plarailfan

The "Merit" / "Modelscene" luggage, suitcases and trunks can be had for £2.45 http://www.petersspares.com/modelscene-5062-trunks-x4-suitcases-x6-trolley-sack-truck-x2-oo-gauge.ir Dinky Toys collectors seem to be queueing up to pay ridiculous prices for them ! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DINKY-TOYS-TRUCKS-SUITCASES-4-SUIT-JAGUAR-MK-10-IMP-VW-1500-ETC-/161408145840?pt=UK_ToysGames_DiecastVehicles_DiecastVehicles_JN&hash=item2594acd9b0

Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion, BLEVE, is absolutely terrifying. I was shown this shocking video (which subsequently appeared on youtube) as part of some training many years ago, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf3WKTwHpIU

Sad to hear this. I would have thought a model shop would do very well at such a prominent location, not just from the enthusiast sector, but all the casual tourists and other visitors in the area making an impulse purchase of a small / starter train set, etc. After the recent expiry of the Kickstarter, N gauge, Great Western railcar project, I fear for the future of our hobby as, while some aspects of it are buoyant, a large share of the market appears to be gradually sinking !

This is an absolutely huge subject James. Here's a MK1 catering vehicle, which is sandwiched, between MK 2, air braked / air conditioned vehicles. As you can see, the MK 2's don't have any opening windows (except on the doors) https://www.flickr.com/photos/deepgreen2009/7548553582/ Here is a MK 1 catering vehicle, like your model, except this one has been fitted Commonwealth bogies. https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/3903762126/in/photolist-6WXNty-cfLsC9-dhNjD5-bDfvYy-m7yHJK-cWGDxU-edqh1j-------------------------------------------/ Again, this coach has MK 2 vehicles, these are basically an upgraded MK 1 design, in that they have opening windows - the air conditioning was a later development. If you have a look around model railway exhibition / railway preservation groups, trade stands, or maybe try ebay, you may well find some of the, Platform 5, coaching stock pocket books and similar publications that have been published over the years. Aim to find one with a good sprinkling of photo's.

The 2KTechy people, mentioned in the first listing, are a well stocked shop, which is 15 - 20 mins from my home (depending on traffic). I go there sometimes and have actually bought a few detail / scenics from them, but you do have to be careful, as other model shops in West Yorks can often be cheaper. Many's the time I've been the only customer in there, so I think most of their trade is done online ! I mention this, mainly as a "heads up" to anyone who happens to be passing the Halifax area but I wouldn't travel a long way, just to make a special journey to travel there unless you don't mind paying full RRP etc ! They do have quite a decent range of bits 'n bobs though, which, I expect, takes them out of the "box shifters league. No doubt some of their stock will remain on the shelves for a while ?

Here's one of my photo's of of Deltic 21 at Huddersfield https://www.flickr.com/photos/41294071@N02/3815780796/in/photolist-6PcaZs-6PbSG5 I was overjoyed when these started working through to Liverpool. The most memorable part of these journeys was racing up the bank, from Manchester Victoria, to Miles Platting - the brakes had to be applied for the curve through the station, which never seemed to happen when Peaks or 47's were working the train !

There's a review here, which says B4 bogies were used to replace the original bogies as they wore out. Some MK1's had commonwealth bogies, which all adds variety to our models and in the late 1970's / early 1980's blue / grey era, all three types of bogie could commonly be found, in one rake of MK1 coaches. http://www.semgonline.com/model/bach-mk1_01.html

Here's a load of trash, which looks like it came from one of those budget price train sets they often stock in my local "Poundstretcher" store http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-00-8-wheel-Bullion-Van-Weathered-/151411489197?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item2340d3f9ad The seller also has this, er, charming item and he says more can be produced - if they prove popular http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LNER-D51-Drummond-4-4-0T-ex-NBR-Limited-edition-Hand-built-special-/151406425865?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item234086b709

My latest rail related shot, was actually a clip of 66 430 hauling a 37 through Deighton station yesterday ( I missed the 37's number ) https://www.flickr.com/photos/41294071@N02/15143789705/

The MK1 coach at Huddersfield, mentioned a little earlier, was lifted into position by a road crane. Here's a photo I took on that Sunday way back in 1985 https://www.flickr.com/photos/41294071@N02/3813563967/in/photolist-6NZvGT-6Pb63U-6TYkPi-6PbSG5-6Pbo7A-6TXRji-6PNH6H-6PRT8m-9wCAgX-8rFHU3-6TGU1P-7ZxECy-8rFJhY-9gUqGw-9NsP7a-9idF1n-6PMxDT-9N7qVb-6PMrmk-6PnFXm-gW4P68-7ZusXM-7ZutJk-9gUvYE-gMRvmx-9wDaJP-6Ubebb-9gUsMs-6TGRQv-9gUrj5-7BSFLS-9wC9eH-9wvCoo-8Pd1Lu-8Uex3L-9wFy2s-9gUtLs-9gRj8c-9gUrEU-6UbeSd-fDDt8e-6Uas6C-7ZxCQL-7ZxC1A-7Zusda-7ZutjK-kScaz2-7ZxBAs-7VSAuV-73DB84

The Low Moor to Dudley Hill line, at Bierley, on the outskirts of Bradford stirs my imagination - it closed in 1917 after only 24 years of use ! There's very little on the internet about this line and here are the remains of a bridge across the very rural, Shetcliffe Lane. https://www.flickr.com/photos/41294071@N02/11029720456/in/photolist-

If you do go by car, you could park at one of the tram stations and then go into Manchester by tram, to save car parking charges. I tend to drive over to Newhey, which is just off the M62 and the tram on that route, goes almost past the superb, "Arcadia" at Shaw, where there is, indeed a tram stop ! There's a free and regular bus service, that goes around Manchester city centre to the Science and Industry Museum (MOSI) Hope this helps Simon.

Some problems developing here, clearly on borrowed time ! I like the part of the description where it says "test run - runs ok" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-OO-R2413-BR-BLUE-WEATHERED-CLASS-31270-LOCO-/131191722958?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

Anyone know which model shop, etc, sells the buffers on this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-OO-MOTORISED-R-CAR-/181405709556?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

My local newsagent has a "Mallard" in stock at the moment and it looks to be quite a nice model, but, on closer inspection, I noticed none of the wheels on the front pony truck are in contact with the track on the display plinth ! I was delighted to see on the packaging, that one of the production Deltics is planned to follow later in the series.

There's quite an active group of rail enthusiasts meet in the Navigation pub, just at the side of Mirfield station and from time to time, guest speakers are invited, such as Pete Waterman. I heard that one of these guest speakers was reported as saying none of the freight companies had "chipped in" to help with the cost of this particular scheme as they would not be able to make use of it when it's finished, The rail served Yorkshire and Humberside terminals, for example, along with Midland Road Freightliner depot, are off the routes that will be wired when the scheme comes to fruition. I must say though, I can't wait to see class 86 hauled railtours coming past my home !

Think I will ask my family to have a "whip round" so I can have one of these for Christmas http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPERB-Rivarossi-HR2017-METAL-GERMAN-DB-LIVERY-2-10-0-CLASS-BR-58-DCC-READY-/400596245623?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item5d45659c77&nma=true&si=E%252BLU%252FH9sQuBABBM%252Bd5TKws5l4NY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 or there's a cheaper one here, from the same seller http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPERB-Rivarossi-HR2017-METAL-GERMAN-DB-LIVERY-2-10-0-CLASS-BR-58-DCC-READY/370944898721?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D19103%26meid%3D3108317017347442451%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D8669%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D400596245623%26 ebay must have been delighted with the selling fee collected from the first one ?

There were some Lego trains at a local exhibition I visited recently, so, being rather curious to know more, I took a look on ebay and discovered this unpowered loco ! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEGO-Trains-10194-EMERALD-NIGHT-NEW-SEALED-/331072046233?pt=UK_Construction_Toys_Kits&hash=item4d156e8499 They are probably a similar size to comparable O gauge models, but with the track curvature probably being similar to the 1950's Hornby clockworks stuff, so I suppose you get quite a bit for your money ? I can't decide really, although I must say, the class 37 / 47 Diesel loco's on display at the exhibition were quite nice,

Lots of goods wagons in use, in the UK these days, have spring brakes, (they were just being introduced when I left BR back in the 1990's) so when the the air pressure does leak off, the springs will apply the brakes until such time as air is pumped back into the system to release the springs. Maybe this incident in Canada will prompt wider use of these spring brakes, although, the cost will obviously be considerable !

Yes, that's what I was thinking too ! I mean, the 78 bogie wagons in this incident, is quite a length. Applying, say one handbrake in every five, for example, would surely take almost two hours ? I know it's not the case here, but Imagine too, if all the locomotives had been shut down, while the train was stabled overnight, then the air pressure throughout the train would have dropped considerably and may take well over an hour to build back up again, once the loco's were re-started, I would have thought ? (I heard of one case, from a friend on holiday in Canada, that he observed a freight train there, take most of the day to build up sufficient pressure)

I should imagine the freight companies will be thrilled when normal service resumes ! Taking the "Binliner" trains from the Manchester area to Roxby Gullet, as an example, the diversion adds around an hour in each direction onto the journey time, so I understand. Just imagine the extra fuel being consumed over a month, for instance. I wonder if any compensation might be available sometime later, or will the freight operators just have to grin and bear this extra cost ?

Long Suffren ? I never saw the layout, but, as a mere 'yoof' was fascinated by it in a 1977 issue of Railway Modeller. Another RM layout, a year or two later, which I thought was great, was Cheslyn Bay - a mainline / seafront layout, with up and down passing loops, which had maroon livery "wizzo's" pulling in, to let faster trains race past. Boldon Junction and Bee Lane have come along in more recent years - fantastic modern image, large layouts, fully re-creating up to the minute operations.