Poor Old Bruce

I don't think a comparison with an old Tri-ang van is a good idea as the van in the picture seems to be on a the chassis for a 4-wheel coach which suggests it has been 'tweeked' to fit. Comparison with some of the HD wagons may be more appropriate. Could your van be a K's cast whitemetal kit? Your best plan might be to measure it and compare with published wagon diagrams.

Where there were undulating gradients on a line where banking engines were used (i.e. at the rear of the train) it was common practice or even a requirement to couple to the rear of the train so that it could not get separated. Thus the use of attached banking engines through the Severn Tunnel. It also applied between Rowsley and Peak Forest where freights were regularly piloted AND banked. I believe the trains would stop short of the summit to detach the pilot and uncouple the banking engine which would then give the train a last push over the summit before dropping off.

Just got myself three sets of these lovely little Chauldrons; Seaham Docks, Wearmouth C C and Pontop & Jarrow (Yes, I know they are different eras and I don't care for my purposes). The last set is the only one where the couplings dangle freely, on the other two sets there is some ironmongery somewhere which distracts the magnets so that they don't always want to couple up. I don't think that's going to be a problem for me but just thought it was worth mentioning.

Couldn't decide whether to be Frank or Earnest

You missed out the MR Kirtley 2-4-0. His curved frame 0-6-0 would be nice to see modelled as well 🙏

Sorry but, no matter how many times I look at this picture, I can only count four planks 😐

Very nice but, surely, overkill for most layouts where a smaller loco would be more appropriate and quite adequate for shunting/tripping.

Hi Peter, If your van is second-hand, it could have had the wheels changed at some time. A while ago, Hornby went through a phase of making/using wagon wheels with the chamfer on the back of the flange and a rough edge (even a burr) on the contact face so that they latched on to any irregularity in the rail and derailed. What Dapol wheels I have bought in recent years have got a quite fine and smooth profile. Richard

I do like 'The Lady Armaghdale' suggestion. Yes please!!! That would get a vote with my wallet. She's even got flangeless centre driving wheels!

That seems typical of DCC fitted locos when operated on DC. they need a lot of poser to get going but then they run away. Like Wheatly says, de-chip it.

In South Africa, on the 1 in 36 Montague Pass working from George, I believe the crews preferred the Garratts to be chimney trailing to keep any smoke out of the cab.

Nice techniques and I know I'm being pedantic here but those sheets are not Flemish Bond, they are Stretcher Bond. Flemish bond has alternate headers and stretchers on each course.

IIRC LP1 are sets of DIY parts, LP10 are assembled so cost more. Richard Edit: I seem to be wrong there (sorry folks) see below.

Except that them's not rails me-duck. !

If it's still available, I'll take it please. Richard

The cab and running boards are made the same width as the tender (i.e. too narrow) so some surgery is required to make that right. The loco chassis leaves a lot to be desired as the ballast weight swells and causes the heels to bind (well, jam up completely) but it sounds like you are prepared to build a new chassis. The tender is about the right width but wrong length. I had a couple of Lima Crabs but they went on the club Second-Hand stall and were replaced with the Bachmann offerings.

It's all a case of loco, controller and operator. I use old fashioned DC. My test of efficacy is to stop the loco short of the wagon/coach and then creep up. Using tension lock couplings, the system should allow you to drop the hook over the adjacent bar without the bars touching. A Hornby tender drive 8F failed miserably and had to go but most other stuff seems to work happily enough. Clean track, wheels and contacts are a big help too.

H Boiler?

Well said Mike. Don't forget the physically and mentally scarred survivors either.

Here's mine getting used to its new surroundings on Ladybank Road. Runs very nicely thank you (some of my other locos sprinted away on the same controller setting!). Only (minor) problem was that it tripped over the coupling dropper a couple of times on facing points so droppers removed for now.

Took my D13 down to the local club again last night. Thought I'd try the magnetic wand thingy to switch off the cab lights. Every time the loco was stopped and re-started, the perishing lights came on again. Grrrrr 😠. Has anyone sorted out a way of turning the cab lights off completely? (I'm talking analogue btw).

It has happened though. Remember Hatfield which led to the downfall of Railtrack? It's not necessarily the crossing where things go awry, although it wouldn't do the crossing any good. it's at the blade of the points where the 'Outer' flange of the wheel pushes the stock rail out and allows the wheel to drop into the four-foot.

My D13 arrived yesterday and was given a running in session on the club layout last night. Nice!. The headcodes on the loco are for 1S68, the down Thames-Clyde, and 1M88, which I believe was the up Waverley.

Can anyone tell us what 1V45 and 1N27 were please?

Try the RCTS Green Books or Yeadon's Registers. Have Irwell Press done a 'Book of the A3s'?