John Smart

I am more than a little late to this topic. Hopefully the attached photos show that even humble non-corridor stock could get a 'teak' painted finish. The top image is the one mentioned by Mr Scott earlier in the thread. The second image is grained, although not too clear on the screen. There are a couple of Casserley shots at Kirkby Stephen which also show grained NER non-corridor stock. John

Hi Mike, I find your finish on this model a marvel. I think it might be much in demand for photographs. Cheers, John

Graeme, I have a plan.

Graham, I misinterpreted your statement. My guess is the crew did indeed travel north the same day. John

Some more details of Grantham Shed.

Graham, You are not quite correct about Mr Sparshatt on 5-3-1935. On the 4472 run to Leeds the Crew, Sparshatt and Webster worked both ways. It was realised that this was too much for the fireman, at the very least. The crew from the November 4472 run only worked the 2750 train south from Newcastle, but that included the record 108 of course. All I can say about the 4472 run is beware 'Gentlemen' with stop-watches. They are more accurate than the most up-to-date and calibrated technology of the day. There was a whole publishing industry based on this. John

Yes that is the other side of 23750. The buffet counter is at this end on the other side. Note the smaller windows behind the counter in the original view. John

Howlden stock Frank. Russ did think the 70ft Dreadnought coaches would be fine, if labelled Pullman! Although, I did like his initial reaction, not for here. Reminder to self, Howlden stock building needs to start. John

Goodness, things are moving on again. Snow prevented me from coming in to do painting today, not good. 'Can we run some trains round soon please, Mr?' John

A similar view of the spiral. Clayton tunnel top right. This is a much grander construction than it appeared on the drawings. John

We shall need some appropriate wagons for 4097. There may be a few carriages required too! I shall be ready with paint brush in hand tomorrow. John

Hi Manna, I am still painting the track, only one brush used so far. I am rather careful! I will then think about weathering the ash ballast, very thin washes of grey and brown most likely. Then the final washes on the sleepers too. A lot still to do. Cheers to you down under. John

Thanks Jol. I am not certain what colour primer Doncaster used. I have heard a theory that the difference in the Darlington and Doncaster shade of LNER green was because they used different coloured primers. John

I strongly suspect Doncaster cab interiors were the same colour as the outsides, but I have no absolute proof. What I can say is that 'light stone' is not a Doncaster tradition, I do have evidence to prove that. Jonathan your 'red' theory is interesting, I wonder where it came from? The details of livery are often fascinating, I remember a series of articles covering LNER locomotive livery in the MRC, I think, in the late 1970s, a good deal of the information in them was dubious. But once it is published in a respected journal and models made using that information, it becomes 'fact'. NEVER use a model as livery evidence, unless it was built by a contemporary maker with a job at the works in question. I was the LNER writer in the 'Big Four in Colour' David Jenkinson volume, we certainly didn't get everything right. And I have collected more evidence over the years. John

TRACK PAINTING. Well done Derek, keeping going. John

Frank, One can manage four hours track painting, after that the quantity of 'track paint brew' is finished and so are the eyes. The brew is much as stated elsewhere, weathering books etc. But some will need a final toning down when the rest of the layout scheme comes together. I have always admired Mr Kent's Blakeney in regard of the latter, a sense of overall colour. Not the least of Geoff's achievements, as most will know. John

Humm. Ballast type, LNER West Riding Section track lengths for the 'Queensbury' main line in the mid 1930s, these are not easy topics, particularly as the area was not a favoured target for any photographers. John

Frank, Thanks for the reminder about how much track needs painting. A tribute to the ballast gang below. Not all of them, but Derek and Andrew feature! John. Look how far we have come:

Chris, Nice to see our efforts on this site. A good job that NER horsebox is empty. I did ask beforehand. I know I am biased, but that ballast looks good in Derek's shots. I have been taking pictures of bullhead rail lengths this weekend, looking at the colours! I watched the valves working on 'Chuffer Davies' GN 0-8-0 too, marvellous. John