Hesperus

I'm probably heading into the realms of fantasy here too but if I was setting out to make a bi-mode train from the vast pool of surplus ex-BR stock I would use an AC EMU like a 365 between the HST power cars. The amount of rewiring required would probably rule it out though.

I suppose technology has moved on, 20 years since the first ones entered service.

Sorry I'd forgotten about that, I usually check the prices online then buy the ticket from the ticket office at Ludlow Station as they are really nice and deserve the business.

We all know that you can buy tickets direct from the operators and National Rail Enquiries but the public tend to take the first hit on Google which I imagine TL pay a high price for. I just put a random journey in (Ludlow to Paddington) and prices were mostly the same although NR offered a cheap ticket on the first train that Trainline missed. From that I assume TL gets the tickets at a wholesale price? I wonder if all ticket sellers get them at the same price? I imagine people are less upset with TL as they didn't get BR assets at a knock down price then rent them back to government subsidised operators at a vast profit. I realise that the ROSCO's have been shown to offer better value to the taxpayer than the DaFT procured farce of IEP but frankly what wouldn't look better value than IEP?

They do a more modern type https://scalescenes.com/product/r023a-diesel-depot/. It has a pitched roof if built according to the instructions but looks like it could be built with a flat roof if you could source suitable roof vents. Alternatively there is a free 3 road shed here http://www.wordsworthmodelrailway.co.uk/railside.html

According to Vivarail the hybrid diesel and battery units for Wrexham to Bidston are currently being tested.

The 159s would be far better deployed elsewhere and a electro-diesel unit introduced in their place. They are amongst the best DMU's available in the country and even if electrification policy was reversed tomorrow there will still be thousands of miles of non-electrified route for them to work when they retire in 10-20 years time. If the engineers want something to tinker with then there are hundreds of EMUs looking for new homes. Perhaps a small coach with a diesel engine and alternator could be attached like on the new Flirt units? To save the need for a corridor through it you could put it at the far end of the train like a 21st century 33/1. With one big engine providing the power rather than a dozen small ones any exhaust scrubbing you needed to add would be cheaper and easier too. I really do despair about this subject. Billions of pounds is being spent trying to electrify the road network with battery vehicles which are fine for commuters cars but are going to be hopelessly inefficient for larger vehicles or longer distances as the batterys need to be huge. Just electrify the railways and increase fuel tax until long distance traffic moves to them. Big cities could reintroduce trolley buses making use of modern batteries to give flexability the old ones lacked. I write this as a country dweller who drives his diesel car 6 miles to work as there is no alternative, I'll get an electric one when the prices drop (or the fuel prices rise).

The big drop in car fuel economy has more to do with increased weight. Compare an 80s Citroen BX 1.9 diesel estate at 1220kg with a C4 Picasso 2.0 Hdi (that has less space inside) at 2040kg. I'm not certain the fuel economy has fallen much though as my partners 2011 Focus 1.6 Tdci (1352kg) is about 30% better on fuel than my 1994 Peugeot 405 turbo diesel (1210kg). Neither the BX or 405 will achieve 70mpg in normal use but the Focus will on a long run.

First rate modelling, just a shame that the barge is too big. I think it would still be too big for the space if you cut it down. Could you use a half submerged rowing boat or small sailing boat?

A thought struck me while reading that. A removable building could be timber with a low brick base. The brick base could be glued down and blended into the scenary and the timber part could slot over the top. The layout is looking really good, the colours really work together.

With houses that close to the tracks it reminds me of the old Timothy Hackworth museum in the days before the NRM arrived in Shildon.

I went on Saturday with a friend and my kids and really enjoyed it. I hadn't planned on coming due to lack of babysitter but bumped into my friend the night before and said sod it, really glad I did. Arun Quay was definitely the highlight along with the big SM32 layout I forget the name of (my friend has the programe). Its a shame the site was down just beforehand as I couldn't see who would be there to say hello to. I've been slacking off the modelling a bit lately so it was a good spur to get on with it.

I think I must be missing something obvious here. The built up one painted grey looks right to me whereas the plain wooden one looks wrong. Doors and gates are generally framed with the diagonal running up from the bottom of the hinged side to the top of the opening side as the smaller models of longer syphons show. Edit ah, now I see. Could you grind down the wooden supports on the unpainted one with a Dremel and replace them with some wood cut to shape?

Ditton Priors Halt was the terminus of the Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors light railway. I was working about a mile from it today while my kids were at school at the other end of the line. It could have been an interesting commute many years ago as it was served by an aerial ropeway from the quarrys behind my house.

http://pathetic.org.uk/unbuilt/m67_manchester_to_sheffield_motorway/

The engineer on the program implied that BR went for the proven SIG bogie rather than the experimental BREL T4 but I imagine there were several factors.

The rather nice repaint into IC Swallow has passed you by? https://www.flickr.com/photos/139576527@N07/31996013908

I'd been meaning to head up to sample the 37's but life got in the way and I forgot all about it. Not all was lost though as I visited Barrow on the 28th to collect a trailer. I saw one propelling a rake just as I headed away from the town, didn't realise it was the last day

It strikes me as a good station building for a pizza layout, I've had to stop myself from starting another layout.

I'm sorry I don't, I had it in the late 90's but all my magazines from back then were chucked out after living in a damp shed. I've looked on Ebay and can't see it listed at the moment. It was around the time they were printing card kits inside the covers which really won't have helped its chances of survival.

These look fantastic, how are you getting on?

Bumpety bump, hit the same link for the xmas 18 download.

Surely you need to build something based in North Wales, preferably 2' gauge on a slate baseboard.

With the lack of beard that must be Ponder Stibbons.

I really like how this is coming together, you can just imagine Colon and Nobby walking down that street trying not to see anything amiss. Your username amuses me too, my best mate turned up on the other forum I use with under the handle Dodgytom. If you look in the link on my signiture below there is my take on Ankh Morpork which could really do with popping down from the loft for a bit soon.