tomparryharry

Caveat Emptor. If you are only offered the sound -only option to anything, the solution is simple:- If you don't want it, don't buy it. Remember that a producer-any producer-is only offering product for sale. If it's not what you want, keep the money. Being a DC luddite, I'm quite happy to stay with DC. Paying perhaps 50% more is not my thing, I'd buy another locomotive, coach, etc. Producers get the message when the expected sales figures don't work out. Cheers, Ian.

HiT entertainment have screwed the life out of Thomas. Such is the extent, that several large Thomas events have (had) been cancelled, purely because of the financial implications of running the event. I'd guess that things like royalty payments cut deeply into any profit margins, with other interested parties having a say in how you can (or, in this case, cant) market 'your' product. Little wonder that Hornby have probably taken a difficult but necessary business decision. However, That leaves Hornby the space to focus on top-notch product. More power to them, I say! Cheers, Ian.

Off the top of my head, it would be the South Devon Railway, and the Gwili Railway, Camarthen. Cheers, Ian.

That's blessed close, very nice! I was thinking the enlarged 43/Manor/Grange. The oil firing is to cope with the increased firing rate. Still a 2-cylinder locomotive. The connecting rods are on the second set of drivers, to allow a larger firebox. The reciprocating mass would otherwise be quite close to the firebox throat. Cheers, Ian.

Hi Rob. The 2 lamps you are viewing are 'C' class headlamps, denoting a fitted express freight. Exactly as you've depicted in your two earlier pictures. You've caught it pretty much as it should be, even with the pep-pipe hanging over the firemans side. Cheers, Ian.

I'm thinking about an up-rated 47xx. Collet cab, and oil fired. Even possibly a 4-8-0. All of the lineage from the earlier 47xx. Numbered in the 4750 class. Cheers, Ian

I use cotton bud tubes as Bowden cable outers for my H&M point motors. Will need to stock up! Cheers, Ian.

I did make a turntable for the son of a friend of mine. His wife had to take it away in the end, as the squabbling was too much. Just a simple set-up, made out of 2 smallish sheets of hardboard, and 4 lengths of track. The excess track was sacrificed to make 4 pieces of profiled segments, so the table could turn. Ian.

My only 'observation' was that the 47xx was used on fitted freight work. As such, the train itself comprised stock which was almost exclusively vacuum brake fitted. On occasion, and by necessity, A non-fitted wagon would be removed deliberately to allow the booked train to run at the higher speed, or C headlamps. Please remember that the colouring scheme of a wagon allows operating staff to see at a glance that the correct 'style' of wagon, is in the correct diagram of train. Our grey wagon example puts the unfitted wagon quite close at the head of the train, effectively removing the vacuum braked portion to the rest of the train. A shunter will automatically think:- "What's that grey one doing there?" Having removed my pedantic glasses, back to the topic! Cheers, Ian.

You're the posh one, eh? We used to sleep under the bench...

Boiled eggs are bad for you. I was really hungry. So, I boiled off 3 eggs, shelled them, bread & butter, salt & pepper to suit. Lovely sandwiches. I walked out of the front door, got knocked down by the ambulance... I was really looking forward to those sarnies! BAH! Cheers, Ian.

My one & only observation across the last 5-odd pages of postings, is the grey van in the rake of vans. Non-fitted? Just an observation, mind.... Cheers, Ian.

That's nothing. I can name every pot-hole in Sloper road... That's a local Cardiff joke, for local people. Sorry, but I couldn't resist.... Cheers, Ian.

I like the edited & colourised pictures; They invoke a sense of imagination. Carry on Rob. Some people get out of the wrong side of bed in the morning. Cheers, Ian.

Nice video- thank you! There is a fair bit of slipping in the latter half. In real life, I'd guess you would be on the limit for your loco. Cheers, Ian.

There are a lot of glaziers in Stonehouse.

I looked at a house in Wyre Piddle, but it was a flash in the pan....

Anywhere near Cockermouth?

Black Dog comes & goes here. I'm hoping that the onset of sunny weather will chase him away. I have however, managed to stow away all of my train stuff, so at least it's retrievable. One thing that has happened, is to stop collecting/buying 'new' arrivals. If the loco wasn't in the shed allocation, then I can't have it. So, no Kings, 47xx etc despite how much I'd like it. It does help to keep me focussed on completing what I already have. I have a house to finish restoring, with a firm promise to myself to start on the railway room. That 'should' provide me with some impetus. Of course, anything could change in the next sentence... Cheers, Ian.

That's Gnu's to me. I'm off, before I create another Gnuisance. Fred Needle-Street

Yes please! Like you, I would also like a metro tank. However, It will depend on a number of factors. Has (of any manufacturer) shot themselves in the foot lately? If so, the furore that will befall the hapless producer will influence the next product. For now, I'll continue with my old Wills kit.... Cheers, Ian.

I'm slightly off-topic here, but here goes. I run the inglenook about twice-3 times a year. I'll try out new locomotives & wagon rake, just to make sure it works, and to shake it down, and any care & maintenance. Also, I need to ensure I keep on top of the game! At home, it's an hour or 3, remembering that an interactive show will be 8 hours or so. The logical conclusion is to enlarge the operation. As you will know, adding a wagon or 4 will increase the solutions exponentially. However, it's sometimes the company one keeps.... Tempus Fugit. Cheers, Ian.

In essence, that's what it's all about. Nice.

Streetley is a standard 5-3-3 inglenook. You can get about 40,300 permutations with this, and you can run a solution in about 3-4 minutes. I take a different rake of wagons, and a different locomotive every year. I keep meaning to get a 24 wagon puzzle together, which is (I need to check) some 20+ million solutions. I'm still trying to get a TOPS style readout, but I haven't managed that just yet. Operating can in reality take any amount of time really: It's your enjoyment, so enjoy! Cheers, Ian.

You should look up the Gloucester, Oxford & East Suffolk Railway. The GOES turned out some lovely locomotives. Naturally, they go very well... Tootle Pip! Ian.