PhilJ W

At the Canvey Island bus rally today I saw a young woman purchasing a brace of Oxford's N scale mini's. I thought it was a bit risky as she had three under five children with her. I needn't had worried, she makes them into earrings.

Berberris is even better.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Had a productive day purchase wise at the bus museum including a book on railways. On the model front I did not spend a great deal of modelling tokens but I think it was well spent. One purchase was a model bus which I took to be an OOC Mercedes minibus that had the markings removed and painted in plain white, at £4 it looked like a bargain. When I got it home I had a better look and realised it was even more of a bargain as it was a considerably modified EFE minibus, modified with a longer aftermarket resin body. Someone had put a lot of hard work into the conversion including seat top handrails and even a ticket machine. The other purchase was a diecast van that had been dismantled and was missing the windscreen and the screws to keep it together but handy for some code 3 projects.

Was it a gearbox problem that took Vettel out?

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Just a quick hello this morning as I'm off out to the Canvey bus rally. Be back later.

Belated anniversary greetings to Rick and Mrs. Rick and goodnight all.

My copy arrived this morning. Facinating read with some very good maps, plenty of (micro?) layout ideas.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Had a look at the new book (Plymouths secret railways) and it seems a fascinating read. The pic on the front cover of the dual gauge lines is explained. The broad gauge (7 foot) is for a mobile crane and the lines had just been relaid at the time of the photograph (1961). The actual site was so tight that they had to build a 30 yard tunnel to accomodate the headshunt.

The prototype had a 10' 6" wheelbase, a RTR chassis with the correct wheelbase (42mm) is not made.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. The new book on Plymouths hidden railways arrived only half an hour ago so I will be reading it this afternoon. ChrisF, the same thing happens to my self setting clocks from time to time, I think it must be a stray signal or electrical interference of some sort. They are adjusted by means of a radio signal from Rugby and they must use several frequencies as when they last set the time forward one of my clocks changed time a couple of hours before another clock. I have decided not to attend, I have a new and very interesting book to read.

Goodnight all.

Yes, but body only.

Now thats better.

As I understand it he was Hawaiian so may have had little if any experience of railways as apart from museums railways no longer exist in Hawaii.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Happy birthday BOD, and many more of them. Just to say I don't think I'd like to be a postie in Newcastle. Will have to withdraw some modelling tokens today for the weekend, there's the small show in Benfleet tomorrow followed by the end of season rally at the Canvey bus Museum on Sunday, and if I have time on Saturday theres another model railway exhibition in Dagenham tomorrow. Thats it for now, be back later.

Last Sunday near Wickford I spotted a 1957 Chevy. It must have broken down as it was being winched onto an AA beavertail.

Goodnight all.

I've just noticed that the photo (top) on the front cover of the book mentioned above has dual gauge track. Standard gauge and a broader gauge, possibly 7 foot. Quite possible in and around Plymouth where the GWR and LSWR operated but what is unusual is going by the rolling stock and road vehicles the photo is no earlier than the 1950's.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Just been getting an eyeful of the new offerings from Oxford Diecast, road vehicles that is. Despite that there are several 'railway' related models due in the next 6 months. Popped into Tesco's and I spotted that they were reducing frozen products by 90%. They were well in date just torn and damaged packaging. So this evenings meal was a roast chicken dinner that only cost me 26p plus 10 minutes in the microwave. On the way back I encountered a henwomble who was following a bus so closely that every time the bus stopped at a bus stop she couldn't pass it as she couldn't see if the road was clear. When the bus eventually pulled into a layby she followed it in, she then realised her mistake but by then the queue of cars behind her was passing the bus, which pulled out before she could get past. Thats all folks.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Had a bit of hail here about an hour ago followed by bright sunshine thats now turned a bit hazy, wind is still blowing though. The fox is still around, it shot out from undeneath a neighbours car when I went out yesterday, and it was fast. I don't mind foxes, they keep things like rats and mice away. Thats it for now, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Quite common actually as 00 figures are often to big.

The double decker is an ex-Standerwick Bristol VRL.

Only half of the four car sets had a griddle car. The 309's usually operated as 10 car units 4+4+2 the second 4 car set had the griddle car, the other unit had a trailer instead of the griddle car.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Not a lot to report this morning, just waiting for a parcel to arrive then a bit of shopping to do.