Dava

Hi Steve, Suggest keeping an eye on the Narrowplanet catalog link for KBScale above as the range has just been reintroduced. There is an 014 group which anyone can join - link here to organiser: [email protected] Dava

So they've not been out of production long, or they still had lots in stock. Unlikely but I recall them being sold off at giveaway prices some years ago.

Hornby released the short clerestories in 'teak' to go with an LNER train set, with a green 'Jinty' I recall. Also black, green & red as engineers livery Dava

I tend to think of the 1980s as the decade that taste forgot, but don't want to alienate anyone from that period! The Stately Trains & NER Autocar groups probably have more successful experience than anyone else in the successful restorations of vehicles of this type & condition. Dava

There are not too many photos of the MR railmotors, here is an official photo of 2233, courtesy of Grace's Guide. I have a copy of the Midland Railway Society booklet at home, and George Dow's 1971 Railway Magazine article where I first came across it. There are also some very good 7mm scale models. Dava

Midland Railway steam railmotor 2234, officers saloon M45010M Details from plaque on the coach: "This coach was built in Derby for the Midland Railway in 1904 as a Steam Rail Motor [number 2234], it was a self propelled carriage with a boiler and steam engine in one end to drive it along. As an exercise in cost cutting on branch lines, it was ahead of its time and only lasted as a passenger rail motor until 1907, when it was converted into an Officers Saloon for directors and officials to observe the railway network from. In 1917 the boiler and engine were removed and it then was hauled by a conventional locomotive across the network when lines needed inspecting or special visits were made. It was preserved in 1968 and became a holiday home in Mid Wales until the NRM bought it in the late 1970s. It is unique as the only surviving steam rail motor coach from the Midland Railway. It is mahogany and teak and the rooms are as they were when it was an Officers Saloon. It has come to Chain Bridge Honey Farm from the National Railway Museum due to insufficient space, time or resources to ensure the vehicles future." The carriage was originally preserved & restored by George Dow, career railway manager & historian. Donated to the NRM, not sold I believe. Never exhibited at the NRM, at one time curator David Jenkinson proposed its restoration as a steam railmotor but this was judged too complex and costly for the NRM to undertake. It was stored outside at York for some years and deteriorated badly. Later moved to Shildon where it was stored inside on a centre road in the hall, out of view. When the NRM reviewed its collection and decided to de-accession some items owing to their condition, no future prospects and being surplus to the collection, this vehicle was one of these but the decision was little known at the time and I do not know which other preservation groups with an interest in Midland Railway vehicles, carriage restoration expertise and covered accommodation it may have been offered to. Nor do I know what proposals for curation or conservation the Chain Bridge Honey Farm may have made, nor the conditions of their acquisition. It now sits on a length of track in a field in Northumberland, completely exposed to the Borders weather without a canvas cover. It is deteriorating steadily and no longer weathertight. The Honey Farm does not seem to be the well-run visitor attraction it was a few years ago [I last visited in 2013] and the tractor and vehicle collection is now quite disorganized and does not seem to be looked after. I do not wish to be critical of the Farm but they clearly do not have the resources or capability to restore or to conserve this vehicle from deteriorating from the weather until it becomes beyond rescue. The NRM are responsible for donating this historic and unique vehicle to a location which is now unable to safeguard it. We have seen volunteer groups raise funds and organize to restore the GWR steam railcar set to full working order and also the NER Autocar, both with new engines and frame replacements or rebuilds, so such ambitious restorations are possible. Alternative uses for the vehicle could include restoration as a hauled saloon, ideal for adaptation for disabled access through double doors, or static restoration. What should not be allowed to happen is for the vehicle to deteriorate in this way. What is to be done? Is anyone interested? Dava

I spotted this in WH Smith today, from the publishers of Old Glory: 'Railways of Britain: Wheels of Industry' Part One. 'Industrial steam at work' Written and mainly illustrated by Andrew Neale from his collection so the content is high quality. $7.99 for 100 pages, 15 chapters on different SG and NG systems, Austin to Walney Island, mainly monochrome photos, one Ruston 48DS is included. Great value and high quality, Part 2 out next March. Frankly I left 'Railway Bylines' on the shelf [again]. Recommended. More here at a higher price: https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/product/BKZROBWHEELS/railways-of-britain-wheels-of-industry Andrew has been writing for Old Glory but if you don't go for traction engines and fairground gallopers you may have missed the articles. This works better. Holiday reading for me. Dava

How will cancelling HS2 help keep Scotland in the UK? HS2 will give faster rail connections to Scotland. Currently Scots see fewer reasons to remain ruled by the Govt of Maniacs. Dava

So how is the Dapol n gauge 142 relevant to the O gauge 14xx? The Dapol O gauge locos have been very well received: the 08, Terrier, Jinty, 57xx Pannier so far. Yes the first couple were delayed thanks to Mr Jones. Any NQP can be bought for $150 at a show. Quality is excellent as is value for money. They have created a completely new market in O gauge. There is a stream of new releases planned, I'm just waiting for the Y1/Y3 Sentinel, just a few months later than expected....as is almost every gauge O RTR loco. Dava

What a fantastic job you have made of it, in rather adverse [hot] conditions for a really good coach restoration & repaint. Dava

Also applies to Soar/Trent/Erewash valleys between Kegworth-Long Eaton destined to become a very busy area indeed. Best to build HS2 soon or it will cost a lot more. Dava

The inside valve gear looks effective, it's not operational but you can't tell when the model is static!. Yet another stunning bargain from Dapol. Dava

The inside valve gear looks effective, it's not operational but you can't tell when the model is static!. Yet another stunning bargain from Dapol. Dava

This thread on Guildex has been running since July 10 so not true to say there was no information on Rmweb:

So more news about the Dapol Sentinel 0-4-0 from Guildex. It has been delayed but firmly expected to go into production next month and reach the UK in November so plenty of time for Xmas [import issues which may arise before then permitting The real 'Isebrook' has been recorded for the DCC sound file so it will be authentic. No point retrofitting sound from anyone else. BR(E) Departmental 39 has been added to the first production run, good news though be aware that this loco [ex Lowestoft] spent 10 years only at Chesterton Jct rail depot, Cambridge in this guise. By contrast, LNER 42 and BR 68164 were very well travelled across Wales, England & Scotland. I don't know where the LMS 760 worked, possibly Ayr?  Dava