In 1932 five mystery hikes around Sydney were organised by the railways, with the department store F.J. Palmer and Sons as the commercial sponsor. Hikers purchased a two-shilling train ticket and joined a train from Central Station to a mystery destination.
So HRH is ditching the Royal Train. Fair enough and, I think, inevitable - but sad.
However, how does buying and using two new helicopters help either the finances or the environment?
I don’t find it that difficult to believe that 2 helicopters will indeed be cheaper, and it’s not *that* much of a stretch that it’d be greener (certainly than the current train).
British Rail ran "mystery tours" in the 1970s, usually to "holiday" towns.
That would've been fun. I'd like to do more heritage tours, either one day, or shorter, like I did when I lived in New Zealand, or I have seen multi-day ones too. I love train travel. Clearly, I'm on this thread!
The full title *The Rev Mr W Awdry* is one of several variations on the theme, but is technically correct.
I met him once, but called him *Sir* when I spoke to him.
Back to the Royal Train, and I wonder what will happen to the rolling stock? The King may want to keep one or two coaches for short day trips - to the Races, maybe, as the late Queen used to do - but some may well, I suppose, end up on heritage railways' high-end dining car trains!
I've just looked at my copy of Oliver the Western Engine, and we are simply told that the Other Railway wanted to scrap him, but that he escaped, along with his faithful coach (Isabel ) and a brake van (Toad ).
They were nearly caught, but one of the Scottish twins saved them, and the Fat Controller found another coach (Dulcie ) to accompany Isabel.
Maybe the idea that they came from Devon was suggested by the author's note on the title page that Olivers (and Ducks ) can be found IRL on the Dart Valley Railway?
So HRH is ditching the Royal Train. Fair enough and, I think, inevitable - but sad.
However, how does buying and using two new helicopters help either the finances or the environment?
It probably doesn't help, but it's probably far easier to file a flight plan for a helicopter than to diagram a path on an increasingly busy railway, which I suspect is one of the main reasons for this.
Maybe the idea that they came from Devon was suggested by the author's note on the title page that Olivers (and Ducks ) can be found IRL on the Dart Valley Railway?
Ah, but which 14xx is Oliver: 1420 or 1450? The latter is no longer on the Dart Valley (South Devon) Railway. Mind you, if he's on Sodor he's presumably neither.
Maybe the idea that they came from Devon was suggested by the author's note on the title page that Olivers (and Ducks ) can be found IRL on the Dart Valley Railway?
Ah, but which 14xx is Oliver: 1420 or 1450? The latter is no longer on the Dart Valley (South Devon) Railway. Mind you, if he's on Sodor he's presumably neither.
I like to think Oliver was 1482. Otherwise last seen in the vicinity of Woodstock High Street…😉
Maybe the idea that they came from Devon was suggested by the author's note on the title page that Olivers (and Ducks ) can be found IRL on the Dart Valley Railway?
Ah, but which 14xx is Oliver: 1420 or 1450? The latter is no longer on the Dart Valley (South Devon) Railway. Mind you, if he's on Sodor he's presumably neither.
I like to think Oliver was 1482. Otherwise last seen in the vicinity of Woodstock High Street…😉
OK, what am I missing here? I know Woodstock had a branch, but this obviously doesn't fit that.
Maybe the idea that they came from Devon was suggested by the author's note on the title page that Olivers (and Ducks ) can be found IRL on the Dart Valley Railway?
Ah, but which 14xx is Oliver: 1420 or 1450? The latter is no longer on the Dart Valley (South Devon) Railway. Mind you, if he's on Sodor he's presumably neither.
I like to think Oliver was 1482. Otherwise last seen in the vicinity of Woodstock High Street…😉
OK, what am I missing here? I know Woodstock had a branch, but this obviously doesn't fit that.
I think the scene showing the Thunderbolt chuntering through the sleeping town was filmed in Woodstock, although many of the other scenes were filmed on the alread-closed Limpley Stoke branch near Bath (and what a wonderful opening scene with the late-lamented S&D at Midford!).
Maybe the idea that they came from Devon was suggested by the author's note on the title page that Olivers (and Ducks ) can be found IRL on the Dart Valley Railway?
Ah, but which 14xx is Oliver: 1420 or 1450? The latter is no longer on the Dart Valley (South Devon) Railway. Mind you, if he's on Sodor he's presumably neither.
I like to think Oliver was 1482. Otherwise last seen in the vicinity of Woodstock High Street…😉
OK, what am I missing here? I know Woodstock had a branch, but this obviously doesn't fit that.
I think the scene showing the Thunderbolt chuntering through the sleeping town was filmed in Woodstock, although many of the other scenes were filmed on the alread-closed Limpley Stoke branch near Bath (and what a wonderful opening scene with the late-lamented S&D at Midford!).
Apparently so says the intertubes, I won't post the link as it's earholes-deep in ads.
And on a related topic, has everyone else ordered their Ivor The Engine set from Rapido yet? Unfortunately, my railway budget for the next ten years was blown on their Jones Goods.
And on a related topic, has everyone else ordered their Ivor The Engine set from Rapido yet? Unfortunately, my railway budget for the next ten years was blown on their Jones Goods.
No, I'm afraid not.
Ivor the Engine was never part of my childhood - I grew up on Another Series - but the models look good, and Rapido themselves have obviously had a great deal of fun producing them (mind you, they seem to derive a great deal of enjoyment all the time, by making generally excellent - if pricey - models).
I resisted the temptation to buy a Jones Goods, but have 3 other Rapido locomotives on pre-order, more suited to a British light railway theme. Now, where's that bit of Cheese, from which I need to scrape the mould, before I have it (the Cheese) for lunch?
Hmm ... cheese ... are you modelling the Wensleydale railway?
I do wonder who the Ivor set is aimed at. It's far too expensive for children, so presumably the target audience is people of My Age who remember it first time round (and susequent viewers).
Hmm ... cheese ... are you modelling the Wensleydale railway?
I do wonder who the Ivor set is aimed at. It's far too expensive for children, so presumably the target audience is people of My Age who remember it first time round (and susequent viewers).
No, I'm afraid I don't like Wensleydale...(all the more for Wallace, of course).
I think you're probably right about the Ivor models, though I'm sure Rapido are canny enough to have made reasonably certain of a profitable market.
Meanwhile, they forge ahead with some very fine models, making it hard to keep up with them...I did suggest that they produce a Beyer-Peacock Metropolitan etc. 4-4-0T, to go with their lovely Met 0-4-4T and forthcoming generic Evolution coaches in Met/LT livery, but we shall see.
That would be a good suggestion and possibly the basis for other models (the District locos for a start).
The Evolution coaches are a great idea, unfortunately the Met coaches (at least those on the Extension Line) has very distinctive round-topped doors, to prevent damage if they were opened in the tunnels.
Hmm ... cheese ... are you modelling the Wensleydale railway?
I do wonder who the Ivor set is aimed at. It's far too expensive for children, so presumably the target audience is people of My Age who remember it first time round (and subsequent viewers).
No, I'm afraid I don't like Wensleydale...(all the more for Wallace, of course).
I think you're probably right about the Ivor models, though I'm sure Rapido are canny enough to have made reasonably certain of a profitable market.
Meanwhile, they forge ahead with some very fine models, making it hard to keep up with them...I did suggest that they produce a Beyer-Peacock Metropolitan etc. 4-4-0T, to go with their lovely Met 0-4-4T and forthcoming generic Evolution coaches in Met/LT livery, but we shall see.
They certainly do listen. I am sure I was far from the only one who suggested to them at a show that CR No 123 would be welcome after the Big Goods, if not the entire Scottish preserved four, and here we are. But I don't think I can afford it, however.
They have a special suggestion form on their website, wherein people can make the case for a particular model. It does involve the customer doing some research, and providing links, information etc., to back their case.
I was surprised when they announced Caledonian 123, thinking that maybe they'd go for a North British Glen - one has been preserved, of course, but the class lasted well into BR days.
I don't for a moment doubt that they do take on board what people say to them off-the-cuff at shows etc. - along with Accurascale, they seem to be very good at relating to their public. Their promotional videos are always entertaining.
Their models aren't always 100%, though, and their LBSCR E1 has received a few reviews which damn it with faint praise! Nevertheless, I eagerly await the arrival of the locomotives I have on pre-order, and only hope that the Workhouse has room for a small layout.
I don't for a moment doubt that they do take on board what people say to them off-the-cuff at shows etc. - along with Accurascale, they seem to be very good at relating to their public. Their promotional videos are always entertaining.
Their models aren't always 100%, though, and their LBSCR E1 has received a few reviews which damn it with faint praise! Nevertheless, I eagerly await the arrival of the locomotives I have on pre-order, and only hope that the Workhouse has room for a small layout.
It's true that they do fall short of perfection. The Jones Goods has one of the most distinctive chimneys of all time, but their rendering of it is poor, the copper cap looking more like a lick of brass coloured paint. Someone had Jones chimneys available at one time - I shall see if I can find one. The coal is so bad it's funny, but that can be fixed. Everything else about it is very good.
As to the Glen, the problem there is that you really have to buy two. One on its own doesn't look right. And with the Glen they are half way to a J37, which I would love to have.
I don't for a moment doubt that they do take on board what people say to them off-the-cuff at shows etc. - along with Accurascale, they seem to be very good at relating to their public. Their promotional videos are always entertaining.
Their models aren't always 100%, though, and their LBSCR E1 has received a few reviews which damn it with faint praise! Nevertheless, I eagerly await the arrival of the locomotives I have on pre-order, and only hope that the Workhouse has room for a small layout.
It's true that they do fall short of perfection. The Jones Goods has one of the most distinctive chimneys of all time, but their rendering of it is poor, the copper cap looking more like a lick of brass coloured paint. Someone had Jones chimneys available at one time - I shall see if I can find one. The coal is so bad it's funny, but that can be fixed. Everything else about it is very good.
As to the Glen, the problem there is that you really have to buy two. One on its own doesn't look right. And with the Glen they are half way to a J37, which I would love to have.
My rule of thumb is always ‘is it better than I could have done myself, and in that light is the price reasonable?’
I’ve got the KR Models GT3. It’s not a perfect model, but if I want a GT3 (which I did) then it’s a better route to that than what I could do, starting with livery application,
On the other hand, I have got the set of a certain manufacturer’s biblically flawed* Lynton and Barnstaple locomotives…
*motion, pony trucks and pickups, you know, just the small stuff
I don't for a moment doubt that they do take on board what people say to them off-the-cuff at shows etc. - along with Accurascale, they seem to be very good at relating to their public. Their promotional videos are always entertaining.
Their models aren't always 100%, though, and their LBSCR E1 has received a few reviews which damn it with faint praise! Nevertheless, I eagerly await the arrival of the locomotives I have on pre-order, and only hope that the Workhouse has room for a small layout.
It's true that they do fall short of perfection. The Jones Goods has one of the most distinctive chimneys of all time, but their rendering of it is poor, the copper cap looking more like a lick of brass coloured paint. Someone had Jones chimneys available at one time - I shall see if I can find one. The coal is so bad it's funny, but that can be fixed. Everything else about it is very good.
As to the Glen, the problem there is that you really have to buy two. One on its own doesn't look right. And with the Glen they are half way to a J37, which I would love to have.
My rule of thumb is always ‘is it better than I could have done myself, and in that light is the price reasonable?’
I’ve got the KR Models GT3. It’s not a perfect model, but if I want a GT3 (which I did) then it’s a better route to that than what I could do, starting with livery application,
On the other hand, I have got the set of a certain manufacturer’s biblically flawed* Lynton and Barnstaple locomotives…
*motion, pony trucks and pickups, you know, just the small stuff
Agreed. I'd like a KR Leader - I could never begin to build anything resembling the prototype - despite the manifold flaws. However, it would never be anything other than a shelf queen, so I'm waiting for a BR black one to appear at a highly-discounted price!
The GT3 is a very good-looking locomotive (I remember the brief article in Railway Modeller when the real thing appeared). Just out of interest, what stock do you run with it? BR blood-and-custard would look nice...
Again, out of interest, whose are the flawed L&BR locomotives? AIUI, available models (in 009 presumably) are actually quite true to prototype.
I'm not quite sure why one would need two NBR Glens, should someone produce a model, or did they often work in tandem? The 1959 (?) Railway Roundabout film Two Glens to Fort William was a special one-off, I think.
From "LNER Encyclopedia": " The Glens were limited to 190 ton trains on the West Highland route, so even before Grouping (1923) double heading was required for heavier rolling stock".
From "LNER Encyclopedia": " The Glens were limited to 190 ton trains on the West Highland route, so even before Grouping (1923) double heading was required for heavier rolling stock".
Thank you!
Still, not everyone would want to model the West Highland, so I suppose a single Glen could appear on less exacting work, especially in later (BR) days.
From "LNER Encyclopedia": " The Glens were limited to 190 ton trains on the West Highland route, so even before Grouping (1923) double heading was required for heavier rolling stock".
Thank you!
Still, not everyone would want to model the West Highland, so I suppose a single Glen could appear on less exacting work, especially in later (BR) days.
True; there may possibly be some who might not want to model the entire West Highland, but for those of us who would if we could, two Glens would be a lovely sight. A chap can dream, eh? I am a little closer emotionally to the Highland main line where there is a wealth of double or even triple headed examples to choose from, all the way from the HR to BR. In my time there, three BRC&W Type 2s heading out of Inverness on the Royal Highlander sleeper was a fine sight to see on a summer evening. So yes - just one of these engines does not satisfy the lust for them.
Comments
The Rev Mr Awdry please........
However, how does buying and using two new helicopters help either the finances or the environment?
I don’t find it that difficult to believe that 2 helicopters will indeed be cheaper, and it’s not *that* much of a stretch that it’d be greener (certainly than the current train).
He’s HM, by the way!
That would've been fun. I'd like to do more heritage tours, either one day, or shorter, like I did when I lived in New Zealand, or I have seen multi-day ones too. I love train travel. Clearly, I'm on this thread!
Is HRH for princes and princesses and HM for kings and queens?
You are quite right. I humbly apologise for my egregious error.
Pretty much
Though IIRC right back to the 1940s he was credited on his books as The Rev W Awdry…
I met him once, but called him *Sir* when I spoke to him.
Back to the Royal Train, and I wonder what will happen to the rolling stock? The King may want to keep one or two coaches for short day trips - to the Races, maybe, as the late Queen used to do - but some may well, I suppose, end up on heritage railways' high-end dining car trains!
I've just looked at my copy of Oliver the Western Engine, and we are simply told that the Other Railway wanted to scrap him, but that he escaped, along with his faithful coach (Isabel ) and a brake van (Toad ).
They were nearly caught, but one of the Scottish twins saved them, and the Fat Controller found another coach (Dulcie ) to accompany Isabel.
Maybe the idea that they came from Devon was suggested by the author's note on the title page that Olivers (and Ducks ) can be found IRL on the Dart Valley Railway?
It probably doesn't help, but it's probably far easier to file a flight plan for a helicopter than to diagram a path on an increasingly busy railway, which I suspect is one of the main reasons for this.
I like to think Oliver was 1482. Otherwise last seen in the vicinity of Woodstock High Street…😉
Indeed- I’m hoping fairly fervently that in due course Dapol will shrink their forthcoming Metrotank tooling down to N…
OK, what am I missing here? I know Woodstock had a branch, but this obviously doesn't fit that.
Sorry!
I think the scene showing the Thunderbolt chuntering through the sleeping town was filmed in Woodstock, although many of the other scenes were filmed on the alread-closed Limpley Stoke branch near Bath (and what a wonderful opening scene with the late-lamented S&D at Midford!).
Apparently so says the intertubes, I won't post the link as it's earholes-deep in ads.
No, I'm afraid not.
Ivor the Engine was never part of my childhood - I grew up on Another Series - but the models look good, and Rapido themselves have obviously had a great deal of fun producing them (mind you, they seem to derive a great deal of enjoyment all the time, by making generally excellent - if pricey - models).
I resisted the temptation to buy a Jones Goods, but have 3 other Rapido locomotives on pre-order, more suited to a British light railway theme. Now, where's that bit of Cheese, from which I need to scrape the mould, before I have it (the Cheese) for lunch?
I do wonder who the Ivor set is aimed at. It's far too expensive for children, so presumably the target audience is people of My Age who remember it first time round (and susequent viewers).
No, I'm afraid I don't like Wensleydale...(all the more for Wallace, of course).
I think you're probably right about the Ivor models, though I'm sure Rapido are canny enough to have made reasonably certain of a profitable market.
Meanwhile, they forge ahead with some very fine models, making it hard to keep up with them...I did suggest that they produce a Beyer-Peacock Metropolitan etc. 4-4-0T, to go with their lovely Met 0-4-4T and forthcoming generic Evolution coaches in Met/LT livery, but we shall see.
The Evolution coaches are a great idea, unfortunately the Met coaches (at least those on the Extension Line) has very distinctive round-topped doors, to prevent damage if they were opened in the tunnels.
They certainly do listen. I am sure I was far from the only one who suggested to them at a show that CR No 123 would be welcome after the Big Goods, if not the entire Scottish preserved four, and here we are. But I don't think I can afford it, however.
I was surprised when they announced Caledonian 123, thinking that maybe they'd go for a North British Glen - one has been preserved, of course, but the class lasted well into BR days.
I don't for a moment doubt that they do take on board what people say to them off-the-cuff at shows etc. - along with Accurascale, they seem to be very good at relating to their public. Their promotional videos are always entertaining.
Their models aren't always 100%, though, and their LBSCR E1 has received a few reviews which damn it with faint praise! Nevertheless, I eagerly await the arrival of the locomotives I have on pre-order, and only hope that the Workhouse has room for a small layout.
It's true that they do fall short of perfection. The Jones Goods has one of the most distinctive chimneys of all time, but their rendering of it is poor, the copper cap looking more like a lick of brass coloured paint. Someone had Jones chimneys available at one time - I shall see if I can find one. The coal is so bad it's funny, but that can be fixed. Everything else about it is very good.
As to the Glen, the problem there is that you really have to buy two. One on its own doesn't look right. And with the Glen they are half way to a J37, which I would love to have.
THank you, I was unaware of that
My rule of thumb is always ‘is it better than I could have done myself, and in that light is the price reasonable?’
I’ve got the KR Models GT3. It’s not a perfect model, but if I want a GT3 (which I did) then it’s a better route to that than what I could do, starting with livery application,
On the other hand, I have got the set of a certain manufacturer’s biblically flawed* Lynton and Barnstaple locomotives…
*motion, pony trucks and pickups, you know, just the small stuff
Agreed. I'd like a KR Leader - I could never begin to build anything resembling the prototype - despite the manifold flaws. However, it would never be anything other than a shelf queen, so I'm waiting for a BR black one to appear at a highly-discounted price!
The GT3 is a very good-looking locomotive (I remember the brief article in Railway Modeller when the real thing appeared). Just out of interest, what stock do you run with it? BR blood-and-custard would look nice...
Again, out of interest, whose are the flawed L&BR locomotives? AIUI, available models (in 009 presumably) are actually quite true to prototype.
I'm not quite sure why one would need two NBR Glens, should someone produce a model, or did they often work in tandem? The 1959 (?) Railway Roundabout film Two Glens to Fort William was a special one-off, I think.
Thank you!
Still, not everyone would want to model the West Highland, so I suppose a single Glen could appear on less exacting work, especially in later (BR) days.
True; there may possibly be some who might not want to model the entire West Highland, but for those of us who would if we could, two Glens would be a lovely sight. A chap can dream, eh? I am a little closer emotionally to the Highland main line where there is a wealth of double or even triple headed examples to choose from, all the way from the HR to BR. In my time there, three BRC&W Type 2s heading out of Inverness on the Royal Highlander sleeper was a fine sight to see on a summer evening. So yes - just one of these engines does not satisfy the lust for them.