While waiting for glue to set on the turntable planking, I turned my thoughts to why I am building a 60ft turntable and not the larger 70ft version.

The answer is simple. With very few exceptions, ten wheelers (American nomenclature for the 4-6-0 wheel arrangement) were the most common passenger loco type in the Birmingham area. Obviously on the Western Region the ex-GWR locos were mainly 4-6-0s, from Kings down to Manors. But on the Midland region we were also used to seeing the less powerful classes at New Street. It was only at Tamworth that the "big-uns" appeared on my 1950s radar screen.

Looking back on those days I suppose my favourite ten wheelers were the most powerful ones, namely the Kings and Castles and the Scots. To prove this I have Philip Hawkins' prints of Scots, Castles and, oh yes, a Jubilee.

The more powerful 4-6-0s had bigger boilers and this does indeed set them apart. Compare a King to a Castle or a Scot to a Jubilee and the boiler size becomes the most visible difference. A Scot simply looks the part, as does a King. On the other hand the smaller locos offer a visual streamlining with their tapered boilers expanding back towards the firebox.

So which ten wheeler is my ultimate favourite? A difficult choice! But I think the rebuilt Royal Scot takes the prize and I have to admit it is the smoke deflector that tips the balance in its favour over the Great Western Castle. There are plans for Legge Lane to have a Scot one of these days, but I wouldn't mind a visiting Castle once in a while!

(Note to the other regions - I have nothing against Eastern and Southern classes but I simply don't know that much about them)