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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

LNER steam railcar? I think so! Would say "oh my poor wallet" but it's a complete train for less than the price of most new locos, so... Remind me again why the Heljan takeover was a bad idea? youtu.be/9g7AgI5eSag?...

youtu.be

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK! Heljan reveals all-new model!

YouTube video by Hornby Magazine and Key Model World

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Really striking that multiple retailers have worked together to put this message out. The Heljan news has clearly got them very worried about disintermediation. Understandably.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Big news that Accurascale have acquired Heljan! Probably makes a lot of sense - the Heljan brand was pretty tarnished after their iffy 45 and bobbins 47s. Now being sold off at 100 quid a pop (tempting though?). The next wave of 86s have been re-priced sensibly too (definitely tempting!). #BSMRGUK

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Now the 222s are confirmed for two more operators, I wonder if they're a strong contender for an RTR model. Plenty of livery options, and suitable for modellers spanning several decades... #BSMRGUK

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Seems there's another wave of X-odus going on. If you're here from #TMRGUK, you're very welcome! I put a little starter pack together for people to follow - enjoy, and @ me if you'd like to be added. As with any community, it will thrive if we all chip in. #BSMRGUK

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

It's a big day for modellers - Era 12 is here! Dilemma for modern image modellers is now whether to take the plunge as models start to emerge, or stick at Era 11 and protect your wallet... #TMRGUK #BSMRGUK

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Dunno if anyone would be interested in a bit of an oddity, but I recently acquired some original promotional material for Thameslink and the class 700s - now on eBay: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15751691...

ebay.co.uk

Pardon our interruption...

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

I like Rails, the customer service is excellent... but this is just gouging, sorry. I expressed interest in EMR 180s to Revolution, who opted not to make them. Their regular 180s are £350 to pre-order; Rails's EMR 180s are a full HUNDRED POUNDS more. railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/e...

railsofsheffield.com

🚄 Exclusive Revolution Class 180 Adelante Announcement

We're delighted to announce two exclusive versions of the forthcoming Revolution Trains Class 180 Adelante DMU in East Midlands Railway livery - preorder now!

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

It's 2025. Why the hell is Network Rail putting 480p standard definition videos on the Internet?? youtu.be/KGU1y47nT1Q?...

youtu.be

One of the most complex switches and crossings renewals on the West Coast Main Line in years

YouTube video by Network Rail

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Reposted by ABC Junction

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

New Accurascale loco needs to be a 43, surely? So many people making 47s, but nobody's snatched Hornby's lunch out of their hands on the HSTs? Baffled me for ages. Mk3 coaches will surely follow if they do it. youtu.be/sqvRoY6ACMo?...

youtu.be

Accurascale - Brand new ‘OO’ gauge Diesel announcement

YouTube video by Accurascale UK

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

youtu.be

Accurascale - Brand new ‘OO’ gauge Diesel announcement

YouTube video by Accurascale UK

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

I love Thunderbirds and this looks really cool, but... how do you know how big to make a scale model of something that never existed in real life?? Particularly when the original shows weren't super-consistent about scale / relative sizes...

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

More EMUs! Lovely to see, but the choices from most manufacturers do seem a bit... un-obvious (Electrostars aside). I'm all in favour of it though - this hobby isn't dying, it's reaching a crescendo in terms of the range and quality of models available.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Deliberately left myself with a slightly long wait at Sandy, and it turned out to be gorgeous autumn sunlight.

An LNER Azuma heading north through Sandy, away from the camera, in low golden sunlight.

An LNER Azuma heading north through Sandy, towards the camera, in low golden sunlight.

The leading class 91 locomotive (in RAF Lest We Forget livery) of an LNER IC225 set heading north through Sandy in low golden sunlight.

The trailing DVT of an LNER IC225 set heading north through Sandy, away from the camera, in low golden sunlight.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Decision made: this layout is set in autumn. (Red dots are where catenary masts will go.) #BSMRGUK #TMRGUK

Scene on my layout: a class 87 in Intercity Executive livery leads a train out of the tunnel; a rake of coal hoppers is departing the scene to the right; trees with yellow and orange leaves have been added to the scenery.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

GETS done for another year. Good trade stalls (though surprised not to see Rails!), maybe lacking any wow-factor layouts. Plenty of good ones, of course.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Pre-GETS breakfast. (Tesco café, Fenny Stratford, if you ever want a food alternative near the show.)

A dish of Tesco's breakfast hash: mini hash browns, posh baked beans and a fried egg. Also a latte in cup and saucer.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Currently on the last northbound train of the day at the NYMR gala, with literally about two other people. Baffles me why after-dark running isn't more popular - it's so atmospheric! (I know the SVR do it - sampled it last year and it was great.)

Platform 2 of Pickering station, gloomy under the station roof, with relief provided by warm light from the train and platform lighting.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

One of many interesting details in this is the image of the A4 at Alexandra Palace - remarkable to think of such a big engine being run up that tiny branch line!

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

My (late) summer holiday starts with a pint at Paddington! Will be sampling the Pullman dining experience once I get underway...

A part-drunk pint of beer, in my hand, in the foreground; the arched trains he'd of Paddington station in the background.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

So - Greatest Gathering yesterday! I'm not going to spam your timeline with loads of pics - let's be honest, we'll all have taken more or less the same photos, right? But here's a few quick personal highlights for me.

Class 50 locomotive wearing a vinyl wrap livery that says "So. Many. Trains." in large letters along the side.

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Reposted by ABC Junction

Kernow Model Rail Centre @kernowmodelrail.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

If anyone can identify this individual who today at 1501 helped himself to an N Gauge Graham Farish DCC Sound Fitted Strathclyde Class 108 DMU at the Greatest Gathering event please let us know.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

This is where I was going! I bet you couldn't guess!

The entrance to Derby railway station. To one side, the tender and cab of 60103 Flying Scotsman are visible, as it waits briefly at a platform.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

I'm off on an adventure! But where to? It's such a mystery! You'll never guess!

A class 222 train pulling into a platform.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Got an invoice from Revolution for the second half of the money for their WIA car carrier wagons. Hadn't heard a dickie-bird from them about the project for ages - hopefully they'll turn up soon. Shame my 175's not here yet. The TfL livery was still current back when I ordered it...

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

Oof, I see Accurascale have had a right bitch about Sam's Trains - that's quite a level of contempt on show, to make a remark like that. Suspect unfortunately it's the mask slipping - lots of 'serious' modelling people seem to be snotty about Sam [contd] www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp_C...

youtube.com

Extremely Disappointed...

YouTube video by Sam'sTrains

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

I know it's a bit pot luck buying stuff off ebay, but I've never had coaches with such filthy roofs before. Needed a bit of elbow grease, not just a quick wipe! #BSMRGUK #BMRGUK

Four oo gauge coaches with visibly dirty white roofs.

The sane four coaches, with one roof part-cleaned.

The sane four coach roofs - all clean now!

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

So many class 66 models to choose from, yet nobody's swooped in and pinched Hornby's lunch with a newly tooled class 43 power car. Got to happen soon, surely? #BSMRGUK

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

GNER Metro! Looks quite smart actually, doesn't it?

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

I've got some coaches and other bits and bobs on eBay at the moment. Check them out if you're in the market for some OO gauge Lima blood & custard Mk1s, a Hornby (Railroad) BR green class 110, or an odd little collectable from EMR... www.ebay.co.uk/sch/1/i.html... #BSMRGUK

Card tube / box in the form of an East Midlands Railway class 360

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Don't want to just post the one negative message about the Ally Pally event - there was lots there and I'm glad I went!

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Just arrived at this. First impressions, unfortunately, are that the stewarding is really poor.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Hello to anyone new here because of the latest Twitter outage. If you're looking for model railways, here's your starter pack :)

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

A few snapshots of Abecedary Junction for #ModelTrainShow2025. One day I'll do some properly edited videos, when it's more detailed up; but for this year, a few quick one-shot postcards from my little layout...

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Fireworks on a model railway layout - that is quite brilliant.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Well, very interesting. Accurascale turning to EMUs, and Electrostars no less, feels like a bit of a milestone in modern image modelling. I really hope it's a success for them - the industry will get very wary of modern image stuff if it isn't. #BSMRGUK

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Ah, very nice. Three years in the making.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

My Accurascale 31 has arrived! Three years, to the month, since I ordered it. Still, glad to have it, and looking forward to getting it on the layout later.

External box of an Accurascale class 31 model.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Quite like this view down the platforms...

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Reposted by ABC Junction

ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Are these re-dos of the old Matchbox toys from the 90s? Used to have the full set, sold them when I was a student. Probably won't re-acquire, but the thought crosses the mind...

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Are these re-dos of the old Matchbox toys from the 90s? Used to have the full set, sold them when I was a student. Probably won't re-acquire, but the thought crosses the mind...

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Little running session on my little layout. Er, catenary to follow at a later date, but the 87's a lovely model.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

"You will be visited by three spirits." The three spirits:

Gordon, Edward and Henry in an original illustration from a Thomas the Tank Engine book.

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ABC Junction @abcjunction.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

(Of course, it helps to quote the relevant post and not another random one from your timeline, as I managed to do earlier...) I particularly voted for some of the obvious large families of DMUs and EMUs that are still missing in RTR.

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Reposted by ABC Junction

John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

If 56% of people tell YouGov they think spiders are insects, it does not make spiders insects.

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