Based on some requests, and probably some overlap in interest, I will use this thread to post photos of fire life in West Texas.

I've got over 26 years on. The last 16 at the fitness station as fitness specialist: my true passion. I joke that I'm a fitness specialist who happens to drive a fire truck.

As a cadet. I'm the pudgy guy in front. 
 


My station - #3




My two rides.



As driver, I'm at the pump panel, so I'm able to get some pics. The lads putting wet stuff on the red stuff.






I won't send a flood of pics. A few at a time.

Quote from: Foxhound on June 08, 2026, 01:59:12 PM

Quote from: scottmitchell74 on June 06, 2026, 12:46:01 AMWhether I'm searching for British or American image N Gauge/Scale items, these days buying new from shops is cheaper than 2nd-hand from Ebay.

What's happening!? 

Is there such a dearth in N? And if there is, why aren't manufacturers filling the gap?

I'm missing something. 

I must admit I am looking to eBay less and less with people like Clarks Railworks and Footplate being so reliable and reasonable. Prices are getting silly, particularly British outline.

I envy your proximity to those places. 

Quote from: scottmitchell74 on June 06, 2026, 12:46:01 AMWhether I'm searching for British or American image N Gauge/Scale items, these days buying new from shops is cheaper than 2nd-hand from Ebay.

What's happening!? 

Is there such a dearth in N? And if there is, why aren't manufacturers filling the gap?

I'm missing something. 

I must admit I am looking to eBay less and less with people like Clarks Railworks and Footplate being so reliable and reasonable. Prices are getting silly, particularly British outline.

Livery samples have now arrived and photos of the VSOE coaches are now up here

They look stunning!



Tom.

Quote from: Steven B on June 08, 2026, 09:16:02 AM@scottmitchell74 Never mind the trains, lets see your fire truck(s)!

Okay... 

My two rides...







Enjoying the morning while the lads were in the grocery store. A lady said she thought I looked cool, and took some shots. 



I'm the driver, so I snapped this one when my boys were taking a break after knocking down a house fire.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if one of the wagons is something like a BR 15ft wheelbase brake van, so far only a single brake van has been produced, and that by Hornby - a 10ft wheelbase LNER "Toad" which was part of the original launch (I have one).

Roy

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Ao-iNPPUc&ra=m

Best ever AC/DC cover!

Quote from: Roy L S on June 08, 2026, 10:46:39 AM

Quote from: Bob G on June 08, 2026, 10:23:42 AMInteresting also that having rescued Heljan from collapse, Accurascale are maintaining Heljans presence in TT with the deltic and bubble car.

And if I were Revolution, the powered model I'd choose would be a 37. It maintains the eastern region diesel focus, with Hornby's promised 31 and Heljan's deltic.  Who doesn't love a tractor?

Bob

Hornby already do the 37 in TT120 Bob - a fairly recent release.

Whoops. How did I miss that? It must have been me thinking about their new 31.
Mmm I wonder what it could be?

Quote from: Bob G on June 08, 2026, 10:23:42 AMInteresting also that having rescued Heljan from collapse, Accurascale are maintaining Heljans presence in TT with the deltic and bubble car.

And if I were Revolution, the powered model I'd choose would be a 37. It maintains the eastern region diesel focus, with Hornby's promised 31 and Heljan's deltic.  Who doesn't love a tractor?

Bob

Hornby already do the 37 in TT120 Bob - a fairly recent release.

Quote from: njee20 on June 08, 2026, 09:39:45 AMBen didn't say that was his view, merely that there remains a perception among OO gauge modellers that that is the case, TT is therefore 'better' for a subset considering downsizing, not having that stigma.

I do like TT:120, give it 20 years(!) for a decent range to exist then I'd maybe consider it! Interested to see what the powered model in TT from Revolution is!

TT120 was Hornby's escape plan - it couldn't compete with what was coming in OO and was losing market share fast, it couldn't break into N despite attempts (don't think they really tried) so they needed something else hence TT120.  Establish your own gauge and the world is your oyster as long as you can convince people that it's better than N and perhaps even ignoring that N already exists and is a long established alternative to OO.

Perhaps I am being cynical, but the initial output in TT120 was definitely not of the refinement one might have expected and it's only with the most recent releases that the truly excellent models are beginning to appear interesting that might align with other manufacturers showing an interest forcing Hornby to properly invest, or maybe the entrance of other manufacturers indicates to Hornby the gauge is sticking around.

Ask a trader who sells TT120 and they'll tell you it sells more than N, but did they have a lot of N to sell before they stocked TT120 or they mainly sold OO.  Ask an influencer if they think TT120 is selling more than N and they will happily do so.  But in reality the only people who really understand the market are the manufacturers, Hornby is bringing new stuff to market but it takes time, they clearly are being careful not to flood the market, we're still waiting for other Mk1 variants though they are now coming.  All those sales of A3 and A4, still no Gresleys for them to pull, even the solitary LMS loco got Staniers to haul.

Given enough time TT120 will have a decent catalogue of locos and rolling stock, N gauge has a couple of decades of Bachmann, Dapol and Revolution developments to fill its layouts so there will remain a healthy secondhand market even if the new stuff remains stubbornly slow to appear.  But it's not all N gauge doom, we have had new items this years, Bachmann is going through it's catalogue and updating locos as well as releasing new, plus Efe with interesting additions as well.