Swindon 123

That's a bit of a shame. I was looking forward to this. I don't know what sort of drawings they need, but do have a General Arrangement drawings from the Operating & Maintenance Instructions, and a full size loco they can come and crawl over any time they want. Paul; J.

TOPS data panels didn't start appearing on locos until after the end of steam in the Autumn 1968. The subject already has a thread on here at the following link. Paul J.

Not likely. I own D2302 and it's definitely a class 04. Class 04 number series ran D2200 to D2341. Paul J.

The 1979 and 1983 reissued white pages I have scanned show 21.5T mineral and hopper waggons, both fitted and unfitted as 50MPH in all conditions. Paul J.

Nice to see the transfers available. Putting the ones together for the prototype "kit" was a bit of a struggle i believe. Too see how to get the wagon, go to this months EM70's up date here. http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/model_omwb183.html Paul J.

Roughly where the hole is, on the prototype there was a large rectangular block of wood fitted as a bump stop, o stop the coupling damaging the cow catchers. It was just about the right size to cover the NEM pocket. Paul J.

Not an impossible version, as D2281 had cowcatchers and skirts fitted whilst at Ipswich as late as 1968. Paul J.

During my time at Kings Cross, (1979-84) I only saw cars carried in either the two tiered car carriers or GUV's. I have never come across or seen a photo of motorail flats at Kings Cross, or in the consist of any trains bound for Kings Cross. Paul J.

Comparing the Eastbank photo with this one on Flickr, the markings, dents, etc. would strongly suggest that it is 25109, which was an Eastfield loco from 02/78 until it moved to Haymarket in 03/81, before moving to Crewe in 10/82. Paul J.

Having done a bit more research into the headcode box "wing" lengths in my earlier post, it would appear that D7568-D7597, 25218-47 also had the longer wings when originally built, but as the class 25 cabs and cab roofs quite often got swapped around or replaced, there are a few of that batch that also have the short version fitted as well. The only way of being 100% sure of what a loco carried is to find a photo of the loco in the time period you model. This also applies to the batch D5176-D5232, 25056-25082. I hope i haven't comfused you all too much. Paul J.

There is also a variation to the length of the "wing boxes" for the horns. The early ones seem to have longer wings that later ones. See my photos of 25057 below, but by the time you get to 25080 they are much shorter, see below. And for a side by side comparison, here's a shot of 25285 alongside an unidentified class mate showing the difference. I do not know the reason for the change. Paul J.

The hinged grills only were fitted on one side when a loco was dual braked. They were fitted on the side where the radiator grill was at the RH end when looking at the loco, see my photo of 25245 at Hereford in Feb 1980 below. One problem with the modification was that there didn't seem to be a standard "hinge" fitting, as seen by comparing another of my photos of 25049 in Derby Works in April 1982. Paul J. PS. Having now looked more closely at my own photos, it appears that the hinge is on the LH side of the grill as you look at it, the prominent protrusions visible on the right hand edge of the grill the RH edge of the grill are catches, similar to those found on Class 45 nose grills, in the case of 25245 or metal strips bolted into the bodyside, in the case of 25049.

It would seem that some clarification of the Class 25 differences are in order. The class 25/0, D5151-D5175, 25001-25, was basically a continuation of the last Class 24's built (D5133-50), but with an uprated 1250hp engine and AEI/BTH electrical equipment to match. The recent Bachmann headcode 24 can easily be modified to represent a 25/0, especially the blue TOPs versions that don't have the skirting. The only major mod required is the removal of the boiler water tank, as the 25/0's didn't have boilers fitted. The Class 25/1, D5176-D5232, 25026-25082 had the early body style with bodyside grills and the horns mounted either side of the headcode boxes, a feature that remained with the rest of the class. Fitted with the uprated engine, they had AEI and GEC Series 1 electrical equipment. The class 25/2 sub-class consisted of D5233-D7597, 25083-25247, of which D5233-D5299, D7500-D7567, 25083-217 had the 2nd style of body with the cantrail grills, whilst D7568-D7597, 25218-47 had the early style body, as on D5176-D5232. All of them had the uprated engine, they had AEI and GEC Series 2 electrical equipment. Of note in this batch is the fact that D5233-D5237, 25083-7 had the 2nd body style, but were boiler fitted and had boiler water tanks fitted. The class 25/3 consisted of D7598-D7677, 25248-25327 and had the 2nd style of body with the cantrail grills, the uprated engine, they had AEI and GEC Series 3 electrical equipment. So as you see the main differences in the subclasses within the class 25 fleet was nothing to do with the body style but the electrical equipment, (the GEC equipment specifically), that was fitted. I hope this is of help in understanding the class 25's. Paul J.

You are of course correct Roy, but the SLW 25322 will have the correct boy with alterations for the livery. Paul J.

Having spoken to Philip at length, I believe 25322's body will be accurate for the livery. Paul J. Edited to correct 25912 to the correct 25322.