Quote from: EtchedPixels on June 14, 2026, 01:31:07 PM... old Minitrix ones. They go round 7" curves and up and down grades fine except for the ivatt 

The 2-6-2T is ok as that has weight in the side tanks.  It's the 2-6-0 tender loco which struggles: it's too lightweight, the traction tyres don't really add much benefit and the tender pickups need very careful pressure adjustment to minimise drag.   The German 2-6-0 with the same chassis is the same, I've had 2 or 3 over them over the decades and all got consigned to the parts bin.

Quote from: Steven B on June 14, 2026, 11:19:21 AMHow does real life US firefighting compare to what we see in the likes of Station 19 and Chicago Fire?

 

Most of us hate those shows.   

Actually most of the things they depict are realistic-ish, it's just the compression. They are making a show so they are squeezing a month of runs, fires, drama into one episode.
Yes; firefighters love drama  and we talk (changed by forum) constantly but a lot of our lives at the station would be too boring for TV: training, drills, inspecting businesses, testing fire hydrants, talking to kids/schools, eating, working out, playing cards.

We get paid for the giant "what if" and the fact that it comes unexpectedly any time of the day or night. Our true hazard isn't fires or disasters, it's the "coiled spring" affect of being on high-alert for 48 hours and sleep deprivation. Those are the true killers, which is why health and fitness has come to be emphasized lately.


Good question though!
*Caveat - Busy districts in big cities might have a higher volume of dramatic calls, but then their station density will be greater.

Interesting. Noticed that too with Minitrix Ivatt!

I've not had trouble with 3% grades except with very draggy wagons, stuff that was overweight (eg the Dapol tesco train), or very light locos. Mostly things that could be addressed with some weights or adjustment of whatever caused the drag.

Steam is also much less of a problem because you can bank or double head stuff up any reasonable grade without worrying about rule 1, whereas diesel banking was much less common.

Or just run old Minitrix ones. They go round 7" curves and up and down grades fine except for the ivatt 

With the women's T20 world cup on and regular mountain bike racing called world cups perhaps the title needs changing to the FIFA Mens World Cup 2026

With time difference, I may watch some of the 8pm kick offs. I don't know why but very much lost enjoyment of football in past few years, probably due to the lack of "clear and obvious" use of VAR rather use for any possible miniscule decision.

It will be interesting to see with more countries competing what effect that has, noting now double the number from 1990.

The original thread was started as an anti-WC moan, and very much continued in that vein. All very British: to start a conversation on a non-football forum, simply to inform the World that "I have no interest in this WC". Was a different outcome expected by the OP?

Personally I found it very entertaining — on par with the finest traditional pantomime.

How does real life US firefighting compare to what we see in the likes of Station 19 and Chicago Fire?

Thanks for the info, probably need to type the right words in

Don't worry, the Tour de France starts soon and we'll have Mick @Newportnobby slobbering all over the place 

Thank you for starting a new thread George @Bealman .

I asked for my original one to be locked as it was getting out of hand and moving well away from my original intention.

Perhaps we can now just concentrate on football on here.

Well done Scotland and Australia by the way.
I watched the first half of Qatar v Switzerland which was less than inspiring shall we say.