coline33

I can certainly give them a very good home and incorporate them into the Archives of the Tramway & Light Railway Society for posterity. Please let me know by Personal Message and I can continue from there for you. Many thanks for the opportunity. Kind regards, Colin Withey.

Forgot to add that the photos of 342 are the same as those in books but I do have one of passenger paying a fare on 341 if you need it.

Johann, you are uncovering a lot that the historians seem to have pushed into the long as they had not the proof. I am only a historian when it comes to London Transport's first generation trams and only go pre-1933 where previous history of a LT car is necessary. Hence I can only read what others have written about one-man cars in London, as none ever survived to be LPTB. LUT was not the first in London to use one-man cars. Before WW1 there were the Raworth demi-cars and when Dartford purchased one and numbered it 13, the depot burnt down with the whole fleet!!! So I am putting 2+2 into action!. I suspect that 341 was fitted with a Shanklin for its trial route in the Kingston area to suit the Met police. By 1922 LUT had incorporated the police regulations into a completely new car (in fact three cars 342-4 were needed to take over the 55 service) and experience with the Shanklin was improved by their own version which was quicker to issue tickets. 341 was then completely rebuilt as a bogie car near enough to 342-4. So did Shanklin or someone else manufacture the faster machine? Your mystery continues and I suggest you ought to write an article for "Tramway Review" starting with the use on LUT trams and then with ICT trolleybuses. If so, I will put you in touch. Colin.

Johann, if in LUT Vol 2 there is not a view of the driver's cab of 342, I do have a view of the cab and another of a person paying the fare to the motorman. However, it is not easy to see the Shanklin! Let me know if of interest, please? Colin.

2002 was a sad year being the last to see Cyril. Prior to his move from Worthing to the Peak District, for decades we had met monthly at TLRS and LTHG meetings. My contribution to his LUT and MET books was in respect of the Felthams, the works cars and the Combine cars in the LPTB period. When we met last he was alone and being cared for. On the day following my call on the first Sunday in July, his carer phoned me to thank me for coming. I had spent five hours and the carers could not believe how life came back into him to last for so long. I had taken my Feltham photo album and out came the last update of new info since we last met.

Johann, herewith front view of a LUT ticket from a Shanklin machine. Colin.

There is no comparison between the Bachmann and 009 Society flat wagons, you need both! The Bachmann's have either one or four end planks whilst the 009 Society has 3 end planks. So for two plankers take off the two top planks of the 4 on Bachmann or just the top one on the 009 Society's. I see that the RNAD vans/brakes are no longer available of the Society's website.

Easter's now over,so back to work!!! Johann, the 'bible' for anything LUT is the two volume "The London United Tramways" by my dear late friend Cyril Smeeton. In Vol.2 is a chapter 22, starting with the one-man cars Nos. 341-344. There is just mention of the ticket issuing machine in reference to 341. However, for 342-344 there is reference to fitting of "Shanklin" ticket issuing machines plus American made Brandt "Universo" coin paying machines for giving change. Both were pedal operated by the motorman. These three cars were improvements on 341 which later was rebuild to be the same. Thus I assume that "Shanklin", etc., were used on all four until withdrawn on 9th November, 1928 from the Hanwell-Brentford shuttle service 55, being scrapped in 1931. These cars came into being as a result of a 1919 study tour of North American systems by the 'Combine's' top personnel and hence the knowledge of the American equipment. Pleased to have confirmed what you wanted to know, Kind regards, Colin.

Now have my West Dean table top layout under construction centred around a transhipment shed so have both gauges. Having built a Hunslet diesel for my L&B line (CW RAilways on Kato), it is now the 9mm motive power with the Hornby WD Ruston being that on 16.5mm. With a deficency in model munitions being available, there is a chance of some becoming available to suit 4mm. Also a 4mm ammo depot is on another producer's wish list! Now when will the Bachmann Baguley arrive?

Thanks, Tony. Yes, I think the article was published by Chris Ellis about 1982 and was written in collaboration with the late Frank (D W K) Jones. Frank, like I, had a particular liking for works cars which was conveyed into modelling form by the late Adrian Swain. Both of whom I miss greatly. I had previously written an article on modelling Manchester's tramways which Chris published. Little did I know that that was going to be exhibit number one when Manchester's police took me to court there for failing to stop precisely on the Stop Line at a congested road junction. My AA solicitor could not believe that I won my case in that knowing the road layout from the 1930's road layout when there were three parallel tram tracks, I had in fact stopped just ahead of the line where I could see there was no oncoming traffic. So I was judged to have maintained the spirit of the law. My solicitor took the exhibit home as his father liked the trams!!!

Still to have the STOP sign at the exit doors. It is OM40504 MET 355 which has the first retooled body, to give that full doofr panel, as will have OM40507 to be released as LTE 2079 with a lot of faults that will need correcting if it is to run on conduit lines!

My conversion of LPTB 2104 to LTE 2104 has reached as in the view attached. Trolley ropes and cleats are tedious to make but improve the appearance. The use of the ex-BEC triangular trolley hooks does finish off the front appearance. Now who is going to catch me up and overtake!!! Colin.

Even a dog could get between those guard rails!!!

Just an update now Wish List for next LCC class kits closed. Classes F or G, E1(3rd), E3 and HR2 (last two to be dimensionally correct) chosen and now being worked upon. New product from OOC is OM40507 LTE Feltham 2079 at about £50 open to pre-order - see attached box cover. Note how bad its ability to run between Embankment and Streatham on the 16/18!!! Only good point is use of the retooled body found on OM40504 (MET 355).

Yes, there is a run of these at Telford Avenue and not just Felthams! This was that permafrost time early in 1947 with snowbroom 022 in action.

Many thanks, Ray. Last month my consultant wanted me to continue the drainage treatment for another year. It is working but very slowly to avoid a major op. I can now get into the driving seat and go places! However, up here in Addington we cannot get out as the snow covering is the deepest we have had for a long time and it is uphill from house to pavement and the car!

Coming on nicely in time to be operational in the 90th anniversary year of London Transport. If interested in having models of LCC F&G single deckers, 3rd series E/1 (552-601) and a dimensionally correct E3/HR2 body, either 3D print or white metal, either single body or separate decks, please let me know by 18th December. Then discussion can start with manufacturers. Wishing all a Happy Christmas and a better New Year.

Tony, your Corgi 'Dick Kerr Preston' car in LT livery. If its red/cream that is a start! If you can cut out the vent windows in the upper saloon, then I can find you a number for another car for the museum! If it has not got windscreens, then it will be better still! But if you can't or it is one that is red/white, ditch the upper deck and remove the stairs and any windscreens. Then repaint the saloon's upper waist panel and dashes maroon and replace the lifeguards/trays with snow ploughs and you will have 038/9, 041/2, 047 and 049-054. The last ones were at least scrapped at Brixton Hill! The truck wheelbase will only be 2mm. out but will need a centrally mounted plough carrier as they had no trolleys. Really if red/cream and you want a broom then to build up on bulks of timber would lift the body high enough to clear the brooms at either end. Personally, if I had a family member young enough to appreciate a tram, I would give it to them! You can't beat an ABS 'Preston' kit for 022. Colin.

Yes, I have that and other views of September 2013. It was then in a worse condition than when I inspected it in the mid-1990s when assessing the cost and legality of returning to UK and putting back into service as the Q of T in 1938 condition on transfer to Streatham. My assessment was £1m. and I expected very favourable terms from any container line using Tilbury!!! However, I was a little apprehensive about frame distortion from its outward journey being deck cargo from Liverpool. Kennebunkport is Maine, NW of Boston. It has not been badly treated; sharing a roofed barn with half of a NY Subway car either side. A massive attempt had been made in starting as I found with the mass of pipe-work I encountered but not easily recognising some. Alas I understood that the owner's then enthusiasm had waned, so I considered using my brother-in-law's NY firm for negotiation of purchase and to clear US law on exporting historical items. With retirement then almost upon me I decided not to go any further and concentrate financial resources on other projects.

Tony, going by fleet number. 102 (290) What kit or Corgi? 1 I know you are scratch building. 1025 If this is a Tower kit have you changed the upper ends or is it from BEC kit 12? 355 (2099) If the OOC Metropolitan car then you have the retooled better body. However, the car having the original caution notice was not modified at that time. 022 (106) Probably best left as 106. 022(II) Which Corgi is this that you are to reduce to single deck. Ex-MET 05 was the wind-screened London works car and that was a Sand Van, all others being open fronted. 526 Is this the OOC Leeds Feltham? In London it was a class E conduit only car. 1622 Are you scratch or kit building this? The comments for 1025 apply. 159 Is this the LUT car preserved at Crich? Otherwise, 159 was a conduit only HR/2. 1858 I assume is the Alphagraphix card kit.

Sorry, Tony, but that it is the space where it went. As you can see a dog-guard had been fitted to cover the accesses to it. The associated cabling and the switch boxes had also gone with the carrier assembly in the mid-1930s. By the way I see what looks like three E/1s in the picture. If you would like to send a view of them, I will help determine the best number range for each model. Colin.

Tony, from what I see in the pictures is that the Felthams are OOC ones. If one is 2104 then leave it in its LPTB condition just changing destination and service number to suit your public service. You could then just renumber the other three and change to run the same service as 2104. 2085 was in LPTB livery when Charlton restored it to pre-war condition, and it got named in the cabs. However, you would have to paint the headlamps to be shielded - silver aperture one end and red the other! Shortly I should finish changing LPTB 2104 into LTE 2104 with paint and legal lettering changes so suggest you await till I post photos. Already the trolley ropes are in place! Your WH numbered 102 is in fact a West Ham type D/LPTB type HD. The best kit is by KW Trams as the Keil Kraft one is at 1/72nd and it notices. Whichever one you decide you will still have to do some alteration with the lower deck saloon windows as the car was rebuilt from having a six window lower saloon. Remember for years this car was exhibited at Clapham and Covent Garden in LPTB red/cream as 290. Alas when chosen in 1938 for preservation LPTB took 290 from the twelve remaining four-wheelers in West Ham depot. There were cars in the line that still had part of the plough carriers in place - just think of the tours it could have made in post-war south London!!! Is your B class a BEC/ABS or ABS kit? This is based on the ex-Bexley Bs bought from LCC and only ones to be in passenger service with LPTB. Kept the Bexley livery with LPTB L/L but numbered with suffix C although they were given LPTB fleet numbers they were replaced by M class very quickly so never repainted or renumbered. The three snow brooms given had all been at Streatham/Brixton Hill. Another non-passenger regular weekly visitor to these depots were the stores vans and sand van 016. Bluebird is a choice of blue/white (LCC/LPTB) or red/cream (LPTB/LTE). If blue then for the museum but in red could go into public service with the Felthams. What type of E/1 and HR/2 have you? More thought for you!

So, you have 4 production Felthams, two E/1s, Bluebird, and HR2 as service cars. For the production Felthams I assume all are 'modified' with the air vents in the stair panels as per 2085, at Kennebunkport nick-named the "Queen of Telford". For the museum like 331, 106 is ideal. If you need to have a snowbroom then 022, 033 and 034 are good prototypes. LPTB did have a double deck B class in 045. What is your WH, please? There are variants within this Ian Allan classification. I am surprised not to see 2054 in your list - the most accurate model of an ex-Walthamstow in final LTE condition from the Tower enclosed kit of the 9 vestibuled from new. If you let me know the chosen fleet numbers then I can confirm if there are any differences to watch out for.

Well done, saves buying a Cissie without the painted windows just to transfer the glazing! By the way, keep this strictly as a museum model because there never ever was a service 30 to Paddington. The car was built for the MET service 40 which became LPTB 45 and was intended as a crowd shifter from Golders Green station when the Northern Line ended there. The MET even designed the turning circle within the station frontage but it was never built.

Tony, just seen in the top picture that you have that awful OOC version of Cissie with the blocked-in end curved window. I could not believe that the sun shining on that window in a view meant it was blocked!!! At the time of release, I and others waded through loads of photos of the car including Matterface's brake test accident with the car on handing it over to Sunderland. All that was thought then was that something had happened in Sunderland's hands but that could not be confirmed photographically. You are going to have overhead if you want to run Cissie!!!