25901JFM

I have 7 conflat P wagons and only one rolls freely. The others are all very poor. My outside frame 08's will not haul the 7 loaded wagons, they just wheel spin! Following a similar thread on the NGF it would appear the intricate brake detailing is also causing issues. Personally I feel that there is a lot of play with some of the axles on mine, this may be causing the wheels to rub on the brake shoes? Perhaps we are taking the fine detailing to far? I have never experienced this sort of play with axles on other wagons I own from other manufacturers like Farish and Dapol. That said I think they are lovely looking models, but I feel they possibly suffer from poor build quality. That said I appreciate how fiddily they must be to put together. John M

The front tank does look like an LPG tank to me. I don't recall there ever being a block train working of LPG tanks to Devon or Cornwall. It is possible that there was a customer that received wagon load traffic. Most of the cement traffic to Devon and Cornwall was Blue Circle traffic. Cement went to Barnstaple, Exeter Central, Plymouth and Chasewater to name the ones that I know about. Cement was conveyed in the vacuum braked "presflo" until the early 80's indeed the Exeter Central traffic didn't go over to the PCA's until 1984/85 time from memory.

No 37/7's worked, they were too heavy for the Castle Cary - Yeovil - Honiton - Exmouth Jn lines at the time the coal trains ran. 37/5's did appear. There is always artistic licence though... I had a good day at the G&WR on Saturday. Didn't see anybody there that I knew which was unusual. Freaky coincidence though; you were at Teignmouth and I came back from my day out with a Regional Railways station name for Teignmouth! I don't normally go for collectables but as I grew up there, it seemed rude not buy it!!! John

I don't think I have anything useful photo wise of the terminal at Exeter Central. Coal sector livery 37's did work the coal trains, I don't have any pictures myself but, I have seen a photo in a book of 37212 at Yeovil Jn in coal sector livery in 1990. Oddly though I do have a shot of the same loco in BR blue in 1988 on the coal train! In the early days of Speedlink Coal service the odd Canton 37/4 worked (1987 time if I remember correctly) and I also saw a split box example work it one day.

Hi Adrian, When I get some time time I'll have a look through my photo's. Exmouth Jn coal was HEA Hoppers. Exeter Central Cement; Vac braked Presflo's were still in use in 1984 and possibly in to 1985, they were replaced by the PCA's. I have some photo's of both at Exeter Central around the 1987 time. One chap who is very knowledgeable on West Country freight traffic is a member of this forum, Rivercider has had input in to several layout threads sharing is wisdom with members! I know of him but don't recall ever meeting him, although I worked with a couple of people who knew him through work and their interest in railways. He also has some interesting shots on Flickr under the same name. I have no fixed plans apart from the Glos & Warwicks this coming Saturday and the Spa Valley the following weekend. I guess finding time when we are both free is going to be the main challenge! Today (26 July) 30 years ago we were on our penultimate day of a 7 day all line Rail Rover. A good day as I recall - 08879 on the Sheffield shunt and 58025 Birmingham to Bristol being highlights of the day. John

Hi Adrian, Good to see your layout build on here. I am an occasional visitor on here, but will make an effort to keep track of this. We must try and arrange another meet up, can't believe that the last one was two years ago now! I really need to get my N gauge on the go, loads of stock and an area identified for a potential layout, just need to get myself organised! John