Mike 84C

Comparing an 800 with a Manor is a bit like comparing Terriers and a Great Dane, both are dogs! Manors were not big engines but could punch way above their weight. Compare an 800 with a Castle, Lord Nelson or a rebuilt Scot would be fair. Sadly that front view makes the 800 look rather narrow gauge which it is.

Hey John! you look after yourself. You and I have chatted so much over the years .You feel like a pal, a friend and if you rocked up on my doorstep, come on in you are welcome. Just take a bit of time and chill! Do not neglect yourself. very best wishes Mick

And what a good couple of hours it was! The bookshop was a goldmine of interesting stuff, I spent pounds there far more than I spent at the other end of town!

I agree with all the above advice but my two cents worth would be, have a good idea of how a steam loco works and what all the different things that hang underneath and are bolted on top do. i'm thinking injectors, ejectors, vacuum bags, brake hangers. All those little details that you need to pick up on that will lift your model to something really special. You say several times your a young person and the above may be doing you a disservice. I hope you have already hoovered all this stuff up, I expect the lads will point you in the direction of another buying spree! Good luck enjoy the hobby and please post your results.

Serious steam followed by very serious diesel. I wonder what a Baldwin Centipede sounded like at full throttle? And a 9000 did they also have the Gresley beat? Darius your taste in locomotion ranges far and wide please keep posting.

When I worked for the Festiniog fuel costs were always the topic of conversation, oil being not as cheap as it was. We in the upstairs office were always appraising how many passengers were in the first one and a half coaches. If full of passengers we had covered the fuel cost, if not Oh Dear! A very rough rule of thumb but it was rarely far out. JHB your thoughts look spot on. Is the fate of mainline steam hanging by a thread on both sides of the Irish sea?

I'm very happy to see the enthusiasm about Bantry now its on the Emerald Isle. As for its demise over here, well things move on and a lack of storage. I expect it will get broken up one day but I don't expect it will bother me by then! I may be available to throw bolts of lightning, fire and brimstone.!

And was'nt it heaving on Saturday! Llanfair rather pleased me! although no chance to speak with Andy, lots of punters bending his ear! I thought Trowland was rather good but again it hit it when the crowds were there! Hey ho! Nice to see Dduallt and chat with Dave and Robert Waller. The layout is 32years old now and still looks good. But I would say that would'nt I !

Well lads, its been decided. Our Bantry layout is going to be broken up. SO if any of you guys have any interest in a 16x2 +4ft fiddle yd act now 'cos in 2 weeks demolition starts. All peco streamline dcc wired complete with buildings, signals t. table all ready to go! plug in legs jumper wiring . £200 and take it away. Great shame but the club needs the space. pm me or the club for more info/photos. Mike

I understand this collection has been bought by one dealer and will be on the market very soon. What the collection consists of I have no idea. I will post if/when I hear more.

Just looked at the little video of No6, stunning! I have engine envy! And my swmbo, who is a train person liked No 6 even better pulling its coaches. The bar has been raised higher!

From my days of buying said oils from Morris Lubricants of Shrewsbury, the stickyness/temp range is measured in centistokes and the higher the number the higher the steam temperature the oil can cope with. I believe rape oil is added to help the stickyness needed for valves and pistons. I had not thought about that subject for 25yrs! That little backhead needs some asbestos tape secured over the piping from that right hand injector not a piece of old rag!

We have an AEC set at our club which runs/ran on Bantry. I found it rather fragile and have had to do repairs to one of the bogies. In fairness its construction is maybe too light for club use and the "fat finger brigade" I do feel the overall look is fine and the front/windows area is better than a cut and shut BR version. Until "another manufacturer" comes up with the goods, Silverfox it is.

Hi Ben, Lots of good advice there, I like Leslie have been down the "its my last layout" route, finished up with a bowl of spaghetti in my garage! track everywhere. Totally overwhelmed me and set back running trains by a few years. So I think take small steps and grow into it. Keep it manageable is sound advise. Mick

Wow, that is impressive but mad! is there nothing that some niche company will not produce ready to run? I live in greater hope of a CB&SC Baldwin 0-6-2t or maybe a D&SE 2-6-0. Both engines of very small classes.