Mike 84C

I thought the CBSC green was described as sage green. But what is sage green? As we have discussed before colour is in the eye of the beholder and their memories. I'm sure many would disagree with how I think BR engines were painted!!

Went to Spalding last w/e and very good it was, not so crowded on the Sunday. But I was very surprised to see an Irish Broad gauge layout, Ballymungret Loco Depot which ran very well, DCC and sound fitted locos. Its owned by the Hackworth Model Railway Group which has a very good website, I just googled it. I wondered if any of their members lurk on here or maybe some of you guys have heard of them?

I have a couple of SSM vans, deffo; ok for 21mm, mine look a bit narrow gauge on 16.5mm. Only downside I think is they are whitemetal and very heavy.

Well,well Steve another East Midlander! Tugs, a rather more attractive loco than a certain American GE machine! I remember the railway at Stapleford Park rather good it was, is it still there? As I understand the hotel has filed for bankruptcy. I only discovered the railway when I delivered a load of heating oil to the hotel and had a mooch about because it was lunch time. I do hope the railway is not in any danger.

Hey!, Mol welcome to the forum I'm sure you will enjoy it here. And as Whizz said to me "thats a curve ball" !!

Using the slacker pipe was always a good plan but its difficult to avoid getting wet when running tender first, a sort of angled line of splash across the coal often worked. being hit in the face by fling slack or small coal is not pleasant. Going home as dirty as possible was not the name of the game and you did get a bit of derision/dark humour in the crew mess room, which was where you normally washed up. Or in a bucket on the engine. Writing this now it all seems so crude and with no regard for your employees but that's just the way it was. At least we did'nt have to sleep in damp beds and damp clothes in hostels. No lodging turns at our depot.

Tender first running was very unpleasant, NOTHING worse than any ex Western engine on a cold raining day. just nowhere to get away from the elements in those cabs. Even engines with high tenders were not much better as the wind would blow through the tender doors under the shovel like a gale. When I drove on the Festiniog there were some of the hair shirt brigade who thought it great fun to take the tender cab off Linda, I just thought they were playing trains.

Looks like you had a good weekend Ernie, not surprised your WHR journey took longer with K1 only two blow ups! I only drove it a couple of times and thought it a very poor tool. But its being asked to do much more than it was designed for. Best place for it is in a museum, Statfold will do! Nice to see the boiler tubes I donated to 30yrs ago used at last on 134.

Meanwhile here on Big Island. Advised yesterday delivered today! 12/10/24 at lunch time. Very pleased with my five coaches the detail is first class and all the wheels go round and the middle ones also go side to side, excellent! Wish I had bought more!!

House insurance also covers me, except if individual items have a value above £2.5k. There are specialist brokers who advertise in the hobby magazines, one I believe is based in Newark Notts; Magnet Insurance 01636-858249 www.modelrailwayinsurance.co.uk Info taken from Hornby Mag; March 24. I have no idea how it would work if you are not in the UK, a question to ask. Hope this helps.

JHB that could only be "hey yoof" Bunny Lewis! Now sadly passed away. He was a great bloke to work with and ex Marine.

Have a good time at the FR gala hope the weather is good for you. I have'nt been to FR gala for24yrs! Still a bit of a cloud there for me! I hope to see 134 running whilst I can still walk! But, not that I did much at FR galas in the past, much prefered to put things in place so the lads could have their moments of glory.

Paid for mine last week, not had a shipping date yet. As Metrovik says probably overwhelmed, just have to be chilled about it all.

Tractionman, you are so right and it does work well. We used Kaydee couplings which may have been a mistake. They worked fine but under baseboard magnets need to be quite powerful and the steel axles on the rolling stock just obeyed the laws of magnetism! At times I felt we needed non rolling stock!. seems daft to fit pinpoint axles and have a piece of foam rubbing said axle. Not that these are mountains for a new owner to climb.

Jim, be happy neither of us come with the layout as bogof's.