Frank S.

As the time for being carted off to the Home For Incontinent Old Men looms ever closer, I'm planning for a small L-shaped layout that I might be able to fit in my new accomodation, and I've decided on a 1950/60-ish Colonel Stephens inspired Light Railway set on the Isle of Wight. As I migrated to Australia in 1970 and have never set foot on the IOW, can I please ask a couple of questions from any Southerners out there ? 1) What company would operate the road buses on the IOW ? Would it be "Southdown" ? and 2) POLICE PANDA Cars - what type of car did the IOW police use in the 60's, please ? Any help appreciated, Frank Savery, ULVERSTONE, TASmania, AUSTRALIA

I have one on the way to Australia. Going by what I've read, If I only power it with a 9v battery, all should be well ??? I'm loath to send it back, as RoS say to use the cheapest return method available - from Australia, this is Surface Mail - which, at the best of times, takes 3 months. And, as you've probably noticed, now, is not the best of times ! Cheers, Frank Savery, Chief Cook & Bottle Washer, King Island Tramway, Tasmania

Hi Guys, I've gotten interested in modelling a Norwegian standard gauge Branch Line based on the NSB Arendal Line. A big attraction of this line is that until electrified and shortened it was run by the attractive NSB SKD 224 Class 0-4-0 Diesel Locos (Available from NMJ) which as well as shunting hauled mineral, goods, passenger and MIXED trains. I'd be very grateful If anyone could point me towards books, articles and videos of the line. Thanx from Down-Under, Frank Savery

Hi Guys, Around Nuremburg Fair time, I remember reading that Fleischmann were planning on stopping production of HO Models, to concentrate on N scale. Now, I can't find any mention of it ? Did I get it wrong ? Cheers from Down-Under, Frank Savery

HI Guys, I wonder If anyone here is in touch with Andrew Shillito ? I want to purchase some of his BR OTA Timber Wagon kits. But e=mails to his e-mail address: andrew@lintoncementworks.com are not answered. Thanx, Frank Savery

Hi David, Excellent and inspiring layout. Any chance of an update on the layout ? Woould love to know If the expansion plans went ahead. Cheers, FrankS w-a-y down south in Tasmania

Thanks for alol the Bus Info, guysd. I got a headache trying to follow all the different type and colour scheme variations on Hatton's Website I found a photo of a Brake Van on the Tramway. also a Shunters Truck. The Brake Van is a standard BR example on Page 56 of The Weymouth Harbour Tramway by John Lucking The caption says ~ 'A typical pier scene of the 1960's.....with all three roadfs full of Box Vans. note also the Goods Brake, a type of vehicle only occaissionally seen on the Tramway. The Shunters Truck is on Page 112 of the same book. The caption says ~ ' Plate 187 A 'shunters' runner had no part bo play on the tramway and it was most unusual to see one there. On 30th April 1960,No 7782 was switched from yard shunting at very short notice and did not wait to detach it the runner'. Fascinating photos are those of the oil train which trundled up and down the Tramway for nearly 509 years. definitely THE book to have on the Weymouth Tramway Cheers, Frank Savery, Ulverstone, Tasmania

Hi Guys, Thanks for latest source of Info, Jack. A couple of questions for those who saw the Tramway in operation :~ I've now collected about 95% of published info on the Tramway, but of all the photos I've look at, none seem to show the rear end of goods trains ~ Did they use a Brake Van (ie GWR Toad-type)(?) or something special (?) or nothing, just a tail-lamp (?). Could anyone tell me which bus company's vehicles were seen on the streets of Weymouth - in BR days (?) I'd like it to be 'Southdown' as several of their buses are available in OO - but I'd like to check before splashing out on a fleet of Southdown Bedford 'OBs' Thanx, FrankS w-a-y down South in Tasmania

In the very first post on this thread, Kernow said that they had a special web page on the Kernow/DJM 1361 class loco. BUT the link goes to ~ NOTHING. On the thread about the Heljan 1361 class David Jones referred readers to the 1361-class thread under DJ Models. BUT I'm unable to find the thread ??? Does this mean that Kernow and DJM have thrown in the towel and dropped the 1361 class so Heljan win by default. ??? Or, am I missiong something ???

Hi Dave, In the RMWeb discussion on the Heljan GWR 1361-class 0-6-0T yoiu referred readers to the thread under DJ Models to discuss the Kernow/DJ Models 1361 class rather than discuss it on theHeljan forum. Faire enough. But I can't find it ???

Hi again Guys, I've found another book on the Weymouth Tramway. 'The Great Western at Weymouth' by J.H. Lucking, Pub by David & Charles in 1971 ISBN 0 7153 5135 4. This concentrates on the GWR boat services from Weymouth to the Channel Islands and France. But it includes a chapter on the Tramway. I got mine on e-bay. Cheers, FrankS

Hi Guys, I wonder If any one here has a copy of 'The Abbotsbury Branch' by Brian Jackson ? I know it has "some" Weymouth Quay content, but I wonder just how much ? I'm trying to get a complete library of Weymouth Quay references, but this book is going for about £33, so I don't want to invest in it, If it only has one or two photos. Thanx, Any help much appreciated. Frank Savery

Hi, I wonder If your thoughts about modelling the Weymouth Quay Tramway have progressed ? Maybe to a proposede trackplan ? With Heljan planning the release of the 1361 and 1366 class steam locos in OO it's attraction as a prototype has increased enormously. I really like the idea of the trains nudging their way along the quayside. Using maybe 12" wide baseboards with low relief buildings at the back and enough buildings at the front to break up the view should look fantastic, particularly If the baseboards are fairly high enabling eye-level views. Mind you, all those L/R buildings would take an awful long time to assemble and you'd have to spend a small fortune buying all the Oxford diecast cars you would need.. Another source of information to add to the list is : 'The Weymouth Quay Tramway' by C.L. Caddy a slim booklet but with 46 photos and a map. Published by the Dorset Transport Circle, I picked mine up on e-bay. Cheers, Frank Savery, w-a-y down South in Tasmania

Thanks for the info, guys. I've got a copy of Railway Bylines July 2007 in the post. Cheers, FrankS

G'day all, I wonder If anyone knows of any published information on the Fireless Loco or Locos used at the Huncoat Power Station, near Burnley, Lancs. aka Padiham 'B' Power Station ? Last time I googled Huncoat Power Station I got some photos, but they don't seem to be coming up now - ??? The photos I got up showed what looked like an 0-4-0 and a larger 0-6-0 in bright Yellow livery in the mid-1960's. To me the locos had a very 'continental' look . but at the time I was looking for justification to add a LILIPUT HO 0-4-0 Fireless Loco to my industrial loco collection ~ so my imagination might have been working overtime In any case, most Fireless locos, wether on the continent or in the UK seem to have an exotic, foreign appearence, particulary when in yellow livery Any help would be much appreciated, Cheers, Frank Savery, w-a-y down south in Tasmania