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Hi Peter, I remember seeing on here a thread about the Regional History series which listed all the titles; I think the Forgotten Railways series also got covered which might help your search. Richard

I too have been privileged to operate Broad Aston on a number of occasions and can equally vouch for its ability to maintain operation interest. It has always looked good but equally important it is fun! I was even once allowed running rights and LNER pacifics did make it to Broad Aston! Just! one struggling on the slope into the terminus! Fortunately the layouts normal traction never have these problems! It was sad to hear earlier this month the passing of HWB who certainly provided much support and inspiration in my formative years.

I reached for my copy of Illustrated History of NER locomotives by Ken Hoole as a first port of call. He included a photograph of a Londonderry tank (out of interest) which is number 1113 at North Blyth shed. It is not yours in your photograph but looks very similar in appearance with that distinctive dome and cab with very square side tanks. He comments in the caption that 1113 was built by Londonderry company at its Seaham Harbour Engine Works in 18889 and originally numbered 2. He states it was one of three of this wheel arrangement used on the Londonderry passenger services between Seaham and Sunderland.

The Lima HST first appeared in summer of 1982 as I distinctly remember showing it to friends in Derby which will have been when I worked there. I bought the set which had two power cars and two coaches. I am pretty sure that the Class 20 was summer 1984 as I was working at York and can remember testing my green one on a York model railway club layout. My first Lima model was the J50 which I got whilst at school so that will have been the mid late 70s (1976?)

Well done! Great to see something running after the dead short wobble Saturday afternoon. Roll on next weekend!!!!

A fantastic shop which I visit whenever I get a chance! First went 1979 on a family holiday on the Trent from Lincoln. Can remember being surprised seeing the local Leyland National buses painted in all covering Gee Dee advertising livery! Great memories!

Most train servicing depots which I have been involved, not a lot happens during daylight as all the stock is out running trains and so they do look boring. Where they come into they own is overnight where there is never a dull moment. Some of them will fuel, service, clean up to 20 mainline sets a night in a period of 6 to 8 hours. Trust me you do not stop with constant movement throughout the night. And then if there are problems, there will be shunts and reformations of the sets. It was always a satisfying as the sun was rising to stand and watch the trains being preped and realising what you and your team and actually achieved overnight! Glenn and Graham through Aberdeen Kirkhall have tried to give a flavour of what a real modern train servicing depot is like. The attention to detail is fantastic but the operating sequence is quite a challenge (just like the real thing!) and it is a fantastic layout to watch. Oh and with DCC it is possible to do some "stunts" which you cann't do with dc. The obvious is the train engine following the stock down the arrival road once released but also to have the morning departures queuing at the departure signal; the next one moving up as the one in front is moving off just like the real thing. If you get a chance to see it in the flesh do come and have a look; also come and chat to the operators and find out what it is really about. Richard

Let's not county our chickens....One retailer assured me that Blue Peter would be available the weekend before Xmas.......last year. Whilst I appreciate Dave's comments, the delivery of this model has been a tad frustrating! I will now not believe it is here until it is in my hot sticky mits......

Sorry Graham. New job has me involved with Clayhills and easily get confused........

At Warley picked up a copy of the new Railway Modeller Annual 2011. One of the articles is about forthcoming attractions in 2011 to appear in the Railway Modeller.......and in there is an atmospheric shot of two HSTs in the dark at Aberdeen Clayhills.

Had been thinking of the reply all day! I think if you were going to model the sand then it would be a pallet with the bags piled up on top; yes from what I remember at the North East Depots we stored it outside. We did go through a lot as we had Class 56s at the time and the sanders had to work on them! However I suspect Clayhills would not have had sand as it was (is?) a coaching stock depot with the fuelling facility put in for HSTs (which of course did not need sand). Certainly as you said there never was any special sand drying facilities on a "modern" diesel depot not even those which had previously been steam sheds like Gateshead and Haymarket. Whilst you fuel the odd loco do we do a fuel point exam....or do we expect that to be done at a loco depot later in the day?? A few years after the date for Clayhills we got lots of sand at Heaton for the Class 91s but that was still supplied bagged! And we went through a lot as they would keep dumping it all in the yard as the sanders were automatic ones! Sorry then started thinking about No 4 & 5 exams as I don't think we put any stock in the shed during the day.....As that something else for Graham to think of! Richard

Yes I did say earlier I expected them to get many more awards; it is great a layout and certainly not boring!! Well done again guys! Richard