andania 213

Cheers for the advice gents, most useful. I'll be doing a similar journey in the next month or so, so I'll be checking up on the advised transfer time pronto, forewarned and all that!! Still think I'll be going by the penultimate services though, just in case!! Rgds Ken G

In a sort of similar vein, in December last year was travelling from Manchester to Hull on a pre booked advance ticket. The services I was to travel on being a Liverpool - York as far as Leeds, then change onto the Leeds to Hull service, both services being Tpex . Now, the timetabled gap for the changeover at Leeds was IIRC 22 minutes. Therefore, when the L'ppol -Yk turned up 15 minutes down, I did feel a tad concerned. The reasons given over the PA were staff shortage. Anyhow, no probs thought I, I'll ask the conductor re the connection when he checks my ticket. Anyhow, the journey went on, and by the Dewsbury stop, it'd lost another 5 minutes, also we'd had no show from the conductor. By that time, I was resigning myself to problems. Anyway, we rolled in 20 minutes late at Leeds. Very fortunately, the Hull train was just across the platform, jumped aboard, was much relieved, and seconds after the York service went, we followed it as far as Micklefield. Crunch for me came when the Conductor on the Hull service came round, and I asked what would have happened if the train from Manchester had been another few minutes down, ie not getting to Leeds in time for folk to catch the Hull train, which, in this case, was the last of the day. His response, though very friendly and polite, alarmed me. In essence, he said that there were no such thing as guaranteed connections any more, and that effectively if iId missed that train, it was my tough luck. Hmm, this is useful info I thought !!. The same TOC having almost stranded me on 2 previous occasions, It didn't add to my confidence when travelling with them. Now, had I missed the connection, I certainly would have made a bee line to any Tpex staff, or helpline and pointedly ask what they were going to do to resolve their mess up of their making. ISTR I would have been one of several stranded folk had things not gone right. However, luck prevailed, so It's still an unknown as to what form any help given ( if any ) would have taken. Ultimately, Does anyone know the situation regarding missing connections when it's not your fault / same TOC ?, I'd love to know. Meanwhile, In future, the latest Tpex services I'll be booking will be the penultimate ones of the day, not the last ones !! . Ta in advance for any info Ken G

Hard to say, though I'd tend to agree with your thoughts comparing the shots of the real thing v the model. Looks to me as though the R/C is in same position on both, but on the model, the wheel cranks are almost bottom dead centre, the real thing seems to be 30-40 degrees from that. What does strike me is the overly round shouldered-ness ( apols to OED!) of the top front corners of the firebox. Looks little different to me,.to the 1977 tooling, which was IMO also too rounded, compared to prototype Ken G

Along with the rest of us WCML AC Loco fans !! Ken G

I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was the top speed ( quoted as 60mph) that actually ruled them out for this franchise, One instance I can quote you is the way a 142 ( 75mph), has to go flat out down the ECML on the 'fast' Hull - York trains that miss out Sherburn etc. The Pacers can just about time the job on this, anything slower would I suspect not be popular, especially with the operators. Given the way Northern's network straddles and interlinks with several main / secondary main lines, where other franchises run 'express' services, Northern no doubt need units capable of some relatively fast running on spells of fast running,. I suspect that a 60mph unit just isn't quick enough for general use on this franchise, given current timetabling and stock diagramming. ISTR some time back it was said that 75mph units were often difficult to path, and that what was needed were more 90/100mph units. Even if the 230's were complete new build, ie had no 'cast off' tag, at 60 mph max, do they match what the actuality of modern day operations demand? I suspect the answer is yes, but, only in a possibly quite restricted number of cases. Ken G

just back from setting up, Think we're about ready for the morning One final addition to the layout line up to note: Port Pennan, an EM gauge micro set on the Moray coast during BR's blue era. We look forward to seeing you Cheers Ken

Can understand that you may well need locos with some power for your own layout, given your ruling gradients, but in reality, I doubt a real 85 could do the ton up a 1 in 50 with 13 on. The Hornby 50 is indeed powerful, but to an unrealistically high level IMO. Ken G

Just ousting Port Pennan from it's slumbers in readiness for the show, just need to round up the stock now!. Looking forward to being there. If you're in the locale, be nice to see you. Cheers Ken

Hello all, Just over a week to go now, some final tweaks to the line up to report Sadly, Cayton Bay will now not be able to make this years show, we're hopeful it'll be with us in 2018 Additions to the line up to note are:- Bodelva Road, a OO gauge China clay line in Cornwall, set around the time of the transition from Steam to Diesel Pen - Y - Madoc, an EM gauge GWR branch terminus, set in North West Wales in the 1930's The Cliff Railway, TT gauge. A funicular railway of the sort common in East Coast resorts, As the name suggests, it goes up and down a Cliff !! Hoping that's the last of any amendments!! Cheers Ken Gibbons Hull MRS

Hello all, Some additions to the layout line up, plus a change Cayton Bay - OO Pen-Y-Madoc - EM Plus, Moorton Bottom Yard , OO9 will be appearing in place of High Stamley Just over a month to go now!! Ken Gibbons Hull MRS

Hull MRS presents :- Summer Show 2017, 3rd June 2017 Venue:- Walton Street Leisure Centre, Goathland Close, off Walton Street, Hull HU6 6JB Admission, Adult, 2 pounds, Child, 1 pound Open : 10.30 am 'till 4.00pm Layouts / demonstrations / Trade support / Light Refreshments Layouts Invited / confirmed to date:- Shifting Sands O9 Hoglington * N West Wood Park O Driffield * OO Coal Hill West N Hollym Gate * OO Filey * OO High Stamley OO9 Mill Lane * O-16.5 ( * denotes East Yorkshire prototype based layout ) Plus, a further 3 layouts, subject to confirmation The Club's Modelling demonstrators will be in attendance, covering most topics relating to the construction of Model Railways Roja Jackson will be demonstrating his 2mm OHLE models Light Refreshments will be available courtesy of the Walton Street Leisure Centre support group Trade:- Caistor Loco , RTR, Kits, bits and modelling supplies LED Essential, electrical components Oddbitz, S/H books plus scenics Plus the Club S/h stall Children's area, including drive it yourself layouts plus Brio We'll be making regular updates both here and on the club Website:- www.hullmrs.org If you're out and about in the area in this City of Culture year,. we look forward to seeing you Ken Gibbons Hull MRS

As one of the York 'team' , I can confirm that yes, that is indeed the case. The monies we get in through the door help to cover the cost of running the show, ( hopefully!), and allow us ( again, hopefully ) to do the next show, no more, no less. Furthermore, it's all done by a network of unpaid volunteers, we're basically doing it 'cos we want to.. Ken G

Found this pic of 2516 dated 1935, have cropped it for comparison with the above. Hope the pic helps

A point of info re the 86's in 'Electric Blue', As built, they were actually all in the then new Standard BR blue ( monastral blue as it was oft called back then). The few that came out the workshops sans their half yellow ends were the only BR Locos in BR Blue to run like that. Take a look at some colour shots where classes Al1-5 are stood next to a brand new AL6, there's quite a bit of difference of shade! K

When introduced (1985/1986) it was very common for 150/1 plus 142 's to run Manchester-North Wales services. However, I believe it It was causuing havoc with the original gearboxes on the 142's, so ceased as soon as they had sufficient 150's to double up with. Not sure how common it was since then, though recently (July), a Northern Rail Blackpool - York train I travelled on had a 142 added to the front at Leeds, and was opened up to take passengers, even though it was probably a positioning move. No doubt more learned folk can fill in the gap from 87 to'15!!

Follow the link, http://oxfordrail.com/, and have a look at the 'Logo'

Very sorry to hear this news, my condolances go out to his family

I'm afraid chaps that I have to basically agree with this too. I believe that the sales of the 85 have been OK, but not fantastic. That said, Bachmann have obviously identified that there's obviously enough interest to release further versions of the AL5 / 85. However, that won't involve much more than tooling up for the revised liveries plus production costs. So, for minimum investment, they get a new product to sell. I doubt though that they'll make too many, just sufficient to cover the predicted demand. As for future productions?, I'd really love them to do more variants on the AC theme. But, and this is the big but, those of us who are AC fans have to realise that it's probably not as big a market as we'd like to believe it is. Plus, Bachmann ( or whoever for that matter ) have to ensure a return on their investment, more so now in these straightened times than ever . The sad fact is that at present, a tweaked or retooled steam loco or diesel will more likely be a better bet in terms of return on their investment, ( far greater market, ie greater sales potential ) than would than another AC Loco. Now, that may change with the passage of the years, I truly hope it does, sooner rather than later, but maybe we'll just have to be patient. As for future productions, I'd have thought an 81 would be the logical step for the boys from Barwell, ( Identical wheelbase to the 85 ). I also think that the sales potential for AC's would be given a shot in the arm if/when any projected British Overhead line systems become available. Here's hoping !!!!

Yes the same RM whose editor is sorta partial to diesels, ( Kyle of Tongue and Reighton being his layouts).