WillCav

Agreed - got to be AA2 or AA3. Just checked Atkins Beard etc. AA2 was the same body as AA3 but with heavier axleboxes and springs. Difficult to spot on these pictures.

Andy, It looks like a 20' toad from that angle. The ten diagrams that were the 20' toads were AA1-6, 9, 10, 12 & 14. I think we can discount tunnel, P-way and ballast Van's, which leaves AA1-3. AA1 6w goods brake van 62 built 1900-02 AA2 4w goods brake van 278 built 1902-10 AA3 4w goods brake van 840 built 1889-1901 I'll have to dig out some books to see the difference between AA2 and AA3 which it is more likely to be by numbers built. I'm not sure if I want to call it as definitely a 4wheel van - that platform is right in the way.

Johnster, Just looked in Russell and it says it should be 61'2" (60' + bow ends) so your coach isn't 3' too long. You could make one easily with 3 b set coaches cutting at the door lines, but that would be a waste unless they were dirt cheap. What were those coaches used for? And which bogies did they sit on? There's not much info in Russell. Thanks Will

On the GWR, they quite often used 2 blocks on unfitted and 4 blocks on vacuum fitted wagons. This practice was not 100% adhered to but generally applied to both Morton braked and earlier DC braked wagons. Did this apply to other companies? Will

How about pinning down brakes - could the position of safety be on the opposite side at the top and bottom of the hill?

I used to be in timetabling in the early 2000s. Many of the rules for headcodes had been around for decades (as had many of my very knowledgeable colleagues). Cross border trains from one region to another had a specific letter as below depending on the region of its destination Western V Southern O Eastern E Scotland S Midland M Other letters were used for trains starting and terminating in the same region. Some letters were not used in various areas as some train describers couldn't show some letters - I was led to believe that was why W wasn'

I don't know the answer - and I am looking forward to the suggestions. My guess is it be security? Less opportunity for a trespasser to release the brakes on a stabled wagon? Will

Also need to add different bogie centres - 35' or 34'6". Note that Lima use about 33'3" centres and if you change to 9' bogies, they can colour the DC brake gear - another thing to correct in the Lima - oh dear! Will

Just says general traffic and Harris traffic for the two sections. There were 5 Siphon Cs for Penzance 1919 earliest, some used for Harris sausage traffic late 30s onwards. Will

The Slinn book has brandings. In 1947, only 5 Siphon Fs remained. None branded west country - 3 unbranded. More variety with Siphon Cs. A few Non-sausage traffic branded Penzance in 1920s (would it still be branded Iike that in 1940s?) Closest for Sausages was Calne to Bristol Temple Meads. If you want numbers for any of these then let me know and I'll dig them out. Will

O33s really are a minefield! • 2 different brake systems • 4 different planking widths • Conversions to ambulance / O59 / M34 / enparts / newspapers etc • 7' , 8'6" and 9' bogies • Gas / electric lighting • multiple livery options I don't think we'll ever know the whole history of all of them. It's just a shame that Lima chose the wider planking version. Will

Pete, I've heard 7 years as an typical repaint schedule for a coach - so 1937 for a 1930 build going to monogram. I had to paint out the old number on a lima siphon as trying to remove the printing revealed a hint of creamy plastic underneath - so you may end up re-painting all the brown to get an even colour. Depending on how far you want to take it - the tare weight is affected by the bogie change (but closer than the Mainline Siphon G which has a tare weight 5 tons out). I'll have a look in the Slinn book later - there's a few photos of that

John, There is a photo in Slinn (plate 55?) of 2070 with American bogies - this was the last one of lot 1441 and was converted to O59 post WWII. That is the only picture I have found of one with American bogies. Thanks for the additional info (added to the table). Unfortunately, it mixes up the variations on the last lot even more - I think if you add the planking variations, conversions, bogies and underframe all together, it makes the old "copy a photo" the safest way forward. thanks Will

Pete, I've checked bogies for you - 7' bogies were fitted to all of lot 1441 as new but none of lot 1578, which were 9' pressed steel or leftover 8'6" from articulated stock. If you're doing pre WWII, you don't need to worry about any being converted to ambulance trains / O59 / M34, they will all still be O33. Will

The other option for a DC handbrake one is 2782. The new body in 1945 could have been a 6 plank version - or you can just invoke rule 1.