R Marshall

Mick, I want one of those - might look in the NERA shop now! Regards, Roy

The location in the photo looks like Pelaw, perhaps?

Mousa Models ( there's no "n") is, or was owned by Bill Bedford. I guess it's named after the Isle of Mousa in Shetland and its famous Broch. Some years ago, Bill reduced some 4mm etches of Conflat L wagons and their powder containers for me. I'm ashamed to say I've made no progress with them, but they're nice etches and will be finished at some point. The wagons will run with a train of Farish Covhops - both types were used regularly in the Thrislington to Steetley limestone trains. Often behind a Q6 or WD. Sorry to depart from topic! Regards, Roy

I'm still interested and browse now and again. Lockdown gave me the opportunity to finish (at last!) the sides of 2 Thompson non-vestibule Brake 3rds. I was all ready to fit them when I decided to order some Modelu passengers , so I need to finish and install them, before the sides go on. I think photographs will show up the imperfections most cruelly. But at normal viewing distance they'll be ok. It was this page that inspired me to try kit-building carriages and DavidK71 was very helpful. I'm busy improving track work at the moment, then I've 2 turnouts to build, a Union Mills J25 and J27 to modify, etc, etc, but I do think I'll try more carriages at some point - there's great satisfaction in making something yourself.

I was astonished to read some of your replies above. I wonder if anyone else thinks your posts are unnecessarily insulting in tone, as I do. Who moderates the moderators?

Neither of the Worsdells had problems with the enginemen and they certainly innovated in terms of NER practice. The Tennant's cylinders were 18" x 24", as were the 901s and the later Worsdell Class Ds and Fs. All of these had tractive effort superior to the 38s. Now I'm not an engineer and the above takes no account of the Worsdell classes in compound form, but I think it's an indication the the 38s were not up to top link jobs. Maybe McDonnell was too autocratic for the free spirits of the North East?

Innovation may have been one cause, but his 4-4-0s were reportedly inferior in performance to Fletcher's 2-4-0s. Apparently he caused a riot at Armstrongs.

I can only guess, but getting coal out of quite a small (J72) bunker is quite a job - I've only done it once, by hand with a shovel, (and I had help!) and it's hard to see how else, without damaging the tender or bunker. I think it would depend on the nature and extent of the overhaul and would be done only if essential.

Rob, All I can tell is that the locomotive on the left is a NER 0-6-0, so must (?) be a Class C (J21). The train on the right looks to be push pull fitted. I'm guessing there's a BTP (G6) or Class O (G5) between two carriages. Please treat my guesses with caution! Regards, Roy

Porcy, The illustration of the model isn't huge, but I think they've got them at the right position for 69023 (front view only, mind). It's not clear whether they've tried to get the white lining across the top, but, if they have, that's another easy fix. I'll try to post a pic of 69023 from 2015. Needless to say, the positioning of the buffers hasn't moved. Regards, Roy

Porcy, The answers are yes and yes re buffers and rear sandboxes, from the illustration I've seen. However, in the illustration, it has 3-link couplings, but that would be an easy fix. Regards, Roy

Porcy, Apologies for going off topic. I've got a picture of the 63395 tender rear at Sunderland in September 1966, numbered 8796. This is later than the last tender change (8755) entered on the General Overhaul Record Sheet for 63395. Either way, these were both tenders from NER Class Z Atlantics (LNER Class C7). Regards, Roy

Porcy, I think you're right - it's not a 1.

That's an interesting picture - if you zoom in on the tender number plate, although to my eyes it looks like 9601, it must be 8601. According to RCTS Locomotives of the LNER Part 10A, page 89, this was a D17 3940 gallon tender. Regards, Roy

Porcy, It's interesting that they've got the shape of the middle brake table right (it's different from the other two), when it won't be seen unless the model is held upside down. Regards, Roy