Horsetan

For now, anyway

Longer insulating muffs would help

I'm guessing that with typical Irish summers back then tending to lack that essential ingredient - actual heat - heat absorption problems with a predominantly black livery were not considered a problem.

"Mass now is ended. Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord."

I'm sure priests use the same two fingers when making the sign of the cross....

Theoretically, I should have one green one, and a BnT one, coming this way. Both being the preserved vehicles. I wonder if they'll be as challenging to convert to 21mm as the Mk2s (split 1mm pinpoint axle and insulating muff arrangement)

Just after paying the second Park Royal invoice

I wonder what the spares situation at IRM is for "A" class parts at the moment? I'm sure there's bits in there he could cannibalise....

It's a hybrid of two different engines, - frames and wheels of 61.002 - rear frames, trailing truck and outside cylinders of 45.024 topped by a Reko 39E boiler. I think the tender came from a Br44.

"Is it a kind of nudey thing, Father?"

I remember it as The Passion Of St. Tibulus.....

Have you not tried your hand at doing banknotes?

Not had that happen with AGW outside cranks before. Having said that, I have experienced some being loose on the axle, and a couple (the specific type for the 08 shunter) have actually split when eased onto the axle. There are a couple of ways to alleviate this: 1. Countersink from the back of the crank; once seated, Loctite 601/603 or Nutlock 242 should help the bolt keep its grip. 2. Don't overtighten the bolt when you get it in. 3. For the axle, partly running a 3.2mm drill from the rear will allow the axle to be inserted more easily. Then it's a case of either running Loctite in as the crank reaches its final position, and/or running a fine drill through the crank and into the axle so that the crank can be pinned in place - not easy. Note: AGW and the old Sharman outside cranks seem to be based around a generic 22" stroke. Ultrascale only produce outside cranks for their 08 shunter wheel, and these rarely if ever give problems. Their crankpin system seems to be more secure; some people redrill AGW wheels to take Ultrascale crankpins instead.

That escalated quickly.

I think someone's trying to tell him he should go back to work

News update: Jeff sez his retirement hasn't had the ideal start: last week his car broke down and then some feral stole the new motorbike he'd only just taken delivery of.....

Actually, no.

Looks like one of my cousins has finally decided to retire from the railways This is the fella who got me into model railways back in 1975, with the birthday present of a Hornby Freightmaster set. My parents never forgave him for that. The rest, as they say, is hysterical.

Irish expediency.

I can sort of see why Ryanair is the way it is.

Ever seen the musical "Barnum"?

It's a bit like the Church trying to get something banned, resulting in the subject becoming much more popular.

I wonder if there'll ever be a kit for the Drumm battery cars?

I think 560 still had it on the buffer beam up to withdrawal.

That's quite close, although I think the GSR/CIE script was wider and taller, with more of a shadow. In some photos, the number appears to take up almost the full height of the buffer beam.