cooped

Couldn't resist the Dukedog and figured while I was at it City of Bath too. Added a couple of Hornby Sapphire decoders for them too. I've tried many different non sound decoders are the Sapphire is in my opinion the best.

A couple of ex LNER Gresley coaches in blood and custard from a train show over here. Reasonable price, ~£21 each.

I turned 40 today, officially a member of the old you know what's club now. There just happened to be a train show on locally so took the little boy along, had nice time and, in keeping with the theme of the thread treated make to a nice five coach New York Central 21st Century Limited set to go behind the Dreyfus Hudson I bought a few weeks ago. Happy birthday to me!

I was trying to resist buying anything for a while, but found a deal on a New York Central Dreyfuss Hudson, obviously not a Hornby product! Very nice model, DCC sound, puffing smoke, brass shell, wonderful, except it died after two loops of the track! Back to the manufacturer for repair it goes.

My latest purchase was a SR 2-bil and a blue box GWR pannier from Monk Bar in York while on holiday back in August. Nothing on the horizon as the potential acquisition of a new (old) house means things are quite right right now.

You don't want our current weather, we've had 6 inches of rain this week and are expecting a couple more tonight with a potential tornado (not the chuffing kind) warning!

Postman Prat said: Hi Cooped You said "Thanks for that nugget of information PP, was not aware of that!" You're welcome - I'm a mine of (mainly useless) nuggets!!! Hope your grand tour of the uk is going well!! I'm still in the ole US of A, it's Tovideous who's on a Blighty trip right now. I was hoping to get me and the family over the 4th July week, but flights just too expensive so we're over the last week in August. Disappointed I'll be missing the great gathering, but DDE and D of C should still be at York and hopefully we'll catch Sir Nigel on the NYMR (haven't told the wife this plan yet though!). Looking forward to getting back home again, I have a new niece to meet!

There's been extensive discussion elsewhere about the handrails and Hornby have assured us the handrails on the final production version will be wire, but the pre-production ones are not. I agree WTD, not hard to replace on the RR version. Thanks for that nugget of information PP, was not aware of that!

It really does look a good RR version, which would also be a better BR days representation without the modern warning symbols etc, For those with a steady hand it must be oh so tempting to detail yourself. Only other differences I know of are the cylinder drains and wire handrails on the smoke deflectors.

Does look rather good in my opinion. Maybe something in this design clever lark.

Postman Prat said: Bet you it ends up being Easter next year!!! Let's hope Hornby aren't crucified for the delay and can rise again. Sorry!

To keep it Hornby I have a sapphire decoder on the way. Never tried it before (have tried many other different types/brands), quite interested in how it will perform. It's to go in its parcel mate, a certain manufacturers new Western class 52 release with the 21 pin socket.