Jub45565

Just to note that 'the book of' series book covering the Ivatt 2 tanks is due out soon. https://www.irwellpress.com/acatalog/LONDON_MIDLAND_SCOTTISH_RAILWAY.html (though these very much compliment the Wild Swan books, so we can still hope for no 17 ;-) )

No particular news on the layout - I'm currently working from home but kept as busy as ever, for the time being at least. Some extra evening & weekend time is allowing more modelling, but generally trying to progress loco builds at the moment. However one thing while browsing 'The Otley & Ilkley Joint Railway', and I think links to something Tom has been looking at, is trip freight workings. There were quite a few which worked through Ilkley, but two which stopped there to shunt. These were the L87 from Leeds Hunslet sidings, worked from Holbeck, and SN64 from Skipton. L87 shunted Ilkley in the morning, and SN64 in the afternoon. By 1958 Skipton was still in the Midland region, which Ilkley & Holbeck were in the North Eastern region. My question, as I'm only modelling the shed - would this shunting (coal in, ash out) be organised regionally, and therefore be covered by the Holbeck working? Or would it be more set up for efficiency which would depend on the source of coal (which will be harder to find out) and disposal location for the ash - which would presumably be far more variable.

I thought bringing down the length of delay was a positive - but apologies if my first sentence seemed harsh. It is good of Bachmann to keep everyone updated - a lot is outside of their control, but what is in their control is keeping those best guesses coming. I had noticed the 1P timescale moved to November, and it is useful to see the update on their plan for the 3 monthly announcement. 1+5 = 6. Agreed that the beginning of Jan to very end of June would be almost 6, but that isn't how the monthly announcement dates work as far as I'm aware. Likewise the end of Jan to beginning of June is barely over 4.

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones: January to June is +5 months...

As far as I know they will be 4'3" 12 spoke - most Midland tenders were, and the LMS ones which followed. Not bevelled rims as these were only from new in the 1930s.

Thanks Ian. I thought they looked like Fox, but likewise am not a expert in NE stuff so didn't want to presume! For those so inclined there are also sprung Fox bogies available, though by the sounds of it sourcing castings could be problematic: https://miscellanymodels.com/future-plans-and-dreams/fully-sprung-fox-bogies/

Interesting looking vehicles - what bogies are they on? May I ask what Thompson had to do with them if they were late 20s? I'll be interested once the world, or at least etchers, return to normal.

Thanks Mark - it doesn't entirely join the dots - as I think it would have been motor fitted while still M M and later changed to E M at the time of (or sometime after) the boundary change in the area. It is useful to know that there are listings for the E M numbers though, so this could help me with some numbers for general service (ie none push pull) vehicles which were more likely than others to have been in use in the area at the time. Another book to get at some point!

I appreciate that, but there was ex LMS stock redesignated to E, and I was wondering about these vehicles. Eg push pull fitted D1851 BTK(D) E3499M. I presume this happened in 1957? I was wondering whether there might be a fuller list of which vehicles were moved. The above vehicle worked the Worth Valley branch, so will presumably have gained its 'E' at the same time as Manningham changed code from 20E to 55F.

ah yes, we are on the same page - I misread 'was' as 'wasn't' in your previous!

Ok, sorry an assumption on my part - can you advise what the point of it was then? It made sense in my head that prefer is current location and suffix where it came from - and logical that the Mk1 stock being BR didnt need a designated 'source'.

Yes, you made me check but I did say SK. However I do have a correction to the above. It is Fox sheet 4012/2M which includes M24403-M24410 inclusive. 03-09 were (ref LMS journal no 12) D1790 period 2 BT(D)s, but 24410 was a D1856. Incidentally, the period 2 numbers there cover a mix of duckets fitted and absent. Obviously the sheet also allows for a few variations with simpler cutting & shutting than starting completely from scratch.

Apologies for going off at a tangent - but does the Longworth book (I think GWR & LMS share a volume?) also cover which LMS stock got (re)registered to the North Eastern region when created in 1957? (Not specifically enquiring about TPO vehicles here).

One further point which I think could be of wider interest - number sets. John Isherwood of Cambridge Custom Transfers does replacement sets for the Hornby coaches. For the third and comp these include push pull fitted options. For the brake it doesn't, & I can understand why as it isn't directly useable. However, coach number pre tops were duplicated. BR numbering had prefix and suffix for region of use, and region of origin. Ie MxxxM for a coach of LMS origin on BR (LM). Fox transfers do number sets for BR Mk1s, and this includes that for SK numbered M24413. With an extra M suffix, this is the number for a D1856. (Edit, M24410 not 13, further info in subsequent post). I can dig out the Fox part number tomorrow if there is interest. The conversion I am almost at the stage of numbering uses a '5522' models push pull end, which I don't believe is currently available. Comet do a brass end, and 247 & Stevenson's carriages do cast white metal options. Brian Hanson at Shawplan also does a 'laserglaze' set if this is of interest.

Indeed, it is a period 3 D1907 which can be converted to a D1856, but none had duckets. There is only one type of none-gangwayed brake which Hornby have done - but the R number of the one I have is 4678. This is in 'BR livery' but that odd pink one which is neither crimson nor maroon. I believe R4801 is a better take on crimson, but I haven't had one to compare. It is/has been available in LMS livery too - and I have seen those altered to BR maroon by keeping the base colour but replacing the decals.

You don't need modellers licence - Hornby do the correct none gangwayed LMS brake vehicle to convert to push pull (and the ducket pops off).

Could I flip that on its head please? Yes, what is supplied in a Dave Bradwell kit will take longer to put together than what Comet supply. But the Dave Bradwell kit has all the bells & whistles designed in & catered for. What Comet supply is designed to result in a well running chassis & will go together quickly and easily - but they don't have a lot of detail. Therefore to add this detail needs a lot of effort to source, modify or scratch build, and work out how to fit it. Not everyone will be bothered by all the details - it isn't right and wrong, but what we enjoy and want to do with our spare time - but for a lot of people part of the drive to go P4 is for that extra level of detail. Horses for courses!

I would use the easi-chas for the Hornby bodies - as said they are designed so don't need fettling. There are stories of people replacing the gearbox with one from High Level (who offer 3mm versions) if the 'floating' final drive gear mesh concerns. Dave Bradwell does a chassis for the Bachmann A1. There were rumours of an A2 version.

Thanks Mike - it was me being thick - I was looking at the firebox wrapper! I see them now. Good point.

For Markits, where the old catalogue is useful is for the images of what they are. I then go to the 247 website who stock, and list, most of it and have their current prices.

Hi Mike (E), This is probably me being thick, so apologies in advance - but could you explain how the ashpan fit please? From Peter 'PAD's build on Western Thunder, "The ashpan side parts had to be cut to fit them, as Mike had designed them to be fitted before assembling the frames and there was now a spacer in the way. No bother, but I'll need to add some metal behind the lightening holes to represent the the lower firebox sides. I've also added a bottom piece made from spare metal from the boiler sheet." I appreciate that was both a 7mm version and a test etch, but looking through the parts and drawing there still seems to be a conflict between that frame spacer and the ashpan? One for the parts list Stanley is that they could have separate top feed and dome, or combined. Both options are available from Millholme Models/Stevensons Carriages (not sure if they do the correct dome though).

Sorry if I've missed it - I have been back through to see whether it has been asked or mentioned earlier in the thread - but what colours you use please? Specifically for cream, though the others would be interesting to know too. Cheers, Pete

Just a note of thanks for the swift despatch of the 3P etches Mike, the postal service is currently still holding up! They look brilliant, but I am going to clear a few other things off the workbench before doing anything with them.

This is the point, I live by myself so have had the last proper face to face chat with friends, family & colleagues for 3 weeks at least, & I suspect this will drag on beyond that. Therefore it is key to look for the positives, before the mental health wave takes it toll. This isn't being disrespectful to what is going on around us, but ensuring we don't add to the issues of the world! It is also ironic that you say there are no positives - but then point out that a good many people are volunteering to help the NHS, and certainly not taking it for granted as some have done for the last few years. Nobody is saying that these positives, however trivial, make the pandemic ok or balance it out - but it is a coping mechanism in times of adversity.

The working from home lark is an interesting one. For some people it is really beneficial, others less so - however at the moment it isn't exactly a fair test. Everyone at home at the same time (both in terms of the business, and the household) will be less effective in most instances than a mixture. People also have other things to worry about. However anyone with a job should be doing what they can to do it and make things work for their business, with all the uncertainty. On the flip side it has shown the environmental benefits already, it will be showing people how much of their time they spend commuting, and it has made businesses create the infrastructure to home work. I'm well aware there are quite a few industries and roles in which home working is not possible - but if this takes 5% off the rush hour afterwards it would be good. (5% from home working, not from the potential lack of employment obviously). It will also make us look at the likes of highstreets differently - clothes shopping etc has been struggling against online options anyway, will this kick start people going - or be the final nail in the coffin? I agree re the comments on general pollution though - all measures taken have been done so to balance the health risks against still making money. Once the pandemic is deemed to be over, I fully expect the financial aid supplied by the government will have very little thought to its environmental implications.