Tim Hale

Dapol once offered an RTR version.

Hi, After leaving Cowley Bridge junction - which route would have been taken by the Meldon stone trains- presumably east on the SW Mainline? If so, would the Class 45 remained with the train? Or would they have been run around and head north east via Taunton? Tim

IIRC, the U1's were not well received and were replaced as quickly as possible. Bu there again my memory is not that good. Tim

I once watched a regional 'news' slot concerning a NIMBY (blow-in) decrying the use of a wind-turbine that was 1500m from her property and out of her eyeline blocked by a belt of trees. Her objection was the 'whistling and hum' from the turbine- at which point the news team attempted to capture the racket - absolute silence except the noise of the wind in the trees (above) Her response to the lack of noise was ' they (turbines) only make noises at night' - at which point a slight sniggering was heard from a member of the news team. Tim

If I recall correctly, on another RMweb discussion (see link), it seemed that these particular coaches were designed for use on WoE trains where the extra luggage space was needed but found them to be an operating liability. Whilst the lo-window versions were are supposed to have been re-deployed to the S&DJR, there is a 4-comp brake running through Basingstoke courtesy of the Southern Film Archive in the late 40's and Basingstoke is definitely off the S&DJR. Perhaps the re-deployment was not as rigorous as Mike King suggested as the traffic department used anything that was available on the South West mainline prior to the wholesale introduction of Bulleid stock? Whilst I think that I can understand your comment that the 'West of England isn't the same as west of Exeter' it really depends what is your perception of the WoE. Tim http://www.rmweb.co....8-sd-coach-pack

I think that it is rather good!

Thanks to Halfwit, may I present the A1/RT Models Ruston 48DS: The drive system is a Mashima with High Level gearbox.

Many thanks, Thankfully, I bought a couple of the '57 suburban add-on packs in addition to a large number of regular Maunsell coaches. Although nothing to do with P-sets, I was under the impression that that the high-window 4-comp brakes were also WoE vehicles, the extra luggage compartments were provided for the holiday traffic. Was that impression misplaced? Tim

Which sets can be created from the available Hornby Maunsells and which Hornby coaches should be used?

An Arthur, a Schools, couple of T9s, couple of M7s - repaints or am I mistaken? A Maunsell open, a Maunsell pull-push set, Bogie Bs in two liveries- of which the Maunsell 'open' is part of the P+P set plus the new B Bogie van. In reality, two and a half new items, I think that paucity sums it up quite well. However Hornby overeached themselves in 2011 and I am sure that 2012 will be a year of catch-up plus the possibility of a surprise in the 4th quarter. Please remember that the level of releases was no more than I predicted sometime ago and therefore I am not disappointed, moreover given the economic circumstances and Hornby's commitment to the 2012 London Olympics I do not think that I could have expected much more. Tim

As the discussion concerned the Hornby releases what relevance are the Kernow and Bachmann releases? Using the excuse that Kernow and Bachmann have produced something does nothing to mitigate the paucity of Hornby's releases. Tim

From the purely Southern aspect, not so much an announcement as an non-event however in these financially constrained times and Hornby's committment to London 2012, what should we expect? Rather than agree with everyone that the Bogie B* was an inspired choice, I would have preferred a thoroughly modern version of the SR aged utility van. Unfortunately the lack of releases does force the question what should been released but that can wait until the frothfest later this year but I do not expect any balanced response from Hornby as I cannot discern any logical content in their release programme unless it is to maximise margins for the quickest possible return. No Southern wagons is hardly surprising as there as no new wagons from Hornby and as I gaze across my goods sidings, the number of Hornby wagons that are of a sufficiently high standard to warrant their purchase is less than those from Parkside - the remainder arrive in nice blue boxes. Tim *Excuses have been made that the Ratio Bogie B is unpleasant to build however I find that it merely takes patience and fortitude to construct an accurate model from the kit- two qualities in short supply in today's modelling community?

Thanks guys, A combination of a Fordson + JCB front shovel or the JCB without the back hoe look suitably 'old' whilst the Caterpillar is nice (one on EBay.de) but I am looking at a 'make and mend' type of depot where anything that still worked was used. BTW, have you noticed that no one makes a coal merchants lorry in 4mm?

Hi, Happy new year to everyone. At present I am building a 60's diorama of a small coal concentration depot, most used a front loader or even a tractor with a front shovel - however I cannot find anything in 1:76 unless I use the old Airfix JCB without the rear hoe. Any better ideas? Tim

It is not too often that one encounters a piece of model railway archaeology but the box containing this Airfix van was marked 1977 and after a new set of Hornby wheels and Kadees, it has cleaned-up quite well. It is an SR standard uneven planked van in departmental livery, until I came across it on EBay I have never seen this model before but it is rather nice.

More structures: The Wills water tower is a rather nice model, the mouldings are exquisite and well suited to any area where the vernacular is stone e.g N.Cornwall, Isle of Purbeck etc. but all the buildings for Beaminster are brick construction. The solution is to utilise the tank, some Will brick walls and Ratio industrial windows- I almost forgot a scratchbuilt door. Bill built the base (and it is lovely) whilst the tank is my own work. One advantage, the result is approx. 25% taller than the original Wills structure and looks more like a proper water tower. Why do I need a tower, surely not for an intermediate station and a very small station? The plausible excuse is that Beaminster Road was the end of the very hilly branch to Beaminster hence the need for water, the fact that neither the branch nor Beaminster Road ever existed is overlooked. Some creeper vegetation from Mini-Natur should soften the hard outline of the building and I really should fabricate an outside ladder but is one really needed?

The Z's at war In May '43, three of the class, 951, 955 and 956 were loaned to War Department for use at Stranraer. They were repainted in dark grey, yellow lettering and red coupling rods whilst their numbers were changed to 213, 214 and 215 respectively. They were returned to the Southern Railway in December '43, no doubt back in Southern livery. Stranraer and its surrounding area saw a significant amount of activity during WW2, as it became a focus for anti U-boat work and it was the principal ferry terminal for traffic to Ulster.

Fairly good 'Z class' article in Iain Rice's Rail Model Digest issue one. Tim