EFE Rail - Winter 2023 Announcements inc. Southern 'Booster'

[Metropolitan]

37 minutes ago, Right Away said:

From what I remember of the class, up close, in the late 50’s/early 60’s, there was a continuous drone whilst stationary from within (booster equipment). On pulling away, this was accompanied by a low groan rising slowly in pitch (traction motors) much the same as those of a PUL/PAN motor coach. 

 

On one occasion at Haywards Heath, an UP “boat” announced its approach by its EE’s lovely chime whistle which seemed to me in complete contrast to the thumping it gave pointwork! As far as “electric sounds” went, the businesslike humming was quickly lost to the sound of coach wheels as the train passed through the platforms.

(Note: Somewhere in the house, is a B&W photo of this event which I took on cheapo Gratispool film.)

 

So interesting! What a great thread!

[Metropolitan]

This is a great model. The Box-pox wheels have been reproduced.

 

 

[Graham_Muz]

30 minutes ago, Metropolitan said:

This is a great model. The Box-pox wheels have been reproduced.

 

 

 

They are not Box-pox [sic]  or 'Boxpok' wheels as they are Bulleid-Firth-Brown wheels that are a slightly different improved and patented design and easier to manufacture that Boxpok, see my explanation here https://www.35011gsn.co.uk/Technical and Education Centre/how-it-works/bfb-wheels-and-tyres.html 

Edited January 12 by Graham_Muz

[AlfaZagato]

Long story short on Boxpok vs. BFB; Boxpok were fabricated from individual hollow box spokes, hence the name.  Bulleid-Firth-Brown wheels were a disc wheel made from a single flat piece of metal wrapped around the spindle.   The inside of the metal was smoothly wrinkled to both accommodate the additional material, and add strength.   Lotus 'wobbly web' wheels from the 60's are the same concept.

[Metropolitan]

47 minutes ago, Graham_Muz said:

 

They are not Box-pox [sic]  or 'Boxpok' wheels as they are Bulleid-Firth-Brown wheels that are a slightly different improved and patented design and easier to manufacture that Boxpok, see my explanation here https://www.35011gsn.co.uk/Technical and Education Centre/how-it-works/bfb-wheels-and-tyres.html 

Ah! Well according to O S Knock the term is Box-pox? (British Locomotives of the 20th Century, Vol 2 page 151) Hence my use of it.

Edited January 12 by Metropolitan

[Right Away]

Apparently the model’s route disc/lamps are designed to be a “push fit” to enable interchangeability.

Not one of those, factory installed on either end of my version (#20002) is refusing to budge; what on earth was used to push them in? It’s as if they’ve had a dab of adhesive..

The circular profile allows no purchase at all with tweezers etc. Even a delicate touch with the tip of a scalpel has proved unsuccessful. Gripping with point nosed pliers would seem rather risky on such delicate items. Looking from inside and gently pushing outwards with the tip of a cocktail stick has no effect.

The cab fronts are very well modelled and to effect even slight damage by the slip of a tool just for the sake of changing a route indication is not to be welcomed.

Has any other owner had a similar issue and perhaps found a way of getting these blighters out?
 

In all other respects, the model runs perfectly and judging by some members’ less than ideal experiences, for that I am thankful. For this reason alone and the fact that it would appear, at present, difficult to effect a replacement #20002 I would be reluctant  to return to retailer. 

 

Bottom line solution: paint over existing white discs where not required - NOT IDEAL!

Edited January 12 by Right Away
correction

[Fair Oak Junction]

Can't help sadly, I'm too scared to even attempt changing the disks! 🤣

One day I might pluck up the courage, and I'll need to decide which headcode I want it to carry first as I don't want to do it more than once.

[John Isherwood]

26 minutes ago, Metropolitan said:

Ah! Well according to O S Knock the term is Box-pox? (British Locomotives of the 20th Century, Vol 2 page 151) Hence my use of it.

 

The O. S. Nock that I know of lacked the 'K'!

 

Mr. Nock was not infallible, and the general concensus seems to favour 'Boxpok'.

 

CJI.

Edited January 12 by cctransuk

[Graham_Muz]

4 minutes ago, cctransuk said:

 

The O. S. Nock that I know of lacked the 'K'!

 

Mr. Nock was not infallible, and the general concensus seems to favour 'Boxpok'.

 

CJI.

OS Nock was indeed incorrect, the actual manufacturers  General Steel Corporation of Granite City, Illinois called them “Boxpok”. 

[Metropolitan]

10 minutes ago, cctransuk said:

The O. S. Nock that I know of lacked the 'K'!

Lacked the K? Not according to the 100000000000 books he published. 😀

[Fair Oak Junction]

Boxpox sounds better, probably speaks to me as a Warhammer fan 😄

Edited January 12 by Fair Oak Junction

[Metropolitan]

I'm going to shim the front and rear axles with some nylon m2 washers. The side play is certainly excessive.

[Wickham Green too]

1 hour ago, Right Away said:

Apparently the model’s route disc/lamps are designed to be a “push fit” to enable interchangeability.

Not one of those, factory installed on either end of my version (#20002) is refusing to budge; what on earth was used to push them in? It’s as if they’ve had a dab of adhesive..

The circular profile allows no purchase at all with tweezers etc. Even a delicate touch with the tip of a scalpel has proved unsuccessful. Gripping with point nosed pliers would seem rather risky on such delicate items. Looking from inside and gently pushing outwards with the tip of a cocktail stick has no effect.

The cab fronts are very well modelled and to effect even slight damage by the slip of a tool just for the sake of changing a route indication is not to be welcomed.

Has any other owner had a similar issue and perhaps found a way of getting these blighters out? ...

Yes they are VERY tight but mine all came with a push from the rear ( tip of a needle file ) - some more easily difficult - than others. There's no point trying to twist them as they're keyed in top and bottom. ( If the paint's not perfect on the 'replacements', note that they're moulded in white plastic so you'll need to touch up the green or grey rather than vice-versa ! )

[Graham_Muz]

1 hour ago, Right Away said:

Apparently the model’s route disc/lamps are designed to be a “push fit” to enable interchangeability.

Not one of those, factory installed on either end of my version (#20002) is refusing to budge; what on earth was used to push them in? It’s as if they’ve had a dab of adhesive..

The circular profile allows no purchase at all with tweezers etc. Even a delicate touch with the tip of a scalpel has proved unsuccessful. Gripping with point nosed pliers would seem rather risky on such delicate items. Looking from inside and gently pushing outwards with the tip of a cocktail stick has no effect.

The cab fronts are very well modelled and to effect even slight damage by the slip of a tool just for the sake of changing a route indication is not to be welcomed.

Has any other owner had a similar issue and perhaps found a way of getting these blighters out?
 

In all other respects, the model runs perfectly and judging by some members’ less than ideal experiences, for that I am thankful. For this reason alone and the fact that it would appear, at present, difficult to effect a replacement #20002 I would be reluctant  to return to retailer. 

 

Bottom line solution: paint over existing white discs where not required - NOT IDEAL!

 

They are designed as a push fit and if needed pushing out from the inside with the tip of a small screwdriver should work.

When replacing note that the side sides are handed with a sloping underside to take account of the shape of the cab front at the sides. 

[Ian Hargrave]

2 hours ago, Graham_Muz said:

 

They are not Box-pox [sic]  or 'Boxpok' wheels as they are Bulleid-Firth-Brown wheels that are a slightly different improved and patented design and easier to manufacture that Boxpok, see my explanation here https://www.35011gsn.co.uk/Technical and Education Centre/how-it-works/bfb-wheels-and-tyres.html 

And cast in Sheffield,I do believe.

[Graham_Muz]

1 minute ago, Ian Hargrave said:

And cast in Sheffield,I do believe.

 

Yes indeed Firth-Brown's Atlas Steel Works, Sheffield.

[Ian Hargrave]

20 minutes ago, Graham_Muz said:

 

Yes indeed Firth-Brown's Atlas Steel Works, Sheffield.

Now part of the city’s heritage. I have a vague recollection that the casting of those wheels is remembered in some fashion at Cutlers Hall in Sheffield.Memory might of course be at fault. One railway memento that is there though is the cast headboard for The Master Cutler.But that’s another story. No doubt someone has better memory than me.

[mikesndbs]

Hi all, after my review here is my running and class history. Could easily have gone on for 30 mins, so fascinating is their development.

Please note that this is very trimmed down.

 

 

Edited January 12 by mikesndbs

[phil gollin]

2 hours ago, Metropolitan said:

Lacked the K? Not according to the 100000000000 books he published. 😀

.

 

LOOK at your post that he is responding to "

 

"...  Ah! Well according to O S Knock the term is Box-pox? (British Locomotives of the 20th Century, Vol 2 page 151) Hence my use of it. ..."

 

ONLY one "K".

.

[Jack P]

1 hour ago, Wickham Green too said:

Yes they are VERY tight but mine all came with a push from the rear ( tip of a needle file ) - some more easily difficult - than others. There's no point trying to twist them as they're keyed in top and bottom. ( If the paint's not perfect on the 'replacements', note that they're moulded in white plastic so you'll need to touch up the green or grey rather than vice-versa ! )

 

Have you embarked on the great conversion to a wider gauge yet? Any tips if so?

[John Isherwood]

2 hours ago, Metropolitan said:

Lacked the K? Not according to the 100000000000 books he published. 😀

 

A bit of a silly observation - you clearly overlooked the fact that I referred to the (CAPITAL) 'K', which you inflicted upon the esteemed Mr. Nock.

 

CJI.

[Metropolitan]

1 hour ago, cctransuk said:

 

A bit of a silly observation - you clearly overlooked the fact that I referred to the (CAPITAL) 'K', which you inflicted upon the esteemed Mr. Nock.

 

CJI.

True enough. I should know his name because my bookshelves are groaning with his books. Some good, some bad.

Edited January 12 by Metropolitan

[Wickham Green too]

1 hour ago, Jack P said:

Have you embarked on the great conversion to a wider gauge yet? Any tips if so?

I've got as far as trying to suss out how to detach the bogies from the frame ........ once I've mastered THAT step I might get somewhere ! 😕

 

 

Looks like the cables should unplug - but mine don't want to - then the gear tower top covers look like they should clip off to release the bogies ........ 

[Graham_Muz]

2 hours ago, Jack P said:

 

Have you embarked on the great conversion to a wider gauge yet? Any tips if so?

Ultrascale wheelsets, as per the KMRC Bulleid Diesels, will drop in utilising the bearings and gears off the 00 axles. 

[MidlandRed]

3 hours ago, cctransuk said:

 

A bit of a silly observation - you clearly overlooked the fact that I referred to the (CAPITAL) 'K', which you inflicted upon the esteemed Mr. Nock.

 

CJI.

Knock and pox (as in Boxpox) all seem quite apt in a thread about a locomotive I’d only ever heard of with the nickname (apparently applied by railwaymen) of Ho*nb* (reference censored for the feint of heart) before EFE announced their model - I’m presuming I picked up the term ‘Boxpok’ from the umpteen references, apparently incorrect, I’ve seen in books over the last 60+ yrs, particularly relating to the 15211 batch of shunters and the Southern Pacific’s - I guess we live and learn. 

 

Maybe it’s like class 28, CoBo and Wonderloaf (I’d never heard of the latter until seeing the references, apparently a title bestowed by Cumbrian railwaymen, in various books and Flickr photo captions of recent years - but it’s a very apt nickname based on the shape of the loco 😀)
 

Really nice looking models as well - I still can’t get used to them being referred to as boosters!!! 😵‍💫 But am thankful for the corrections from @Graham_Muz re the Southern wheels.