[spongebob]

I think they made an attempt to make this years catalogue a bit more interesting by dividing it into various related bits such as GWR, LNER etc. They are I suppose making an effort after years of boring catalogues. True they have been innovative in some areas such as factory weathering and DCC but they are also sadly lagging behind in a lot of others. They are only doing what hornby have done in a fachion for years by saying what stock goes with what.

 

[spongebob]

There is a definite hint of Blairism in that statement. Policy... A document which means bog all but sounds good and looks impressive. Example insurance policy, government policy, health and safety policy. Case rested.
As for defining eras I don't think they've made a bad job of it and it is the second such list i've read in recent weeks. The other being slightly shorter and in BRM magazine. Was the early crest around in 1948? hmm don't think so. And for the next era i'd call it steam/diesel transitional period not just late crest. Its one of those things that is probably difficult to label exactly as it is probably dependant on individual interpretation.

 

[spongebob]

There are a couple of carriages that fall into period 0. Does that mean they were horse drawn?