Now my old Mogul is looking better!!

Mike, The Mogul looks quite handsome!  What railway does BL stand for?

BL is shorthand for Bassett-Lowke, the brand of the model.   The railway is the LMS or London Midland & Scottish Railway.   One of the big lines after the  "grouping" that created the GWR, LNER, LMS and SR out of a bunch of smaller railways in the UK.  My gauge one railway outdoors is modeled after the GWR.  My indoor and future portable set up will be LMS based.  Just like her in the USA, stations, signal boxes(interlocking towers) and such had an individual style unique to each line.  Same for motive power, their designs named after the chief mechanical officer of each line.  Names such as Churchwood, Stainer, Hughs ect.  

Ah ha!!  I have heard of Bassett-Lowke!  All those four railway names are familiar.  I guess over 5 decades of interest in trains educates a person more than I would think!!

I have interest in the steam era trains of the UK for many years.  From their clean lines with most all plumbing being hidden away, the beautiful colors that stayed clean up till the final year or two of operation and their much more organized preservation effort that puts the USA To shame(how many years have they tried to get PRR 1361 back under steam?)  I just now am making the income to indulge a bit in what I have been enjoying on youtube the last several years.  Each bonus check will help me add to my collection now hopefully.    Mike the Aspie

Good for you on the bonus checks, Mike!  I do not like grimy trains or graffiti!  OCD I think!  I have one engine I bought weathered, but won’t do it to any myself.  It’s just me.

Sadly the colorful period of USA trains when away after the "wild west" era other than the Southern passenger power and Daylights.  Wasn't till the diesel years that the colors returned.  While in the UK, steam wore some beautiful colors and was kept very clean, like shiny clean, up till the end.  And many engines went right from mainline service right into preservation under their own steam.  Then loads were saved from the Barry scrapyards, given extra lease on time due to that yard being busy cutting up old freight wagons(cars to us).  If you have Amazon Prime TV, search under "railway".  There are loads of UK railway videos to watch on there. 

The Brits have done a superior job with  their railway preservation and their national museum at York (UK) is second to none! BRAVO, Brits!

Several years ago, a friend brought back a museum catalog of the York collection for me after a visit, and it occupies a cherished spot on my bookshelf!

The live steam engine looks great, are you planning to fire its up?

Already have steamed her once.  Still quite a bit sluggish as there will be congealed steam oil in the lines from years of not being run.  A few more runs on blocks and she will wake right up and go much faster.  I will get the video I took uploaded here soon.   Mike the Aspie