The Stationmaster

As recounted by Gerry Fiennes about an occasion when an RAF party visited Whitemoor to find out the best way of 'dealing with' a marshalling yard.

Insixfish vans were still in use on the WR in 1963 according to a photo taken by George Heiron. The loco hauling the train in that photo didn't enter traffic until November 1962 so there's no substantial reason to be doubtful over the date stated in the photo caption. Several sources suggest that the vehicles were transferred away from the WR c.1962-64 and seemingly mainly in 1963. Some remaining Fish Traffic on the WR was carried in insulated containers but fish had disappeared as tail traffic by c.1966/67.

There was a story about at one time vconcerning some sort of Work Study expert who had spent some time in the Bristol Yard at Severn Tunnel Jcn. He put in a report that he'd noticed significant gaps between the end of track in sidings and the stop blocks for those sidings. He concluded from this observation that the sidings had obviously once been longer and that now they were shorter they were still perfect adequate for theh job Whilet he didn't explain where the track had gone between the end of the sidings and the stop blocks suggested that it would be pointless and expensive to replace it as the shorter sidings seemed quite adequate. I reckon someone in the yard 'forgot' to tell him how and why there was a gap between the end of the sidings and the stop blocks. Alas for him his report was not acted on..

Quite agree but it has long been the case that this sort of problem should be recognised in the railway's SMS (Safety Management System) by incorporating refresher training/supervised updating and be taken into account when rostering people in safety critical, especially train working, roles. The Inspectorate were pushing that hard in SMS checks and visits to minor and leisure railways a decade ago and were very keen on proper maintenance of the related competence and work frequency records. I realise that some railways might have staffing problems. But explaining away something by playing the 'lack of regular familiarity' card, or failure to carry out repairs 'due to pressure of other work' card, were taken out of the Manual of Handy Excuses - even on heritage and leisure railways - a long time ago

Agree absolutely - the weathering on the arms makes them look very convincingly real. But the whole signal is as much the work of a very observant artist as it is the work of a skilled model maker. Smashing stuff once again Jon.

Excellent service - as usual - from 'Not Jeremy' always encourages me to buy direct from this publisher. And what a superb piece of work this book is - it might seem pricey but it's well worth the money; a good investment if siphons rock your boat.

It depends on the periodicity used for works visits (for other than work arising). This changed considerably over the years, particularly during the Collett era and even then it was not entirely mileage dependent with boiler condition also being an important decider irrespective of mileage (e.g 'bad' water meant more frequent visits for major boiler work than 'good' water).

Has a gentle slide in the Hrnby share privcce now begun I wonder? The Trading Statement seemed to have no effect but the offer price has dropped by c.10% from end of last week down to this morning. Over 40,000 shares traded so far today which isn't even a minor flea bite of the total number of shares in issue but is a noticeable increase in the number of daily trades.

Don't forget that lots of pathing opportunities which once existed for steam specials simply don't exist any more especially in the vicinity of London. For example the Liz Line has killed most of the steam pathing opportunities from Padd. The other thing - which some of us coud see coming a good while back - is the issue of costs against revenue. The market had to move upwards to bring in higher fares by offering dining and 'Pullman style' dining because the majority of enthusiasts would rather spend their money on photoraphing trains instead of paying to travel on them. But the premium market, even in the good times economically, is only ever going to be a certain size and won't necessarily support as many tours as it once did. Costs have increased for numerous reasons many of them accidents of history when it comes. to crewing or the result of political decisions when it comes to coal supply and finding decent quality coal (Russia for example was at one time a good source of pretty good quality coal for steam working). Add in ageing vehicles with increasing maintenance costs let alone updating safety features and you are in the classic double edged situation of rising costs vs shrinking market driving higher fares which further shrink the market. The only thing which amazes me is that it has lasted as long as it has to the extent which it has. Som emarkets might well remain reasonably bouyant but thewider market is simply not as good as it was.

One of my Shunters did that when parting a couple of News Siphons - forgot to unclip the gangways. Far more impressive result in his case as neither gangway was badly damaged and they remained together - but it did pul the complete end off one of the Siphons.

It would be fascinating if a bit of competition were to give Hornby's latest 'top brass' a nudge because competition doesn't seem to have had much impact on most of the previous incumbents. Perhaps, and hopefully, bringing marketing people in from outside not only the model railway hobby tent (and the even tighter Hornby tent) but with wider 'optional purchase' market experience might make a difference?

You're doing yourself a disservice. There is something fascinating, and almost mystical, about the movement of an outside framed engine with the moving coupling rod almost giving it a look of floating along. Even when working hard looking towards the engine as the train tackles rising gradients that look is still there. It might be beauty in the eye of the beholder but I think there is more to it than that and it is even more impressive when you are riding on the engine looking over the cab side sheet at the movement of the coupling rod. the real problem nowadays is that the chances of watching an outside from engine at work are somewhat limited to say the least - but don't miss it should you ever get the chance.

The mag has permission to use the Hornby name and that has been public knowledge for a good while. Whether or not they pay to use it would be a commercial matter between the two organisations so we don;t know the answer to that and never will. But the big thing for Hornby is that the front page of the magazine is putting their name in front of tens of thousands of people who might otherwise think the company no longer exists or that it had gone the way of umpteen other British brands. I suspect that far more people visit places like WHS, or other retailers selling magazines etc, than ever visit model railway retailers' premises so it's good advertising that creates brand awareness..

I doubt it makes much difference except possibly to what is actually bought. Kernow were buying & selling stuff off the mountain well before Hattons were back on Hornby's Christmas Card list. And there are others who no doubt get a chance at this stuff. What is really relevant is how much the end of Hattons did, or didn't reflect the way the overall model railway market has changed as those who were previously loyal buyers from them will simply have gone elsewhere - as happened when they ceased to stock Bachmann and Hornby.

Wot no Izal ! (something which i say with mixed feelings). Very nice of Bachmann to do the bauxite ones in the right markings etc detail for me.