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What colours, and for which company/region were mark 1 carriages originally introduced? Colours I know are green, maroon, carmine and cream, chocolate and cream. Were there any others? Green were Southern? Chocolate and cream were GWR/Western? That's as far as I know. I am guessing maroon and...

Will Bachmann have a stand at either Stafford MREx on 26/27th September and/or Great Electric Rail Show in Milton Keynes 10/11th October? Thanks in advance.

Is anybody a member of Bachmann Collector's Club? At 29.99, it appears good value, particularly if you want to buy their models (I fancy the WCR class 31!). Or you can pay extra and get one or two free wagons a year. Are the wagons any good? What are the club magazines like? Are the...

I've just been to the 2026 DEMU show. Anybody else been? What did you think? Sadly, I didn't find it as good as other years. There didn't seem to be as many layouts or traders. The catering came in the form of a Costa next to the leisure centre where it was held. Personally, I preferred...

So, I've been to Cleethorpes today, using TPEx. I have visited the 'resort' for many years. I remember travelling there from South Yorkshire over the years. Classic 1st generation DMUs, Transpennine 123/4s, class 31s and mk2s. What came after those? Today was a 185. It used to be 6 platforms...

I've got a decent phone - Samsung 24+ I am toying with the idea of getting a smart watch. I'm not a luddite and can use technology, but hesitating over this. Don't want to spend a fortune and want a watch that tells the time (!), usual watch features of date, alarm etc. One that is OK to read...

I have booked first class advance single tix, Manchester to Cleethorpes and return. I have been allocated seats. Is there any chance I can pick a different seat? Or, if not, how busy are 0913 ex Manchester and 1626 ex Cleethorpes likely to be on a Wednesday in April, so I can sit elsewhere in...

Anybody know if Vintage Trains have any vacancies or ad hoc opportunities for catering staff on their dining specials? If so, who would I contact, please? Experienced and available!

Been invited for video shortlisting with West Midlands Railway for a station dispatcher role. I've not opened the link yet. I want to read what to do, but if I open it, do I have to do it there and then? Anybody know what it involves? I want to be as well prepared as I can. Any advice on what...

If a charter train was going to stay in Newquay overnight..... a) Would that be possible? b) Would the new station layout arrangement allow one to stable there and a DMU metro train to come and go? c) Would the line infrastructure be up to it anyway - passing loops etc? Or wouldn't they be needed?

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-01-13/new-manchester-to-birmingham-rail-link-planned-but-its-not-hs2?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPTnMZjbGNrA9OcgmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHu_6EIaRdNNl90V4S6J7apcQsAAgQknbff796G3yJ4JKZg9Y_mXRXh2mBfSg_aem_Ece2tQKYbHBiV7iTMP59cw Does this mean anything to...

Will there be a central planning team at GBR? If so, I hope it starts with a semi blank canvass. What does the country need - not constrained by TOC/current operator boundaries? Any chance of the return of inter-regional trains that used to run? I think it will be similar to now, just painted...

Any wishes for 2026 railtours? I know we have the LSL program. I hoped to see an INTERCITY jaunt to Inverness. Maybe SRPS may do something? Will anyone take the place of Pathfinder? Would be good to see a people-mover, bucket and spade special or two. Probably no market for these today...

Anybody have knowledge of any new models from the main manufacturers due in 2026? Always interesting. Any wants or desires? I'd still like to see a BR Trans-Pennine 123/4! I'll keep dreaming there. More likely - a LSL black class 90. Could a Class 185 eventually appear? And I would like to...

XC Facebook page had an advert saying they were removing catering from non-Voyager journeys. It said it was to create 'tastier' journeys. They disabled comments and now it's disappeared altogether! Sorry moderators, I can't put a link because it's gone! Should Intercity services have...

A few thoughts about the future of railtours - for enthusiasts and day-trippers alike. It's a debate that is ongoing, but a recent fiasco sparked the thoughts again. A sorry tale from the penultimate Pathfinder excursion on Saturday 22nd November - The Chester Christmas Explorer and Manchester...

Does anybody know what is happening in the Stafford area please? I need to get from Stafford to Oxford and at least the next two direct trains are cancelled. Are all lines blocked or could I make my way there with some changes, avoiding the problem? Or should I get the car keys out and drive.....

I want to drag myself into the 21st century. I've got thousands of paper magazines and I really need to change. I have annual subscription to two titles. Does anybody just have e-magazines? What reader do you have? How does it work? Do they get sent to you? (Sorry, I really haven't a clue!)...

I am in Germany for my annual jaunt to the Christmas markets. I always like to do something else while I'm there. This year, I'd like a trip on the Harz Mountain steam trains. Either one or two nights from a start point, preferably somewhere en route between Hamburg and Leipzig. I've done a...

I write this with a couple of examples - I am sure there are more. I live in a county town in the Midlands. If I want to go to a gig/event/night out in Manchester on a Saturday night, my last train home is half way through the evening. I wanted to use the train to go for an afternoon and...