DavidLong

Thanks, Chris. I was thinking about 9.5mm wheels as with the 0.5mm flange they would be 10mm overall which would be close to the 5'2" of the 54xx. Did you decide on a gear combination for the chassis? David

Chris, I had spotted those bodies at BR Lines and I have one of your chassis etches. Am I correct in thinking that it is suitable for a 54xx? David

Absolute classics from Mr Kirkham, especially the first one. Does photo 2 show the Valleys' version of 'gentrification'? David

RevolutioN ? David

Perhaps I should have been clearer. As far as I am aware the only freight business west of Plymouth is the china clay which is operated by DB. 59003 is a GB Railfreight loco which led me to wonder if there may be new freight business on the horizon. However GBRf do specialize in route learning so they could be training drivers from another company who need to learn the road which may or may not be for freight business. David

Anyone know what these training runs are for? David

Good to see it coming together, Angus. Braver man than me. The wobbly loco footplate to come! I think that you are right about the buffers. Generally steam age loco buffers are notoriously weedy. Do you have a copy of 'Steaming in Three Centuries'? It tells you everything that you need to know about the 101/J15 class and very well illustrated. If you haven't i could lend you my copy. David

Those 16 tonners are starting to show signs of wear and tear. I seem to recall (it may have been in the MBT articles about them) that the maintenance interval was extended in the early '60s and that's when the rot, literally, started to set in. Photos of the 1/108 diagram in the 1950s show them to be still in a reasonable state although some of the early company and MOWT vehicles were already starting to show signs of a hard life. David

Rob, Your layouts are an absolute delight. Your eye for subtle details and the ability to reproduce them in such a satisfying way is truly remarkable. Despite my seventy years on the planet I have never managed to acquire the observational skills which you seem to have but I live in hope! Looking forward to the 'bubble car' making an appearance! David

Quite, quite brilliant, Alan. You did lose me around "The inspiration for the scheme . . . " Do you have it on a spreadsheet for me? Been reading 'Horselunges' again. You made us wait a couple of decades for Tweedale but it was worth the wait. Now don't go away again! David

Delightful, John. thanks for posting. I'm missing Ireland and especially Dunmore East, desperately. Eighteen months since we've been and not sure with quarantine restrictions when we will be there again. We only got back into Wales last month! David

I do like 0395s but very rare in modelling circles. Well done, Jack. David

Go on, Jack, you know you want to and we'll all be here cheering you on! David

Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea from Old Colwyn. Not great art but today is the first time that I have been able to see this view since 13th September 2020. David

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56716708 Could it happen here? I don't think I'll be holding my breath! David

Some good work in 2FS here, Simon. I expect you're glad that we now supply 3D printed axleboxes and springs! David

They use overhead wiring otherwise it is an electric bus! VLR doesn't use wiring which is part of the lower cost. Steel wheel on steel rail will always be more efficient than rubber tyre on tarmac without mentioning rubber residue. David

Specifically to Coventry the details are here: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/verylightrail There was a presentation by the Coventry City Council project manager on a recent webinar from the West Midlands branch of CILT. Coventry was half the webinar, the other half was about the reopening of Darlaston and Willenhall stations and associated passenger services. The Coventry project is really interesting as due to the lightweight nature of the vehicles the idea is that that the rails only have to lie within in the tarmac without the need for the expensive part of utility diversions. It's all in the above link. Apparently there is quite a lot of interest from other smaller cities and larger towns who would like a light rail system but on a much cheaper basis than the conventional tram systems. David

Very nice too! John Smith still coming up with interesting ways to paint a loco. 66793 (and 794) are two of the Beacon Rail locos from Germany. According to the current issue of TRUK they have modified gear ratios and a 65 mph maximum speed, like the Freightliner 66/6s and are expected to work out of Tonbridge. Could anyone tell me why the ex-European owned 66s have a larger than usual horn housing such as can be seen on 66793? David

Excellent work, as ever, Mike. That wire must be the best investment that you ever made and it's still going! David

I know, tedious, isn't it? I think they've lost interest in N. They are onto 24/1s in 4mm. Grrr. . . David

That's brilliant, Bryn. You may just have given me the push to try the same thing. I have JS-W's article about his 4mm conversions and they certainly change the look of the locomotive. Interested in your choice of 25043 which was a bit of a celebrity before it got a makeover at Derby works. Here it is at Carlisle in March 1976: The last green Class 25. Two months later Derby got their hands on it! David

Another church poster simply stated "Jesus saves" Underneath: "And St John knocks in the rebound!" One of the best football photos that I recall is one showing St John horizontal off the ground heading in the winner in the cup final against Leeds. Possibly rivalled by the similar action of Keith Houchen for Coventry City against Spurs. David

Yes, that's the one. I was trying to work out the time line for it as it doesn't seem to be present on the pre-large logo 37 photos. I think that @Nearholmer may have the right idea about what it is there for. Having checked Google Earth it isn't there now, just a large expanse of nothingness like the rest of the area around the station. Thanks for putting the extra photos up. David

What is the structure behind the platform in the photos with the two Class 37s? It doesn't appear in any of the other photographs. David Edit: Just noticed that it seems to be present in some of Ernie's b/w photos