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Dan Hamblin

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Posts posted by Dan Hamblin

  1. Curve radius is probably the biggest factor - I think flat bottom rail needs to be pre-formed below a certain radius, which would make it more difficult to store spare rail in the four foot. The taller flat bottom rail would cause issues as the passing clearances are around 25mm, but I'm sure that low profile rail fixings are now available to counteract this.

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

  2. It's only correcting a gap that has been getting smaller - Dormans was because of embankment slippage causing the gap to close up, so would have had to be done sooner or later otherwise you'd risk even the super narrow Class 377s not being able to get through.

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

    • Like 1
  3. Departure day - Met 1 leads the heritage train out of Northfields Depot with No. 12 Sarah Siddons and L150 bringing up the rear.

     

    gallery_101_1319_175058.jpg

     

    (Photo taken from a place of safety, clear of running lines, with zoom lens)

     

    The other two photos are in my gallery, plus various other LU images: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/album/1319-dans-photos/?st=100

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

    • Like 6
  4. A  surprise noticed by few was Brush-built L87 for London Undergound parked on test at Loughborough, coupled to a Mk3 test coach. This is a 4-wheel battery electric loco, fitted with a pantograph but no 3/4 rail shoe gear visible. I'm sure others will know more about this interesting little loco. Surprisingly it seems to be the first loco with this number.

     

    attachicon.gifL87 Lbro 311216.jpg

     

    attachicon.gifL87 Lbro 2 301216.jpg

     

    Dava

     

    Interesting photos, but apart from the conversion of Schoma diesel locos to battery electric I don't think LU have any other locos on order. A pantograph and lack of shoegear would suggest Crossrail maintenance trains more than LU (that is if it is destined for a TfL subsidiary).

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

    • Like 1
  5. I'm trying to find out how long the B12 & 8F are staying at the Bluebell. I won't be able to get to the Giants of Steam weekend so was thinking about the following Sunday or the Sunday after...weather dependent. So when are both locos going back home?

    Departing next week I believe, so this weekend is the only chance to see them in action.

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

  6. Purchased my version of 488 earlier this week, finally got around to unpacking it for running in and the cylinders fell off! As is common the cyliders are connected by a moulded bar across the chassis, but with a counter-sunk open ended slot rather than a counter-sunk single hole to secure it to the chassis block. The moulding has snapped on the end of the slot.

     

    It's a shame as the model looks superb and I want to get it running. An e-mail to Hornby will be in order...

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

  7. The current motive power situation is that 30541, 73082, 473, 323 and 3 are available for traffic, with 847 and 263 undergoing P&V and annuals in the works. The C and 178 are now limited to pilot duties, the former due to the wheel profile out of tolerance and there not being enough time left on the boiler ticket to allow re-profiling and the latter has a worn out cylinder block. 80151 and 928 are the large locos under overhaul, with 27 also being worked on. Beachy Head and 84030 conversion are more long term projects being worked on, with the former the more advanced of the two.

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

  8. Here are a few samples:

     

    attachicon.gifImage59.jpg

    Ian Morgan

    Hampshire

     

    A nice set Ian, but I don't think this one is from the Bluebell, as I don't believe 46203 has ever visited the railway. Nice thought for the future though (once 6201 is up and running :) ).

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

  9. There was also the work to reinstate vacuum brakes during 2012 so that it could work with the LU heritage train for the 150th Anniversary runs during 2013 and beyond. Most of the equipment is inside but new pipe runs were added along the solebar, plus of course there is the vacuum brake hose on the bufferbeams.

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

  10. The hoses are actually quite flexible, which is good because the standard tension lock coupler sits snuggly between them. The couplers do droop a bit though and seem lower than most other modern RTR stock. The model though really does capture the look of the real thing, the bogies particularly with the shoebeam safety brackets and rivetted bogie frame.

     

    On Sarah Siddons the headlights do shine red when it is on the rear of a train, but that has only really been used in the modern era when LU heritage trains run top-and-tail.

     

    post-101-0-26599000-1441571006_thumb.jpg

     

    post-101-0-44531500-1441571027_thumb.jpg

     

    post-101-0-30545000-1441571036_thumb.jpg

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

    • Like 9
  11. Got home from work yesterday and pleasantly surprised to find a box from Locomotion with GNR 251 in it. Model is superb - runs smoothly, oodles of detail, hauled six Gresley suburbans and an LMS inspection saloon ok around my layout with its second radius curves. It was very well packed resulting in no damage from transit.

     

    Keep up the great work guys, looking forward to future models from the National Collection.

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

  12. Invoking Rule No. 1 of model railways...

     

    post-101-0-49811200-1409506410_thumb.jpg

    Garratt with Inspection Saloon.

     

     

    post-101-0-72686800-1409506420_thumb.jpg

    Garratt with Devon Belle Observation Car.

     

     

    post-101-0-28650500-1409506416_thumb.jpg

    Garratt with both. It didn't like propelling the observation car - lead pony truck kept derailing.

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

    • Like 8
  13. Personally I think LNER garter blue or even the 1950s BR blue would look quite nice on it, but alas, thanks to the rebuilding, we will never know.

     

    Regards,

     

    Dan

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