Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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Sorry for not posting for a while.

I am destressing after our emergency with Leia last Friday.

She appears to over her tummy problems and is eating and drinking again.

She too, was very stressed after her 2 night hospital stay.

Her tummy was shaved too, poor thing.

Hopefully her fur will grow back quickly.

I am glad I had plenty of savings to pay for her treatment.


A picture of Leia from May this year.
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Duran Duran​


Recognising a group whose music, style and creative vision have left a lasting mark on popular culture, the main set of stamps showcases eight iconic album covers selected from across Duran Durans remarkable career.

Together, they highlight the bands bold visual identity, graphic flair and continual artistic evolution, qualities that have helped establish them as one of the most distinctive and enduring forces in music.

The issue coincides with the 45th anniversary of the bands debut album, Duran Duran, and its breakthrough single, ‘Planet Earth’.

September 17 2026
Commemorative

Size 38mm (h) x 31mm (v)
Printed by Cartor Security Print
Print Process Lithography
Perforations 14 x 14
Gum PVA

Duran Duran​

1st

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Miniature Sheet​

Printed by Cartor Security Print
Print Process : Lithography
Size 180mm (h) x 74mm (v)

A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, celebrate Duran Durans live performances.

The stamp designs are inspired by tour posters from across the band’s career, with each one functioning as both a self-contained ‘poster’ and part of a wider visual timeline.

Fragments of concert imagery and bold graphic elements surround the stamps, creating a tribute to the bands enduring presence on stages around the world.

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18 September 2026

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South Wales Metro upgrades between Cardiff and the Valleys​

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Transport for Wales Class 756 level boarding


Passengers across the South Wales Valleys are being encouraged to check before they travel on Sunday 27 September, as essential South Wales Metro upgrades will affect rail services.

Engineering work at Cardiff Queen Street station means no rail services will run on the Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr lines throughout the day.

To keep passengers moving, Transport for Wales (TfW) will run rail replacement bus services across all affected routes, with full journey planning information available on the TfW website and app.

The closure forms part of the ongoing South Wales Metro upgrade programme, helping build a more reliable, accessible and better-connected railway for communities across the Valleys.

During the one-day closure, TfW will carry out essential signalling work and will also complete a range of further improvements, including track maintenance, vegetation management and structural works.

Rail services will return to normal on Monday 28 September.

Dan Tipper, Chief Infrastructure Officer at Transport for Wales said: "We know these changes will affect customers travelling between the Valleys and Cardiff on Sunday 27 September, and we'd like to thank them for their patience and understanding.

“While the impact is limited to one day, we encourage everyone planning a journey to check before they travel, make use of the replacement bus services available and allow extra time for their journey where necessary."

For more information visit: www.tfw.wales


Rail services to Rhymney remain unaffected.

Rail replacement buses

Rail replacement bus services will operate throughout the day on Sunday 27 September while engineering work takes place at Cardiff Queen Street station.
  • Services will operate approximately hourly between Cardiff Central and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil.
  • Ticket acceptance will also be in place on the City Line to help customers complete their journeys.
  • Due to local road restrictions on the route to Penrhiwceiber, rail replacement buses will not be able to serve the station directly. A dedicated shuttle service will operate for customers travelling to and from Penrhiwceiber, with connections available at Pontypridd and Mountain Ash.
Ticketing  

While rail replacement services are in place, passengers must hold a valid ticket before boarding.
  • Pay as you go ticketing remains available, with validators positioned just a short walk from most replacement bus stops.  
  • If a validator is unavailable, customers are advised to purchase their tickets via the TfW app or website or speak directly to members of the TfW revenue protection team who will be stationed at key locations across the network to assist. 
  • Pay As You Go travel on local bus services is not eligible for ticket acceptance on the City Line. Customers travelling on the City Line must purchase a valid ticket before they travel. Pay as you Go travel remains valid on Rail Replacement Services (RRS) where ticket acceptance is in place.
  • Pay as you go customers who are unable to tap out, or who forget to do so, can complete their journey through the TfW app or website the day after they travel by adding in a missed tap.  
As replacement buses may take longer than scheduled train services, passengers are strongly encouraged to check the latest travel updates on the TfW app or website and allow extra time for their journeys.

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18 September 2026

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Essential railway improvements between Cardiff and Bridgend this September and October​

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Transport for Wales and Network Rail is urging passengers travelling in south Wales to plan ahead with a programme of essential railway improvements taking place over three weekends this autumn.

The work will take place from Saturday 19 to Monday 21 September, Saturday 26 to Monday 28 September, and Saturday 17 to Monday 19 October.

During each weekend, the railway between Cardiff and Bridgend, via Pontyclun, will be closed from 01.20 on Saturday until 04.05 on Monday, giving engineers the time needed to safely carry out a range of improvements to help keep the railway safe and reliable for passenger and freight services.

Rail services between Cardiff and Bridgend will be amended during the three weekends. Some services will be diverted, while replacement road transport will operate for affected stations.

Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and check before travelling.

What work is being carried out?
  • The programme will see engineers working at several locations along the route, renewing sections of track and rail, carrying out signalling work, managing vegetation and inspecting and repairing railway structures.
  • During the two September closures, engineers will renew track between Pontsarn and Llanharan, alongside vegetation clearance, rail testing, signalling testing and surveys.
  • Further improvements will be carried out during the October closure, including track renewal and rail replacement between Cardiff West Junction and St Fagans, as well as between Miskin and Pontyclun.
  • Teams will also carry out signalling and points renewal, vegetation management, structural repairs near Peterston, and essential track inspections and patrols.
Colin Lea, Planning & Performance Director for Transport for Wales said:"We are working closely with Network Rail to support these essential railway improvements, which are vital for maintaining the safety and long-term reliability of services across South Wales.

"While the closure of the line between Cardiff and Bridgend will mean changes to weekend travel, we have arranged rail replacement buses and for some of our trains to run along different routes to keep passengers moving.

"We strongly advise everyone planning to travel over these weekends to check before they travel journey and allow extra time for their journeys."

Martin Taylor, Chief Infrastructure Officer at Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “These three weekends will give our teams an important opportunity to carry out a significant package of work at locations across the railway between Cardiff and Bridgend.

“By bringing this work together while the railway is closed, our engineers can work safely and efficiently to renew and maintain the infrastructure that thousands of passengers and vital freight services rely on every day.

“We’re sorry for the disruption this will cause and would like to thank passengers and our lineside neighbours for their patience while we complete these essential improvements. Please check your journey before travelling and allow extra time.”

Passengers should check their journey before travelling using via TfW website or app

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Blue Train Service - Scotland​

The 1960s witnessed a seismic shift across the regional rail network, an awakening heralded by the sleek, ultramodern “Blue Trains.”

Officially designated as the Glasgow Electric Units, these electric marvels sliced through the sooty atmosphere that had long clung to the tracks, a stark contrast to the age of steam.

For the inhabitants of Helensburgh and the surrounding areas, the introduction of these streamlined locomotives was more than a mere upgrade in rolling stock; it was an invigorating breath of fresh air, a tangible symbol of forward momentum and technological advancement.

The arrival of the Helensburgh Blue Train was a pivotal moment, etching itself into the collective memory of the region.

Cuneo’s Masterpiece: Capturing the Dawn of Electric Rail [1965]​

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''Westway'' capturing the dramatic construction of the Westway urban motorway in London looming over a railway line near Westbourne Park.

The massive concrete and steel construction of the elevated A40 Westway flyover using a specialized transporter crane built by Laing’s Plant Department, juxtaposed with a Class 52 British Rail diesel locomotive and a commuter station.
Painting by Terence Tenison Cuneo December 1969.

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The Day Begins

from a painting by Terence Cuneo, 1946​

One of Cuneos earlier paintings done for poster reproduction was this painting of an LMS Pacific locomotive being prepared for work on shed.

The locomotive, her steam pierced by slanting shafts of light from the roof, stands majestic and serene, while she is prepared for work. The fairly broad, impressionistic brush strokes used for the roof, smoke and light shafts reproduce extremely well in the poster and the diagonals of rails and light create a kind of halo around the engine, reinforcing the sense of weight and importance.

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In my change today.........
My first Charlie 20p coin

Introduced in 1982, the 20p coin marked the final step in the UK’s move to decimal currency.

That same year, a decision was made to change the coin’s inscription from “New Pence” to “Twenty Pence”, making the 740,815 1982-dated coins the only ones to feature the original wording.

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2025

Puffin 20p​

Flora and Fauna		20,125,000
Mintage

Key Specifications
  • Denomination: 20 pence (20p)
  • Obverse Design: Official portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings
  • Reverse Design: A puffin seabird (part of the flora and fauna series)
  • Alloy: Cupro-nickel
  • Weight: 5.000 g
  • Diameter: 21.40 mm
  • Mint: The Royal Mint
 
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