Siberian Snooper

The forcast for Friday is not good for the good Captian and his crew. It starts off with SE. gales although veering to more SW as the day progresses with another few bucketfulls of rain. Nothing on the news either national or local to say that they have got any of the Dutch pumps up and running. Best of luck CK and your crew. SS edit for wind terminology

CK did you go by liner, to look at the Somerset Sea? SS

Having just got to the end of the last lot of postings, most of what was on tonights local news has already been reported, but the news anchorman had a go at Ben Bradshaw, the labour mp for Exeter, as to why labour had done nothing about the sea wall while labour were in government and he immediately blamed NR, "saying that they(NR) could see no problems for the foreseable future with the seawall". The leader of Plymouth council Tudor Evans would like to see the GW 1936 route implemented as would several Plymouth buisnessmen. SS EDIT Ps. Good work by all the guys involved in the temporary container seawall and other ongoing works.

Splendid stuff Mike, very, very useful. Just ticking the informative button is nowhere good enough, it's also craftmanship clever and a whole string of superatives. SS

Looks like standard electrical solder, unsure as to whether or not it's leaded or lead free. SS

I've just watched the local spotlight news, just a brief glimps of the Captains crew at Dawlish, but an interview with the PM at Laira depot, where he said that as far as alternative routes were concerned that the government would look at all of the alternatives before making any decisions. It would also appear that HST power cars are being moved by road, unable to tell if they are coming in or out or both. Several large pumps form the Netherlands have been shipped in to help pump out Somerset. If there is no further rainfall (fat chance, there's more forcast) it would take about 26 days to do the job. Best of luck to the Captain and his crew. SS

Hi Mike What a pity you can't help. Cheers SS

It appears to be some what calmer and drier today, long may it last. I hope that the poor blokes doing the work are having a better day of it. Best of luck. SS

Hi Mike, This is really useful in producing panelled coaches. Many thanks for sharing it with us, it just needs the time now to have a practice. Thanks SS

That kettle is very clean, is it real? SS

Hi Colin Having just had a look at wiki, I wish to add my sympathies, I shall miss my regular nostalgia trips until your recovery. Best Wishes SS

The only way that electrification will ever get beyond Exeter, should it ever reach there, is to build the '30's GW diversionary route. I can't see that happening in my lifetime. SS

That is true, they only got the planning permission on the back of rail reinstatement because the A 386 is at virtual capacity, at peak times it can take 40 to 50 mins to drive from Plymouth to Tavistock or vis a versa on a good day and barring accidents. SS

It seems all this talk of diversionary routes is fairly academic at the moment until they pump out Somerset, so that trains can actually access Devon. The local news has said that trains are terminating at Bristol and Castle Cary, one assumes that it is easier to turn trains back at these locations than at Bridgewater. The placing of the containers at Dawlish is ongoing and is hoped to be completed before the next high tide. All workers at sea/beach level are required to wear the normal protective wear plus a harness to be clipped on to saftey cables and a life jacket. Best of luck to all those working in such arduous conditions in Devon and Somerset. SS

With regard to the withered arm, the bit between Meldon and Lydford is mostly in Sustrans hand ie a cycle path. Bridestowe Station is in private hands as is Brentor Station. There is an occupation bridge and a section of embankment out at Sourton Down, this was done for road access for the building of Meldon Dam. There are two masonary viaducts at Bearslake and Lydford which probably have not been structuraly surveyed since the line closed. Part of the trackbed is in private hands in the vicinity of the under bridge at the Brentor end of Lydford village. From there I am unsure of ownership to Brentor. On the approach to Tavistock the trackbed is in several private hands and there is also the Wallabrook viaduct which is probably in the same state as the others. Then you have the station and viaduct in Tavi which is owned by West Devon District Council. On top of that there is an additional problem in that most of that section of line is within Dartmoor National park which brings additional planning problems and the Dartmoor preservation group which is another pain. So I would suggest that re opening of it is probably a dead Mallard. Just watching the local news and the rebuild at Dawlish will be to moderen resiliant standards, fingers crossed. SS

The Beeb local news Spotlight has said that the Captain and his crew will be doing the best they can to protect the foundations of the exsisting wall and anything else they can before tomorrow nights predicted storms arrive, after that lot has abbaited then a survey and solutions will be put into action. The track at the Exeter end of the washout was severed using mechanical cutters on a R/R, whilst the Teignmouth end was gas axed, there appeared to be some brown adrenaline when the first rail was burnt through. A few, but not all, people in Dawlish are being allowed to return to their homes following surveys. The local mp's also had their ten pen'orth. SS

The proposed rail link to Tavistock will terminate before tge Tavistock to Gunnislake road and is part of a large housing development. The bridge over the road was removed as it was low 13 ft something if my memory seves me, which means that the trackbed would need to be raised also on the otherside of the road there is at least one house and on the Tavi North Station site there are council offices which encroach onto the trackbed. In an earlier post someone mentioned Torcross, on tonights local news the sea defences there have also been breached and the houses evacuated. SS

To insert a trap point, put in a standard turnout and then omit the bits you dont want. SS

A good effort, perseverance pays off in the end. SS

I struggled for a long time, about 4 months before the penny finally dropped, it's still not all plain sailing, but for straight forward S & C it's a doddle NOW. Just keep working through the tutorials particularly the video ones, i found these the easiest to get on with as you can stop start and back track to your hearts content. Don't expect to produce Crewe or Waterloo before you've mastered the basic's. Do join the Templot Forum. http://85a.co.uk/forum/ SS

Hi Chris I find that the best way to create a train set in Templot is to start with a length of plain track and make it the mainline, from one end to the other. I then start adding in the turnouts and spliting the main to be able to add further turnouts. use Make Branch Track to add track to the turnout road. Use make double track to make loops, don't forget to adjust the double track centres. HTH SS

Wearing Wellies on grey funnel line ships is not normally recomended, as dangling by your tootsies when trying to get access to some parts mean your feet tend to slip out. It does however make the escape of the brown adrenaline a lot more interesting, as it runs out of the collar of the boilersuit. SS

Tested Foster Wheeler Boiler economiser boxes to 1800Lbs/sq in, working pressure is 1200 Lbs/ sq in, ya need plenty of nappy liners when it starts to creak and groan, tis also useful to have several rubber bands around the ankles of the boilersuit. SS

Best wishes and a speedy recovery Ron and hopefully back to the plasticard bashing, no need to rush back to it on our account though. SS

Hi Chris The 1366 pannier tanks which replaced the BWT's have outside cylinder, but inside valve gear, so there's only the piston rods, crossheads with slide bars and the con rods. I don't know if there's a 7mm kit for it though. If I drop in on the Bristol "0" gauge bash on Sunday I will have a look unless you're going. SS