I still have four Minitrix Britannias; all are runners (some better than others), though not now used, and all are chipped. The first was bought in 1975, the last 1989. They are all repainted and renumbered, though, and are mostly on, I think, the third set of tyres. My Dock Tank still exists under a class 04 brass body, but the 2MT and 2MTT are now gone, as are my original 9Fs.

I also have a P+D Marsh 'factory built and painted' cl 47 and Peak cast body, though currently no chassis for them. The peak went on to a modified cl 40 Poole chassis (and was written up in the Journal) after the original stretched Mehanoteknica chassis failed. They date from circa 1978.

I also still have, though not in use, some Poole early mk1s with the window 'strip'; they are all fitted with Ultima etched replacement underframes.

No doubt I also have some early Peco and Farish wagons hiding somewhere.

Martyn

Quote from: Bealman on May 15, 2026, 02:35:46 AMMy Minitrix Mallard has worn it's traction tyres out, unfortunately.

Easy to replace.

https://www.petersspares.com/p/trix-minitrix-e12087800-s-traction-tyres-for-britanniaa3a4-formerly-72087800-pk20-n-gauge

Not for nothing are you known as 'Gusty George'

I think you mean the drinker

Just like the beer, it will be full of wind

Quote from: madchadbrad on May 14, 2026, 09:03:33 PM

Quote from: TeddytheSpoon on May 14, 2026, 08:28:26 PMFunnily enough the Ivatt 2MT was my first N gauge purchase as well - and funnily enough, also bought second-hand in (or near) Geneva! Must see if I can dig it out of my folks' storage one of these days...

Geneva had 4 or 5 model shops with good stocks of railway models back in the 1990s and I bought quite a few British profile minitrix items there including a Flying Scotsman, Evening Star and Britannia ... now I think there's only one left! A couple of the others went over to the dark side of RC cars and planes ...

Yes, I grew up in Nyon and the one model shop they had there has done the same - seems to be a worldwide trend. Must admit I'm surprised it's still going, even without trains!

I must check out that Lausanne shop next time I'm there though...

My Minitrix Mallard has worn it's traction tyres out, unfortunately.

Quote from: madchadbrad on May 14, 2026, 09:03:33 PM

Quote from: TeddytheSpoon on May 14, 2026, 08:28:26 PMFunnily enough the Ivatt 2MT was my first N gauge purchase as well - and funnily enough, also bought second-hand in (or near) Geneva! Must see if I can dig it out of my folks' storage one of these days...

Geneva had 4 or 5 model shops with good stocks of railway models back in the 1990s and I bought quite a few British profile minitrix items there including a Flying Scotsman, Evening Star and Britannia ... now I think there's only one left! A couple of the others went over to the dark side of RC cars and planes ...

Yes - on my last trip to our HQ office in Lausanne back end of last year I had some scheduling reason that I cannot remember to stay near GVA and took the chance to pop into town and look for the model shops. It was late in the day and I manage to get to a couple however it was nearly disappointing. There was Bollets Jouer which I had visited once before maybe 15+ years ago when they had much more N-gauge and I found the selection to be quite limited, mostly Fleischmann. And then there was Expertrains @ 8 rue de Berne where I had a good chat with the owner who has indeed largely transitioned to RC and planes - he was lamenting the decline in interest in trains and as such he has had to change his business model. I don't even think he has the company name on the street signange any more, although he has a massive model of a tank wagon (Gauge 1 maybe?) in the window - cannot miss it. Anyway in conversation it turms out he does have some N-gauge but largely not on display. So has dug several boxes of old inventory for me to dig through - a mix of Minitrix, Arnold &c. I ended up buying several items from him including this Arnold E16 that I have previously posted about here on the forum.



So worth a visit if passing - there is some treasure in those boxes, just need to ask.

There is a model shop that I do recommend if visiting Lausanne. I have been to it several times. Le TGV on Rue Saint-Martin. Significant quantities of 2nd hand N-gauge - bought my Krokodil there (also previously posted):


 
Cheers,

Colin. 

Oh you doubters. See what happens when you drink VB?

You win a football! (Needs inflating, and it's a rugby ball - rugby league is known as footy here)

Quote from: Moonglum on May 14, 2026, 07:58:08 PMMartin @port perran , Ian Gillian (Deep Purple) is nearly 81, Roger Glover is 80 and Ian Paice is 77! I am getting to point of being fed up of them (and others) thinking that they still have the same appeal and ability

I think it depends on the band and the people. Lemmy for example didn't exactly slow down or lose his touch, neither did Chuck Berry.