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Adrian, The point I’m trying to make is to be positive about live steam at all times, we can often be negative when the question is asked “why did they stop?” There is nothing to be gained by speculating about the demise of live steam, other than to be a positive as possible, I think the reason I have suggested is just that. Your point about the handbook is valid, but it should only be raised when that person is going to buy, why create a negative before that point. Also there is the right and wrong way to explain the errors of the handbook and it’s not “Hornby got it wrong” a better answer is there are some errors in the handbook, go to our website and look at “Getting started” or alternatively let me show you how to drive these locomotives. The club is currently in very good shape financially, why? Because of the shop and loco sales, that’s why we always need a positive spin. Maurice

Looking forward to the cylinder seals one. I seem to recall there was much criticism of how Hornby did it the DVD I made. I have sevearl locos needing this but, perversely, the extra challenge of getting them going can be quite fun.

We can't win them all.

A couple more comments Norman Backman - Happy Christmas to you too Chris. Also best wishes to all other members. Peter Fisher - Merry Christmas to all at OO live steam Now opened by 466 members

I was there at York, as was Maurice, Nat SouthWood was impressed at the time and we got funding but that was way back in 2015 and he and his management team are now history, as is the £3000. Hornby have moved on and so have we I hope. I tell folk the instruction booklet was a little ambiguous at best, but now we have it sorted and that’s it! No need really to bang on about it in my mind. We have fantastic video on our home page that you made for us highlighting the great effect on youngsters. I feel we should lean towards that effect a little more!!

Maurice and Nick. I dont think either of you were around when immediately after a show a few years ago a Hornby director declared that he had listened to me explaining OOLS and his kids had had a go and he was impressed and enlightened. In his own words "We let a halo product go". That's when we got our £3000 contribution. Sadly his subsequent news that Hornby would resume production never happened as he and most of the rest of the board were sacked. Nick I think you are worrying unnecessarily. Our whole presentation (by all of us) is a positive and proud one. I personally praise Hornby for bringing it to market in the first place, for the launch which had a spectacular effect and the after sales service which has been far beyond expectation. But there's no getting away from the fact that sales dropped, owners did not get satisfaction and dealers got disenchanted (understatement). We know it is an unfair reputation and we do a good job repairing it. I happen to believe that the biggest single issue was the instruction book errors not least because they never issued errata information. Despite having so much stock held for such a long time they had plenty of opportunity to replace the books. I do take your point about being negative and I will put more emphasis on the positive aspects of the product history but I do what I do in hope of another white knight appearing anonymously and it is imperative that he/she goes away with a "missed opportunity" message rather than "great idea in theory but never stood a chance of success". A salient quetion now is what do you think would have happened if Hornby had recommended starting on a rolling road and actually got the "Setting the locomtive in motion" paragraph correct? I genuinely believe that my success with the locos when first starting and subsequent enthusiasm was BECAUSE I never got an instruction book. But I will try and push the positive.

Hi Nick they’re Eric’s

Point him to the Knowledge Base, Members Projects, Control and electronics, Hornby Transformer Voltage Settings document - a full description on how to change the voltage. The link is https://www.oolivesteam.com/chris-oakes

Thought they might be as they don’t match yours in pictures.

My recollection is exactly that. That it is easily converted or that you can just plug it straigh in to 110v. (You wouldn't do it the other way round! Done it. Got the scars!)

We have had several people respond to this years Christmas card Stephen Wight - Hi Chris. I’m not so clever to have an electronic Christmas card! But Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! And thank you for maintaining Mallard for me! Stephen Nick Brotherton - Thanks Chris. To you all too George Whitchurch - Thank you very much Chris, Dave Horsman. - Thanks Chris, Great job! All the best for Christmas and the New Year. So far it has been opened by 456 members

Adrian, You know that I think you are at your best on the front of the layout showing everyone how to drive these locos. However when you come to the issue of the handbook, you make quite a thing of it, you maybe right that it was, but today it is irrelevant other than if you are about to buy one of these locos or have just purchased one. We therefore should not make it an issue, it seems to be currently part of the script. When you look at locos I have sold, currently 46, not one has gone to a previous unsatisfied original owner. Sets have gone to people new to live steam, individual locos to existing owners increasing their collection. As far as getting them back into production, I think that’s wishful thinking. We should focus on what we have and to quote you, get the existing locos into “Joyful use” Let’s continue the conversation this weekend. Maurice