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I assessed how much work would be required on my outstanding modules and concluded that the Greensgrove Southern Region station would be able to be finished soonest. As I don't name stations or major structures after individuals, I'm calling my engineering works module Brassey Engineering (after a famous Victorian engineer and coincidentally a street where I lived in Bournemouth at one time)

I haven't done anything but took stock of what I've made progress on and hopefully set a course for the next few months. I've often left structures unfinished for ages on end, this art deco-style football stand was begun just before Christmas last year. It's built around two Subbuteo terraced stands and Knioghtwing and Triang platform sections. However making progress on a matching art deco style station and finally decided not to plonk a concrete monstrosity multi-storey car park over it. The station will cater for the steam/diesel transition era, its name hasn't been chosen yet.

Both 142 001 and 313 201 are listed for preservation in the report. I'm glad an example of the PEP-derived EMU will be represented in the national collection. The Pacer will demonstrate the story of 80s cash-strapped BR using bus technology to provide new trains. I guess a generator-fitted vehicle will be bought to power the 306 and 313 for demonstration runs

I finally decided on the back story for the station with multi storey car park. The station was built in art deco style in the 30s with huge shelter and access ramp in order to serve a football ground. Sometime during the late 60s/early 70s a multi storey car park was built over the station (in less enlightened times) in order to cater for shoppers visiting the Priory shopping centre. The car park will be removable if I want to run trains during steam and transition era. It's all white styrene except for the track and Hornby platform!

I made more progress on the rebuilt Subbuteo stand incorporating parts from Triang-Hornby canopies.

My LNER J36 arrived today, it hasn't been tested yet, but this was the main reason for wanting this loco I own Hornby's D49 2753 Cheshire and N2 4749. All three classes worked side by side on ex-NB lines. Strictly speaking the J36 should be re-numbered LNER 9722 and the N2 lose its condensing gear and be re-numbered to represent one of those transferred to Scotland. Once these tasks are done they can represent the situation as of 1927-28, before red lining for goods locos was discontinued. I also own three Hornby teak non-corridors with 3XXXX numbering - the first "3" represents their LNER Southern Section (ex-NB) allocation.

I may re-number my version as LNER (not L&NER) 9722, but retain the lining, because I want to run it alongside my Hornby D49 2753 Cheshire

Payment's been taken for the LNER version and it's on the way to me

Council housing - both brick-built and pre-fab. I must admit the Model-Land buildings would be great sellers if made available in the Skaledale range.

A welcome addition for those modelling the ex-NER lines! I hope a suitable NER brake van follows, AFAIK at least one survives, maybe it'll be announced later on this year.

If Oxford Rail's considering a steam loco which ran on LMS metals, my most likely possibility based on preserved examples are ranked below: 1. L&Y A 0-6-0 2. L&Y 0-6-0ST (752 preserved on Worth Valley) 3. North London 0-6-0T 4. Tilbury tank 4-4-2T "Thundersley" - less likely because it might be a future National Collection commission 5. North Staffordshire 0-6-2T - least likely choice because they were withdrawn well before nationalisation, although some survived in colliery use.

All their steam locos they've modelled so far survive in preservation. My guess is a Taff Vale 0-6-2T, based on measuring up the surviving locos on the Gwili or the Worth Valley. Both were sold to collieries after withdrawal from the GWR. Otherwise a class 86/2 or 86/4 could appear with a Mk1 BG incorporating the modifications for 100/110 mph running to go with the Mk3s so that Oxford Rail can justify say they're supplying a complete rake.

Bachmann's staked out its own niche with their 009 products. It looks like more MOD works layouts will appear in the future, although the stock chosen is just as ideal for a space-saving addition to a mainline OO layout.

My late gran (born 1913) lived near Bramford (outside Ipswich) I don't think it ever visited there during GER days! The North Norfolk Railway are restoring 1899 GER brake 3rd 853 but I can't see Oxford release a rake of close-coupled GER 4-wheelers or 54-footers to accompany the loco in a few weeks time! http://nnrailway.blogspot.com/

I should also add it's crying out for a Quad- or Quint-Art carriage set because I'd have to invoke Rule 1 and run it with my collection of teak 51' non-corridors!

I've looked at images of Oxford's LNER version but surprised there's no red lining, as it was applied to those classes which predominantly worked on passenger duties.

In terms of rolling stock Farish might bring out: new: Mk1 RBR (to complement the Mk2fs) reliveried Mk1 FO, BCK in Intercity swallow livery and white roofs new: Freightliner FFA/FGA to replace the ancient Farish version

Farish might announce the MR/LMS Compound 4-4-0. For many years it was in their Poole range but was never upgraded with blackened wheels once Bachmann took over the old tooling. Now that Bachmann's produced them in OO, it might be time to apply the shrink ray on them.

I've gone through their announcements and the only models I'm considering buying are: R3702 Peckett W4 in maroon named Daphne (one of my relatives shared her name), Brake van in LMS grey livery (replacing my ex-Airfix version)

It looks like Hornby made even more strides into the industrial railway scene. Nowadays more people only have shelf space for layouts or dioramas. Also pleased that they've tooled up new matching sets of GWR, Bulleid and sliding door Mk3 carriages aiming to supply complete train formations with their own locos. I'm also impressed by their range of class 66s and 92s with up-to-date liveries at affordable prices. If only they made the class 156 available in more than one current livery! They missed a trick on releasing the LNER Hitachi in a train set version although they partly made up for it in releasing a train set version of GWR's HST.

Today I added full- and half-height (the latter not yet glued) concrete walls and began work on the base for a small booking office. In order to work out platform and other clearances I glued down the track.

If Hornby announces new Skaledale structures, my guesses would be: NBR West Highland line chalet station building NBR signalbox (this year is the 125th anniversary of the opening of the West Highland line) Low relief tenements and shops

I bet Hornby are planning a West Highland line scenario during BR steam days ... they've already produced a B1, Black 5, K1, Clan (used once on a special) and now a J36. They could announce the beavertail observation car in original and rebuilt versions, a K4 this year, and in 2020, an NBR Glen class loco.

After a lot of deliberation to work out what was the best arrangement to complement the arena entrance I decided to model part of a multi-storey car park over the station. This structure is made from styrene sheet and selected Plastruct sections.