PaulG

Following comments above, I asked the M&GN Society team repainting the Diagram Y14 Fruit D W92097W, (built by BR at Swindon, which according to David Larkin, as part of Lot 30383 in 1960), when stripping back the paint for signs of previous livery, and have found black paint on the van ends, underneath the later BR blue. Thank you for all your comments. Paul

Interesting that you use ECM controller with coreless motors. I had to replace all my ECM controllers when I purchased a Model Rail/Rapido J70 tram, with Gaugemaster controllers. It turned out to be a very expensive loco! Paul

Thank you Paul for your reply. I have a "reasonable" number of railway books - the wife says I have too many - but I couldn't see a positive "all four sides/ends maroon for new stock post 1956", whereas the earlier BR crimson livery did state ends black and many of these vehicles would still have been around into the 1960's with the earlier livery. I've past the "good news" onto the team at Holt Station, where they have started to paint the van ends black! Paul

The M&GNR Society own Diagram Y14 Fruit D W92097W, built by BR at Swindon, which according to David Larkin, as part of Lot 30383 in 1960. The assumption is that the van was out shopped in the post 1956 BR Crimson Lake (Maroon), albeit during rubbing down of the paintwork, the later post 1965 BR blue was found. The plan is to refurbish the van in "as built" condition, and the question is, should the van ends be black or as some authors state, post 1956 van ends were the same as the body sides, albeit this comment tends to be linked to the time workshops spray painted stock, and I've not read when Swindon adopted spray painting for rolling stock. Comments gratefully received Paul

I don't know about 1980 period, but the Great Eastern Railway Society is making its collection of photographs available and certainly there are 1910 period photographs under the Windwood Collection of Lowestoft. See here: https://gersociety.org.uk/photos Paul

Chelmsford Station was originally built with a single island platform. The access to the platform was within the bridge brick arch and for many years you could see the access outline. The timber station building was sold and transported to become a private house when the station was rebuilt with two platforms. Paul

Thank you for your comments and the layout has appeared in Model Rail and from time to time, I post photos on RMWEB (see "Colchester c1950 4mm/OO gauge" under the modelling heading ), various Facebook pages and Great Eastern Railway Society News. Paul

These are the notes on the class I list in GERS 4mm Modelling document: "78022-5 & 27 were allocated to Stratford shed on 29 July 1962 before being transferred to March on closure of Stratford in September 1962. They moved away from March in December 1962 to LMR or NER. It appears they were never used whilst at Stratford albeit A E Bennett photograph of 78022 light engine at Stratford Low Level on 11/8/62. 78020 (allocated Kettering) in Cambridge north bay on 28/08/57. " Additional information always welcome. Paul

The Sheldon Mk2 swan neck 15-ton crane 961604, which went to Colchester in November 1947, was originally GNR. At Colchester it was coupled to four vehicles: Tool Van 961515, ex LD&ECR (GCR) 51842 6-wheel 34’ brake third. Mess and Packing Van 961520 ex GER 6-wheel 945 brake third 62332. Crane Runner 961658 a converted ex GER double bolster and Guard Truck 961657 a converted ex GER Diagram 17 high sided wagon. My model is mix of D&S kits, modified as necessary and the crane runner is scratch built. Paul

Bertram Mills Circus visited Colchester about every three years, traveling in four special trains. I've modeled "Train Four", consisting of horseboxes, "elephant" wagon, artists’ "baggage wagon" and two passenger coaches for artists without their own (road) transport and for the usherettes. Photo shows kit built Class: K-2 2-6-0 1734 (the only member of the class to receive LNER lined green post WW2 on the GE Section), BG, HB x 6, Prize cattle van, Monster and BT, ten vehicles.

The M&GN Society’s unique ex-LNER wartime Austerity BG E70621E purchased in 1977 is free to a good home or will be scrapped, as the NNR has no room or use for the vehicle. In need of restoration this unique historic vehicle is looking for a new home away from the NNR. It sits on scrap size tyres and is missing vac cylinders. All offers considered - please contact Nigel Scarlett by emailing Nigel.scarlett@btinternet.com

At last the J20 E4687 is finished and arrives on shed. GER 0-6-0 line up: McGowan J20, J19 converted from a Hornby B12 by my friend Roger Kingstone, BEC J17 - eBay purchase which needed a "little" tlc and Hornby J15, which I must get around to adding tarpaulin rail. Now back to signals. Paul

I put together this document sometime ago and issued to a few parties. All information from GERS members, primarily from John Watling articles. We took the view to make any item viable for a manufacturer, some stock should have lasted into BR days. SuggestedGER Rolling Stock to model in 4mm scale (002).pdf

Rob Read my reply to Andy. Paul

I did send you suggested GER items and a number of photographs of W&U stock, but I didn't know you were going to do both W&U carriages. Of course it is always up to the manufacturer what he chooses to produce, and hopefully duplication of new items can also be considered in such discussions. You have my contact details - and various other GERS members. Paul