tiger

Did it sound odd that both sound files were exactly the same, or not a noticeable problem?

I’ve put in pre orders for both of the LMS twins in black/silver, purely as a “rule 1” purchase. They will look great double heading a rake of crimson/cream Staniers. I’ve ordered both with sound fitted, but this is going to be very expensive and I’m already having second thoughts. This might not be the best part of the forum to ask, but what are people’s experiences of consisting two sound fitted locomotives? As the sound projects are identical does it work well, or does it sound odd having the same sounds from two double headed locos? Presumably having one sound fitted and one DCC without sound will make it hard to match the performance of the two locos when double heading - and one DCC sound fitted and one DC only running on DC I would guess is a non starter? Maybe life will be simpler and cheaper with both non sound fitted? Any thoughts? Tom.

Pretty surprising to see the Poole printed sides Mk3 make a return to the range. But it seems to me that Bachmann/Farish have missed a trick here - they are releasing the Mk1 FOs in Intercity Charter livery with white roofs, so why not make the whole train available at the same time and offer the Mk3 sleeper to match? That would surely have generated more sales than a rerun of an obsolete and now pretty obscure NatEx Caledonian Sleeper livery from the late 90s? (Flickr link, not my original photo) cheers Tom R.

I’d never noticed this before. Makes the choices of running number even more tricky for Dapol assuming there are no changes to the tooling. Maybe a low numbered production example like 10202 or 10203 would be the best idea for the Executive livery model? Cheers, Tom R.

Hi Adam Really looking forward to this latest release of loco hauled Mk3A coaches, especially the BR variants…blue/grey, Executive and INTERCITY and the RTC test cars. Just looking at the planned RFM releases in Executive and INTERCITY. I think the running numbers on these two coaches should be swapped around - is it too late to consider this? Only the first few RFMs were converted and released into traffic in Executive livery with the “InterCity Restaurant Buffet” branding (located on the bodysides as per the photos above). Definitely the first two prototypes, 10200 and 10201 plus a couple of the low numbered production ones up to around 10203, wore Executive. INTERCITY livery with the italicised font, revised colours and swallow insignia was introduced in May 1987, and most of these conversions took place after this date - so Executive livery RFMs were quite rare. As proposed, the models planned are: 2P-009-150 MK3 LOCO HAULED INTERCITY SWALLOW BUFFET 10201 and 2P-009-250 MK3 LOCO HAULED INTERCITY EXECUTIVE BUFFET 10260 Almost certainly, 10260 would have been painted in INTERCITY from the time of its conversion, whereas 10201 would have been Executive for the first few years before changing to INTERCITY. With prototype conversions 10200 and 10201 there is the added complication that, when originally converted, they were classified as RSM Restaurant Second Modular, and then were later changed to RFM Restaurant First Modular, around the same time that the production conversions took place. So versions of 10200 and 10201 with and without the first class branding, are both correct. I think the first class version lasted longer, so might be a safer bet. Adam probably knows all of this already being a livery expert. 10200 or 10201 RSM as originally converted: (photo by Robert Carroll) 10201 RFM now with first class branding…not the clearest photo with the body side reflections, but there is now a yellow stripe and a “1” on the door: (photo by Albert Murray) Hope these are sensible ideas and still possible! Cheers Tom R.

Quick search through Flickr shows a couple of Mk2E BSO with such branding although it looks to me like the actual branding is “Emergency Exit Only” on the midway vestibule door and “Private” on the guard’s door. (Not my original photos) Mk2E Mk2E (no text on the Guard’s door) On Flickr at least it seems more common for IC liveried coaches to not have the “Emergency Exit Only” branding. It looks like this branding was more common on Virgin liveried coaches so maybe the lettering was added in the Virgin era, to the few coaches remaining in INTERCITY. You never know though, Hornby may have a photo of the prototype exactly as they have modelled it. Or maybe it’s a mistake as the OP says.

Edit: I didn’t read the OP’s post and look at the pictures closely enough. I think Hornby have made a mistake and the text is transposed on each door. Here is my original reply (and also the following post with pictures): This is just a guess and I’m not sure why the printing is on one side of the coach only, not both…but here is my guess. When the Mk2D, E and F coaches were fitted with Central Door locking in the 1990s, the centre doors in the brake coaches (Mk2D, E and F BSO, and Mk2D BFK) were not fitted with central door locking, as this had been designed for the large end swing doors only. The narrow doors to the centre vestibule were modified with manual emergency door release so they were normally locked, but could be opened from the inside in an emergency. I suspect the “Emergency only” branding is probably correct. But I would have expected it (and “Guard”) to be applied on both sides of the vehicle. Hope that helps. Tom.

I've been following this thread with interest for a few days. I think the mystery bogies on E42224 are BT17 but only have "keyboard warrior" level evidence...bear with me. As confirmed by others the bogies on Mk3 sleeper 10612 are BT15 with two Clouth rubber springs per axle box, and one suspension damper. There are a few pictures online of the same bogie type under Mk3a TSO M12010 in blue/grey livery: M12010 on Facebook. There are a couple of threads on Robert Carroll's "BR Coaching Stock" groups.io (formerly yahoo) site which mention Mk3 coaches with alternative bogie types. One post in particular mentions the following: (link to post by David Hatt) "The primary springs on BT15 bogies were Clouth rubber units. Unfortunately these springs experienced excessive rates of creep (settlement) and were deemed unsatisfactory. This led to the development of the BT17 bogie, where the Clouth units were replaced by coil springs with rolling rubber ring units inside them." The same poster responded to my request for more information about Mk3 coach bogies with the following comment (link) "BT17 bogies had two coil springs per axlebox, each spring surrounding a rolling rubber ring unit. This arrangement replaced the pair of Clouth springs on each axlebox of the BT15 bogies." So I reckon your mystery bogies on E42224 match this description perfectly and look very similar to the BT15 bogies identified in other photos. Both of these threads on BR Coaching stock have interesting details about MK3 coaches fitted with unusual bogies including the infamous coach, M12140. There's a great picture of this coach in Virgin livery with T4 bogies on Facebook courtesy of Steve Jones. By chance I got to ride in 12010 and 12140 once each, both back in 1990. 12010 was sent up to Craigentinny for the last few weeks of class 47/7 push/pull workings on the Edinburgh-Glasgow route, while the original Mk3 coach fleet was sent back to Intercity via refurbishment. I rode in it from Glasgow to Edinburgh in March 1990 - it had the red refurbished Intercity 76 seat interior by then. I think its the first vehicle in this rake (Flickr photo) - you can just about make out the different bogie profile. 12140 was in a rake I rode in from Liverpool to Euston the same year. It too had been refurbished internally and by then had T4 bogies. It's a long time since both trips but I reckon the ride was better in 12140 than 12010, but 12010 was pretty good. Hope this is correct information (!) and of interest, and I hope the various parties who I have quoted or linked photos to don't mind. You might need to get a groups.io account or join the relevant Facebook group to see some of the threads/photos - not ideal, but that's where I found the info. Cheers Tom R (aka tiger)

Fantastic!

I found a 1993 Platform 5 which confirms most of the above. +1 from me for a Farish Mk2a BSO in RR. I'd be pretty pleased if they produced a BSOT in Regional "SCOTRAIL" too, although I think these are "early Mk2" or Mk2z as they tend to be described these days. Technically the Farish 2a BSO is the wrong bodyshell for these due to the incorrect gangway doors (folding on a 2a vs plain sliding door on the 2z) and vacuum brakes vs air, but that didn't stop Farish previously when they produced the "Highlander" LNER Green/Cream tourist livery coaches. The releases from Farish over the last few months have been great - if not expensive - but such an improvement over previous years. I'm looking forward to the sound fitted class 47s in particular from this announcement. Lets hope Farish also produce the following to close some gaps in the range, which have been mentioned by others: Class 47/4 or 47/8 number series in INTERCITY livery with the updated next 18/DCC sound chassis. Mk2f RFB in Virgin (so odd that it has not been released with the autumn or winter announcements) Class 158 with original "EXPRESS" branding (icing on the cake would be a Scottish version, 158701-744 with first class at one end and snowplough modification) Mk1 coaches in IC charter livery with the white roof - 31xx series open firsts especially plus that RB(R) which I'm sure they must have in the tooling shop... Another run of Mk2a TSO in blue/grey. How about a run of Mk2a TSO, FK and BSO in Provincial Trans Pennine livery, to go with that regional special 47475? Cheers Tom.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the other big N-gauge announcement from yesterday (perhaps it got lost in the sea of Winter Bachmann/Farish announcements)... ...which is that Dapol have announced three more Mk3 DVT releases for 2024. Specifically, the much requested re-runs of INTERCITY and original Virgin liveries, and a stand-alone DVT with "Chiltern Railways by arriva" branding: 2D-017-005 MK3 DVT Driving Van Trailer Intercity Swallow 82137 2D-017-006 MK3 DVT Driving Van Trailer Virgin 82107 2D-017-007 MK3 DVT Driving Van Trailer Chiltern 82303 These are in addition to the DVTs and train packs previously announced in 2020: 2D-017-003 – DVT 82115 in BR Blue 2D-017-004 – DVT 82124 in Network Rail Yellow 2D-017-100 – DB Management Train 4 Piece Rolling Stock Set 2D-017-101 – Chiltern Railways 8 Piece Slam Door Set with DVT Fingers crossed that the colour palate is finally corrected on the Intercity Swallow release. Cheers Tom.

Hi Mike sorry to harass you about this but my Caledonian Sleeper order is still showing as “processing” one month on. I have received my class 128 in the meantime (which is lovely!). I can’t help thinking that my Mk5 order has been overlooked. I’m not sure whether this is relevant but I did change my email address associated with my RevolutioN account from a yahoo.co.uk address to a me.com address. The order in question is #49894. Please PM me if you need any further information. cheers Tom.

Sorry to add another question to the forum. Whilst everyone is concerned about drag issues and wand activated lights, I'm not sure if my order (to Australia) has been dispatched yet. It's order #49894 and as far as I can see, was placed and paid on 15/10/2021. When I log into my account the status of the order is "processing" with no tracking number given. Are there still some international orders still to be dispatched, or am I missing something? Maybe I just need to be more patient... Cheers, Tom R.

Great pics, thanks for sharing. I reckon the UID large logo 47 might be 47413 - the digit after the “7” in the number looks more like a 4 than anything else, and the ETH connector is on the buffer beam, which was unique to the “generator” series locos 47401-47420. Not many of that series gained large logo and the only one I can find with a plated headcode panel at number 1 end is 47413: (Flickr link, not my original photo) Cheers, Tom.

I have a few suggestions for “N”, mostly from existing tooling: 1. HST power cars with buffers (the “DVT” version) in variations of InterCity livery: - Executive Livery with full yellow end and “InterCity 125” branding as per the original two conversions, 43014 and 43123 - InterCity Swallow with full yellow end, as worn by all 8 buffer fitted power cars during 1989 in the era when HST DVTs were used with Class 91 locomotives on Kings Cross-Leeds services - InterCity Swallow without full yellow end, which became the standard livery until privatisation. These could even be sold as single dummy power cars by themselves rather in paired powered/dummy bix sets. 2. Mk3 DVTs (the coaching stock version) in InterCity Swallow (with the correct shades of grey this time) and Virgin liveries as these are both hard to find, and command high second hand prices. 3. Mk3a coaches in BR and privatisation liveries with the correct colours, brandings, and the 3 Roe-Vac roof ventilator roof which was tooled for the prototype HST. Despite the nay-sayers stating it wasn’t possible, this version of the roof was used for the C+M Models “ScotRail” book set re-issue last year, making these models more accurate than the original limited editions from 2014. 4. Sell the Mk3a coach roof (roe-vac style) as a spare part. Please? 5. How about some aircon Mk2 coaches eg Mk2D and Mk2E which might rival and be more readily available than the Farish Mk2F? This could include the Caledonian Sleeper BUO to go with the recently released Mk3 sleepers, plus coaches hard to represent accurately with the Farish Coaches (Mk2D TSO, FK, BFK etc). I think most of these would be easy wins. Cheers Tom R.

Agreed there are some overpriced horrors, but I’ve managed to pick up a couple of absolute genuine bargains in N Gauge from the Liverpool retailer’s 2nd hand listings, so it is worth keeping browsing. Top finds over the last 18 months were a CJM class 89 in InterCity swallow livery, with Saturn chassis which needed no more than a wheel clean (was listed as body loose on chassis but not noticeable in day to day use) for £167 (have seen these go for over £400 on eBay) and a Farish N gauge class 101 “Express Parcels” 2 car power twin DMU for $65. This is the Chinese tooling, DCC ready version with a motor in each car. The DMU turned out to be DCC fitted when it arrived - unheard of prices for a modern tooling unit in perfect cosmetic and working order with two working decoders thrown in too. Cheers Tom.

GUV was used as a covered Motorail van by InterCity, following the demise of open Motorail car flats. This is a GUV: (Flickr link, not my original photo) NHA is an air-braked Mk1 gangwayed brake (BG) like this: (again, not my original photo) hope that helps! Tom.

I found some information on another forum including a message from one poster who states that the 1992 train formation was: GUV-GUV-NHA-SLE-SLEP-RFO(T)-SLE-SLEP It is also stated that the route in 1992 was Glasgow - Edinburgh (reverse) - Plymouth and return, ie no portion working. From memory the daytime InterCity Cross Country trains stopped splitting and joining at Carstairs at the end of get summer 1990 timetable - so maybe the sleeper stopped portion working then too? Hope that helps Tom.

I took a sleeper from Edinburgh to Bristol and return in December 1992, so the Cross Country sleepers were still running then. I presume, although I can’t specifically remember, that there was a portion working from Glasgow which attached at Carstairs. (Edited - see post below) I also recall that at one time this sleeper divided at Birmingham New Street with a portion for Poole - again I can’t recall if this was still the case in 1992. There must have been a fair bit of shunting involved at BNS if both the Edinburgh and Glasgow portions included sleepers for Poole and Plymouth. As the sleeper continued on to Plymouth, I was turfed out at Bristol at around 5 am onto a freezing, foggy platform! With nothing to do until much later in the morning I watched a series of HSTs departing for London, including one which arrived from Weston-Super-Mare with the front power car covered in streaks of oil with the engine shut down, the driver swearing blue murder at the fitters who met the train. Needless to say the fitters were unable to rectify the problem and the HST departed, late, with the rear power car doing all the work! For the return journey to Edinburgh, the train departed Bristol quite late in the evening, having come up from Plymouth. I can see why these trains no longer exist - it was a long cold wait even for someone interested railways. Unfortunately for the OP I didn’t record the formation of the train. I think it had a Mk2f RFB (12xx number series, not one of the 67xx lounge cars) and just Mk3A SLE/SLEP and a BG brake. I don’t recall whether there were any other seated coaches.

Just back from holiday and had a chance to look at mine…also afflicted with a wider black band on the centre car, as per the pictures below. Comparing to prototype photos, the narrow band is the correct livery application on a 320. Disappointing as it will be difficult to correct this without adversely affecting the factory finish. Can anybody confirm if the whole batch is like this or just some models?

The coach with unpainted aluminium ventilators could also be 5156:

Looks like 37043 in 1992/93 could be a candidate for an easy renumber from the 37046 model - plated gangway doors, with centred headlight, although possibly the headlight is a little higher up on 37043 than on the Farish model. The depot plaque would also need removing. Flickr image - not my original photo: Hope that helps. Tom.

What happened to the Leamside line in County Durham? IIRC the track was left in situ when the line closed in c.1991, but then several sections were stolen by scrap metal thieves. How much of the route still has track? I seem to remember it being continuously welded rail and concrete sleepers. Cheers Tom.

In C9431 the loco on the right is 86426, not 86246. The nose end multiple working cables were only carried by the class 86/4 subclass at this time. I believe 86426 had been repainted into pseudo 1960s blue livery with white cabs as part of the INTERCITY 21st anniversary celebrations the year before in 1987. Sincere condolences for the loss of your Mum and thanks for continuing to post your fascinating images. Kind regards Tom.

Hi again Sorry for putting everyone in a spin! Thanks @AY Mod for the quick clarification from Bachmann. I should have looked at the wheelsets in question more carefully before posting. Here is a picture of one of the relevant wheelsets removed from a ScotRail Mk2 TSO. The black finish is certainly very effective in making the wheels look like black plastic. However as you can see I've burnished off the blackening from part of the wheel rim surface (10 seconds rubbing with a track cleaning block) and the underlying material is clearly a steel / silver coloured metal. The other wheel rim is also showing signs of the metal showing through as the blackening wears off after a few laps around the layout. I don't know what metal/alloy has been used for these wheels. Neither the wheels themselves nor the axle is attracted to a strong magnet (field magnet removed from an old Farish DMU motor). It looks less "yellow" than Nickel Silver. A quick test on other Farish coach wheels shows that the "chemically darkened" wheels we have become accustomed to, used on Chinese-produced Farish rolling stock up until these releases, are not attracted to the magnet either (neither wheels nor axles) whereas the Poole era "pizza cutter" wheels - plastic wheels with bright metallic wheel rims with deep flanges, running on metal pinpoint axles - have axles strongly attracted to the magnet, but the metallic wheel rims are not attracted. Sorry again for the misleading original post. I hope I've made up for it somewhat with these observations. Cheers Tom.