Bomag

Given that we are told the GWR invented/adopted everything first (except for any paint not Brunswick green) why weren't GW branch lines laid with FB rail? We want to know these facts!!! I can foresee some future nit picking with this track - whether the keys are in the right side of the chair!

If I was traveling on the CME I don't think I would be that dispointed with a pair of Black 5s, particularly over the S&C. They should give better sound effects and at least they they are not the wrong colour of green. At least I can now have a lie-in on Saturday.

It is one think to say that a model does not have an authentic livery (but politely) but it is another to assume, and say, that the actual loco has a livery that is not authentic as it was was not painted like that before a set date after which the loco stopped being 'real'. In terms of FS it seams that it either has to be exactly like it was in the 1930's (aka Apple Green) or in the 1950's/60's (aks BR Green). Well I would like it to be eaxctly the same as I remeber it in the 1980's, but I don't expect it. So FS is in a perfecly historical accurate livery; the livery of Jan 2016. So, to those that critisise that fact that they have not chosen to paint it in your prefered livery; the livery is not wrong becsuse the owner - NRM - has not said it was intending to replicate the condition and livery of a set date in the past.

Well they do all look the same, so it's not hard!

Up until mid 1990 (well 13th July at least) all the A/C stock were Mk2D with some Mk2E FOs. The standard formation was BFK/FOs/RBR/TSOs/BSO from south to north. There was an inbalance of BFKs to BSOs so some sets had the odd BG esp the boat train (which also had a RMB). I cannot remember any of the TSO(T)s ever being used as a buffet. By then nearly everything was in ICE livery; B/G had disapeared, I don't think it was high up on the list for ICS so only a few of these were noticable. By the end of 1990 the Mk2D/E coaches would have started to be replaced by the Mk2F from the WCML (which were displaced by Mk3s from Scotrail)

Possibly Strathisla on the Keith - Duftown line or Dallas Dhu on the Grantown - Forres line. The line from Grantown to Aberlour had a number of Distilaries but that is at the bottom of the Spey valley and you would proabbly see some hills in the background.

While some may want to save money, others, like myself dislike have two powered vehicles at either end of a train. This is not only due to issues with balance of push/pull but because it is a pain when they go between sections.

I would keep that quiet; pefering 47s to anything other that HSTs (or perhaps 31/4s) in the mid to late 1980's was considered to be a bit odd.

The BSK is not a good base for a BSO.That is not to say the BCK is close to a BSO either but at normal vewing distance (and with the first class stripe removed) I would say that most people would need to look twice to notice the difference. The BSK has 4 seating bays, one loo and two sets of doors to the van area. The BCK has 5 bays, two loos and a single set of van doors The BSO has 5 bays, one loo and a single set of van doors

150/2 had been used since they went to 3 TPN trains an hour. The first 158 in Leeds I saw which was not obviously on test was on the 14th (158734) - LHCS was used until I stoped commuting on 18th Jan (with a gap until September) which is why I could not give a date. As with the Mk4s at that time the door sensors on some 158s were a bit tempermental. As for the 31s I never saw any on TPN services only on the S&C trains when they origonated in Hull.

While 158s started to turn up from about the 14th Jan 1991 the final vehicles were not in service until New Year 1992 (the last centre car). The 158s took over from the 150's and the Liverpool to Newcastle service continued to be L/H for some/most of the year. There was the occaional pre-res red 47s, it depended what CD had working!

I was on a EMT HST forming the 7:20 Leeds to KX. An older lady (who had obvious used EC/VEC quite a bit) was talking to guard OL - this is a different train than normal, this is going to London? G - yes its going to London, but its not our normal stock. OL - I heard that your trains were going to be improved - this is very much better with proper tables and more comfortable seats. G - no this is not our train, we have hired it from East Midlands trains and our other trains won't end up like this. OL - pity. Apart from the smelly brakes and dodgy 1970s colour combination its been a race to the bottom for comfort (only partially ofset by power sockets). PS Last month I had to do London to Reading in stearage on a FGW HST. It was so awful I elected to travel back in a turbostar on a Slough only stop service.

That is more likely to be south of Ely, although there were some bits around Downham like that. Other bits, such as Denver sluice have much higher embankments as the fens have sunk.

There are not that many 175 mileposts. If it is roughly the same time as the other two then could be Hambleton Jct just before the wires got there, but the bridge looks to be to old. PS 175 from Paddington is plain line (Whiteball, St Fagins and a field north of Shrewsbury) 175 from Euston is Weaver junction which would be wired, or the outskirts of Chester. 175 from StP was on the closed bit off the MML north of Wath 175 from KX is Hambleton and Wakefield Westgate South Jct. 175 on the GC seems to be on the Met lines south of Aylesbury

This totally 'derailed' Mk2F and 47 issue is why I never bother asking Dapol or Bachmann about thier timescales at exhibitions. I have to say though that the Bachmann responce does highlight that they have no 47/4s left so may may see some more in 2016! As for a 117 it would be nice (as would a 116) as long as it does not look out of place with the Dapol 122/121.

Now if it was a B5 bogie it would not be so bad

Paul You fail to understand my point that I am not saying that I won't buy one (or more) but that it was not clear which version was being offered. With the cost of models I can't afford to buy everything, therefore something which is 'near but not quite' is going to be in the queue behind the many models which are right for the periods and locations I model. In this case the £600 which could of gone to a couple of trains worth of 321/3 is probably going to the Dapol 252. If the 321/4 and 321/9 sell well then there may be an early version 321/3 or 322 in which case I would likely buy these in preference to something else. You will always get Rule 1 models which are outside these considerations, e.g. a Cl390 or a Maroon, B/G, or Jaffa CL309 (hint hint).

With my eyesight I can tell the difference between a 321/3 and 321/4 when running, but not reading the set numbers. If you meant that 4 sets would run together, then they would be run as two 8 car sets; however, when testing in 1989 4 set trains did turn up in Colchester yard.

There were no 321/4s on the GEML in 1989/90 (which is the limited period I model for for this area, as I mentioned in my post), there were only the first batch of 321/3s. Your comment would be like saying I was being a bit picky running a Hawksworth County on a pre-war GWR layout. As I mentioned I am not saying they got it wrong by not doing an early 321/3 but that they should make it clear which options they will be offering.

The point was not moaning was that you were not doing 321/3 at this point it was that if I was not aware of that and if I put down I would buy 4 NSE 321s you would suddenly find a lower number being actually ordered when the it came to chose (and pay). That would not help you. I will will still be down for a couple (or all three) of 321/9s and some Northern 322 if you get round to it. In terms of why I would not get a 321/4; while I would buy a 390 on the rule one principle a 321 would need to fit in to the locations I model (in this case West Yorks and GEML 1989/90). While many modellers would get a model if it is just close to what they want with the cost of models something in the 'nice to have' bracket may mean that from some you get a couple ordered instead of six.

The issue with the roof vents on the prototypes and Mk3a TSO/FO and having a replacement roof has been covered before on the forum and was not going to be a runner.

Plus we won't need to wait for the TGS!

I would update the page to make it clear you are not doing a 321/3 - I may be interested in 321/9 and 322 but definitely would buy several (4+) NSE 321/3. As for the point about Kings Lynn and 321s an additional six units were ordered for KL services but these ended up as 443 to 448 (which is why the vehicle numbers are lower than sets 431 to 442). Some 321s were used during the testing of the wires but I am not aware of any being used on services once the through trains switched to KX.

For West Riding services there can be any variation of 155/153/150/142/144 combinations. On the Harrogate line its seems having two of the same type of unit on the same service is less than 50%. Combinations with 158s isn't as common (at least when I travel) and there are less combinations with 156s than there seemed to be.

The Republic of Ireland is not the same as the Island of Ireland, just as England is not the same as Great Britain.