PhilJ W

Theres also an estate car version in the same scale.

More about them here >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OtzB-g3Zg4

They never operated from Amersham which was on the Metropolitan Line which operated the earlier A60 stock (for more than 50 years). The 230 units are built from the D78 stock which was only operated on the District Line.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A letter has just arrived in the post from a company called Bluecrest screening offering me a complete medical check up 'For the all inclusive price of £129.'. Question is why pay £129 when I can go to my GP and get it done for free? I received another letter from my credit card company asking for my mobile number, the latest of many each a bit more insistant than the last. This is despite my telling them that I do not have a mobile, though they do say that other arrangements will be made for those who like me do not have mobiles. The reason they say they require a mobile number is to confirm on-line transactions. The worst affected by arthritis is my left hip, and consequently I require a walking stick except for short distances. It allways seems natural to hold the stick in my right hand. As with marching its natural to swing the arm forward opposite to the leg going forward.

And many of them now are to be replaced by class 230 units based on redundant London Underground stock that itself is approaching 40 years old.

Prepared for Brexit?

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. As predicted it was quiet at the club tonight, I spent an hour or so there and as many were turning in early I did likewise. Time to put the kettle on, be back later.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Bright sunshine after this mornings liquid variety but sunset is about quarter to eight this evening, the nights are drawing in, it will soon be the autumn solstice. Club night tonight, probably will not stay long as not a few will be absent.

I've just picked up the latest Railway Magazine and it has an article on the 142's being withdrawn by Northern. Some concern is being expressed about their displacing heritage DMU's on preserved lines.

An interesting car has appeared on Facebook. It looks like a 1938/39 Ford Prefect Drophead but in fact it is a Russian copy called the KiM 10-51. Less than 200 were built before the war stopped production and now there are only 7 known survivors. After the war the plant built a copy of the Opel Kadet using tools taken from Germany.

My b-i-l was not one of the 5 'official' test drivers AFAIK, mostly he was testing Transit vans. He was originally based at Boreham testing the heavy stuff and was transfered when Boreham closed. When testing the Ford Cargo truck it took him as far afield as Finland and Morocco. When the Cargo was introduced he could be seen in some of the advertising shots.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Comments about being prepared set me thinking. I done my will over 12 years ago, before I retired. So much has changed in the intervening years that I think that I ought to make a new one, I will have to consult members of my family first. Weather here is much the same as GDB's, a bit damp overnight but the strong breeze is drying everything up. Thats it for now, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. I've no idea where the time went today but I've done nothing much at all today. Had an e-mail from SEERS this afternoon regarding our oldest member (96 years old IIRC). He will be appearing on the Antiques Road Show this Sunday (not as an antique) but knowing Ray it will probably be something transport related and interesting. Unfortunately since the show was recorded he has had to go into a nursing home due to failing eyesight but he still has all his marbles.

My brother-in-law was a test driver for Fords at Dunton when the Sierra was introduced. All the vehicles being tested ran on trade plates and most were scrapped at the end of testing and were never registered* so its unusual for one to have escaped, probably because it was 'special'. * Most test vehicles did not have car tax or VAT paid so could not be sold on. When they were scrapped proof had to be shown to HMRC.

I see the Tomy Tomica version (1/71 scale) is on E-bay at the moment..

The main cost is the batteries. I recently checked out some second hand hybrid and electric cars. I was surprised by how cheap they were until I got to the bit that says "Needs new batteries." They can set you back as much as £5,000 a time. My daily driver, a Hyundai i10 has windscreen pillars so thick that they can easily hide a motorcyclist. I have got into the habit of peering round the pillars when pulling out just to be sure.

Apparently three Pacer bodyshells are up for grabs free of charge. The DoT is offering them to comunity groups etc. who have to come up with why they need one.

That was a few years ago, a few other suitable vehicles have come along since. The Atlas 'World of Stobart' series has a few good examples such as the DAF roadsweeper and a 'Club of four' cabbed Renault. These can now be found quite cheaply at swapmeets or on E-bay.

Probably unable to negotiate some of the tighter curves. If you wanted to add a couple of extra axles how about making the articulated with three bogies?

Older cars are not neccessarily unsafe in an accident, see my post about my Nissan Prairie above. It doesn't matter what age of car you are driving if a heavy truck rams you into the back of another heavy truck in front of you. The one thing that is likely to prevent classic cars from using the roads would be a ban on all but electric vehicles but few of us will still be around when that happens.

There used to be someone here on RMweb who was (is?) building a model of Birmingham New Street in P4. He produced road vehicles to populate thestreets of the layout and he converted a couple of the Matchbox models. The principle modification was to raise the roof by about 2mm.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Rather dull and overcast here this morning but the rain is promised to hold off until the early hours of tomorrow morning. Not much else except to say that thoughts are with Sandy and John. Be back later.

Goodnight all.