tomparryharry

In corporate news, Boeing have applied to remove the letter 'E' from their trademark. Apparently, it's something to do with landing capabilities...

Such a position must have been a feather in his cap... Hat, coat, OUCH! Forgot my shoes...

"Can you fix it? No, but I can board it up until Monday. I'll just get my tape measure....."

In this risk-averse society, you can't be too sure...

"Well, Harry Potter, you've battled the Dark Lord, overcome death-defying situations, amassed mind-boggling wealth, and gained the very pinnacles of wizardry. So tell us; where do you go from here? "I'm thinking accountancy, or Lion Taming. I've got the hat...."

Just a slight enquiry from here.. I understand Hattons are (were) partially involved in the production of the auto trailers. Naturally, this was before the sad news from Hattons this week. Is the project still ongoing? Mods can delete or upgrade as required. Cheers, Ian.

I'm very sorry to see Hattons close their shop. The changes of the retail world have bought about many closures, not just our hobbies. The decision to cease trading looks (to me) to be a pragmatic decision, and leaves the good reputation of the business intact. High street retail is in a freefall at the moment, with footfall down considerably over the past year. A good (or bad) Christmas can be the fine balance between open or close. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Hattons continued its online presence. After all, running a retail shop can be a severe drain on finance, and you're not making money if the public can't visit.... Here in Newport, the glitzy 'retail opportunities' can & do close, sometimes at an hours' notice. No notice; nothing. Some staff don't even get the DCM (Don't Come Monday)... Good luck to Hattons, and any eventual successors.

Good to see Dion Dublin on the telly this morning. Now, if he can knock through, rewire, and make good, it might be enough for Villa to equal Liverpool....

We had 2 diesel shunters at BSC Whiteheads Newport. These were very similar to the BR 02 type, but without Vacuum brake gear. One wentto the Gwili Railway, and one to Caerphilly Railway Society. Sadly the Caerphilly resident succumbed to radiator failure, and was sidelined. I think the Gwili resident lasted a bit longer, but was also broken up.

I'd suggest that a second 'Saint' is built. Not for Didcot, but for the NRM. Then, they can display the 'daddy of them all' as most modern 2-cylinder locomotives started from there. I'm never too impressed with Castles, being a bit of a bodge-on.

An LMS Castle? I wouldn't think so. Churchward & Deeley both used scissor-geared valve design. Having a Castle locomotive might well have impinged on things like patents, etc. It took Stanier to rectify the inter-company wrangling of the various factions.

Standard parts were quite common by 1900. The first standard parts were set down by Gooch, some 50 years earlier. He sent out specifications, drawings & templates to the various locomotive builders of the day. Private builders of locomotives could build anything bespoke. Engineers like Gooch, the Armstrongs, Dean, Churchward & others all went for standardisation, because working experience of the build in question made it an easy, workable choice. Coming through the years, the MGTF car uses a lot of suspension components from the original Mini of 1959. The cylinder head on a Morris Minor fits straight onto a Morris 1100. Things like this is normal when you are working with known values.

I would like to note that this post is for imaginary locomotives. The 0-44-0 Garret was formulated (by me & others) to use up surplus railway assets on the preservation arena. One project which was looked at, was the 9685 class of Western panniers. These are essentially the 9600 pannier, but built to metric ISO fittings and measurements. One of the significant reasons was to maintain material quality. Sad to say, you can't always get the right fittings, and I can think of a lot of prestige locomotives going around with 12mm nuts & bolts, masquerading as 1/2" Whitworth. Rivet counter? Dead right; and that's what standards are there for.

Yes, same problem with a 9F on haulage trials on the Western. 2 (knackered) firemen does not a working timetable make! The same sentiments as a Sturrock Steam Tender. I'm told that although it was essentially 2 locomotives, it only had one tender. Little wonder the GMAM Garrets tow around with a bogie water cart, just like Scotsman. Add to that, the South African class 25, with a condenser tender, and underfeed stoker.

I would suggest that it comes down to footplate experience. It's the same on preserved lines. it's OK with a little 0-4-0, going to a much larger mainline locomotive. "Oh dear! We're out of steam! Well, the coal & water is there, as is the fire...."

Well, the locomotive was in service for 30 years, so from an accountancy view, it was quite acceptable. I'd suggest that wholesale renewal put the mokkers on it. Cheaper to buy another locomotive when you've got the money. When you don't have the money, well.....

Perhaps I should have made 2 posts, instead of one. The Garrett was-is, designed to take advantage of the surplus fireless locomotives in preservation. Yes, you do push the water tank, just like any other Garrett. The cab-forward is a pure flight of fancy. Designed to overcome hammer blow; so it's got 3 cylinders at each end, and driving the same wheel arrangement. if you can imagine a valve event at TDC on cab A, then there's a 180 degree valve event on cab B, or BDC. 5'8" drivers, or 6'2, depending on the principal requirements of use. The cab-forward means the crew can get away from the footplate, and a degree of comfort. A&B cabs means turntables aren't needed.

Some years ago I was sorely tempted to build a Garret-type loco, based upon 2 fireless locos chassis, and an 18" Austerity-sized boiler. A lot of design work on the frames to convert the valve gear from Stephenson's launch-link to Walshearts. I think I've still got the drawings somewhere... Cylinders 12" x20". The boiler was based on the 18" Austerity type, but 15" longer to improve the steaming rate. Pressure @ 180 PSI. 12"- foot scale.. The idea of cab-forwards have moved on since the 1940's, with improved quality of lubrication, and things like better quality hoses. I'd guess there is nothing (other than money) to realise the dream. A cab- forward, with 6 cylinders (3 each end) and a Baltic 4-6-4 arrangement. 5'8" drivers. The cab arrangement would look suspiciously like a GWR appearance; possibly with an A&B cab..

It's not such a daft idea. 5'3" for our Irish modellers, and 5'6" for the Subcontinent. Lots of passengers for the super-crush density loads though. Probably the only models where the figurines cost more than the coaches.... I wouldn't thought roof dancing is very popular on the CIE.. I think I've got this right. 21mm gauge for Ireland, and 22mm for India.

Ah, panniers, indeed the choice gets ever better. I'd suggest that if Hornby have an avenue, then it'll be a uprated 27xx. A proper full-fat model, with brake rigging, sanders, et al. A good working weight, not too fast. Would punters pay extra? Very probably. If it's the railroad version you want, just brush up the moulds. Either that, or a Dean Single.....

No appeal of IVOR? Oh dear! We had the real Ivor at Blaenavon some years ago, and it was highly popular. Dress in character? Hey, I always dress like this!

If you want to destroy cylinder vacuum, open the cylinder draincocks.... Same with a stuck safety valve over pressure. Brake on, mid gear, and open the regulator. Keep an eye on the boiler gauges, and as soon as the gauges drop, put the injector on. I've got Tuplins book somewhere. Personally, a lot of it is just sensationalism, being GWR 150. Holcroft is a far better read; he was there.... If a 'run' was in the notices, then there was a good chance of an inspector or 3 somewhere in the area to time it through the section. I never think of Mallard as a speed machine. The severely knackered Bulleid Pacifics put up some top-notch work on the south Western. I'd give my eye-teeth to fire on a job like that, just to see if I'm up to the mark....

Apart from un-numbered wagons mentioned earlier, how about the extra signal boards needed for a Western area signal? Such as:- Shunt signal; backing signal, that sort of thing. There's about a dozen variations, but it's late, I'm tired, and I can't find a signals book.

Bulldog please, by Bachmann. They've got nearly all of the bits in stock. Just a new boiler diagram & some adjustment to the footplate. It's an easy gap in the range. Edit:- Actually, what I should have said, is the tooling. Most of this already exists in Bachmanns' back catalogue. Ian.

Vote #2 from here. Also, shellac, but I'm not too sure you can get it any more. Edit:- Oh yes you can! have a look on google.