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1

General Discussion Area / Re: The Royal Train

« on: 01 July 2025, 15:50:39 »

There has been a royal train dating back to queen Vicky.

Indeed, since the 13th June 1842 when Queen Victoria first travelled by train from Slough Railway Station to Paddington Terminus on the Great Western Railway.  As a railway historian, I have been fascinated by this story, as we know the Queen was suspicious, if not frightened, of this new mode of travel, but the lovely, very up to date, Prince Albert persuaded her to try it.  Once she had, she never stopped!

Anyone interested may be interested in reading this good resume:

https://the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2017/06/queen-victorias-first-railway-journey.html

and................

https://queenvictoriaroses.co.uk/2023/06/13/queen-victorias-first-train-ride-13th-june-1842/

 

2

General Car Chat / Re: Travel Costs (Train)

« on: 13 June 2025, 16:47:07 »

I have a lifelong love for trains, since 1958, especially those pulled by a steam engine, or a Deltic diesel!

But the modern trains are also a great way to travel long distances, which I have done for work and pleasure over many years.  However, have had no need to use them in recent times  as I just do not need to travel far, and using the Omega is so easy for most journeys.  Only used steam preservation trains in the last 3 years.  I have now no idea on the costs of going by train, even to London, and can only remember that my season ticket for commuting from the Midlands to London, which I did for two years, in the early noughties, cost about £3,500 per annum.  Bet it is far more than that now!

Was this iconic loco also a 2 stroke?

Well, I am not a diesel enthusiast as such, but these great engines had "opposed pistons", with no cylinder head, and with two huge engines were very powerful.  Their official top speed was 100 mph, but they regularly exceeded that.  I just know that they sounded great, with an unforgettable roar when pulling out of stations, or out on the line when accelerating.  They may not have been as impressive, for me, as the Gresley A4 pacific steam engines they replaced on the East Coast main line, but we love those that are preserved now!

3

General Car Chat / Re: Travel Costs (Train)

« on: 13 June 2025, 12:49:53 »

I have a lifelong love for trains, since 1958, especially those pulled by a steam engine, or a Deltic diesel!

But the modern trains are also a great way to travel long distances, which I have done for work and pleasure over many years.  However, have had no need to use them in recent times  as I just do not need to travel far, and using the Omega is so easy for most journeys.  Only used steam preservation trains in the last 3 years.  I have now no idea on the costs of going by train, even to London, and can only remember that my season ticket for commuting from the Midlands to London, which I did for two years, in the early noughties, cost about £3,500 per annum.  Bet it is far more than that now!

4

Omega General Help / Re: Centre tie rod availability

« on: 11 June 2025, 11:44:07 »

That's weird, when I click it says "notify availability" rather than "add to basket" :/

Sorry, my bad!!  So it does!!  Must get some new glasses!

5

Omega General Help / Re: Centre tie rod availability

« on: 10 June 2025, 17:14:12 »

Autodoc, my now favourite Omega parts supplier, does these:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/spares-search?makerId=117&modelId=1930&carId=15830&keyword=90510648.

The quality of their parts is usually excellent.

Hope it helps.

Do you know I love Autodoc and have used them in the past but at the moment they're all showing out of stock, which is irritating.

I may have found one through a motor factors in Exeter, if not I have also found the same part listed at twice the price from another site. I shall report back!

But they have them in stock according to my link

6

Omega General Help / Re: Centre tie rod availability

« on: 09 June 2025, 16:14:59 »

Autodoc, my now favourite Omega parts supplier, does these:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/spares-search?makerId=117&modelId=1930&carId=15830&keyword=90510648.

The quality of their parts is usually excellent.

Hope it helps.

7

General Car Chat / Re: Fifty quid for a set of tyres.

« on: 29 May 2025, 17:44:02 »

Some did certainly sound like that......................but as for £50 for a set of tyres, I don't think so!

I paid £10 per corner for remoulds in 1971 for my Austin A40.  For new, branded tyres, for a Jag XJ12, it must have been far more than £50 for a set!!  I think I can remember that for my 1972 Ford Escort Mk1 my company paid about £150 for a set of radials in 1975 (??)

8

General Discussion Area / Re: Knob Trump!

« on: 04 May 2025, 11:52:06 »

Trump as Pope.  No.  This is who he really is:



Just compare his policies and mad ways to that one!

Only his support for Israel / Jews is very, very different.

9

Newbie Welcome Area / Re: Old member back from the dead - how is everyone?

« on: 30 April 2025, 15:41:25 »

A very big welcome back!!

I have still got my now 22 year old 3.2 Omega.  Costing me all the time, but still cheaper than buying a brand new car!

10

Cars for Sale & wanted / Re: 2.6 Saloon

« on: 27 April 2025, 13:52:58 »

It's not an MoT item.

I reckon it would fail if the bonnet dropped and hit the tester on the back of the head.

Exactly Steve!   And it would have done as it was falling on my head!!   It is why I HAD to replace the struts

11

Cars for Sale & wanted / Re: 2.6 Saloon

« on: 26 April 2025, 14:37:10 »

As has been mentioned, FL bonnet struts are stronger than PFL/MFL, due to extra weight of the bonnet, and the leverage effect of where that extra weight is.

No issue with pattern struts, but check the specs, just don't rely on some offshore pikey website to get it right, in the same way you would not expect Euroshite to get the parts correct.  Or, following in from Mutha's crank sensor thread, even GM dealers in some cases.


Many cross reference lookup software used by aftermarket shops is actually american, and is often more wrong than right.  For example, I know for a fact that if I put the oil recommended by Euroshite in my car, I'd be on a low loader in less than 1000 miles, as the yankee variant of mine never got a DPF, unlike all european variants.

I understand that TB, but when the price of the part is so relatively cheap as these strutts were, and being fitted to a 22 year old car, if they last only 5 years, then they will probably see the car out and me!!

If we are still around then, I will just buy another set for another 5 years.  Any longer will just be a bonus

You're missing the point. It's not about longevity so much as being upto the job in the first place.

First time a stiff breeze drops the bonnet on your bonce, you'll appreciate the difference 

Well, for now 3 months now it hasn't been a problem.  In fact there is just the right amount of resistance when I push down on the bonnet.

AS said, it got the car through the MOT and other works, so IF it eventually fails I have lost very little. I will just buy a replacement:)

12

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 25 April 2025, 17:24:04 »

Yes, have fun Rangie!

Always liked staying in a caravan, but neither my husband or I ever towed one.  We often rented a site large site caravan for our holidays when the kids were young.

That may have been due to the fact that in my business travels driving a lot on the M4, M5 and M6 in especially the Summer months, I used to see so many "vans" on their sides, with towing vehicle still attached, after the driver had lost control due to a) poor driving b) strong cross winds or c) pure stupidly of not having the right tow vehicle vs the weight of the caravan!   Having said that I once witnessed a very large caravan on it's side, blocking all 3 lanes of the M6, with the towing lorry, no less right over the crash barrier!

Still, it seems Rangie you are well experienced in enjoying the caravan experience, so best of luck to you!

.

Always leave plenty of a gap for braking as you have two extra tons pushing you on and stick to the 60 mph limit, I see idiots belting past me at 70-80 mph & the caravan is bouncing from side to side , they haven't a chance in hell of pulling up in a straight line if the need arises.

Oh yes, I saw that soooooooooo many times!!

13

Cars for Sale & wanted / Re: 2.6 Saloon

« on: 25 April 2025, 16:09:44 »

As has been mentioned, FL bonnet struts are stronger than PFL/MFL, due to extra weight of the bonnet, and the leverage effect of where that extra weight is.

No issue with pattern struts, but check the specs, just don't rely on some offshore pikey website to get it right, in the same way you would not expect Euroshite to get the parts correct.  Or, following in from Mutha's crank sensor thread, even GM dealers in some cases.


Many cross reference lookup software used by aftermarket shops is actually american, and is often more wrong than right.  For example, I know for a fact that if I put the oil recommended by Euroshite in my car, I'd be on a low loader in less than 1000 miles, as the yankee variant of mine never got a DPF, unlike all european variants.

I understand that TB, but when the price of the part is so relatively cheap as these strutts were, and being fitted to a 22 year old car, if they last only 5 years, then they will probably see the car out and me!!

If we are still around then, I will just buy another set for another 5 years.  Any longer will just be a bonus

14

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 25 April 2025, 16:02:12 »

Yes, have fun Rangie!

Always liked staying in a caravan, but neither my husband or I ever towed one.  We often rented a site large site caravan for our holidays when the kids were young.

That may have been due to the fact that in my business travels driving a lot on the M4, M5 and M6 in especially the Summer months, I used to see so many "vans" on their sides, with towing vehicle still attached, after the driver had lost control due to a) poor driving b) strong cross winds or c) pure stupidly of not having the right tow vehicle vs the weight of the caravan!   Having said that I once witnessed a very large caravan on it's side, blocking all 3 lanes of the M6, with the towing lorry, no less right over the crash barrier!

Still, it seems Rangie you are well experienced in enjoying the caravan experience, so best of luck to you!

15

Cars for Sale & wanted / Re: 2.6 Saloon

« on: 25 April 2025, 13:42:23 »

Sorry, once more my posts are duplicating!!

You're becoming a right old 'boardhog' Lizzie. 

    Not deliberately, but I have now clicked that it seems when you compose a post you cannot amend it as we used to once sent.  We used to have the option of amending,, adding to, or deleting an post shortly after doing it, but now the only option is "Quote"!!

Hence my failure to add to the previous post of mine!