31874 READY FOR USE FOR SOUTHERN REGION INTER-REGIONAL SERVICES I've re-numbered Bachmann's 31843 to represent 31874. Having said that, in the end I removed the factory-applied numbering, because the number sizes and weight (typographically) didn't match the digits on both my Pressfix and Replica transfer sheets. I also wasted several Pressfix digits trying to get the numbers straight and evenly spaced. It requires a lot of concentration and a good frame of mind to tackle such re-numberin
TERRIER 32646 RECEIVES EXTENDED BUNKER AND COAL RAILS
The cab/bunker modifications have been progressing on 32646, including coal rails, all made from black styrene, and have now reached the stage of lining, lettering and final varnishing.
I haven't got any BR lining transfers in stock at home, but looking at what's available, I'm going with HMRS' Pressfix version because they're a closer match with Hornby's rendition of BR lining.
Once the finishing has been done, all I then ne
TERRIER TO RECEIVE ISLE OF WIGHT EXTENDED BUNKER Here's my early progress on this conversion. Due to the long life of the Terriers and numerous alterations over time, Hornby's (ex-Dapol) Terrier requires modification to represent the modeller's preferred example in details and era. The first tranche of Rails/Dapol's proposed locos includes several in A1 and A1X condition, but none that carried the extended Isle of Wight bunkers. Without hacking Hornby's front combined sandbox/splasher
NEW SECR COMPANION INCLUDED AS PART OF A BR LATE-CREST SOUTHERN REGION TRIO
Introducing my newest addition to the collection, a N class 2-6-0 representing the South Eastern and Chatham contingent, albeit built after grouping. My late gran spent a brief time as a nurse in Greenwich in the late 50s. I bought Bachmann's 31843 several years ago because it features a standard 4 chimney and wanted to re-number it as the preserved 31874, as it had the same chimney fitted as part of a front-end
WELLS OR RADSTOCK SCENARIO, 1929-34? Today I sourced another current Hornby Railroad Jinty chassis to fit under the Somerset & Dorset Prussian blue 0-6-0T. With my Midland 4F in LMS livery - yet to be re-numbered - I can now plausibly recreate a Wells or a Radstock scenario between 1929-34. The S&D tank will handle the freight, the GWR 2721 the passenger with a B set (Airfix) and the 4F would handle mixed duties.
PRUSSIAN BLUE WINS OVER UNLINED BLACK ANY DAY! I'm opting for my Somerset & Dorset representative to be the 3F Bagnall 0-6-0T (Jinty) in Prussian blue. However I'll need to paint Hornby's front and rear spectacle panels - which fold up in one piece to include a backhead and cab floor - in blue, because for reasons of economy, they were moulded in black. My Railroad 0-6-0 chassis is now under the GWR 2721 pannier tank, so I'll source a replacement chassis to fit under the Bagnall. I may b
PRUSSIAN BLUE BAGNALL 3F OR BR 7F 2-8-0? I'm evaluating Hornby Railroad's R2882 3F tank in Prussian blue to see how well it fares against my GWR 2721 pannier. The pannier has Hornby's Margate 0-6-0 chassis with brightly plated wheels, sprung rear wheelset and centre flangeless wheels with traction tyres ... whereas the Railroad version has blackened, all-flanged wheels and no sprung axles. It appears that the Prussian blue livery didn't last long on the prototype, but have no idea when
TANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
At last I took advantage of Bachmann's LNWR Coal Tank release and also evaluating a secondhand Hornby GWR 2721 pannier tank to create a possible "West Kirby" scenario between 1921-1924. Here is the 2721 pannier on a short freight.
From left to right: GWR, LNWR and L&Y (to be modified as the Wirral example) locos:
The branch from Hooton to West Kirby was a joint GWR-LNWR operation. Its station in West Kirby was separate from the adjacent Wirral Rai
I retrieved my Bachmann J72, my NER contingent, from store and decided that I'll retain this loco after all, even though a newly-tooled version is expected within a year or so. It's been renumbered to a Bidston-based loco as appearing during 1947-48 to accompany my GWR Hawksworth Counties and other LMS representatives presenting a "Chester Central" loco stabling point, imagining if there was one central station in Chester rather than both General and Northgate.
Some time ago I discovered that if I changed the final digit of my Bachmann J11, I could represent my late gran's date of birth (UK/continental conventions) 5.3.13.
This has been completed using HMRS pressfix numbering. The loco will remain in unlined black to represent the 1928-46 era.
Things have been very quiet on this long-term project. New locos have been brought out which look more desirable and appropriate for future additions to the collection (LNWR Coal Tank) However I scored a find at the Pontefract event yesterday. A Midland & Great Northern Joint Rly Johnson 4-4-0 no. 42 in their mustard livery, prior to being rebuilt with an extended smokebox. It looks like someone put together a Ratio MR Johnson 4-4-0 body and tender and hacked the tender body to fit
It's been a long time coming, but mum's finally relocating to Leeds - at least for now.
She gave up the idea of living somewhere in the East Riding sometime ago, so I disposed of the Lima GNER HST set that I bought for re-naming.
Mum might consider moving to a retirement flat in North Yorkshire, therefore I've kept back my rail blue class 31/4 Lima body/Hornby Railroad chassis for re-naming/re-numbering as 31428 North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
What have all these carriages got in common?
They're all from some of Hornby's latest production ... but are examples of rolling stock which ended their BR service in the sidings in and around Fratton station and yards in departmental and internal user roles.
I lived not far from Fratton's yards in my youth and often noticed the wide variety of types stabled in the sidings, including departmentals and stock stored prior to withdrawal and scrapping.
My collection has another twist in
For my representation of London, I've now chosen a model representing the name of the capital in its own right, as opposed to being an add-on to an existing model.
In an earlier instalment I described how often I've changed my mind about owning a model containing the name of London and settled on owning a Hornby Pendolino coach re-named as City of London to ring the changes with my version of City of Birmingham.
From now on the Pendolino will be known as City of Birmingham and my London
This is another of my locos I've bought in advance at a modest price even though my mum still hasn't decided where's she relocating, so I've covered my bases.
I've opted to model a class 31, 31428 North Yorkshire Moors Railway, over a GNER class 91 as it's much more operationally useful in my railway collection.
According to images I've consulted on the web, it was recorded as far south as Rugby and Bletchley on engineering duties.
My choice will represent the loco in refurbished BR blu
I'm writing this to illustrate the fact that sometimes one needs to plan ahead and get hold of stuff while it's available.
My mother is still considering which area of Yorkshire to move to when she hopefully takes the plunge next spring. Moreover as she intends to rent rather than buy, she may have to move more often depending on the landlord's whims.
I've already bought a Lima GNER HST train pack for possible modification of one of its power cars to East Riding of Yorkshire for a modest
East Riding of Yorkshire - latest
I exchanged the wheels on Lima's motorised HST power car for ones in better condition.
Tonight I also rediscovered the YouTube video of a solo GNER power car with a Porterbrook Mk1 barrier coach running through York.
Unlike some other train operators, I don't know if any GNER power cars ever ran coupled back to back.
The only area where a GNER HST (especially a single power car and a barrier coach) and a Pendolino could have regularly met
This post covers progress of the two outstanding examples in my "County" collection.
390028 City of London
"London" has appeared far more times than many other locations as part of names given to locos and multiple units. I've gone through far more changes of mind on what to designate for London as part of this collection over the years.
Firstly, I modelled a Hornby/Lima hybrid class 47 47581 London Standard in NSE livery - I sold it as I rarely read the actual newspaper.
I've owned
86213 Lancashire Witch
Compared with some counties, there's a wider choice of locos containing Lancashire in their titles. Several steam and diesel locos feature military regiments, and 86413/86613 is named County of Lancashire. As I'm not a member or volunteer associated with the East Lancashire Railway I chose not to model 37418 which was named after the railway. RailUK also mentions 156464 which was named Lancashire DalesRail in 2010.
For once I wanted a different combination instead
1013 County of Dorset
This county's name has appeared on both GWR Churchward's and Hawksworth's County classes. It's also appeared on a class 220 Voyager as Dorset Voyager, modelled by Bachmann. A Wessex Electric has also borne the name County of Dorset until 2007.
I preferred a model of Hawksworth's County class and to differentiate it from its others in my collection I chose GWR's lined green livery. My model is based on Hornby's R2391 County of Carnarvon.
73131 County of Surrey
Several locos and units have been named incorporating Surrey as part of their names, all in the diesel and electric era.
As I haven't attended the University of Surrey I didn't model the class 73 named after the institution, 73117. There was a Wessex Electric (42)2423 County of Surrey which carried its name until 2007. According to RailUK, two class 319 units were named The Surrey Hills at various times, 319013 between 1999-2001 and from 2012 and 319001 in 2001.
T
47702 County of Suffolk
My late grandmother was born in Suffolk and there were several locos which contained the name Suffolk in their titles. A B17 was named The Suffolk Regiment, Anglia Railways' 86234 was named Suffolk - Relax, Refresh, Return between 2002-05. County of Suffolk has been carried by two class 47s, 47180 in 1979 (47584 from 1981), removed in 1993 and transferred to 47702 in early 1994.
I opted to model County of Suffolk as presented in its final form in Virgin livery bet
1016 County of Hants
There have been surprisingly few locos which contain "Hampshire" or its derivatives in its title. Both the GWR's Churchward and Hawksworth County classes included locos named County of Hants. A Wessex Electric (44)2402 also carried the name County of Hampshire until 2007.
Due to easier availability and fitting in with the majority of my rolling stock I opted for Hornby's Hawksworth version, this time in BR lined black with early crest to differentiate it from my othe
73211 County of West Sussex
As far as I'm aware, only one loco has been named with "West Sussex" in its title. It was named in 1986 carrying InterCity Executive livery as 73113. In 1988 it was renumbered 73211 and allocated to Gatwick Express services although, initially, didn't adhere rigidly to these duties, being seen on VSOE Pullmans and even freight. According to RailUK, it was de-named in 1991.
My loco was based on renumbering and renaming a standard Hornby issue R2767 Stewarts Lan
1028 County of Warwick
My county of birth, this time the choice was easier. I didn't want to model the Royal Scot class named The Warwickshire Regiment which was offered as a limited edition some years ago by a shop in Warwickshire and also didn't consider the LNER D49 option named Warwickshire, another re-naming job, because I then had no suitable stock to accompany the loco.
I instead chose to base my model on Hornby's Hawksworth County class, modified from R2392 1026 County of Salop w
