bigboyboris

Is there any consensus on what kind of alternate couplings people generally prefer, in 2mm? The standard N rapidos being ugly and long and not very well suited to automatic uncoupling on a shunting layout, to my perception.

Thanks for the help all, seems like a case of the LNWR diagram just being wrong in this case. Slightly related follow-up question: when I wrote the original question, I thought I had seen two locations where there were joint LNWR/B&M lines, but now I look at the 1904 RCH diagrams again I can only see the line around Merthyr. Is there another line (maybe built / joint-ified later) that was also shared between the two companies, or did I imagine it?

Hi all, I'm considering various layout ideas for a planned pre-grouping layout in EM gauge, and in particular looking at areas where a larger and smaller company shared facilities or lines. One idea that's caught my attention is that of a fictitious terminus branching off of one the LNWR and B&M shared lines, perhaps to serve an invented racecourse and gasworks. I've come across some conflicting information online about a specific section of line, however - this page suggests the curving line close to Merthyr was also shared with the Rhymney Railway, while this one suggests that it was only LNWR and B&M. Does anyone know where I might be able to find more information about which of these is the case, or if they were both true at different times? Many thanks in advance for any assistance.

That's very generous of you to offer, thank you. I feel I should mention that Carnforth and the Furness Railway are one of a few different potential layout ideas I'm considering, and I'm unlikely to be able to start for about a year in the best case - I wouldn't wish for you to do a load of work on my account and then not end up using it. I'd likely also have to consider how suitable the intended chassis are for EM conversion, as I think that's likely to be the gauge I end up working in. I will absolutely get in touch nearer the time if I ultimately choose to model the FR though, thank you! Thanks also to all those who have provided more prototype information about Carnforth - I have been going off an ordnance survey map, RCH diagram and Wikipedia page, mostly, so there's a lot I'm not yet aware of about the area! I think rule 1 stretches far enough for me that I'd be happy to run them, but it's a good factor to consider.

Thank you for the recommendations. Seems like these two Shapeways products may also have potential as scratch aids: https://www.shapeways.com/product/37WP8484G/0-4-0-inside-cylinder-tender-engine?optionId=162406719&li=marketplace https://www.shapeways.com/product/6GZDQGDSF/0-4-0-tender-engine?optionId=140578939&li=related-items

Does anyone know if there are or have been kits for any of the 0-4-0 tender locos utilised by the FR? Ideally in 4mm scale. I'm toying around with the idea of a layout loosely based on the joint Furness, Furness and Midland and LNWR goods yard at Carnforth, set some time in the 1890-1910 period. My understanding is one of the quirks of the FR is that it was one of the few companies still using 0-4-0 tender locos around that time, and that's something I'd definitely like to represent if I were to build this layout. But I've had no luck at all finding any existing kits for any of the five such loco classes I see listed on Wikipedia, so I'm hoping this forum might be able to help.

I'm interested in learning more about the specifics of British Railways' involvement in the building out of Britain's electrical grid for the BEA/CEA/CEGB. I am aware from photos I've seen around the web that BR carried transformers on special rolling stock, and also big rolls of cable and other construction supplies. What I'd really like to understand is more of the context around these photos - what kinds of traction were likely to be used, how did the trip from factory to final site break down, were there staging yards used en route, were materials delivered direct to site or moved off of the rails at the start and end of the journey, that kind of thing. Hoping the knowledgeable folk of RMWeb might be able to recommend books or sites or documentaries or the like where I'm able to learn more. Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I've read that these wagons continued to be used into the 1950s in some collieries, but I'm curious what for? I imagine they don't really have the right geometry for unloading with a tippler, so it seems like combined with the small capacity it would have been awkward to transport much coal with them. Did anyone know if there were particular duties they were assigned to? Would they work mixed in with other opens or on their own rake? Or were they the sort of thing kept around just in case but very rarely used?

There is a mention of LNG by rail on this page, but it is very light on details. I believe I've seen a brief mention of the traffic in another source, too, but I don't recall where and again it did not go into detail.

I've read a few separate references to a short-lived traffic in liquified natural gas by cryogenic tanker under BR, at some point before there were pipelines in place to carry the output of the North Sea oil field. However, I'm not able to find any substantial information about it - such as when this traffic ran, the specifics of the wagons used and routes taken, what the terminals might have looked like and such. Does anyone know any books or webpages that might have more information?

Great information, thanks Nick. Is it apparent from the books you have whether there is a specific allocation of each feeder service to a single customer or whether each service covers a specific area or branch line with potentially multiple customers serviced on one trip?

Specifically the 11mm wheelbase steam chassis from this page. I've seen a couple of different kits that I'm interested in that use it, but I can't tell from the photos whether it would be realistically possible to fit a decoder or not.

I have read Paul's excellent Railfreight since 1968: Wagonload, and abc Railway Freight Operations. I don't recall either of them getting into the specifics of how an individual feeder service would operate, though. As far as I recall they were a bit more high level. Please do suggest a chapter or page number if I've missed something.

Thanks all for your input thus far. I am aware of at least one example of a timber merchant served by rail from a private siding (from Paul Shannon's excellent abc Railway Freight Operations), but does anyone know if there were any larger builder's merchants still being served by Enterprise services in the mid-late nineties? Perhaps receiving coal, cinder blocks, timber of various kinds... Otherwise a Paper Mill or maybe Pipeworks (if there were any still rail served in '96) seems like my best bet. I am aware that much more varied railfreight existed earlier in the century, but I'm specifically interested in 1996 because of the variety of sectorisation and shadow franchise liveries that could be seen, so I'm hoping to find inspiration for a 6x1 N shunting plank layout that could justify a good variety of freight rolling stock.

A bit of a subjective question, but I'm really interested in examples of places that kept a rail connection relatively late, but aren't the kind of industry that immediately comes to mind. Especially interested in anywhere that could justify a variety of rolling stock, but that's not a requirement.