Did You Miss Me?

by Phil Cooper

Well, did you miss me? NO, NO, NO! Just a wee bit, surely.!  I needed a rest you see.I was working TOO hard bringing you interesting titbits. While I was on my break I invested in one of Accurascale’s Class 92 locos and I can confirm that all the very positive reviews are correct. It is BEAUTIFUL. I went for “Bertolt Brecht”. The detail and performance is superb. They cost a bit more than Hornby and Bahmann but are worth the money and you can pay in interest-free instalments making it,  and all Accurascale rolling stock, very buyable. The packaging it comes in is also very classy. It feels very special. Now I want one of their 37s which Class 37 devotee, Neil Stanley, says are fantastic. And I love the Class 37 locomotive.

But here’s Class 92 036 Bertolt Brecht:

I bought the sound equipped loco. Guess what? The sound is fantastic!

You may remember that in previous blogs I’ve included photos from mdel-maker’s layouts on Facebook. His time I’m going to also include some of the great photos of the real things posted by railway enthusiasts and first up spme  fantastic shots of “The Jacobite “ steam locomotive at Glenfinnan on its beautiful journey between Fort William and Mallaig. These are from Drew Wilson and they’re brilliant.

Let me remind you that the aim of this blog is to inspire you to join the hobby or continue it but I know once you get the bug, it stays with you forever! I began about 5 or 6 years ago hoping to build a layout that my son, Iain, and then-1 grandson, Harrison, would take over when I went to the Great SignalBox in the Sky. Harrison now 7 and has a wee brother, Nate , who is 2 and beginning to get the train bug  To be honest, it’s a hobby that I probably shouldn’t have started because I have no skills. I am rubbish building models. Electrickery is a huge mystery to me and has given me several shocks but, at least, in this blog I can try to help YOU avoid the problems I came up against. So let’s get on with it.

COME ON, DREW WILSON

Drew is obviously a very good photographer. Here’s a non-train shot

BRILLIANT

One of the other things I do is to search for articles  on REAL railways such as:

SPAIN GETS CLOSER TO PORTUGAL

Spain and Portugal could finally be getting a high-speed train link

Spanish rail operator Renfe’s plans for expansion could mean trains direct to

Lisbon and Porto from Madrid

Over the past couple of weeks, Italy has launched new vintage train routes for tourists and Portugal offering a super-cheap, all-you-can-travel monthly rail pass. And the great European rail revival won’t be slowing down anytime soon, it seems, as we’ve heard on the grapevine that there are plans in place for a brand new high-speed train link between Spain and Portugal. Finally!

A high-speed route to Portugal is officially on the to-do list for Spanish rail operator Renfe, which already has huge plans for expanding its network, according to train expert The Man in Seat 61. After routes into France were confirmed, the company has set its sights on creating rail connections across the border with Portugal.

A proposed route to connect Madrid and the Basque Country with Lisbon was called off in 2020. Renfe believes there is a huge gap in the market for high-speed trains to Portugal, and hopes to meet the potential demand – perhaps as early as 2024, when Portugal’s first high-speed line is set for completion. The line is set to cut journey times between Badajoz and Lisbon by around two hours.

• By 2027, Renfe is hoping to provide services along Portugal’s Atlantic coast, connecting major Portuguese cities with Madrid. However, this part of the proposal is still being designed and would require an initial investment of €15 million to get the ball rolling on the necessary upgrades to infrastructure.
•  
• A couple of technical issues still need ironing out. There is currently a discrepancy between the voltages on the overhead wires on the Portuguese and Spanish railway networks, which will need fixing for Renfe’s plans to go ahead. Plus, the Portuguese signalling system differs from the one used across Europe, so that will need translating.
• It also seems like Renfe's plans have come as a bit of a surprise to Portuguese rail operators. Comboios de Portugal said ‘So far, we have not received any additional information, and therefore, we do not have an official position to declare on this issue.’
• Renfe hopes to eventually run two daily services from Madrid, with services to Lisbon and Porto ideally launched by 2030. The designs for all the plans need to be finalised and approved, but still, it all sounds pretty exciting.

GOTTHARD RAIL TUNNEL CLOSURE

The world's longest rail tunnel is closing indefinitely – forcing trains to take the scenic route

A derailment in the Gotthard Rail Tunnel means the line could be closed for months

There’s good news and there’s bad news. For the rail enthusiasts among us, the bad news is that it looks like Switzerland’s Gotthard Tunnel – the world’s longest rail tunnel – is going to be closed for the foreseeable future. The good news is, there’s a stunning alternative route already in operation.

After a major accident in the Swiss tunnel last week, the route has been indefinitely closed for repairs. 16 carriages were derailed, and subsequently, eight kilometres of track and over 20,000 concrete railroad ties need replacing.

The Gotthard Tunnel runs between Erstfeld in the north and Bodio in the south, and connects rail traffic between Milan and Zurich. It’s the world's longest and deepest, stretching 57 kilometres and delving 2 kilometres underground. It’s a popular destination for those who love the railways.

However, according to the Swiss National rail operator SSB, passenger trains will have to be diverted until further notice along the ‘panorama route’, and this change means that at least an hour will be added to journey times. Arguably, though, this isn’t such a bad thing. While the longer train ride might be inconvenient for some, the Swiss Alps are world-renowned for their outstanding scenery. Who can really complain when there’s a rare opportunity to absorb such wonderful views?

I can confirm the fact that rail travel in Switzerland is full of great scenery. We used to spend Christmas in Switzerland , based in Interlaken where you can take short rail journeys to Murren, Wengen and Grindelwald experiencing trains that literally climb mountains. The trains are always “on time” and the scenery especially in Winter is beautiful. A weekly season ticket covers all trains and mountain ski lifts.

A MUST is the trip to the summit of the Eiger, The train spirals its way up inside the mountain, stopping at various points where you can see the neighbouring mountains from viewing platforms but the BEST bit is when yu reach the top and go from darkness inside the mountain to searing white light of the mountains and glaciers-sunglasses are NEEDED.

That trip is not included on your season ticket; it’s an unforgettable experience. But be careful the air is thin up there and you will know it. Amusingly on the way back down everybody falls asleep!

However I advise you not to do what my son, Iain did. The idiot went off-piste and ended up on a cliff. There was no way back up so he jumped off the cliff landing on trees several yards lower, breaking his finger holding on to his precious snowboard. Daftness runs in my family!

You’ll be pleased to know that civilisation has reached Dover with Mcdonalds takeaways becoming available in the JustEAT website

And I like to offer suggstions to help you real modellers such as:

Mmmm sausagey, cheesy and eggy

Best served as a meal wIth Hash Brown and a Flat White.Just £6.89

They may not be the healthiest of meals but they taste great, the perfect start to a modeller’s day!

NEW SLEEPER SERVICE FROM PARIS TO BERLIN

NightJet’s newest sleeper service will take you between the French and German capitals while you sleep

Paris and Berlin – for everything from culture and history to eating, drinking and nightlife – are two of Europe’s mightiest capitals. And yet, oddly, they aren’t linked by overnight train. As the rest of the continent has improved and extended its sleeper network, a night service between these two cities has remained strangely overlooked. Until now, that is.

That’s right: a brand-new night train link between Paris and Berlin has been confirmed by NightJet, the sleeper arm of Austrian national rail operator ÖBB. And excitingly, it could begin services before the end of 2023.

As of Friday August 25, train maestro The Man in Seat 61 has posted details of the timetable for the Paris-Berlin route. Trains will depart from Paris’s Gare de l’Est at 7.12pm and will stop at Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Erfurt and Berlin Südkreuz before arriving at Berlin’s main station at 8.26am.

In the opposite direction, the train will not stop at Berlin Südkreuz, but will make a stop in the city of Halle. The Berlin-Paris train will run slightly later, leaving at 8.18pm and arriving at 10.24am the next day.

What’s more, Gare de l’Est’s proximity to Gare du Nord means the new services will be an easy connection for those arriving on the Eurostar from London. It’s only a ten-minute walk between the two Paris stations.

Ticket prices should be in line with other NightJet services, which start at around €50 for a bed in a shared ‘couchette’ cabin. That’s likely to work out a little cheaper than the European Sleeper night train from Brussels to Berlin, and with more modern carriages.

So when exactly might you be able to fall asleep in Paris and wake up in Berlin? Well, the service is due to be introduced in the next European train timetable change – likely to take place on December 10. Anyone for Christmas in Germany?

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL ABROAD BY TRAIN YOU MUST CHECK THIS:

SEAT61.COM

Now let’s get some inspiration from some of the great modellers in Facebook. There’s a lot of rubbish on Facebook bUt there are many groups for modellers where inspiration and advice can be found. I’ve yet to find anybody unwilling to offer advice and help. And there are some great modelling photos like these from Ste Scan, making his debut in the blog with brilliant photos, many with a Scottish influence which IS a GOOD thing. Have a wee look.

I’m going to jump in just to say that the icon under the side window is the stag antlers which tells you the loco is based at Inverness where my dad was based as a driver. He drove on the famous Kyle run and the Far North line. He also did runs from the distilleries. He always said that he had the best job in the world!

 And here’s the logo.

Fantastic, isn’t it.

It should be mandatory for all 37s and 47s to have them!

The large logo Class 37 is very popular-my favourite loco. I’ve got 14. If you think I’m mad, let me tell you that regular blog contributor, Neil Stanley has 149! Neil is, of course, insane. My partner, NannyBarb hates my hobby and I literally have to smuggle locomotives into our house. Neil is obviously married to an anger.

And here’s the real thing:

He is an Emperor, you can tell by his white antler tips – a magnificent beast

Sorry for That Interruption! Let’s get back to Ste’s terrific photos!

Personally I like to see groups of locomotives like above. During my Summer break I’ve been building “fleets” I started with my Highland Fleet (20 locos) then added an HST Fleet and now a GNER Fleet and finally a Virgin Fleet.

That was a great way to resume my blog. Thanks Ste. Lets’s see more, please.

FLEETS

I mentioned fleets a few minutes ago so here’s an admittedly rubbish, very hurried shot of some of my Virgin Fleet made up of class 43, 47, 87nand glorious Pendolinos.. You can see Iam neither a real modellor nor a photographer so ignore the spaghetti under the board and the “stuff” everywhere an concentrate on a board full of red locomotives.

Lets have a look round the modelling world

Bachmann have revealed new products for OO gauge, set to be released over the coming months. With new tooling projects in N, OO and OO9 scale, more than a century of railway history is depicted by the models that make up the Autumn collection. The Bachmann Branchline OO scale range sees two models return this Autumn

BR Standard 9F

Following recent upgrades, the manufacturer's BR Standard 9F is to incorporate a Plux22 DCC interface and pre-fitted speaker. New tooling has now been produced to depict the ‘Tyne Dock’ locomotives.

Two models are to be depicted in heavily-weathered condition. SOUND FITTED models which utilise a bespoke sound project are also available.

CEP Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)

The Bachmann Branchline model has been refurbished with new bodyshells portraying the work undertaken when the real units were refurbished – most notably the fitting of hopper window ventilators and the relocation of the brake compartments from the two driving vehicles to a single trailer vehicle. The first release to utilise this new tooling depicts Class 411/9 3-CEP No. 1199 in South West Trains livery and this is joined by a Blue & Grey-liveried Class 422/7 4-TEP – a unit formed of three refurbished CEP vehicles and an un-refurbished buffet vehicle from a BEP unit.

Both models require a single DCC decoder for use on DCC systems or can be purchased in SOUND FITTED format with a decoder pre-installed.

FLYING SCOTSMAN

Hornby are releasing some eye catching rolling stock soon. In LNER livery they have the Flying Scotsman Mk. 4 Driving Van Trailer (R40370) representing 82205. Carrying a recommended retail price of £84.99, the free-running model fitted with working lights, also benefits from sprung buffers, and an excellent high-quality rendition of the vinyls seen on the prototype.

A word of advice for newcomers to the hobby, despite the word “Driving” these are unpowered. A few years ago I made this mistake thinking they were powered and bought two on eBay!

Just look at the detail

The 'chiselled' edge to the DVT cabs were designed to echo those of the then newly-introduced Class 91s. Hornby's rendition works well.

Small lettering and OHLE warning labels stand out well. Painted door handles and handrails are neat, too.

PLS LAYOUTS BESPOKE TRACKMATS

Professional Layout Services (PLS) is offering a new direct printing service for sheet timber. The printed trackplan are created from CAD trackplans, allowing modellers to precisely fix their 'Setrack' or 'Flexitrack' track to boards. The new system works in a similar way to 'Track Mats', as supplied with Hornby train sets, but can be made to any bespoke size or plan, for any gauge.

Printed track templates show precise placement of track, with codes for purchasing. 

PLS proprietor, Neil Stevenson said, "We can use the direct AutoCAD .DXF file from Winrail, your .PDF export from Anyrail or your Scarm file which we will convert to a usable format. The direct .DXF method is clearly the most accurate but the attached images are all from a Scarm conversion.

A precision-fit, CNC-milled cutout for an ADM turntable.

"We are also able to CNC machine mountings for the ADM turntable system, allowing the turntable to be released from the underside, without removing the track. This is the same fitting as the original ADM kit, without cutting out a square plate area into the board, as originally supplied by ADM."

You can find PLS Layouts here:

www.pls-layouts.co.uk

ANYRAIL

I used software from Anyrail to plan my layout. I found it best to design my layout and that probably saved my track. Remember every time you dismantle track you are badly affecting its integrity.

You can download it for free here:

www.anyrail.com/en/download

PLAYTRAINS SCENERY

Here’s something if you’re like me with grandsprogs. I have 2 -Harrison age 7 going on 15 and Nate age 2 Playtrains are ideal for Nate

Early-years train sets now boast scenery, thanks to easy-to-assemble plastic kits.

Hornby's Playtrains range has gained infrastructure through easy-to-assemble micro kits. Catering for the youngest of train fans, Hornby's Playtrains range is more robust for smaller hands, and more wallet-friendly, too.

With interactive games for children on its website, sets can now be expanded with lineside infrastructure. Received by the manufacturer this month for review was a station and tunnel kit. Injection-moulded in bright plastic colours, components are a simple push fit, using the instructions for assembly, requiring non tools or adhesives.

Related: What is Hornby Playtrains?

While an introduction into the methodology of kit assembly for children, expect some adult supervision for early years builders!

Inside the box, a packet contains all parts, instructions and a collection of stickers to customise models.

Push-fit parts make for quick assembly. Everyone loves a sticker sheet!

Five pieces make up the tunnel kit. The centre sections aren't used for a single track setup.

Sheep, fences, flowers and bushes – let your children get creative!

To find out more on Hormby Playtrains go here:

HORNBY P2 “PRINCE OF WALES”

For the collector, modeller of the 21st century railway, or fan of new-build steam, here's a new arrival with envious looks...

As the story of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s new-build main line steam P2 Class locomotive, No. 2007 Prince of Wales continues, what’s to come can be enjoyed in model form now from Hornby (R3983) – RRP: £254.49. Here's what we love about this new model:

For reasons of costs and compatibility, No. 2007's boiler is to sit around 2in lower than that of the original class, sharing the same type as that fitted to A1 Class 4-6-2 60163 Tornado, with an extension coupler between it, and the smokebox. For obvious reasons, Hornby's tooling remains unchanged, though the new identity remains obvious on the smoke deflectors. Note the double chimney, too.

The cab backhead detail is impressive – sight glasses, valves, gauges and copper pipes are wonderfully individually-painted. Cab glazing is discreet, too. The etched hinged fall plate enhances the visible appearance too, being quite obvious when viewed from above.

A sneaky trick – eccentrics for the Lentz rotary valve gear and speedo drive don't connect to the injection-moulded plastic valve gear, but are hidden behind. Convincing, and reliable.

The coal load on our sample was a little loose, no so that it detached, but rather floated. Easily fixed, but one for the more adventurous modeller to cover with a real coal load, anyway. Hornby's rendition of coal on models has come a long way in the past decade, this being among the best representation we've seen in plastic of the combustible.

As the story of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s new-build main line steam P2 Class locomotive, No. 2007 Prince of Wales continues, what’s to come can be enjoyed in model form now from Hornby (R3983) – RRP: £254.49. Here's what we love 

Find out more here:

HORNBY OUTLET SALE

Here are a few of the bargains available

R3893 GNER, Class 91, Bo-Bo, 91117 'Cancer Research UK' - Era 10

Electric 10 Network Franchising 2006-2017

 £152.59 £217.99

 R60067 HFA Hopper Wagons, Three Pack, BR Coal Sector - Era 8

Freight Wagons 8 BR Sectorisation 1982-1997

£59.50 £84.99

For more information go here:

https://uk.hornby.com/search?resultType=product&langPath=hornby-uk&category=all_products&sub_category=combined&q=outlet%20sale&sort_by=0&page=1

NEIL STANLEY

Neil is a remarkable modeller. He has a full time job yet finds time to build his own railwayaccessories such as floodlight towers, I’ve bought 3 and they look great. He has also converted me to the art of Weathering. Of course I haven’t got the skills to do my own but I now appreciate it. He also finds time to instruct and advise other modellers and was the subject of a profile in the railway modeller’s bible, “Model Rail”. He also owns 149 Class 37s. Yes, he’s insane!

Here's 2 of his recent videos. Go on, enjoy them and see what can be achieved .

He’s also a regular contributor to this blog and here’s a few of his photos.

BRAD JOYCE

But Neil wasn’tnthe first blog contributor to be highlighted in “Model Rail” . That honour went to Brad Joyce so let’s see some of his excellent work.

E e

MACAULAY LANE TMD

I love big layouts like this one-long platforms, lots of track and space and terrific accommodation

Magnificent stuff. Only the very best modellers feature in this blog

THAT’S ALL FOLKS

If you would like to read more blog posts from Phil check back every two weeks or sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date on site news or when the blog posts go live.

The views and opinions expressed within the content are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of Trackside Signs or its affiliates.