davefrk

Hi all, just found this thread again, I couldn't seem to find it in the search - I was looking for 'guards vans'..... Okay then. Hi Porcy Mane, I was hoping you would pop up, thanks for all the info, I hope it gives something for Paul (hmrs) to work on. I will be at Blyth on Saturday hope to see you and Duncan there. The Hornby van looks better than the Bachmann one. I'll be having one of those and replacing the buffers for 'square' Dowty's. Incidently the buffers on the van in the picture aren't quite right as they've made the top and bottom ribs the same where-as there should be three full length ribs with only the top one ending short, (I can supply all the correct buffers for the van now as I've just released Dowty's and Oleos today) All the best, Dave Franks www.lanarkshiremodels.com

Hi, no, the Dowty's and Oleo's all come with 330mm heads as well as the next size up, the Oleo's went even bigger later. Regards, Dave Franks

Hi Paul and Nigel, the link Paul gives has five vans with round Dowty's on, both lengths and the quote from Gent's book is IMHO incorrect as Dowty buffers were used first before Oleo's come out around 58/59. In my research for these buffers I found many wagons built around 1957/58 fitted with the round Dowty's. The most well known 'square Dowty' fitment was the single bolster wagons, others were match wagons and a batch of BR guards vans all around 1957. I will try to get copies of the photos for you Paul, IIRC at least one of which was new ex works. I'll also look out some further photo references of Dowty's. My interest in these Dowty buffers? My father was assistant works manager at Dowty's early 50s to 1962 and he talked about the ramp they built outside his office window where these buffers were tested when under development. They always seemed to let a wagon go down the ramp and into another just when he was on the phone!!!!! Regards, Dave Franks Edit, now found even more looking through the other lists of BR vans Paul.

I understand the first of these vans to have Hydraulic buffers have the early 'square' Dowty's (like the BR single bolster wagons) I've been shown three different photos of the same batch of vans with these buffers on but I can't remember if they had roller bearings or not. The next batches had the round Dowty buffer at 1'81/2'' with instanter couplings and then 2'01/2'' buffers with screw couplings. The reason I say this is I've just done the first cast of these and the Oleo pneumatic buffers for release next week. I'd planned on doing one of my vans with the square Dowty's but the axlebox question is bugging me. Regards, Dave Franks

Just browsing Ebay and came across this..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kit-Built-Parkside-LMS-Vent-Van-wagon-WEATHERED-LOOK-/280711195352?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item415bb0ead8 Would you trust this person to build you an accurate wagon..... :laugh: Sorry, couldn't stop myself. Dave.

Just seen this, http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item2312597d7e it looks like an Airfix one to me.... in an old Hornby box. Shiney handrails, valvegear, wheels and BR crest in wrong place on tender. Dave.

Hi, Funny this subject should come up now. I'm in the process of casting some capstans and pulleys for wagon turntables, goodsheds and quaysides. I'll post a photo and details shortly. Dave Franks, www.lanarkshiremodels.com

Hi Paul and Paul, the instructions were right AFAIR, it was the picture on the box that had the wagon number on the right hand panel. I was caught out with that all those years ago. Dave Franks. www.lanarkshiremodels.com

Don't know that one Dave.... But I must have heard it as 'Planet Rock' radio is on the DAB or' listen again' most of the day in the workshop. Sometimes CDs- Joe Bonamassa, Elbow, Floyd, Tull, etc.. You get my drift. B) Cheers, Dave Franks. P.S. Was chatting to Stewart G. last night.

Hi, this Ammonia train in the fifties was often doubleheaded over the Wharfedale line through Ilkley. It was usual to see a LNE J39 or two or B16, WD 2-8-0 sometimes combinations of all and eastbound, sometimes a Skipton LMS 4F, 8F or other exLMS engine would be helping the struggling LNE one, it was built a joint MR/NER line afterall. The oil train refered to in some posts in this period was composed of the old 10,12 ton unfitted tanks like the ones Bachmann did recently in a three pack marked Shell/BP, again mostly doubleheaded with the same combinations as the Ammonia trains. The Ammonia tanks at this time were the wartime built tanks similar to the old white liveried Hornby Dublo Chlorine tanks we all remember but were a larger diameter tank on the same chassis, these unfitted tanks lasted into the sixties in the WD, MOS and ICI liveries mixed together ad-hock. The photo shows the later vacuum fitted tanks but there are still photos of these tanks doubleheaded by steam. To be fair though the doubleheading on these unfitted trains was as much to help the braking as assisting the train engine, forty full oil tanks took a lot of stopping..... How do I know all this? ..... I'm modeling the line and have been building up the stock for it. 35 oil tanks of various types and WDs to haul them. The Ammonia train will be 14 scratchbuilt tanks plus barrier wagons which was around the limit for a J39 so sometimes it might be doubleheaded with anything as mentioned above. Interesting discussion. Dave Frk.

Anyone comment on Elbow's new album, heard them on Radcliffe and Maconie last week, not bad..... Might spend some railway monies! Or maybe save it for the Ultrascale Britannia drivers.... Dave F. Good to speak to you at Glasgow Jamie.

Well, I've recovered, actually it wasn't as loud as I expected (maybe I'm more deaf than I used to be) The Australian Pink Floyd were brilliant, close yer eyes and it was the real thing.... but then you'd miss the light and laser show. I would recommend them to any fan, superb.B) Dave F.

Today mostly listening to Planet Rock Radio, lots of good stuff but...... Tonight it's off to see PINK FLOYD...... the Aussie ones though, should still be good as the pundits rate them highly. I'll report back tomorrow, when my ears stop bleeding....B) Dave F.