Hello everyone, thanks for all your replies, yes call me 8F by all means as long as it is Stanier 8F.
The red dock shunter is a real powerful little engine, like you said, for its size.It never goes on my main line, but it is used in my sidings, of which I am upgrading to hopefully 19 roads. But as much as I love all my layout and stock, I sometimes wish I had gone "N" gauge, it would have given me much more scope from the layout point of view, more room to expand. Still never mind, I chose "OO", so I have got to stick with it.
Yes the oldest "Loco" I have, the 1952 46201 runs on modern track, but I do have sections of the old deep track from the fifties in between modern track on my layout, getting power through track converters, but when the modern engines run on a section of 1950s track, they run so smooth and quiet, it is really a treat.I must admit I am a bit of a devil for buying old locos and rolling stock, not because I am a "cheapskate" (probably spelt that wrong lol), but because I really do like the older models. I have my own little workshop where repairs are carried out, lots of "bits" like spare wheels and bogies , couplings etc. I even have a spare 20T brake van body, which eventually I will put on a frame and run it.That is about job number 1001 on my list lol.
When I retired, a couple of the blokes at work, bought me 2 "pressys", one is a GWR Grange loco and the other is the Hornby Grand suspension bridge.The Grange was put "on shed" straight away ready for work, but the bridge ...well that is still in the box until I can fathom out what the devil to do with it, more furniture moving I suppose
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Sorry I dont mean to go on, but I could talk about this hobby all day.
I will shut up now, sorry to bore you.