Scottest

Alan gave me much-valued direction when I produced a set of drawings for the pre-grouping S&C work of the LSWR. I have to presume the published information, and the associated SWC drawings were correct, as no-one has sought to challenge them. I believe they are still available from the Circle. PB

I had the pleasure and privilege of being a RAF colleague of Mike in the very early 70s at RAF Lyneham. Not only was his modelling skill valued, he was a very fine, well respected aircraft (propulsion) technician, at that time on the C130. Mike was very proud of the fact that he had been a Boy Entrant at a time when the Service valued such. My Memsahib and I were often made welcome at Cricklade,and our Christmas thoughts are with Hilary, and family. PB

Oh dear, I could so easily downgrade this, until now, useful thread to yet another wishlist.

The above may be of value to help understand some pre-grouping challenges.

In the course of time, I became the pleased possessor of some half doz of these. I had to hard wire the earliest purchases with mixed results, but I was right to attribute that to my own limited dexterity. Eventually I bought two of the Modelzone limited edition in sunshine/black and fitted TCS decoders. The end result was more than satisfactory. I had originally expected to renumber the duplicates but in the event that did not happen. No matter, as 1860 they both lived up to my wishes. PB

Very nice, very nice indeed. PB PS I, for one, would appreciate more pictures of this ilk

My thanks yet again to the Poll Team, (one of whom I know from way, way back), for providing an opportunity to keep a good finger on the pulse of opinion. As one who is now very limited by a variant of Parkinsons (CBD or Parkinsons Plus) , and can only lurk in the background, I value this column very much. Be well each, PB

I have oft found myself puzzled by the apparent lack of serious r-t-r support for the railways of the IoW. (I selected those words with scrupulous care). One reason, I believe valid, is the lack of standardization of the rolling stock. Why bemoan a shortcoming of r-t-r locos, when there is even less choice for appropriate coaches. And so, little gets done. As it happens, circumstances have caused me to dispose of most of my hardware, and leave me an observer on the fringe of the hobby. So even if this new initiative should eventually lead to high quality support for the trains of the IoW, I doubt that my support could follow. However, I can still wish, and in my minds eye, at least, re create the vista once regularly available to a trainspotter at Newport station.

Some 20-25 years ago, I attempted to bridge this gap in respect of pre-grouping ex-LSWR S&C. After detailed research I produced a number of dimensioned drawings, accompanied by drawing office information, and published them by courtesy of the SWC. I invited expert criticism and correction! It's still on record should anyone need it, though my memories have since been damaged by Parkinsons Disease.

With apologies for the poor quality reproduction, but the attached contemporary data may be of interest if not of much value!

"Unwise, to carp and criticise" Mr Gilbert's libretto is still appropriate even after a century or more. My first photo shows how "standard" aspects of turnouts were never standard in real life. in my second photo, it can be seen that for the early part of its life, the detail of turnouts was largely covered with ballast. Finally, I have attempted to show that the alignment of timbers (not sleepers) was always subject to individual circumstances. Details of LSW turnouts is covered as best I could in a series of drawings produced for the SWC some years back. I say "as best I could" deliberately. As yet, no one has proved these drawings to be wrong. Scottest

This talk of getting laid could so easily go wrong........

I had almost forgotten how to include jpgs to a forum contribution. It might be timely to promote the existence of a number of drawings for pre-grouping LSW S&C, published by the South Western Circle, and against which these new products from Mr Peco might be compared. The Peco product would appear to be for the post-grouping REA standard, whereas the pre-grouping product had a number of small differences. However, for 4ft 1-1/2" gauge, Rule 1 still suits me.

I continue to lurk with full interest. If I were an active participant I should be delighted to start a new BLT of LSWR parentage, and use these new products from Mr Peco. Just a small issue. There were differences in timbering between LSW pre-grouping and Southern's REA geometry, as were the rail lengths, but the use of Rule One has never bothered me.

When actively modelling, my choice of prototype was pre-grouping ex-LSW. Now as a lurker, my one activity is a 4-track working roundy with stock on permanent display. Turnouts there are none. So I follow this development with the greatest of passive interest, and wish Mr Peco well-deserved success.

With tongue in cheek, Binns Road would be my first suggestion......

With all due apologies if this has been asked/answered before, but are the bogies compatible with the near/contemporary LSWR corridor stock? If so, then methinks there could be a wider demand. Scottest

At first glance I thought I was looking at the grey undercoat once used for the (monochrome) publicity photo shoots of new-builds, but seemingly not. The shades of Scott and Scotter assure me that there is much turning in unquiet graves.

Fashions change, but if the clock should be turned back, I have got a little list.

Hello Mark, FWIW. I bought a Bachmann 2-6-2T in BR livery together with a Brake Compo in BR(S) as my self-gift to celebrate my return to modelling. At a guess this must have been 20-25 years ago. I doubt that it was flywheel fitted, let alone any other modern refinement. But it did run well, and served my purposes, which was to run a full length train on a section of the Withered Arm (NDCJLR). So, via further Bachmann purchases, (N Class Mogul, some more carriages plus wagons) I moved forward. HTH, Scottest

Sorry to disappoint, chaps. At about the time of the OP, I was diagnosed with a type of Parkinson's Disease (known as CBD). It does exactly what it says on the box; the disease attacks the central nervous system and CBD progessively shuts down parts of the central nervous system. No two people are affected in exactly the same way. There is no known cause and no cure, although medication has helped alleviate the symptons. The first "loss" was mobility, and then followed a loss to manual dexterity, and so modelling was an early casualty. I realised that the layout had to be dismantled, and the stock sold. I am much indebted to my colleagues and associates in the South Western Circle for undertaking the sale in an exemplary manner. The layout was to have been developed as part of my "South-West by Southern" saga, but now not to be! My interest is undiminished. PB

I quite agree, Rob, however..... I seem to recall that the prototypes came with either a left hand thread or right hand thread. I never got to the origins of this difference, but I am sure that it could be important. Scottest.

I could never have claimed any particular degree of competence, but FWIW I was diagnosed a couple of years back with CBD, a form of Parkinsons Plus, since when even my low skills have been progressively diminished. Sufficient though to lurk on the Forum. Scottest

Way off topic (for which I apologise) but others have referred to ex-SECR locos in wartime black, and on ex-LSWR metals. So when Bachman introduced this r-t-r, I could not resist, and for a while it rubbed buffers with more obvious ex-LSWR stock on my humble shunting plank.