Frappington Jct

Oops, missed that!

Think it's more speculation than anything- there were suggestions a while ago that ATW were thinking of ordering some, whether or not that's actually going to happen is another matter entirely.

Didn't the BBC report say 95% of journeys would be on new trains? Assuming they are including second hand but new to the franchise trains in 'new' (D-Trains, 170s etc) then I would suspect the 158s would stay on the Cambrian to cover the remaining 5%. They are by far the best units ATW have (I'm my opinion at least) and are probably in the best condition internally in terms of passenger comfort, experience etc. which would put them lower down the list of priorities for replacement. They are certainly nicer to travel in than the 175s running on the Manchester-Cardiff/West Wales arteries...

Thanks everyone for the replies and the suggestions! I think I'll probably go for a lowmac - gives a bit more variety when compared to a train of standard length vans and 4 wheel opens. Plus I think I have one in the loft somewhere...

Hi all, I've been a long time admirer of narrow gauge railways/locos, both models and the prototype, but have lacked the time/space/money to develop a layout outside of my main 00 gauge interests. So, when 6point5/Narrow Planet introduced a dummy chassis to accompany their Ruston Proctor diesel it set some wheels turning, as the whole ensemble only costs £35. I was inspired by a picture they put on their Facebook of the loco on a standard (I assume Bachmann) conflate wagon, but was wondering whether this would have been how they would have been carried 'normally'. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - I'd rather be able to use a rtr wagon rather than make a kit, but am not adverse to them if necessary. Thanks! P.s. For reference: https://shop.narrowplanet.co.uk/collections/6point5/products/mgl-001

As much as it is unlikely, I'm going to repeat my guess from the pre-G5 thread and hope for a GER E4 (not that I expect as much!)

It's fine until the ticketing system thinks the train you're getting is going to be an HST and allocates you seat 4 in coach A, on a ram packed service...

I quite like it... (I'll get my coat!)

Is it too much to hope for a GER E4? Multiple liveries (including the very pretty GER blue), long lasting, there's one in the National Collection - yes it's perhaps not exactly regionally appropriate, but they did work in the North East for a time in the inter war years (yes, clutching at straws I know, but one can but dream!) I reckon the best guesses are those already above, something NER and probably preserved, but you never know!

So, as ever, it's been a while since I've updated this thread - partially due to forgetfullness and partially due to me returning to uni. The Sharpish Stewart (working title!) has gone through I think 2 different iterations but has now reached a stage where I think I'm happy with it. Originally I was intending to use the original cab in a much cut down form, with a small section of exposed boiler, thus vaguely replicating UK prototypes such as the long-boilered locos used by the Brecon and Merthyr Railway or the NCB at Chasetown (?). However, much like the idea of reversing the chassis this had to be scrapped, although in this case it did get to the assembly stage. I decided that the cab was simply too small and the logistics of creating the exposed boiler was probably beyond my capabilities. As a consequence I decided to create something more along the lines of the Taff Vale locos, using the cab from a Dapol L&YR 'Pug' kit. I have differed from those TVR locos by not including a full rear bunker, rather a small coal container within the cab, reasoning that this is an industrial loco which doesn't need a huge range. The loco has also gained a safety valve from, I think, a Dean Sidings GCR L1 kit. I hope the photos below convey a sense of how the loco looks, although the camera makes the primed surface look a lot worse than it actually is! The one issue is that there is a gap between the cab and the boiler, which annoyingly I didn't notice until I'd cut the cab down to size. Again the camera makes it look worse than it is, and I'm relatively confident that once painted and weathered it will be barely necessary. Aside from that, the addition of cab steps and painting etc., the loco's just about done; although it won't be finished until Christmas at the earliest as I return to uni again tomorrow!

I saw it going through Kentish Town this morning - sounded like the rear driving car had at least one nasty wheel flat on it

Hi all, I'm in the middle of building a fictional 00 gauge industrial saddle tank with a Sharp Stewart look to it (it's not based on any particular prototype I just like the looks of it - rule 1 etc!) and have got to the point that I need to fit a set of safety valves. I've got a small collection of safety valves and have picked out the only one that really looks the right size when placed on the loco, though as I have little to no engineering knowledge I am unsure as to whether it is a) appropriate for an engine of this size, and if not what I should look at getting and b) whether my temporary positioning is correct. I have included a photo below to illustrate my point. I hope this all makes sense, and many thanks in advance

I'm pretty sure I saw files in the National Archives which proposed moving long distance traffic to Euston, with extended electrification to match (can't remember how far or to where but I'm pretty certain it was to link with the MR route for a switch to diesal haulage) and locals to go to an expanded Moorgate through new tunnels paralleling the 'Widened Lines'. There were also plans to move much of the Kings Cross suburban traffic to Moorgate if I remember correctly.

Thanks all - it's not actually a million miles away from my guess, as at the very least Scaldwell and the IOM share the same gauge! Now that I look closer at the photos I reckon I you can see the saddle tank in the background too, so maybe that should have given me a clue... Thanks again

Hi all, Whilst at the NRM today, I noted a partially dismantled steam loco sitting on a flat-bed behind Deltic D9009 in the North Yard (?) and thus a fair distance from the nearest viewing area. I'm just a bit curious as to what it is, as I can't find any info on a comparable loco currently going through the works. It has a bit of an IOM Steam Railway look to it to me, but I'm no expert so I could be very wrong! I have included a couple photos below so that you can see what I'm on about! Many thanks

Hi all, I'm looking for a Bachmann (or earlier derivatives) 00 gauge 03 shunter bodyshell for a cut-and-shut project I'm planning. As such, the colour doesn't really matter, nor does the condition as long as the running plate and buffer beams are intact. I'm on a bit of a budget but will consider any reasonable offers. Many thanks

Wow, it's been ages since I've posted anything here - and to be honest, it's because I haven't done much! The only real progress is that I've finished the windows on the sentinel, and the project has now stalled because I can't work out what to do with the glazing. But anyway, I've got a new little project now - it hopefully promises to be a bit quicker than the railcar! Essentially, using my meagre annual bonus, I've bought an Electrotren 0-6-0 saddle tank (it had to come all the way from Spain!) and intend to anglisce it into a freelance Sharp-Stewart loco. I have seen other people doing similar conversions, but normally representing a TVR prototype or simply using the chassis under something else. I wanted to do something a bit different, so am planning to make a fictional model based loosely on some of the traditional Sharp-Stewart inside cylinder saddle tanks from the late Victorian era. Obviously it won't be accurate or to scale, but I'd like there to be a passing resemblance. The one main difference between my model and most of the UK prototypes will be that mine is looking like it will have to have outside cylinders. I had hoped to be able to reverse the chassis, thus giving better looking wheel spacing. However, having had a bit of a play now I have the model, and I don't think it will be feasible. The chassis won't fit if you simply rotate it, if I were to enlarge the space then I'd lose part of the bodywork, and if I were to simply remove the cylinders and leave the chassis as is then I don't think it will look right. The other mods which will happen will be the moving of the dome to closer to the chimney (and thus filling in the hole it left); removing the coal bunker; remodelling and shortening the cab; filling the gap left by the shortening of the cab with a representation of the boiler and lower cab extensions; on top of which new safety valves will sit; new, chunkier buffers; a new whistle and possibly some tool boxes. So far, all I've done is disassemble the loco and test-fitted the dome in its new position (although since I took the photo I've changed my mind slightly and I think it'll sit further forward), and that's how it'll stay until this weekend, when a trip to Ally Pally should yield all the bits I need.

I was abit too afraid to weather my W4 myself, so sent it off to Grimy Times along with some Narrow Planet nameplates. I must say it looks amazing, I can't recommend Steve at GT enough!

Does anyone know if any versions of the Electrotren 0-6-0st (as used by OnTracks for various GWR/TVR variants) are currently available in the UK? I know there is a version available for pre-order on the Hornby website, but - having been inspired by the pug-bashing thread elsewhere on here (yes, I know it's not a pug!) - I have some ideas and a hankering to start hacking something up! Thanks

I've posted these elsewhere on my workbench (see signature below), but here's a slightly botched together Stirling Single in lined BR black that I built a couple of years ago now (doesn't time fly!) from a Bachmann 'Emily' and various parts from a Dapol 'Schools' kit. It's even got a name (sacrilege I know!), which is visible in the 1st photo, taken a bit more recently than the second. .