Why does diesel dominate on here ?

[EtchedPixels]

It's far cheaper to keep things running as they are

That isn't what the analysis says for the longer term

Specifically:

"The estimated capital costs of replacement of the 3rd rail system with 25kV AC overhead are less per kilometre than full renewal of the 3rd rail system, even taking into account the need to provide additional clearance through bridges and tunnels" (stats from analysis of Basingstoke-Bournemouth and East Croydon-Brighton)

In other words at the point your 3rd rail is life expired its cheaper to switch.

(and there is a reason most current 3rd rail stock is designed to convert or dual system)

"For main line purposes 3rd rail is a technically obsolete system"

The other important details are that a lot of the current 3rd rail infrastructure will be life expired within the next 20 years, that much of the bridge work on some routes will be needed for freight clearances and of course the Network Rail 'Electric Spine' project which will mean upgrading Basingstoke-Southampton.

The differences between 25kV and 750v are pretty major - energy efficiency alone is about 15% better which is a hell of a lot of money especially at rip off UK prices, as well as giving you faster acceleration, more trains and service in the snow.

See the LB&SCR were right all along ;-)

[Newportnobby]

Just reverting to the 2012 NGF locomotive poll, we had in joint first place a class 25 and a class 33 (being covered by Farish & Dapol respectively), in joint 3rd place we had a class 50 and a class 22 (covered by Dapol), in joint 7th place we had a class 17 (being covered by DJ Models) and in joint 10th there was a class 23 (being covered by DJ Models)
Sadly the same attention has not been given to steam with Farish covering a Castle (2nd place in the poll) and an 'N' class (8th in the poll).
Are there still rumours that a Schools may make an appearance

[MinZaPint]

Are there still rumours that a Schools may make an appearance

If it doesn't I might have to change scales! Was that sighs of relief I just heard?

[dr deltic]

Its now 45 years since steam finished in England, younger people tend to model either the contemporary scene or what they remember from their youth, for me at 44 its blue and sectorisation era, blue era from my childhood with the last bits of green to sectorisation when i was a young hand driver.

I love steam, the images of the late Paul Riley, Derek Cross etc always make we want to recreate at some stage that late 60's period but tbh its before i was born.

Just my thoughts.

[ParkeNd]

It seems to me that models of diesels in N Gauge just move more realistically than models of steam locos. In real locos I much prefer steam but the sensation of steam just doesn't really make the jump to electric train sets.

[Bealman]

I model transition period, for two reasons - I remember it and I get to run steam and diesel. But from a purely practical view, it has been my experience over the years that N scale diesels - particularly long wheelbase ones perform better over N gauge trackwork than steam locomotives. This was especially true of the Poole stuff. In fact I read posts on here that suggest that even some of the new steam models can be problematic.

[Norfolkrover]

There is a booming heritage railway scene though where steam is very much alive and the engines we model can be seen in a non cramped affordable and scenic setting.
This compares to the more modern locos in real life settings which i associate with expense and overcrowding where its so rare to get a seat i cant wait for it to be over. I also loved reading lord of the rings but my failure to see real life orcs doesnt detract from my enjoyment of the book.

[Bealman]

Interesting analogy! I just returned from my Frodo adventure and didn't see any orcs either - though I did see a lot of mountains...

With railways on 'em - Snowdon even had steam!! 

[Sprintex]

To those that haven't seen real life Orcs, you wanna see what wanders around East London at half four in the morning, you might change your mind


Paul

[Bealman]

Actually I did see a few there and thought about saying so but thought better of it. And it wasn't at 4am either.

Don't worry - orcs exist in Australia too.

[EtchedPixels]

To those that haven't seen real life Orcs, you wanna see what wanders around East London at half four in the morning, you might change your mind


Paul

Securiorc vans for example...

[CarriageShed]

To those that haven't seen real life Orcs, you wanna see what wanders around East London at half four in the morning, you might change your mind


Paul

Hah! I moved out of East London just this year and was going to say something very similar.