Grampus

Hi Peter, watching from the lineside, the deterioration in the Cromptons' external appearance was readily apparent once they started to stretch their legs and spend extended periods 'off-world' in far away places. Up until that point I seem to remember that they were always fairly tidy; certainly never filthy, though that might just be my rose-tinted spectacles looking back 30 years or so. To answer your question, yes, I am attempting to model the Salisbury area, though a bit further west on the single line section. However, for all the usual reasons, progress on my small layout is glacially slow, though I have acquired more than enough stock to populate something rather larger! One day perhaps. Sorry to hijack your thread with South Western ramblings. To get back on topic, Llanbourne is always on my 'must look at' list: for me it captures the railway I remember perfectly ( - even though I am not really familiar with the area.) Your modelling is to a consistently high standard, everything gels together nicely without jarring and you have a great knack for capturing the mundane and the everyday aspects of the railway, which give it that extra 'reality'. A great talent. I will continue to look forward to your updates. Best wishes, Paul

Hi Peter, some more fantastic pictures - thank you. Wonderfully atmospheric and great modelling inspiration. The wagons provide some interesting insights as well: I knew I bought those cheap BDAs for a reason! Funny you should mention a 37 on the Pompeys: I did see one - and only the one - one Saturday afternoon in early summer, probably '83. Sorry I cannot be any more precise - I was never a basher. However, if I recall correctly it departed for Soton at 18.20(ish), so I am guessing it left BTM at about 1710L, presumably substituting for a failed Crompton. I don't recall ever hearing an explanation, but doubtless there will be those on here who might be able to fill in the blanks. It's always interesting to find out what turned up when you weren't about - I know both my last 'required' 47s both did on a regular basis - apparently - or so my mates at the time told me... Best wishes, Paul

The 'Goyle' is interesting, too. Initially I assumed it was from the period when they worked the Bristol-Pompeys, but having looked again it is clearly somewhat later. The loco has lost its bodyside banding and is much cleaner than I remember the Bath Road ETH examples ever being! The station buildings have also been cleaned up and repainted - from memory that was around 1984/85? Funnily enough, not too long before NSE days, when it all got painted again! Was it substituting for a Crompton on a Bristol service, perhaps? Happy days - thanks again. Paul

Awesome! Cheers Peter: that's really made my day! Sat at work, grinning like a Cheshire cat - in my lunch break, obviously... Thanks for posting these. Best wishes, Paul

Hi Peter, many thanks for posting these: the Crompton pics certainly brought back memories, especially the Salisbury shot. I too used to haunt the end of platform 6 on occasion! Best wishes, Paul

Peter, I think you are in good company: birthdays are why diaries were invented! ....I can never remember them either; well, not until the day after, usually... I certainly remember the Turbots I saw at that time as being particularly bright - they stood out because of the ( - for then) gharish livery. Funny how traditional it looks now. In any event, they do look very purposeful sat behind the peak in the photograph. Best wishes, Paul

. Hi all. Don't know whether it helps but I would put Dutch liveried Turbots as early as 1983. I used to cycle to school via Salisbury railway station most mornings and there was invariably a set of fresh looking (loaded) turbots, usually behind a Crompton, sat in either platform 3 or 4. I left school in July 83. Best wishes, Paul

Mine also received today and very pleased I am with it too - it certainly looks the part. Just need to build a layout big enough to run it on a rake of toothpaste mk IIs now! Best wishes, Paul

One of the last loco-hauled runs I had on the Waterloo-Exeter, back in the day and therefore definitely fulfils engagement parameters! Just ordered mine...good job the better half is away! Come on Postie!... Well done, Kernow. Best wishes, Paul

Thought I had posted this one previously, but a quick scan back through the thread seems to say 'not', so here goes: 'Victorious' at a sunny Salisbury on an Exeter-bound service, sometime in mid '83/'84(ish...) Happy days! All the best, Paul

That is certainly an eclectic mix of armour. The tank at the extreme left on the rearmost row appears to be a Matilda. In keeping with Ludgershall's role as a depot, I suppose: bound to be a variety of stuff lying about. Paul

There were indeed two other 47s on shed on Tuesday: 47847 in large logo blue (looking very tidy); and a further dark blue/yellow one, which I took to be another ROG-operated loco (ex-DRS perhaps?) but unfortunately, without binoculars I was unable to read the number. ( - were they always that small or did my eyes just deteriorate? ) As for 37670, it was certainly parked there but I know not why. I am not local: I just popped down there 'to see what I could see'. Best wishes, Paul

Personally I don't mind it. Just happy to see some traditional traction moving about, particularly in what is almost a 'proper ' livery. Mind you, given that 47/8s had long-range fuel tanks - Extended Range - perhaps the operator should consider incorporating this feature into their branding and label their locos 'ROGERs'. T Taxi for one!....... Best wishes, Paul

Back to work tomorrow for a rest. I went down to the bridge at Leicester 'on spec', just to see what I could see. I was amazed just how much was there. albeit it is quite difficult to see anything up close. Said 47 was towing around a Europhoenix 37 initially (37884). Quite made my day! :-)

Seen earlier today, shuttling around the yard at Leicester; and very good it looked, too - sounded nice as well. A welcome encounter ( I had gone down there looking for one of my last couple of 56s 'for sight'.) Been a long time since I saw a 47 wandering about on the big railway. Best wishes, Paul

I certainly recall the occasional Mk 2 Brake/First (BFK? Not good with the carriage codes!) in the Pompey sets in the mid-80s (circa 84-87) when I was a regular customer, with family in Salisbury and studying in Bristol. Rest of the set was always Mk 1s though - happy days! Best wishes, Paul

Peter, awesome Crompton snaps! The picture of '026 had me foxed - it was only the kaydee that gave the game away eventually. Inspirational stuff - thank you. Best wishes, Paul

Just found another one, taken on the same day, with a couple of them in an empty westbound rake: two are visible immediately to the left of the '47, with a Yeoman coupled between them. Best wishes, Paul

Evening all, though I have previously posted this picture in another thread on here, thought this snap of an ex-Salt PGA in the middle of an eastbound Yeoman set at Salisbury might be of use. Though I don't recall the date ( - never thought to record such things then) it was mid-1980s (poss 1984 and almost certainly before 1986 - not a hint of any NSE colours in any of the other shots from that day). For a while these wagons appeared quite regularly, hunting in packs of half a dozen or so and tagged on to the back of sets of the more common versions. Hope that helps. Cheers, Paul

Very nice indeed, Rob. Layout looking really good as well. Roll on Monday - I'll get mine when the PO re-opens. Sigh....:-) Paul

Jon, thanks - that's brilliant: the video also provides some good material on how the doors actually slide and overlay each other - I was wondering! Much appreciated. Regards, Paul

Dear Martyn, thanks for your kind offer. You have a PM. Cheers, Paul

Dear all, a big 'thank you' collectively for all the information you have provided: that really helps and will certainly enable me to get on with the plastic-bashing (I have already made a start, cutting one of the sides in half and fettling all the bits and bobs - quite refreshing: I feel like a proper modeller again!). As and when I have something worth looking at I will post some snaps. Rivercider, I love the story of 'trimming' the plywood packing by forklift - I must try and incorporate that into the cameo - you can't make that sort of detail up!...... :-) Roy, I am enjoying your kit: it still looks good and certainly suits my purposes. I hope to do it justice. Thanks again all, Happy Modelling. Paul

Evening all, I wondered if anybody could help with some information concerning VGA interiors, please? My reason for asking is that I recently acquired one of the old Roy Gould VGA kits, which I intend to build as a static cameo with a door slid back and a cargo of beer kegs (or something similarly medicinal!) being unloaded by forklift. It should look nice parked down the end of a siding and will make a handy alternative buffer stop! ( NB. I have no wish to try to make it a 'runner'! I have several Bachmann examples - I just could not bear to chop one up!) I found some great photographs on 'Rivercider's' wonderful 'Western Region 1980s' Freight' thread (thank you very much indeed!) which I am using as inspiration: however, it is difficult to make out the specifics. It looks as though there is an interior lining of some sort: I am assuming plywood or similar, perhaps akin to your average 'white van'? However, it looks as though it might be painted - pale grey, perhaps? - but difficult to tell in black and white. Equally, I can see nothing of the floor detail - I am guessing it would be similar? Whilst I can cover much of it up with beer kegs, pallets, etc, it would be nice to get it right if at all possible. Any insights you might be able to offer would be much appreciated, please. Many thanks. Hopefully, Paul

Evening all, a couple of preservation shots from me this evening. First, 'Sir Edward Hercules' ( or perhaps 'Hercules Elgar' ?!) looking a bit forlorn at the Midland Railway Centre 'do' in August 2013. And then my attempts at a couple of 'arty' shots of 'Lion' at the Mid-Hants in April 2013 ( - or, my excuse for not managing to get to a position where I could take a half-decent 'portrait' shot.) Happy days! Oh to see them on a rake of NSE Mk IIs again! Best wishes, Paul