mikes

Re the Hornby Swallow HST powercars - that cooler group is actually correct for a late build. 43153 - 198 were fitted with Serck cooler groups rather than Marston from new, hence the different grills. Mike

Reorte You are absolutely correct, a number of services run through to, and turn around at New Mills Central, and in fact stabled within the tunnel as late as the early 90's (i think!). The services which still turn around at New Mills still run roughly to a similar timetable as they always have, so an extended service to hayfield would not delay things very much The branch could easily have been rationalised to remove the need for the two signal boxes, the token could have been swapped at New Mills, and if there were still any sidings required these could have been from a local ground frame at Hayfield (although these had already been removed in the later years of the line) Mike

Dave Excellent photos as always, please keep them coming as i am really enjoying this thread. With regard to the air pipe bashing the class 108, this is/was very common on the class 104's too, caused by the pipe swinging around at higher speeds. Mike

Personally i think that the closure of this line was a big mistake, if it were still open now it would probably be a popular little line with walkers and tourists coming to the area. If only they would re-open it, in terms of physically achieving a reopening there is very little that would stop this happening. The only major structure missing is a section of embankment and bridge over the road at Birch Vale, and the fact that the station area is now a car park. Of course the reality is this will probably never happen but we can dream lol As for the video, I have seen this before and it just shows what a lovely sleepy branch line this was - great to see in colour too which must be fairly rare. This gives us a little hint of what it was like riding down the line in a selection of the DMU's used - mainly derby lightweights, metcam lightweights, and later on class 104/108's sat behind the driver for the 2.5 mile journey from New Mills Central, or even earlier in a lovely mixed rake of none corridor gresley, thompson, and BR MK1 suburbans with a 4-4-2 Robinson C13 at the head. Mike

Al you certainly do need a good supply of tea and biscuits... there are many wonderful sights, and long lost routes to jog the memory. I have quite a large collection of OO gauge first generation dmu's, some in mixed livery sets due to spending hours looking through flickr...so i've dug out a few more links for you as you have given me another good opportunity to have a nosey and see what i can find, as new pictures seem to appear all the time. A class 108 power twin with a class 104 centre coach... http://www.flickr.com/photos/23987565@N05/10666928366/in/photolist-hfANb3-dG5CBs-j56s9j-aeMK2u-9qzoKY-bBrqRS-bruYhN-fje7SF-jJmPYn-jJodAf-jJocA9-buZtXe-jJoVij-jJoUoJ-ejdYTF-j578af-dG5Cxu-j3E4at-hdVTre-eoJhMk-eoJoiP-eoJpHV-epEDLf-eoJthR-epEykS-fAAuZT-9H17k6-dvpyeq-8kDdSG-bRFE5P-a7TURm-9Nu7yo-am3hR7-g4abFs-br2GUC-dX4YRT-dX4YTH-fxyqiE-c2RSgC-fsiSka-dh1xX9-dpNx8X-7BP6b4-e4nJPn-czg2oQ A class 105/101 pair... http://www.flickr.com/photos/55879910@N02/6891644983/in/photolist-buZtXe-jJoVij-jJoUoJ-ejdYTF-j578af-dG5Cxu-j3E4at-hdVTre-eoJhMk-eoJoiP-eoJpHV-epEDLf-eoJthR-epEykS-fAAuZT-9H17k6-dvpyeq-8kDdSG-bRFE5P-a7TURm-9Nu7yo-am3hR7-g4abFs-br2GUC-dX4YRT-dX4YTH-fxyqiE-c2RSgC-fsiSka-dh1xX9-dpNx8X-7BP6b4-e4nJPn-czg2oQ-fmRSw7-dqTPNm-cdQNhj-iRyq2t-buZ9Ck-e9nKyL-e53Lcq-aMRp5g-bswbNa-dmtHs6-8CQ8sN-8DAzfA-d35su3-cQQmDw-9VnMGo-9rdFwh-9r8w8v More unusual class 103/120 pair... http://www.flickr.com/photos/96859208@N07/9580486973/in/photolist-fAAuZT-9H17k6-dvpyeq-8kDdSG-bRFE5P-a7TURm-9Nu7yo-am3hR7-g4abFs-br2GUC-dX4YRT-dX4YTH-fxyqiE-c2RSgC-fsiSka-dh1xX9-dpNx8X-7BP6b4-e4nJPn-czg2oQ-aMRp5g-bswbNa-fmRSw7-dmtHs6-8CQ8sN-8DAzfA-d35su3-cQQmDw-dqTPNm-cdQNhj-9VnMGo-9rdFwh-9r8w8v-cjJNPh-cjJN5w-cjJNF9-cjJQmC-cjJNuL-cjJMUW-cjJNhy-cjJNXq-cjJMHd-7AXmCi-aemsmp-aBLZz8-8kcbUV-ggpDyN-axkkKj-dJa1xa-iRyq2t-jkoj3g Class 104 power/trailer... http://www.flickr.com/photos/33650137@N05/6133987728/in/photolist-am3hR7-g4abFs-br2GUC-dX4YRT-dX4YTH-fxyqiE-c2RSgC-fsiSka-dh1xX9-dpNx8X-7BP6b4-e4nJPn-czg2oQ-aMRp5g-bswbNa-fmRSw7-dmtHs6-8CQ8sN-8DAzfA-d35su3-cQQmDw-dqTPNm-cdQNhj-9VnMGo-9rdFwh-9r8w8v-cjJNPh-cjJN5w-cjJNF9-cjJQmC-cjJNuL-cjJMUW-cjJNhy-cjJNXq-cjJMHd-7AXmCi-aemsmp-aBLZz8-8kcbUV-ggpDyN-axkkKj-dJa1xa-iRyq2t-jkoj3g-azuCix-bna39A-jEzqxU-dga3r9-e983VW-eUrd2r-bnr9UV fairly rare class 104/107 three coach... http://www.flickr.com/photos/16205328@N02/8499465215/in/photolist-dX4YTH-fxyqiE-c2RSgC-fsiSka-dh1xX9-dpNx8X-7BP6b4-e4nJPn-czg2oQ-aMRp5g-bswbNa-fmRSw7-dmtHs6-8CQ8sN-8DAzfA-d35su3-cQQmDw-dqTPNm-cdQNhj-9VnMGo-9rdFwh-9r8w8v-cjJNPh-cjJN5w-cjJNF9-cjJQmC-cjJNuL-cjJMUW-cjJNhy-cjJNXq-cjJMHd-7AXmCi-aemsmp-aBLZz8-8kcbUV-ggpDyN-axkkKj-dJa1xa-iRyq2t-jkoj3g-azuCix-bna39A-jEzqxU-dga3r9-e983VW-eUrd2r-bnr9UV-7FcCr5-7FnTjt-7FcCsy-buZ9Ck heres a right mish mash 11car formation in three different liveries... blue and grey class 120 sandwiching a class 104 trailer, followed by blue, and white and blue 101's http://www.flickr.com/photos/45921043@N07/4378931111/in/photolist-7EXaEg-aaTDuH-deEWWm-9XE7nm-cbSshu-cJa6jd-ddAZcH-cfioMs-953ZM8-aMRPhz-7SLiaG-c34xUm-95Ahc4-gRm6f9-duGBbi-85f7Be-85fNdR-85iijd-8Gs2nZ-duNdbo-duNeoy-duNe4d-duGBwr-duNedL-duNewU-duNbZE-duNbBL-duNaM1-duNaC7-duNbkd-duNaXd-duGzHc-duGz5v-duGznH-dQnbeC-9x5sFp-gUCHXj-bna4Jd-9rwChJ-bA4Uyg-a81JhT-dpF2vq-iRCtgY-cPcMWN-9RR4pu-9SJtBK-dob5YA-9ZbEbR-eVxWFm-fss4TY-fscRQR superb class 105/101/120 combo in three different liveries... http://www.flickr.com/photos/61214079@N02/11719689146/in/photolist-iRCtgY-cPcMWN-deEWWm-9XE7nm-9RR4pu-9SJtBK-dob5YA-9ZbEbR-boKsBy-8tLkmQ-8tHhwr-dnH7Ao-gPwYJ5-eVxWFm-dke39E-dKEMW4-dp2i9L-dp27Hn-bgafbB-fss4TY-fscRQR-fscYH6-fsrxjw-fsczXH-fsrSJW-fsrJSj-fscmmn-fscZb8-fscswv-fsrwRN-fsrAYo-fscY4p-fscjQ8-fscuNc-fscddn-fscZKc-fscoTa-fscFuZ-fscUNx-fscPfF-fsrwsU-fscDKH-fsrvz5-fscMjR-fscbzp-fsrygS-fsrXPW-dKEMWT-h2BLH9-8hbnhe-8heCnS slightly off topic and far more modern... 2nd generation class 156/158 pair http://www.flickr.com/photos/65345069@N02/8209055602/in/photolist-dvpyeq-8kDdSG-bRFE5P-a7TURm-9Nu7yo-am3hR7-g4abFs-br2GUC-dX4YRT-dX4YTH-fxyqiE-c2RSgC-fsiSka-dh1xX9-dpNx8X-7BP6b4-e4nJPn-czg2oQ-aMRp5g-bswbNa-fmRSw7-dmtHs6-8CQ8sN-8DAzfA-d35su3-cQQmDw-dqTPNm-cdQNhj-9VnMGo-9rdFwh-9r8w8v-cjJNPh-cjJN5w-cjJNF9-cjJQmC-cjJNuL-cjJMUW-cjJNhy-cjJNXq-cjJMHd-7AXmCi-aemsmp-aBLZz8-8kcbUV-ggpDyN-axkkKj-dJa1xa-iRyq2t-jkoj3g-azuCix-bna39A and to round off with a very recent but cracking pair, 2013 railcar of the year winner class 119 with a wrap around yellow end class 101, and on the left a class 101 with oneblue and two green coaches at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway just last year... http://www.flickr.com/photos/63362496@N03/9488272138/in/photolist-fsrSJW-fsrJSj-fscmmn-fscZb8-fscswv-fsrwRN-fsrAYo-fscY4p-fscjQ8-fscuNc-fscddn-fscZKc-fscoTa-fscFuZ-fscUNx-fscPfF-fsrwsU-fscDKH-fsrvz5-fscMjR-fscbzp-fsrygS-fsrXPW-dKEMWT-h2BLH9-8hbnhe-8heCnS-8hbn1M-8heBAm-8heBXY-aArf6q-8hbgyF-8hewWU-8hevj7-8hevvG-8hbgkv-8hewmm-9TrsJa-9TuaQj-9Tuhoo-aJ4xfV-bLCt5Z-aJ4qQe-edQEYD-aJ4s1p-bVvh5G-a3Up5Q-a3Usis-a3RAgP-a3Uq8J-aK91yH A few more to wet the appetite! mike

Having studied the image carefully I believe the liveries are as follows: Leading coach - Blue with wrap around yellow ends including the cab doors 2nd coach - fairly rare early BR Blue with small yellow panels and BR logos on the cab doors instead of under the first saloon window 3rd and 4th in BR green with small yellow panels Here is a link to the Birmingham Railcar Workgroups Class 104 website, if you look at the second row of photos there are some good examples of mixed formation and the early blue with small yellow panels colour scheme.... especially the 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th photos: http://www.brcw.co.uk/#/1950s-1960s/4563983126 Also, fully reccomend the following website (no connection other than a happy broswer!) as way to spend a couple of happy hours browsing some great historical photos showing mostly the northwest in the 60's, 70's and 80's, its great for DMU's of the area, plus general traffic to be found... http://sutherland.davenportstation.org.uk/ Hope this helps Mike

great pic of manchester - more more more please! if you cant remember any locations we could always try and guess... mike

Blueeighties - `please don't stop posting lots of 'in progress' photos, i find the work you are doing inspirational plus its very useful seeing the kind of things other people do to their models as it gives ideas of things I could do, plus often points to products that people are not aware of/or not aware of how to use! Keep up the good work pal Mike

I forgot to add prototype hst powercars to my list - especially as i work on the real one!

I would vote for in no particular order: Any first gen dmu not previously made such as class 100, class 114, class 123/124 ICI Bogie hoppers Class 309 emu Class 323 emu

Hi A little further information regarding how we will operate the Prototype HST at GCRN, the basic plan is to operate in top and tail form with the class 56 on the other end (or indeed any air braked loco) with the coaches being the predominantly blue and grey air braked mk2 set which currently consists of 4 coaches with a further coach requiring some restoration. Hope this clears up the plan a little.. mike

Kev What a great thread you have here, this has the makings of a cracking railway with two of my favourite emu's - class 304 and 310. You should do an ex NSE class 305 too with the red stripe replaced with reggie rail blue! thanks for showing your rather exquisite board joining detail, i am currently stuck with that and may just have to steal your ideas there!! Really looking forward to seeing how your layout progresses... keep up the good work and great updates! mike

Hi I have repainted a number of etched nameplated, just paint over the whole plate and then carefully scrape the paint off the raised areas with a scalpel knife blade - works a treat! regards mike

Hi All I would definately second the requirement for something like this railway hotel, i want to build a model of the palace hotel in manchester which is similar to this albeit alot larger. Please Mr Wiffen! mike

Afternoon Gents Can we see the 507 please? Would make an interesting cameo scene in an old out of use siding! Regards Mike

Hi David Mine is indeed N gauge, very early days, base boards are pretty much finished and currently laying timber supports for the viaducts which I have running across two thirds of the model. I will try and post some pictures of how its going very soon, I have built a few metcalfe terraced houses/pub and a brewery to be sighted at one end, and the main station building is half finished so will try mock it all up later and get pics. My idea is to ty and get a mix of taller buildings with a small area of terraces which are still lived in and havnt been demolished for tall buildings to be built yet. The other major diversion away from the two track viaducts is the inclusion of a couple of sidings for use by terminating Class 304, 305, and 323 EMU'S. Will sort some pics out tonight hopefully. Regards Mike

David, Cracking work there with Cross Street and Ring Road. I like your concept based on Manchester Oxford Rd and Birmingham, I am currently in the early stages of an Oxford Road based model too, except going the other way towards Man Picc! albeit with some modellers licence alter the exact building, and the need to compress the whole scene. Im very interested in your Palace Hotel as I amcurrently trying to build something very similar based on a Vollmer european apartment block but im not entirely happy with it as some aspects look too 'European'. Perhaps I need to investigate the methods you have used...?! The rest of my buildings are build from card including a scratch representation of Oxfrd Road Station building itself. I look forward to further updates and watching your progress with Cross Street. Good Luck Regards Mike

Paul thats a cracking idea about the school buildings as they would be really easy to customise as they are designed in such a modular way in 1:1 scale, plus they are all around the UK too so should suit a wide audience and span over several different eras. Mike

Wow Chris - they both look awesome although my favourite is definately the 210 - very nice work!! And dont feel to bad about the paint on the inside of the windows (thankfully it cleaner up!) we have all done daft things like that!! cheers Mike

I would definately agree with a multistory carpark, station hotel is a definate must please! i love these kits and a decent red brick station hotel would suffice as the good old Palace hotel in manchester! Cheers Mike