I've been a customer of Rails ever since The Signal Box at Rochester finished, so some 15-20 years (guess). If they could be arsed to check they'll see I've only ever bought N gauge. As Gareth says, a simple questionnaire could alleviate this over communication problem

Great finds, Graham. Hopefully we'll see them running in the not too distant future

I have now fired off an email to Rails re their newsletters. Since last Saturday I have received 14, 90% of which have no scale relevance to me. Definitely time to unsubscribe unless they update their algorithms.

Quote from: grumbeast on May 29, 2026, 06:36:14 AMI think they all qualify as SPAM and I look forward to bringing them fully back to life!.

Great stuff, Graham.

On your behalf, I checked with Bertie Poppingham, Chairman of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Models (SPAM). Here is his response:-

"Absolutely, Old Thing. That streamlined Hudson is SuperSmashing, the LMS class '5XP' 4-6-0 is SuperSpiffing and the Kato 'F3' 'covered wagon' units are SuperSplendid.

All qualify as SPAM. I am delighted beyond words that SPAM spans the globe and wish all my fellow SPAMERS every success with their absolutely fabulous projects.

With the very best of good wishes.

Tickety-tonk

Bertie

PS Is it Opening Time yet where you are? They're closed here and I rather fancy a snifter."

Well, Graham, that looks like a definitive answer to your query and all I can add is to reiterate Bertie's good wishes for your projects.

With all best wishes.

Toodle-oo

John

Quote from: grumbeast on May 29, 2026, 06:36:14 AMa Dreyfus styled J3a for only $125CDN, but wait, upon testing part of the valve gear detached, so it needs work, so the chap said 'Its yours for $25!!).  So I have a little work to do with this one.  I'm unsure if its one of the pre-1987 or post ones (I suspect its 90s)

What a beauty!

Interesting looking loco! But did the cab really have no forward-facing window in real life? How did the crew watch for signals?

Cheers,

Chris

My own Peco Jubilee started life as maroon LMS loco. Bahamas but was repainted by a late friend as Renown complete with yellow warning stripe. It also developed running problems, but was fettled by @Ozymandias of this parish.

Kings, like several other large steam locomotives, could only be used on a very small number of main line routes.(3 in the case of the kings). As a result any modeller of authentic 'lesser' routes naturally looks to buying smaller, less grand locos.

Bargains, mate.  

Well I've just returned from a holiday in the Kawartha's (lake area in Eastern Ontario) which was lovely, and as I was only 1.5hrs away from a fairly famous model railway store, Larkspur line in Merrickville I thought I should visit.

What an amazing old fashioned full of everything kinda store! And the owner was friendly and welcoming (I was in the store for an hour and a half, chatting and browsing). There is a SPAM point to all of this I promise, but before that, if you ever find yourself within a couple of hours of Merrickville its WELL worth the visit.

There is a pretty varied quite large, new and 2nd hand selection of N scale (its mainly a HO store though), books, art, supplies. Just a ton of good stuff.  But now onto SPAM.

First off, I found a locomotive I've been looking for for 30 years! In 1996 at my first show in Canada I bought an 8 car set of old Concor NYC passenger cars, The NYC J3a that went with it was wrecked so I didn't buy it (I'm an idiot!) but last week lo and behold a Dreyfus styled J3a for only $125CDN, but wait, upon testing part of the valve gear detached, so it needs work, so the chap said 'Its yours for $25!!).  So I have a little work to do with this one.  I'm unsure if its one of the pre-1987 or post ones (I suspect its 90s)

What a beauty!








Now for something totally different and sold again at a very reasonable price because at the moment she doesn't run, but again a locomotive I've always wanted, A peco Jubilee, 5713 Renown to be precise!.  I've not had time to open her up to see whats up, but she does seem in good cosmetic condition





And finally, for only $65 each, and in the running order that you would expect from a Kato 2 F3s (from 1988 run I suspect) in the wonderful CN Green and Yellow livery.  Both run beautifully though I think they would benefit from a service.




I think they all qualify as SPAM and I look forward to bringing them fully back to life!.

Incidentally I also visited probably the most famous model train store in Canada in Markham, some good stuff, some N scale, very overpriced and absolutely terrible sullen service so I just left without buying anything, its worth the 4 hr drive to visit larkspur instead

G.

Quote from: Bigmac on May 28, 2026, 05:59:07 PMOf these i think a King produced in high volume and attractively priced would be a world wide best seller.

Evidence of response to recent calls for "Expression of Interest" have proved that a 'King' is actually less desired by N-gauge modellers than London Underground Stock!
Unless you can provide hard evidence that the lack of interest was solely due to widespread aversion to the 3 promoters of Kings (DJ Models, Hattons, KR Models) and conversely acceptance of Revolution (the only differentiating factor) then it has to be accepted that the supposed 'Demand' for a king is actually a very small albeit rather vocal cohort...