phil gollin

. Again, good luck to Bachmann and LT Museum. I am interested in the " advanced low-line drive system " It is hard to judge how high the floor of the units are, but from what little we can see it does seem an advance on the intrusive motor bogied. I wonder/worry why it needs two motor vehicles for an 8-coach train, is the low-line drive RELATIVELY low-powered due to space restrictions ?????? Hopefully we will see the system used on other EMUs, e.g. 4-CORs. (After which I suppose we could see some DMUs.) I can imagine going into the LT Museum in 15 years time and finding versions of this on sale.

Very brave, good luck to them.

Have you got an option to produce a version with lattice work sides to the steps, instead of vertical railings ? Thanks .

Stovepipe, Thanks for those photos. Both ; https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertcwp/5431431222/ and this ; https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertcwp/5076609650/ SEEM to show a nuclear flask in an ordinary train ( ?????? ). If so I am somewhat surprised using an electric only loco as a Class 33 diesel would be available if the third rail cut-out.

. Excellent news, thanks. .

. One should be cautious about the idea that Hornby is being open. IF you look at the CAD images you will see that they have been deliberately distorted (e.g.reverse perspective and dimensional distortion and probably more subtle things I have not noticed). This approach to commercial secrecy is very common.

. Thanks for posting those. A slight query re. the BR liveries, the white lining SEEMS to be overwhelming the red lining. Is that "right" or is it just a trick of the light ?

. This book is now out ; http://www.noodlebooks.co.uk/product/view/2141 .

. Good ? Bad ? Or just a sign of the times ? Rails sent out a newsletter stating that ; "New Bachmann E4 Locomotives in stock. Bachmann have sold out of all versions of this model. When they are gone they are gone! order now to avoid disappointment." Now there will be a number at retailers - but that such a mundane (but necessary to myself as a Southern Region Central Division modeller) sells out upon release shows just how tight manufacturers are being nowadays.

. Oh ! Are Hornby playing their 2-Bil (and others) games again ?

. Now can we have a separate Oxford Rail section ?

. The John Ayrey WHOLESALE website ; http://www.ayrey.co.uk/reframe.asp?welcome.asp has a page for Oxford Rail, showing RRP and which quarter each model is expected to be released ; http://www.ayrey.co.uk/reframe.asp?welcome.asp Of course they are only showing information given to them by the manufacturer. .

. Well, I got mine this morning. "Looks Good, Tastes ( runs ) Good and Does you (my layout) Good" Excellent. I can't wait for the future DJM Models (particularly the Southern Region ones. Oh ! And thanks for Kernow as well. .

. Can we now assume that the DJM knockers ("they still haven't produced anything") will now disappear - or will they just start on someone else who is actually doing something worthwhile (and hopefully profitable). .

. Did they express any possibility that Southern fans having missed out (due to their cancelling their S-15) would get an "extra" loco ? .

. Did the Sothern ever paint any of their coaches in green with two or three narrow yellow stripes to match the initial livery of the Merchant Navies ? .

. OR, they could do a general release of their high window Maunsell coaches in BR green. Either way, more Maunsells in the missing liveries would be VERY welcome. .

. What did the Western Division use as a heavy shunter pick-up goods tank ? .

. Yes, the wishlist poll has definitely become a two-faced sword.

. So IF it comes to pass that we get two air-smoothed Merchant Navys announced this year will all those "pro-choice" people above be happy that the duplication means a "loss" of a production slot and, presumably, lesser profits for both companies ?

. I will be P.O.'d IF after years of waiting two manufacturers come up with the same loco - Hornby had their "chance" at Christmas, if we are going to get one or more other manufacturers copying others' announcements we will get into very murky waters. I also wonder IF both manufacturers announce an air-smoothed Merchant Navy how did Hornby know what was coming up ? . . . I will be P.O.'d IF after years of waiting two manufacturers come up with the same loco - Hornby had their "chance" at Christmas, if we are going to get one or more other manufacturers copying others' announcements we will get into very murky waters. I also wonder IF both manufacturers announce an air-smoothed Merchant Navy how did Hornby know what was coming up ? . .

. The eagle has landed ; http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-1.351442/centery:50.85643/zoom:8/mmsi:218565000/shipid:152670 ("Moored" at 0.1 knots) .

I hadn't really thought about the pantograph (as they so seldom used). Having now thought a bit about it, I really don't know whether an "operating" pantograph would be worth it. I THINK that i would probably prefer a fine quality fixed (in down position) pantograph rather than a poor quality working one. Interesting. On such a plain model the pantograph may (???????) rather stand out as a centre of attention.

. I note that the destination is now Southampton (maybe Cornish smugglers could intercept it). Strange how it was going 28 knots in the Indian Ocean, but only 21-odd knots in the Med.

. Did the Southern ever consider a Class 72 ?