives. Magnificent, thank you. Alastair M

We could take the "Ice Cream Special" to the Ice Cream Museum: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-39740991/ice-cream-museum-opens-in-los-angeles but it's quite a long way..... Alastair M

the only difference between program and programme is that one is the US spelling, the other English as far as I am aware. Best wishes, Alastair M

Just clicked on Rob's post - it's the same Eric Treacy photo, but clearer in the print version and she's definitely lined out. In the same publication there are a couple more shots of post war pre-nationalisation Stars. 4055, Princess Sophia is pictured in lined green, G - coat of arms- W, with outside steam pipes and looks lined to me, but I wouldn't bet the ranch on it. There is another shot of 4017 (on Dainton Rob, headed for Plymouth, hint hint....) but it's a frontal shot and impossible to tell. I would suggest however, that whatever the justification, there were certainly Star's being turned out from Swindon in full green, lined and branded (yikes) once they started proper overhauls again. They are all wreathed in copious amounts of steam however.... Regards Alastair M

In Locomotives Illustrated 24, 'The Saints and the Star' there is an Eric Treacy photograph of 4013 heading out of Chester with a Birkenhead - Ruabon train "in the late 40s" in lined green, no steam pipes, G coat of arms W and in good external condition (although she appear to be leaking steam from her/his inside cylinders). Hornby would seem to have done their research for this model, but I am rather hoping that we can ask for the version without the wiggly handrail, excellent discount or no discount. best wishes, Alastair M

Atmospheric, inspirational and a pleasure to look at and read. Thank you John, Alastair M

That is some of the best railway modelling I have ever seen. Congratulations one and all. Alastair M

....and some Toplights to go with.... Alastair M

The sequence of photos with the K's Kirtley is just so.... railway like. What a wonderful railway this is. Inspirational. Alastair M

The difference in those two shades of green is, well.... noticeable. One might be more prototypical than the other? Alastair M

I would like to see a 4mm GWR Saint. Surely it would sell in large numbers? If DJ produced it in 2mm, I'd switch. Alastair M

Apologies for hi-jacking your thread Rob - it just amazes me that none of our manufacturers, mainstream or kit, seem interested in producing a decent Saint. If ever there was an important class of British locomotives "missing", the Saint is it. I'd have a go at the SE Finecast one, but I just don't think I could do it justice. Any other suggestions? Alastair M

if it's sales your after, surely a Saint is going to sell in appreciable numbers?

Good. Can we have a Saint now then Dave?

A Saint in 4mm..... Alastair M

Come down off the stove Grandma, you're too old to ride the Grange?

That is a lovely job - inspiring and will make a nice companion to the forthcoming Dean goods..... Alastair M

In South London they're called Stench Pipes... no really, there's a preserved one just round the corner from where I live, cast in Deptford in the 1850s and precisely to lift the stench up above all the nice new merchants' villas along Leigham Court Road. Alastair M

LNER J10 would surely be a candidate to use the Dean Goods approach and a C13 is a long shot but would be very welcome. GWR Saint to best modern standards would surely sell rather well? Alastair M

I love the angle of the fourth shot in 16737. Excellent. Alastair M

It's looking very good indeed. Alastair M

My goodness, just hitting the like button doesn't begin to cover this. The '30s photos are great. 2mm ft fine-scale allows so much 'space' when used like this (if you see what I mean...) Brilliant, can't wait to see it. Alastair M

Union Mills also had a J39 Roy - the Farish version, I hope you would agree, is a better model. I have 3 UM J11s which I am still detailing - I really like them (and doing business with UM), but it would save a huge amount of work if Farish did it. The O4 is the one I would really like to see in r-t-r n though. I'm good for three or four of those! Cheers Alastair M

I'd like them to shrink the ROD and the J11. Fat chance..... Alastair M

GWR Toplights would definitely get my vote (and cash). A high quality Saint wouldn't go amiss either...... Alastair M