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If something special really has to be done maybe Simon Kohler and his entourage could travel on a Merseyrail service from Liverpool Central to Maghull to mark Frank Hornby's places of birth and death. There would be a launch ceremony for an all-new model of a class 86 86411 Frank Hornby and possibly a bonus announcement of a class 507 EMU at Maghull

I suspected any celebratory event would be in Kent. They might name another Javelin or name an Electrostar instead with that being its launch model for the EMU.

A new DCC compatible ready ballasted track system taking advantage of best practices from Kato and Rocoline would be a significant development. As well as integral point motors there could be easy provision for fitting train detection devices and/or uncouplers. Moreover it could become the standard track offered across all of Hornby's international brands.

Usually have a quick recce, then focus on specific layouts and traders as required. I usually allow just over 2 hours or so for the biggest events and a bit less for smaller shows especially if the layouts and traders are familiar.

Greensgrove as depicted during the post-steam, pre-TOPS era, 1972-73. Spanking new blue/grey 4VEP 7830 runs through with class 33 D6506 held on loop.

Here's "Westgrove Stadium" in its full configuration, including truncated passing loop track as siding, depicted in about 1989. 4VEP 3456 had just been refurbished but quickly got filthy and received the attention of graffiti artists. 37254 is recessed in the siding with a train for Brassey Engineering. The custom-made signs are on their way to me so once they've arrived platform fittings will be added shortly.

Hornby might also re-run their Limby 47s in response to last year's Heljan's announcement of their newly re-tooled 47s

According to Bachmann's website, I found out my long-desired Bachmann 31-146A BR early crest lined black D11/1 62667 Somme is expected February 2020. For personal reasons it'll be re-numbered as Northwich-based 62665 Mons. This'll add an ex-Cheshire Lines dimension to this above mini collection.

Probably the best way to represent the late 80s and subsequently would be to look at info of trains running on the Castle Cary-Weymouth line at the time. I think this line would have been run by the Western Region, subsequently by Provincial and Regional Railways. From 1963 the Southern/Western Regions' boundary was just north of Blandford Forum. When Templecombe station reopened in the early 80s I imagine the S&D line's boundary point would have moved at the same time just due north of Templecombe because by then that station was part of the Southern Region.

Marklin myWorld's trains are better developed than Hornby Junior at present http://www.gaugemaster.com/marklinmyworld.html maybe they should be the yardstick Hornby has to aspire to

Today I ordered custom-made Network SouthEast signage "Westgrove Stadium" from Sankey Scenics.

I'm getting the impression there'll be few newly-tooled items announced in 2020. However they'll upgrade several locos and units to be "sound ready" For newly-tooled locos, my predictions are a 94XX pannier to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first loco made by Graham Farish in 1970 and a class 25/2 or 25/3. I predict the only newly-tooled item of rolling stock will be the Freightliner FFA/FGA flats. Farish will upgrade the Jubilee and Scot to be "sound ready" with new loco-drive chassis. The 37, 101 and 150 will also receive the same treatment. The birdcage set will appear in malachite. Mk2fs will appear in (contemporary) ScotRail and DRS liveries. 150/1 to appear in original Centro livery, 150/2 in Merseytravel livery.

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the original Graham Farish's foray into N (source: Wikipedia - edited for spelling) The initial launch consisted of a 94XX pannier, 4 wheel coaches, bogie suburban stock (based on Period 2 LMS suburban stock) and mainline bogie stock (based on Southern coaches) As Bachmann has a OO scale 94XX in development, my guess is that the same loco will be announced in N.

Here's my final speculation on re-liveried and re-issued items: Hornby will give the class 91 and Mk4s a final runout in LNER livery. plus "retro" 91019 in InterCity livery. 67, Mk4s and DVT to appear in Transport for Wales livery. I'm assuming after review by Lyndon Davies and Simon Kohler next year there'll be much clearer differentiation between "full fat" and Railroad ranges. For models made from pre-2000 tooling I suspect they've reviewed each model and drawn up plans to replace them completely with new models (eg as happened with the Terrier, Large Prairie), transfer those into the Railroad range if still viable (most Limby diesels, 4F) or retire them for good (nearly all ex-Margate tooling). As long as the tooling is in good order I foresee more reruns of popular prototypes at affordable prices, already happening with the class 66s. As Accurascale has launched plans for a class 37 I think Hornby will churn out several contemporary versions in response. 101, 156 and the Pacer to become part of the Railroad range for the first time; all of those will have TTS fitted as standard. A 153 will appear in one of the Wessex Trains liveries and will be TTS fitted. As part of Hornby's centenary celebrations several items of stock will appear in retro Hornby Dublo packaging including 46232 Duchess of Montrose, N2 69567, 7013 Bristol Castle and the 08 shunter.

After reading through the previous pages of this topic here's my final speculation on new toolings about what'll be announced on 6th January. 2020 is the centenary of Hornby and there'll be celebrations including a bumper programme of new toolings and re-releases. To honour the company's founder Frank Hornby, Hornby will announce a completely new 86 411 named after him in special packaging, as well as other versions of the 86/2 class in rail blue and InterCity swallow liveries. Provision will be made to backdate it to original AL6 version. It's 20 years ago that the first new generation of Hornby's superdetailed steam locos arrived in the shops. The launch model, rebuilt MN 35028 Clan Line, will be re-released as an all-new tooling. To celebrate Hornby's tinplate heritage, a brand new LNER D49 4-4-0 will be announced with tooling options for both Shire and Hunt classes, with correct combinations of details for both classes throughout their lives for the first time ever. Locos offered will be 249 Yorkshire and 201 Bramham Moor both in LNER green in special commemorative packaging. A brand new Southern L1 4-4-0 will also be announced including A759 in olive green in special commemorative packaging. Hornby also wants modellers to make up authentic formations. In tandem with the launch of Clan Line, a 1951 U class Pullman and a 21st century version SR gangwayed luggage van will be released to create an authentic Golden Arrow formation. A set of matching LBSCR Stroudley 4-wheelers will be announced as a follow-up to their Terriers. A newly tooled 1970s/80s era Mk1 BG without periscope, end steps and roof handrails on B4 bogies will be launched as part of a tie-up with Oxford Rail's Mk3 range to assemble an authentic WCML loco-hauled service; the DVT will also be reintroduced. 2020 is also the 60th anniversary of the Bluebell Railway's preservation. A commemorative train pack of Stepney, LSWR lav 3rd 320 and SR Maunsell BCK 6575, the carriages in blue, will be released. To top it all, long-desired Maunsell U 2-6-0 launched with Bluebell's 1638 in SR olive green but with future tooling provision for ex-River class rebuilds. 2020 is also the centenary of the introduction of several steam designs. An Urie S15 4-6-0 will be released. An original design NER B16 4-6-0 will surely be welcomed as a companion to their Q6. Hornby wants to develop the Scottish market further; a Great North of Scotland Rly F (LNER D40) 4-4-0 introduced that year will be released in several liveries including preserved 49 Gordon Highlander. Finally, Hornby will release a retooled 4VEP to correct several weaknesses and it'll be offered in blue/grey (non-refurbished) and Connex (refurbished).

I bet Hornby will announce an all-new class 86 ... ... with 86414 Frank Hornby released as a special commemorative edition

More locos/units sound-enabled - classes 101 and 150 DMUs All-new V2 to appear with open-spoked wheels and provision for sound. Also all-new class 25/3, class 90 150/1 in Silverlink and original Centro liveries 150/2 in pristine Provincial and Regional Railways' Merseyside PTE liveries

It's great that Hornby just released a GWR train set consisting of HST and a centre carriage because they've used tooling which existed for years but they missed a trick by issuing the 5-car GWR IET and LNER Azuma (forthcoming) units only as premium-priced models. The Southeastern Trains' Javelins were issued in both Railroad/train set and full-fat versions. I think an 800 or 802 could be issued in a train set version next year, the Transpennine livery would look visually stunning if sold as such.

Although I didn't proceed with scenery work on Xmas Day, today I made progress: Glued in all my offcuts of grass matting in place (finishing cleaning off loads of glue off my fingers) ; Fitted all platform fencing. I'll need to weather all that in as well as erecting lamps, shelter and signage.

Next year's the 50th anniversary of the filming of The Railway Children on the Worth Valley. Could Hornby beat Bachmann with an all-new 57xx pannier tank, one of which will be available in the film's GN&SR livery? Whether they'll model the Metropolitan Railway's carriages that accompanied the pannier in the film is another matter.

Yesterday I wanted to paint the obligatory white platform edge, but opened up the enamel tin and found the paint hard and dry. So I visited a non-railway hobby store to buy more Humbrol paint. However I've fixed down all trackside walls, including covered-up graffiti, fencing and the platform. Holes have been pre-drilled in the platform to fit fences. Next stage will be laying grass matting to fill gaps between tracks and structures; I can do this over Xmas and Boxing Days.

I'm surprised that Hornby hasn't picked up modelling SECR rebuilt D1 and E1 4-4-0s as well as a 21st century revival of their Triang L1 4-4-0

Here's the module in its own storage box. One side folds down so that the layout board can be quickly extracted and replaced without damage. A lid holds both sides up and protects the layout from dust and damage. Its storage box is 21 cm high to accommodate station lamp posts. However the platform needs another coat of tarmac-coloured paint before gluing down on the board.

Suffice to say ... the "Westfield Stadium" station referred to in the last post is now boxed up and any damage sustained whilst in open storage will be rectified. It's been boxed up to prevent further damage (mind you, more space needed!) and I'm painting the platform which was missing in the last post. I hope this platform will be fixed down over the Xmas period; my ideal aim is to get this module completed in the immediate New Year period because I'll need to procure suitable Network SouthEast signage. PS over 19,000 have viewed my efforts so far ... thanks to all who may relate to my home situation ... will celebrate when I reach 20K hits

Next year's also the 60th anniversary of BR's last new steam loco built so Hornby will release a special commemorative edition of Evening Star. It's also the 60th anniversary of the reopening of the Bluebell Railway so there might be a few specials including new versions of the blue Maunsell BCK and rebuilt ex-LSWR lav 3rd 320 ... and possibly a new loco too!