teaky

Hornby website indicates 12/02/15 (tomorrow).

Or just six in total for the UK? Sorry. Couldn't resist. You do have to wonder though at Hornby's powers of communication. Why can they not word an email to be less ambiguous? (Not read it myself. Just noting that there is already more than one interpretation.)

The latest plan is for two platforms on the Bristol line and one on the Oxford line. Not clear how this will operate. I hope they've allowed for people to get on at Worcester and off again on the return leg! It is still single track at present but there are moves to (re-)double it.

Foregate Street is very easily accessed by bus. It is a couple of minutes walk from Worcester bus station. Shrub Hill is not handy for buses nor is it too good for cars with restricted parking facilities. Provided there is sufficient parking at the new site, it should be easy to access from M5 J7. It is close to substantial housing developments locally (Norton), to the south east (St Peters) and north east (Warndon Villages) of Worcester. If someone has their head screwed on it would be simple to lay on a couple of circular bus routes to sweep up commuters from the two largest developments at peak times.

There's something slightly P2ish about that Baltic. Lovely photos of snow covered Switzerland too. Takes me back. We had our honeymoon there (in the summer). Stayed in Wengen and walked up and down as many of the mountains as we could. Ate lunch on the balcony of that hotel looking across at the Eiger. Tramped over the glacier at the top of the Jungfrau. Wonderful! Thanks for posting.

Hornby website still shows May.

Yes, you can use the Hornby coaches in rakes that mix K-type (current) and all-steel K-type (to be released) cars. The sections towards the back of the two Ford volumes you refer to Jamie should tell you what you need to know. Then you will need to read the detailed chapters carefully to establish whether you need K-types with matchboard or plated over sides, original or later Pullman crests, names, numbers, 3rd class, 2nd class, no class, moved from one region to another, rebuilt from parlour to brake ... You may find it takes longer than you expect!

Do they sell snow mobiles too?

Correct. A Wills Finecast one (twin steps in the bunker, so no help in regard to the number positioning).

I'd much rather see "Clairvoyant arrested for fraud".

There's a market for spare parts. Unless Bachmann & Hornby parts become more easily available this will continue. Seems fine to me. Have you never needed to replace a broken part or wanted, say, a body or chassis to adapt Darren? If they can make more money from the parts than from the complete loco then that doesn't seem daft, but unless they sell every last bit the profit on some parts may be eaten into by the loss on other parts. I don't imagine they make a huge profit over all.

Hornby website now indicates 27/02/15. So you have a few extra weeks to finish now Marcus.

Oh yes. Well spotted. Presumably just a typo? It's the wrong verse anyway isn't it? By the time the song reached no wheels wasn't it "them Cherokees have captured me..."?

6-wheel brake van?

Not quite roadkill, but it was killed on a road. There's a cameo of a hawk eating its prey at Pendon.

Thanks for the picture Sandra. It may be too late and it isn't a big deal but it would be nice to see slightly less coal. So many tenders seem to be newly filled and some variation would be good. I know there are sometimes structural reasons for this in that there is something in the tender that needs to be hidden but I don't imagine that to be the case with this model. Looks lovely though. Looking forward to mine arriving.

I cannot remember which railway modelling magazine it was in but I recall seeing a feature entitled A Rainy Day In Leeds (or similar) that had "wet" streets and trams.

Looks to be solid as you suspect.

Roger & Gilbert - Thank you for the information. I do have a copy of the Banks & Carter book but it did not provide me with the clarity of information I was seeking. Perhaps I am just being lazy. I will have to revisit the book and cross check with what I can find online to see if I can figure out something close enough to prototypical. I really fancy including a 12-wheeler just for the look of it if I can. Plenty of time before the carriages are on the market.

Thanks Roger. I only had information on the 12-wheelers. Incidentally, I don't suppose you are able to shed any light on the following which I posted above but which no one has responded to? Speaking of LNER Pullman trains in the (late) 30s. It's easy to find details of the Queen Of Scots when it received a new full set of all-steel K type carriages but other than assorted references and mention of odd carriages plus indistinct photographs (in terms of the whole train), I am struggling to find details of the make up of other LNER Pullman workings. It would be particularly interesting to know the make up of one of those mixed bag Pullman trains with, perhaps, all-steel K types, earlier K types and 12-wheel brakes. The kind of train a C1 would have pulled after being elbowed off the ECML by the A3s and A4s.

If you are enjoying the conversion work then carry on and finish it. I think the old Lima body can look quite good once detailed.

Hi Ian. Speaking of LNER Pullman trains in the (late) 30s. It's easy to find details of the Queen Of Scots when it received a new full set of all-steel K type carriages but other than assorted references and mention of odd carriages plus indistinct photographs (in terms of the whole train), I am struggling to find details of the make up of other LNER Pullman workings. It would be particularly interesting to know the make up of one of those mixed bag Pullman trains with, perhaps, all-steel K types, earlier K types and 12-wheel brakes. The kind of train a C1would have pulled after being elbowed off the ECML by the A3s and A4s. What are you thinking of running behind your C1?

Details of the current Pullman train: http://www.belmond.com/british-pullman-train/british-pullman-carriages Doesn't answer your question completely. You will need to find out what type of carriage each one is.

In case anyone is confused about these carriages; Andy does mention this in his initial text, but these new ones are the all steel K type. They are an up to date replacement and expansion of the old Triang-Hornby ones currently in the Railroad range and are primarily of interest to LNER and eastern region modellers. The other Hornby Pullmans are the standard K type and largely applicable to Southern modellers. Since Pullman carriages were generally not owned by the railway companies some carriages were moved around over the years. This and detail differences like the shape of the Pullman crest, colours of panels, carriages rebuild from 1st to 3rd class, renumbering/renaming etc. mean it is a minefield if you want to model a specific era.

Yes, but people seem to be buying sets like the Great Goodbye and today's newly-announced set of four silver A4s. Perhaps Hornby could throw in a loco for free if you save seven Pullman tokens?