Moxy

1. Not as far as I know. The only successful scale chopper couplings I have seen have been in 7mm scale and above. Whilst not prototypical, some 009 modellers use ordinary 'N' gauge couplings, which are a little more discreet than Bemo/Peco type. 2. I can't find any sets of plates, but Light Railway Stores do GWR style number plates, and if you can get them details of the nameplates, I'm sure they will be able to make them up for you. https://www.lightrailwaystores.co.uk/collections/number-plate-styles?page=1

Not seen one myself, but perhaps it's the ABS kit? http://www.gwr.org.uk/kits4wagons.html

As the title says, I'm looking for some key dimensions for the above LNER Brake vans. This is to make models of them in British H0 scale. Lima have done a BR 20T Brake van in H0, which is a reasonable model and which I think I can backdate to an LNER Toad D with a bit of gentle model bashing, but for a bit of variety I am looking to see if I can build/bash either a Toad B or Toad E. There are loads of photos online for reference, so that is not a problem, and I have found one drawing online (from the Parkside OO kit, I think), but there no dimensions on it. What I am looking for is the wheelbase of each version, and the length over headstocks or over the body please. From what I have been able to find online, there may be a drawing in one of Peter Tatlow's LNER Wagon books, but unfortunately I don't have any of his books in my collection. If there are any LNER experts out there who know the dimensions, or who can point me towards a dimensioned drawing, I would be very grateful. Thanks in advance.

A couple from my archives. This one from 2016 is (or rather was) a Wills 4mm scale SS50 platelayers hut. I cut it down to 3mm scale for a layout which has not yet been built. I seem to remember reducing the size of the door, the height of the hut, and shortening the length as well. I left the window unchanged. A small window in a larger scale becomes a larger window in a smaller scale. I think I also reduced the chimney by 3 or 4 courses of bricks. I was going to rephotograph it with a coin to show the reduced proportions, but although I have that photo, I can't find the actual hut at the moment. This one is the Scalescenes Goods Store they used to offer as a free download. Again it's 3mm scale I think the original kit came with a wooden frame, but I have substituted a brick base, and replaced the felt roof with corrugated iron (Slaters, I think). Once again, I only have the photo at the moment, the actual model is missing in action (or more likely in a box I haven't looked in yet.)

Not found anything showing the 'opposite' gate, if there is one, but these two pictures might give a clue: This one shows the single lane road, crossing the double track railway, so rather than having overlapping gates across the road, perhaps the one in front of the box was supposed to go across the track. Interesting to note it's timber gate in this picture, so has clearly been replaced by the time of the later photos. https://thetransportlibrary.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=135785&search=scropton+crossing This one shows the 'road' gate closed (you can just see the lamp at the left of the picture), but the one in front of the box is still open. Perhaps there was a local reason why not, or maybe there just wasn't enough road traffic to worry about closing both gates? https://www.flickr.com/photos/154596801@N04/50044399066/in/pool-signalbox

Those are Alco DL535E's. Although 109 is still with the WP&YR, they have recently sold 4 of these locos to the Durango & Silverton.

Those are still available, although no longer for £1! They are Hasegawa kits of an Isuzu TX40, which was Japanese version of a Wolseley CP truck, built under licence.

Delaware and Hudson, followed by Boston & Maine and Maine Central.

Not aware of any EMD Switchers at steel works, but there is an SW1001 at Foster Yeoman's quarry in Merehead.

Bilteezi did that building as a kit https://anticsonline.uk/Product/Bilteezi-4G4-Low-Relief-Goods-Receiving-Depot-OO_N105272351 Not a very good picture, but the only one I could find online.

Having had the misfortune to own one of those in my early driving days, I agree with that description.

Not yet, but I think we should invent one. How about a 'ramble' of sheds? That particular examples looks like it has grown in a haphazard fashion, bit like a rambling rose.

He has (mostly) retired, he is still very much with us. He still does a bit of work for the 009 Society, and I am sure they would have heard if anything had happened to him.

How about this shed? West Lancs Light Railway at Hesketh Bank

The two columns after the number wheels are cylinders (in the case of the steam locos) and the makers, followed by what I assume are the makers' numbers. 'OC' means outside cylinders. 'WB' W G Bagnall 'P' Peckett 'AB' Andrew Barclay 'JF' John Fowler

Don't know for certain, but I think these may be railcar trailers, possibly ex UTA ones. The left hand one (immediately behind the open wagons) looks like an centre car from a railcar set, and while I can't identify the right hand one, that may be a driving car the wrong way round, ie with the cab next to the centre car. If my guess is right, these may be in a carriage works somewhere, or possibly a scrap line having been withdrawn.

Gomshall is an ARP box, built in the 1940's, referenced in this link. http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/other-wwii-defensive-structures/arp-sgnal-box/

Yes, that makes sense, but I don't think that would be the only reason. Reading Middle is quite a tall box, so if a fire breaks out in the internal staircase, then the signalman would need a way of safely getting out. I wouldn't fancy jumping from that height! Can't find the pictures at the moment but I'm sure they are on this thread somewhere, the ex LNWR boxes at Stockport are similar construction (brick bases) and I think some of them have vertical fire escapes at the opposite end to the wooden stairs.

If your signal box is on fire, you won't care about that mighty big step!

Yes, but not in the US, as far as I know. Australia had some, which were built for Victoria Railways by Clyde Engineering under licence in Australia. https://www.victorianrailways.net/motive power/bdiesel/bdie.html I believe the Swedish Nohab design was also based on an EMD F unit. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mechanicman87/16114520816/

It's West Calder, the remains of the sign are on the ground in front of it. There is another slightly earlier picture here from Railscot website https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/50/788/

Doesn't seem to be related. The Bagnall of Lansing Bagnall is Frederick Edward Bagnall who was from Coventry https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Lansing_Equipment_Co 1882 - 1965. W G Bagnall of the locomotive builders lived 1852 - 1907. He was from Tamworth. https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/William_Gordon_Bagnall It is possible they may share a distant relative, but there doesn't seem to be any commercial connections between the two companies.

It's supposed to be one of these North British DH The cab on the model is too long, the radiator is vertical (should be slightly raked back), it's outside framed when it should be inside framed with jackshaft drive. Apart from that it's fairly close I suppose when Playcraft introduced it in 1963 it was no worse than what Triang was offering at the time.

I have found this link to a Bob Reid https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/130227-hst-retirements-and-secondary-deployments/&do=findComment&comment=3343425 who has the Wordpress site in his signature, but he doesn't seem to have been on RMWeb since January 2020. Perhaps somebody knows him or where he is now?

Regarding stripping old paint, if the Modelstrip or Superstrip don't work, try Dettol disinfectant. I have successfully used it to remove all sorts of repaints & most manufacturer's paint jobs as well. Triang crane runner, bought secondhand with a thick coat of green paint, followed by a thick coat of grey paint Same wagon after soaking in Dettol, returned to the bare red plastic