BernardTPM

The white stripes on minerals indicates where the end door is, so isn't needed on wagons without end doors.

Similar to, but not quite the same, as this (at RAF Waterbeach, circa. 1956):

What about linear induction as a modern equivalent to cable haulage?

The TT version still used the equivalent Jinty chassis, but the front grille did have the correct vertical slats and the footplate doesn't have a skirt.

5/9 in the December 1962 RM, about 29p (equivalent to about £5.17 BoE inflation adjusted).

Was the HD Deltic body also made in plastic? The one a friend had had a diecast body. Agreed it was stunted and had many detail errors. I can't help thinking some of the latter may be because it was based on pre-production drawings/artist impressions.

The old Airfix kit is still pretty good, especially so given it was tooled over 70 years ago. And yes, the 9' 6" w.b. was rare in real life. When they went to plastic and raised the buffers* by 2mm it spoilt the proportions. There were a few 16t minerals built on redundant 17' 6" chassis, but they didn't have top flaps which the HD body has. I did once do a master in N Gauge for the NGS for those 1970s 'new' builds to fit a standard Peco chassis, but it seems the master went missing at some point. * The diecast steel solebar chassis has slightly higher buffers than the earlier diecast wood variety, but by less than 1/2mm.

Neither were right, but Triang were closer. The real ones were 16' 6" over headstocks.

The 'Task Force' shunter is the 1976 model* rather than the 1956 one. The last use of the 1956 model was this in 2011. * at least in body terms. More than one design of chassis has been used since introduction.

Earlier than that. The new model (initially R.156) first mentioned in 1976. The retooled model featured an automatic uncoupling device for a while, but that had gone by 1980. A much better body and the steps up the front were separate metal pressings (very like those on the Brit/9F tender) but again it was hopeless below the running plate. There were some moulded guidelines round the cab and bonnet for Australian liveries. Of course, the 1976 catalogue only showed the pre-production mock-up and I'm not sure if it the new model was actually in the shops before 1977. The old tool version subsequently acquired a face and became Devious Diesel.

I think that may be an Aussie one too; those smaller rectangular headlights were never used with that style grille over here. They were used with the 1973 Model Year facelift, but that was very different.

A rebuilt Gresley Corridor Third, I think, former compartment side facing us.

Q Kits did a Western too, so it might have been that rather than the MTK version.

The signal kits were made in the UK and, not surprisingly, bear a close resemblance to various kits in the Corgi range. The diecast base was a good idea.

Linda in 1972: Oil fired and in 1970 the smokebox was silver. Not sure about 1971, but it was black again by August 1972, as above. Note smaller, round bodied oil lamp mounted on the door.

I see they put Stafford on that sheet too, though there was never a Stafford Station kit. I wonder if they ever planned for a third variation in the range.

More about the kits Playcraft used here. I think some of the range must have been commisioned by Playcraft, in particular the Bletchley and Macclesfield stations which are loosley based on actual BR(LMR) prototypes. I've got a built one and the doors on it are 4mm scale rather than H0 but they have reduced the overall footprint of the structure by making each element about two-thirds size; quite subtle. Some of these kits were sold by Hornby in the mid.'70s to early '80s.

Very sad to hear this, though I knew Ray hadn't been well for a long time. Always a warm welcome and good chat whenever I saw him. My condolences to Brian and Andrew.

And the coupled wheelbase is ridiculously long.

The other reason for the air conditioning on the Blue Pullmans was to make the interiors quieter. No opening windows to cause wind noise.

Yes, 1:80 scale. British Trix also used it for a number of their models, including the Mk.1 coaches, but their LNER Pacifics were all 4mm scale.

Mk.1 Cortina Super estate, 1962-64 only. The facelifted version (1964-66) lost the Di-Noc.

Not through excessive mileage though, more neglect.

An end view would help with the clerestory as the Midland profile was quite distinctive with very rounded shoulders to both lower roof and clerestory.

That too, but if more lines were electrified not as many freight diesels would have been needed. Yes, and new work seem ever so expensive even compared to the late '80s costs after taking into account inflation.