35018 British India Line

or individual...

 

That is the most likely arrangement that both provides security and affords efficient investment opportunities.

 

Victor made the point about running the business well.

 

???

 

Meanwhile... back on my layout - the crew of the Q6, check out the latest addition to the WCRC fleet that has arrived on a test run.

 

That does make me chuckle. Detail right down to the back to front cycling lion!

Hornby do some stock that will go well as a POB for BIL ...

 

Hazard flashes, tender adaptations, tops number, etc all done on the model. It got quite a few looks and stares when it was at the Shildon exhibition. The TOPS number really threw people too.

Just for the record 63395 has had a new tender done too.

Won't be long before someone mentions that Hornby giraffe car...

 

There's definitely something ironic in modelling to the finer details as close as possible, based on a locomotive that is currently quite purposefully the opposite!

 

Its one reason why have followed BILs developments quite closely. I do like modelling the present scene - and Merchant Navy's are not my speciality, or top the lists of engines I quite like most of all. But the work they have done on the prototype is really impressive. I love the adaptations made so that an old steam engine is made ready for regular service on the network today. They have worked out that they needed greater coal capacity so the tender is altered, water capacity is changed as the body is higher at the back. Health and Safety is incorporated on boards that stop you climbing the steps to get access. Hazard flashes placed on the engine are where they are clearly sighted to stop you climbing into danger.

The engineering done behind the scenes and decisions taken really do make this engine stand apart and the quality of the overhaul will make the engine fit for traffic on the network today (even if its a Southern engine and might slip on hills...)

Even the older changes such as the piping are faithfully modelled - But it will just look great if the engine does go Black and like the real thing stands apart from other engines on the layout. It gives the layout a little extra Wow factor for having a different engine. Its that, or the Brunswick Green P2...

 

Can we cut all this rubbish and have some real info on 35018. When is it going to work a train?

 

You actually expect Carnforth to make that information available? Dream on Don.

 

Point of order, Southern Engines, particularly MNs do not slip on hills, you clearly haven't had the privilege of seeing 35028 romp up the 1 in 80 of Honiton Bank

 

best tag a diesel along with it just incase , not like its worked a train for a while is it,

 

I think an A4 had the same problem here so I would blame GW enginemen not knowing how to handle superior locomotives to their own!!

 

Let's pray to god that it goes better then that heap Tangmere did, think it should be a point of order all pacifics should take a diesel as back up.

 

So what's the problem with Pacifics that other wheel arrangements don't have? In general Tangmere was a reliable loco