Calimero

Just received mine, well impressed, need some track and some wagons now.

Coming out of Kings Cross via the Widened Lines so probably off Southern from Northfleet or the Medway Valley?

Must admit most recently I've found Llanborne North Wales and Bradfield Gloucester Square pretty inspirational. I'll add them to my list of Buckingham Central and Bob Hegge's Crooked Mountain Lines.

Southminster branch.

Princes Risboro - Aynho Jnc. Of course doubled again recently, well I say recently but actually looking at nigh on 20 years!

Always been interested in trains, started on BR morphing into Mainline, EWS then via Chiltern, DRS, Southeastern, Overground and back to DRS. Just got back into modelling but my modelling has been hampered for many years by trying to be a perfectionist getting right stock, wagons etc for the era. So I said sod it, it's for my enjoyment no one else's and have started building a Southern region layout. The stock is wrong, the modelling practices unorthodox and construction methods carried out on a scale of agricultural to industrial! I still enjoy my job despite the railways being clinical and somewhat boring at times but satisfy my time searching for old railways, reading up on the history and mooching around for relics. I also like to try and imagine some of the places I work and drive to in model form, I've quite a catalogue of plans and ideas for layouts that will never be built but so what!

The brake handle is similar to a normal air brake on any other loco but also electrically energises the tap changer, relay valves signal the amount of rheostatic braking in relation to air braking. From the DVT or DBSO (Intercity days) the TDM controls the electrical signals to loco via the RCH cables.

Also stations like Clacton tend to have units left stabled in the platforms as opposed to shunting to adjacent sidings. More to do with the changes to services and need for stock. When we work the RHTT into there on an afternoon the platforms are full of Desirios and Dusty Bins waiting to head to London for the evening peak.

Having said that we used to have 'Wash & Return' jobs at Aylesbury, work the 165s to London via the Met or the Western then shunt out then in through the carriage washer then shunt back into platform for a return working.

Cleaning would happen in the terminus on arrival, carriage cleaners would go through prior to next departure. Carriage washing would be done at a larger depot usually at end of day after services finish. Only time trains would move to sidings would be say end of peak when they would be stabled until next working usually afternoon peak or at times when the service goes quiet.

You could add a second road next to the carriage washer, usually referred to as "Bypass" so as to allow shunting movements without setting the carriage washer off.

Nearest is Holbeach off Lincolnshire coast.

Is it the 1960s, perhaps there's been some sort of USAF cock up involving a B47 and a nuclear bomb?

Think EWS had control of it in end as it was a dumping ground for old wagons.

I'm liking the click and collect option via Argos, brilliant as it's easy to pick up and the wife doesn't know! I recently sold some motorbike gear on EBay, I didn't plan it to sell abroad but the buyer came from Bulgaria. He contacted me and asked for some quotes but specifically asked for me to not use Royal Mail as they are unreliable and overpriced. I sent it Hermes which aren't the greatest but I dropped it off at despatch point and he got in two days!

Although I was on one this morning which struggled to pull a 66! Some of them are pretty tired now, although I recall many years back, when BR, being on some old dogs! The interior and exterior was rotten, heaters were non-existent and damp inside. Yet they were the predominant traction on Tilbury and Felixstowe liners, engineering jobs and tanks off Thameshaven.

The 66 was/is and when EWS came about the then Grande Fromage, Ed Burkhardt, said there would be a clear out of locos especially the 47 which was maintenance heavy but the 37 was an issue as there wasn't any similar product offered new.

Seems odd that this was in 2002, seems an age ago that I worked on these! These were cracking units, went like a Ferrari and stopped like a Supertanker!

Thanks all for the advice and help, haven't things changed since the humble old tube of glue!

I was nervous about stepping into DCC but I've found the NCE powercab a good buy and easy to use. I've also found that the Hattons chips work well and not too expensive either, I just went bog standard route no sound etc as that doesn't really interest me.

A number of things have happened, Locos and DBSO have had faults but also the Drivers are restricted in what they can do.

Any particular brand? Any particular brands? Is there a brand out there? An EBay search brings up large amounts of chemicals!

Perhaps a bit of a bone question but are there any recommended types of glue/cement/solvents that you use and/or swear by? I've some plastic kits to start making from Peco Buffer Stops, Cambrian & Parkside wagon kits, DC Kits and some scratch building too. I've not done this for many years and am I fine with a bog standard Humbrol or Revel solvent or am I better off obtaining something else? Thank you for your help.

Interesting phonecall and order made there, "Hello this is GB Railfreight, I'd like to order two tonnes of glitter please."

That reminds me of the time trains were brought to a stand near Bethnal Green because of a horse on the track. "Sorry for any delay but there is a horse on the track" said the Driver over the PA. Cue lots of tutting, eye rolling and cursing about British Rail and their excuses followed by a horse trotting past the train!