Wright writes.....

[Michael Edge]

I've built a few Jamieson kits, the pressed shell for the LMS streamliners was the best way to produce one for a long time. This is the only Jamieson loco I still have though.

45156 was the first Jamieson kit I built, it has been altered a bit now with mostly etched motion (not sure if it's K's or Eames etch or a mixture of both). It still had K's wheels when this photo was taken but it now has Gibson drivers.

[St Enodoc]

2 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

I've built a few Jamieson kits, the pressed shell for the LMS streamliners was the best way to produce one for a long time. This is the only Jamieson loco I still have though.

45156 was the first Jamieson kit I built, it has been altered a bit now with mostly etched motion (not sure if it's K's or Eames etch or a mixture of both). It still had K's wheels when this photo was taken but it now has Gibson drivers.

I think I remember 45156 from Wallgate days.

[Michael Edge]

9 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

I think I remember 45156 from Wallgate days.

Very probably, it's been running since December 1979 - had a Pittman motor and K's wheels then.

[Tony Wright]

11 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

I've built a few Jamieson kits, the pressed shell for the LMS streamliners was the best way to produce one for a long time. This is the only Jamieson loco I still have though.

45156 was the first Jamieson kit I built, it has been altered a bit now with mostly etched motion (not sure if it's K's or Eames etch or a mixture of both). It still had K's wheels when this photo was taken but it now has Gibson drivers.

Good morning Mike,

 

45156, one of the locos which generated the most incredulity to the 'spotters at Chester. 

 

Observing operations one day at the east end of the General, a 'Mickey' appeared on a Manchester-Llandudno express. Normally, this would cause little in the way of interest because any 'Mickey' shedded at one of the Manchester sheds, Chester or any based on the North Wales coast would long since have been 'copped'. In fact, apart from a glance, no notice would have been taken. However, on this occasion, a glance revealed a named 'Mickey' What! Now, to us 'Southerners', named Stanier Class Fives were only ever seen in photographs or dreams. Where was 65B? St. Rollox. Somewhere ecclesiastical? Somewhere very far away? Scotland? Yes. 

 

We gaped in incredulity, rushing along platform 5, then to 4 where AYRSHIRE YEOMANRY had come to a halt. Instead of 65B on the smokebox door, there was 26A. Newton Heath. Manchester. What! 'What's all the fuss about?' asked a mature enthusiast. 'Yesterday, LANARKSHIRE YEOMANRY came through'. And, so it was, the pair became as common as any other local 'Mickey', but THE GLASGOW HIGHLANDER and GLASGOW YEOMANRY were never ever seen. Later, 45154 and 45156 were allocated to Liverpool district depots, but they were still seen regularly. 

 

Happy days.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Richard_A]

54 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

Very probably, it's been running since December 1979 - had a Pittman motor and K's wheels then.

Bloody hell, it's only seven months younger than me, although I am starting to look as weathered. 

[Michael Edge]

13 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Mike,

 

45156, one of the locos which generated the most incredulity to the 'spotters at Chester. 

 

Observing operations one day at the east end of the General, a 'Mickey' appeared on a Manchester-Llandudno express. Normally, this would cause little in the way of interest because any 'Mickey' shedded at one of the Manchester sheds, Chester or any based on the North Wales coast would long since have been 'copped'. In fact, apart from a glance, no notice would have been taken. However, on this occasion, a glance revealed a named 'Mickey' What! Now, to us 'Southerners', named Stanier Class Fives were only ever seen in photographs or dreams. Where was 65B? St. Rollox. Somewhere ecclesiastical? Somewhere very far away? Scotland? Yes. 

 

We gaped in incredulity, rushing along platform 5, then to 4 where AYRSHIRE YEOMANRY had come to a halt. Instead of 65B on the smokebox door, there was 26A. Newton Heath. Manchester. What! 'What's all the fuss about?' asked a mature enthusiast. 'Yesterday, LANARKSHIRE YEOMANRY came through'. And, so it was, the pair became as common as any other local 'Mickey', but THE GLASGOW HIGHLANDER and GLASGOW YEOMANRY were never ever seen. Later, 45154 and 45156 were allocated to Liverpool district depots, but they were still seen regularly. 

 

Happy days.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Yes, the 26A allocation shows its origin for my Wigan Wallgate layout. 45154 is also underlined in my spotters books but like you I never saw the other two named Mickeys.

[Barry O]

It was weathered a long time ago as well..

 

Baz

[MJI]

I feel young on this thread,  and my age starts with a 6

[Kirby Uncoupler]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Mike,

 

45156, one of the locos which generated the most incredulity to the 'spotters at Chester. 

 

Observing operations one day at the east end of the General, a 'Mickey' appeared on a Manchester-Llandudno express. 

 

Hi Tony and All,

      I'm confused here. back then why did you refer to Black 5s as "Mickeys", I thought they were always "Black 5s, Class 5s, 5s, 5000s, 5MTs or Ten-Wheelers"? To me a "Mickey" is a 2MT 2-6-0 or tank (Mickey Mouse, cos the front silhouette looked like the cartoon character ears), or were you talking Chester General slang?      BK

 

 

[Tony Wright]

On Monday, the usual band of Bytham operators gathered for their monthly 'fix' of running trains.

 

I'm always delighted when visiting locos are brought. On Monday, Geoff West brought this...........

 

 

If ever a loco could be described as Trigger's broom, this is it. 

 

It was scratch-built for me in 1976, by Mike Edge. I was on the verge of scratch-building myself and needed some tangible proof; nobody (in their right mind?) was ever going to produce a kit for a Thompson Pacific, were they? 

 

Anyway, Mike did a good job of building the loco, and I built a Wills A2 tender for it (remember please, this was 48 years ago!). I painted it and it became 60521 WATLING STREET. In this guise, it appeared in the model press, though I weathered it later. 

 

Over time, as knowledge grew, I became increasingly dissatisfied with it. The boiler wasn't right (did we know then about the differences between Dia. 117 and Dia. 118 boilers) and neither was the tender (beading, a curved-in front and no rivets on an A2/3 tender? Not that Millholme bothered a few years later, putting all the different features on to one tender!). Thus, I made a new boiler for it, as well as a new tender (Crownline); and, she happily bowled round Fordley Park, Leighford and Stoke Summit until I was asked to build the first 'production' DJH A2/3 at the turn of the century. What a difference! 

 

So, I asked Gilbert Barnatt if he'd like to buy WATLING STREET. He did, and did. However, he wanted it to be DANTE, and 60513 it became instead of 60521 (I'm not sure who did this, possibly John Houlden). Another 'however' was its original motor - an MW005. Fine in 1976, but not so suited for DCC. So, John Houlden re-motored it with a big Mashima attached to a Branchlines gearbox. Then, DANTE ran on Peterborough North until along came Hornby's RTR Thompsons. Now, Gilbert has/is replacing just about all his kit-built locos with RTR - more reliable, I'm told. Which meant DANTE came up for sale again, and was bought by Geoff West. 

 

One thing it never had were any front steps. Last year, I gave Geoff a brass set and he soldered them in place, and then brought her along on Monday for a run. Disaster! The steps fouled the leading bogie wheels on curves. It fell off, deflecting into a goods train on an adjacent road, derailing it - which we only found out about when it was that train's turn to run! On first investigation, I didn't think this step-catching was totally the cause, thinking the bogie needed adjustment. Which I tried, breaking the 48 year old pivot arm. So, leave it with me. Yes, the steps did just touch, but making a new pivot cured this (by moving the bogie back half a mil' - yes, that close). 

 

Success. And, I think this loco (despite its story - or, because of it?) has much more character than anything made of plastic in a far away factory. And, will any current RTR equivalent last as long? I doubt it, given the many miles this loco has run. And will run, for she fairly flew round LB after my ministrations, and will pull far more than the 'plastic fantastic' equivalent. I think it needs saying as well, that the drive was not replaced because it had failed. Not at all, but who'd heard of DCC in 1976? All of Mike's basic chassis/motion is still going strong - a testament to the quality of his work. 

 

And, the reason for my selling her in the first place?

 

 

Two DANTEs passing! 

 

 

The 1976 one on the left and the 2000 on the right, built from that first DJH kit, and painted by Ian Rathbone. Rather a big difference? 

 

Not even in a parallel universe...........

 

 

But two different DJH A2/3s, definitely; both built by me, both painted by Ian Rathbone. 

 

 

Edited February 7 by Tony Wright
to add something

[Davey]

27 minutes ago, Kirby Uncoupler said:

 

Hi Tony and All,

      I'm confused here. back then why did you refer to Black 5s as "Mickeys", I thought they were always "Black 5s, Class 5s, 5s, 5000s, 5MTs or Ten-Wheelers"? To me a "Mickey" is a 2MT 2-6-0 or tank (Mickey Mouse, cos the front silhouette looked like the cartoon character ears), or were you talking Chester General slang?      BK

 

 

Black 5's, or 'Blackies' as we called them around Birmingham, seemed to have regional nicknames. As I recall, 'Mickeys' seemed  to be the nickname of choice around the East Midlands.

 

Davey

[Tony Wright]

2 hours ago, Kirby Uncoupler said:

 

Hi Tony and All,

      I'm confused here. back then why did you refer to Black 5s as "Mickeys", I thought they were always "Black 5s, Class 5s, 5s, 5000s, 5MTs or Ten-Wheelers"? To me a "Mickey" is a 2MT 2-6-0 or tank (Mickey Mouse, cos the front silhouette looked like the cartoon character ears), or were you talking Chester General slang?      BK

 

 

Good afternoon Brian,

 

Are the problems of parochial speech. 

 

To anyone born north of the Midlands, a 'Mickey' will always be a Stanier or Ivatt 5MT 4-6-0 (derived from mixed traffic, I believe).

 

It's the same with Stanier's/Ivatt's 'Princess Coronations' - always 'Semis' to northerners - an epithet always spoken with reverence, though very loudly when one appeared (almost as loudly as 'streak' when an A4 came through at Retford). 

 

Others? 'Coffee Pot' for a 4F, 'Sputnik' for 58171 (6A's only ever ex-Midland 2F). Western stuff was always its 'proper' designation, but LMS equivalents had their names shortened - 'Pats', 'Jubs', 'Scots', 'Prinnies' and so on. 

 

'Gorilla Mickeys' were those fitted with massive outside steam pipes, for obvious reasons. 

 

Perhaps others from different parts of this great realm will regale us with nicknames of their local steam stuff. Though I've heard the names 'Gronks', Tractors', Whistlers', Duffs' and so on, I know not what they mean! Diesels? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Edited February 7 by Tony Wright
typo error

[Tony Wright]

Speaking of visiting locos to LB.....

 

 

A K's outside framed ex-Midland 0-6-0. 

 

It didn't work, so a mate left it with me. It does now.

 

Given some basic information, I've also fitted some stuff on the roof of that 3D-printed ex-GC Restaurant Car. 

 

 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

I think a 4F was always a 4F, and an 8F an 8F. (From someone born and bred in Derby...)

[30368]

7 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

I think a 4F was always a 4F, and an 8F an 8F. (From someone born and bred in Derby...)

 

I think you may be correct Peter, Coffee Pot was surely a Southern Q1 0-6-0? A "Flat Top" was an original Bulleid Pacific.

 

Kind regards,

 

30368

[lezz01]

12 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

I think a 4F was always a 4F, and an 8F an 8F. (From someone born and bred in Derby...)

Yes but the 4F was known as the "Big Goods" long before it was called a 4F just saying.

When is a bothy not a bothy? When it's a shed or a hut but it's still a bothy or a shed or a hut.

We all call a Fowler 3F tank a Jinty but they were not called a Jinty by the engine men or shed staff they were called Jockos.

So it's Yes but! No but! Yes but! add infinitum.

Regards Lez. 

[Bucoops]

The GER had their own coffee pots

 

https://www.gersociety.org.uk/files-emporium-home/lg002-ger-0-4-0-coffee-pots

 

[Steamport Southport]

See, I'm from the north west and I never heard many of those used by local enthusiasts that were older than me or ex locomen. I wasn't born when steam was going but I knew a lot of railwaymen from family and friends, and then when volunteering I met a few enthusiasts. I think it's a case of who you knew and many of the terms they use stick.

 

A Five always seemed to be a Five. Never heard Black Five used by anyone other than enthusiasts.

Jubilee was a 5X.

Baby Scot was used for the Patriots.

Always a Duchess, never heard the term Semi until recent years and assume it only applied to the sloping smokebox version.

 

 

Gronk is an odd one. Never heard that until recent years either. Up here the enginemen still called them Jinties or occasionally Jockos.

 

Many diesels are identified by sound. Ones I remember being used in the 1980s.

 

37 sounds like a Tractor.

50 like a Hoover.

40s whistled.

20s sounded like helicopters so Choppers.

Class 47 were Duffs as they were just that. MacDuffs were Scottish ones. 

Class 24 and 25s were Rats as they were everywhere.

 

 

 

Jason

[Steamport Southport]

2 minutes ago, lezz01 said:

Yes but the 4F was known as the "Big Goods" long before it was called a 4F just saying.

When is a bothy not a bothy? When it's a shed or a hut but it's still a bothy or a shed or a hut.

We all call a Fowler 3F tank a Jinty but they were not called a Jinty by the engine men or shed staff they were called Jockos.

So it's Yes but! No but! Yes but! add infinitum.

Regards Lez. 

 

They did around here. The crews still called the 08s Jinties well into the 1980s.

 

 

 

Jason

[John Besley]

9f - Spaceship 

Class 800's - Cucumbers 

 

And on another point did the LNER / ER ever double head with 60041 and 60039...

[lezz01]

11 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

They did around here. The crews still called the 08s Jinties well into the 1980s.

 

 

 

Jason

and yet everyone I know has always called the 08 gronks. I've never heard or them being called Jintys.

Regards Lez.

[PJT]

26 minutes ago, lezz01 said:

We all call a Fowler 3F tank a Jinty but they were not called a Jinty by the engine men or shed staff they were called Jockos.

 

'Bagnalls' on the Somerset & Dorset!

 

Plus, 3F tender locos were 'Bulldogs' and 4Fs 'Armstrongs'.

 

Pete T.

 

Edited February 7 by PJT
Added a couple

[Steamport Southport]

5 minutes ago, lezz01 said:

and yet everyone I know has always called the 08 gronks. I've never heard or them being called Jintys.

Regards Lez.

 

Any idea why as I never heard the term until recently?

 

I though a gronk was a cuddly toy!

 

 

Jason

[Kirby Uncoupler]

Crikey, i've opened the floodgates with this nickname topic. No rude ones please, like the LBSCR I3 class wozzit, that lacked strength, and didn't pull very well?  

                                                                         Cheers, Brian. 🙂

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, 30368 said:

 

I think you may be correct Peter, Coffee Pot was surely a Southern Q1 0-6-0? A "Flat Top" was an original Bulleid Pacific.

 

Kind regards,

 

30368

Weren't Q1s called 'Buckets'? Or 'Charlies'?

 

Never having seen one until after I'd changed from being a trainspotter to a railway enthusiast, I don't know.

 

Regards,

 

Tony.