[Severn Valley Railway]

Before this gets into a bit of tittle tattle. The disruption on the Thursday morning of the Diesel gala was on both NR and SVR. 2 people were seen on NR by West midlands railway staff and they immediately had a block put on all lines on NR. 1 person was apprehended by the police just outside the Carriage works. 1 individual was persuaded to leave the mainline by SVR staff at which point said person made a swift getaway from staff who eventually caught up with the person who was escorted off SVR land and back to Kidderminster station where they were arrested. It was all dealt with professionally by all SVR staff liasing with local police. One of the attending officers is also a volunteer in the C&W.

[Severn Valley Railway]

On 21/05/2023 at 09:08, F-UnitMad said:

 

Saw 40 106 come in, & the Warship & 20 depart - an interesting stop-go getaway as the Guards didn't seem to have released the coach hand brakes at first.🤦‍♂️

 

 

 

 

 

 

All our brake vehicles have a dimbo valve installed which prevents full vacuum being created whilst the handbrake is still applied, reducing the risk of flats on the wheels. It emits air into the system which is also an audible "alarm". Unless both locos gave it an absolute bootfull of power, trying to move 7-8 coaches with only 10-15 inches created would prove to be difficult. 

[Severn Valley Railway]

On 11/05/2023 at 16:59, rogerzilla said:

The 58 isn't coming now but they probably had too much stuff to run on the same day anyway.

 

I like a diesel gala but prefer the old 50s/60s stuff.  Wouldn't mind seeing the Warship but it's my least favourite livery of anything they carried.  AIUI it's the "last in service" livery to mark the anniversary, so there is a reason for it.

You mean to tell me there are other liveries for diesels than all blue with yellow ends? Walking past the TMD most days for work, it is getting very difficult to tell which is which as most are in the same livery or its another Class 50.

[Ex-big four coaches on the Western Region in the early 60s]

On 27/03/2023 at 20:18, Ian Hargrave said:

Stanier crimson & cream ( some with porthole) worked on the WR from the early 1950’s. This is personal recollection of journeys between Swansea and Aberdare on the Vale of Neath line. As to why I cannot tell. Though given the antiquities trundling around the WR at the time it’s unsurprising that BR ,then in its infancy,took pity upon their travelling public and gave aid in the form of new…or fairly new stock….from other regions/ companies. The Stanier had armrests in 3rd Class ( yes it still was then )…oh such luxury . In the years to come,much coaching stock from other regions found its way to unlikely work on the WR.  

The western seemed to go for 4 per side in a compartment compared to the rest going for a comfortable 3. They were still modifying the mk1s coming off other regions. We have a SK W25771 that moved to the western regiong and then had the arm rests covered over. Upon reupholstering a few years back the armrest were still there with a rather large screw holding them back, a small layer of horsehair and then the chosen moquette. 

[0 gauge loco storage boxes]

26 minutes ago, Hibelroad said:

The Yellowshed boxes are nice, similar to the copy of the Parkwood box which I made (mine is the one on the left). However the top section of the box needs  to be removable as it otherwise overbalances the box when open. I found some hinges which slide apart (just visible in the picture) and would suggest that something similar is needed for the Yellowshed box.

The way I have designed my boxes is that when the lid is opened. Its is folded right the way back and acts as the support for the box. It lies level with the base so the box doesnt tip back on itself. No need for lift of hinges.

[0 gauge loco storage boxes]

4 hours ago, bluestag said:

Those are NICE boxes, as long as your supply of ply holds out.

 

My cheap and cheerful boxes (page one) required a table saw.    Useful but not essential is a drill press.   Likewise, I used a small electric brad stapler.   That and a mess of glue.    All with ply surplus from the layout build.   Particularly the fiddleyard.

I still have a large amount left. I, along with a few of my furniture making friends are putting in a lot of research into a suitable replacement. WISA ply is the front runner at the moment but we are finding its quality varies between suppliers. 

 

[0 gauge loco storage boxes]

Having not checked this forum for quite some time. I have missed this topic. 

 

Attached is my advert that will soon be in the Guilds magazine. I make O gauge boxes. Made from the last of my stock of 12mm Birch plywood. Brass hinges, the lid folds back to support the box. lay flat handle for stacking. Spring loaded compression draw latches that have a positive locking that can support upto 20kg each. 

 

Lengths (external) start at 11", 13", 16", 19", 22" and 25". I can make longer lengths as well. I have previously made a 32" long box for a Cowans sheldon crane. I can add removeable end/s to the boxes as well so you dont have to manhandle the loco. 

 

To get the right box. Measure the loco over buffers and add 2 inches. 

The photos show previous handles. Hand cut leather handles that aren't suited for stacking but are still available.

[South Moredon Dairy (a Morden South Bottling Plant inspired micro)]

Having just read through thre whole topic. I must say Im happy someone else has seen the potential in Morden south as a model. I am in the planning stages of doing it in 7mm rather than 4mm with the mainline in place. The Std4 in the photo above is probably 75069 as she was seen quite often on that duty. Also photos of her shunting Wimbledon goods yard as well.

[Lining of crimson and cream coaches]

The official colour of the straw lining is Oxford Ochre. We put a touch of white when we line out our full size coaches to reduce the mustardy colour. 

The yellow colour, i wonder if that is meant to represent primrose yellow, as used on LMS liveried stock and also the lining on Gresleys, which also have a 1/ 16 line of vermileun red either side. 

[Prototype for everything corner.]

2 hours ago, KeithMacdonald said:

I'm shocked, shocked!

A Southern loco pulling GWR rolling stock on GWR tracks!

 

From the Mike Morant collection. This is Bulleid West Country 34020 "Seaton".  The location is west of Teignmouth Docks, alongside the river at low tide, heading towards Newton Abbot. Presumably one of the route knowledge swaps? It seems to be pulling a mixed lot including a cattle wagon.

 

 

 

As said above I wouldnt be too shocked. There are plenty of photos of Churchward moguls working over the LSWR route with Maunsell coaches. I have also seen a Maunsell U 2-6-0 on the same diagram. 

[GWR slip coach operations]

5 hours ago, Mick38 said:

I am curious to know how slip coaches were handled after being dropped off. Were they simply attached to the next available “up” service?

As most slip coaches appear to have been “toplights”, I wonder if Dapol could be persuaded to include a double ended slip when the corridor toplights are announced?

There were Collett and Hawksworth slip coaches. The railway roundabout film is a good start. The GWR were the main users of slip coaches but others used then as well. 

[Locomotives of limited usefulness?]

1 hour ago, Chris M said:

It seems that class 3 or class 4 locos are best suited to typical heritage line work but I think there are potential issues with all locos. Class 2 locos in many cases will be working rather hard with a 7/8 coach train.  For instance the SVR doesn't have much interest in restoring 46443 to steam as it wouldn't be powerful enough for current train weights. They do use the 57xx and 15xx quite a lot and these were designated 4F by BR. They seem to be well on top of their job. I love big freight locos on heritage lines such as the 28xx or the Stanier 8F but there may well be a track or flange wear issue with running eight couples locos on a twisty branch  line. Having said that the 100 year old 2857 has been a stalwart on the SVR for many years and has clocked up a high mileage. From what I have heard the Taw Valley is the most difficult loco to drive up the valley although Sir Keith Park was worse, especially heading North out of Highley on damp rails. The Bullied pacifics are wonderful locos but not the best at getting a train started on a gradient. The pannier tanks almost invariably climb better than the bigger locos. I love it when a Duchess appears on the SVR but I have to accept it does look somewhat out of place because it is rather big for a branch line.

 

The Manors always seemed to be excellent at hauling trains on the SVR and to me they look right on that line. It will be interesting to see how 82045 gets on when she is built; it could well be the ideal loco for a heritage line. The Ivatt 4 and the standard 4 have both given sterling service over the years and are again probably an ideal power/size for a heritage line. I'm told drivers really like 75069 since her last refurb.

Its horses for courses. 

The ideal size loco for the Valley is a class 3 - 5. The Christmas operation requires lovos that can regularly handle 9 coaches. Hence why this year the plan was 75 off Bridgnorth with the train in lights and Enchanted express, Taw valley, 43106 and 1501 off the south end for Santas. Unfortunately we have suffered failures resulting in 7714 being dropped in but coaching sets were re shuffled ro bring the weight down but keep the capacity up. 

 

 

46443 is now being mentioned in conversations more and more along with 5164/5764/ 4566/ 47383. We will gain 82034 , cl3. 4150, cl3 - 4, 13268 cl 5mt, 7812 and Hagley hall in the next 18 months - 2 years. We lose 2857/ 1501 and possibly 43106 due to tyre wear this year. The next line if locos are based economies of scale. Coal is getting more expensive. Material and labour prices are only going to keep going up so overhauling the smaller locos makes for better long term outcomes. 

IF a loco owning group have the money to overhaul their loco or at least fund a good proportion of it. Then it will be put into the mix. 

 

Going back to 46443. Its the perfect loco for steam school work, Sunday dining trains and fringes of the season midweek trains when we tend to run 6 coaches. The same applies to 4566 and 47383. The Mickey needs a pretty indepth overhaul this time around having been overworked for the majority of its previous ticket. 

 

 

Swinging away from the SVR. 

Consider the NYMR. Again horses for courses. You wouldnt want to run class 2s and 3s up and down all day as they wouldnt cope with the 6 - 7 coach trains plus the mainline aspect. 

 

The ideal heritage railway loco is, to me the 80xxx std 4s. Economical, easy to prep abd dispose, very easy to work on. The only buggeration is the having to contourt yourself to drive it backwards. If you took that line of thinking. A loco that is economical on coal and water, easy to prep and dispose. Has enough umph to do the larger jobs but is just as content working the smaller jobs. You're hitting on locos like Manors, moguls, 51xx, Even black 5s, S15s, Ivatt mickeys and 43106, 75xxx, 76xxx, 78xxx, 80xxx, 82xxx, 57xx, but dont discount locos like 8fs and 28xx because despite their size and power they can be operated in a very economical manor. Id take an 8f over a 28xx any day but thats personal preferance. 

 

Going right back to the top. Its horses for courses for each railway. Even more so now coal is becoming harder to get and more expensive. Rising material costs. Increasing wage bills as well. 

[How does steam heating work?]

Under every coach there is a drip/ relief valve at the lowest point, which captures any condensation and then vents/ drips, there are also relief valves on either end with the shut off valve.

We test our coaches to 60 psi but as Blandford says we never need to go over 40psi. 

There are a myriad of connections off the main steam pipe under coaches to supply all the radiators. 

 

As long as a fireman doesnt forget to open the coaches valve when connecting the two. You can get the train warm relatively quickly. If he forgets. Theres a loud bang. Lots of noise and steam and 15 -20 minutes changing the bags. 

[BR Western Region : Paint Colours for Buildings : Cream]

GWR paint schemes vary quite a bit and ended up being quite a mixed bag.

 

Im sure Stationmaster will be along soon to put us all right but you have light and dark stone, brown and cream. Spear toped fencing was/ should be black. Ive also seen it in green as well. 

There were colours such as building chocolate which was a more purple shade of brown. Benches were another shade of chocolate. 

 

 

[Bulleid Q1 tender question]

There were extra tank filling pots on either side of the tender.

[Battery box identification?]

The Comet Mk1 box is the lamp resistor box that sits at 90 degree to the regulator on a MK1, they are also present on LMS coaches. The long box, you are correct is an LMS type battery box. The middle one looks like a MK1 type box but it looks too small. 

 

On certain MK1s there was a smaller box that contained either a small pump for the fridges (RMB/ kitchen cars) On 3083 (experimental FO) there is a similar box that contained more electrical gear as part of the prototype work. 

[Prototype for everything corner.]

Milk from Torrington is the most likely explaination. The Hawksworth BG and the Maunsell Van B will be carrying churns. The yellow/ orange patches denote the van being stove fitted.

[Thompson B1 Wheels and Tender]

The 2 small handles will be water shut off valves for the injectors.

[On board camera anyone tried it?]

Trenholme junction on here has some onboard videos. 

[Bachmann's best ever locos]

Easy one for me. A toss up between the 9f and the 82xxx.

The 80xxx is a very good model just a little light weight. 

 

On the other hand. The 73xxx is one of the poorest. Very detailed but massively underweight and woefully under powered due to the gearing.

[How were rain-strips made?]

5 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

, and their cross section was?

 

Mike.

Take an isoceles trapezoid and square off one side. I couldnt tell you the size of them without being at work and climbing on the roof. 

[How were rain-strips made?]

On a recent 12":1' overhaul at Kidderminster. We re canvased GWR 9055 and refitted the 2 lines of rain strips. Even though it has pretty decent sized gutters. 

Each rain strip was roughly 8ft in length. Their shape was roughly trapezoid but with the higher edge squared off. We measured then off the gutter before being taken off but when it came to refitting a drawing was provided which confirmed our measurements. Plus we used many photos to get a good idea of where they are.

 

[BR MK1 - Corridor vs. Open]

The other thing to remember is the Western region removed the arm rests in the SKs to make them 8 seater compartments not 6. WR SKs had a 64 seater capacity versus the normal 48.

[CWS Dairy at Stewarts Lane depot]

2 hours ago, chrisf said:

 

I doubt it.  This may well have been the Bournemouth Belle set or perhaps a boat special for Southampton.  What Pullman trains worked into and out of Victoria other than the Brighton Belle?

 

Chris

The Golden Arrow. Kentish Belle. 

[Bulleid Coaches]

I think I will stick with changing the sides on the older ones for the time being. 

The increasing cost of OO is making O gauge more appealing.