BMacdermott

Hello Deepfat One simple method (depending on how 'visually accurate' your track needs to be) is to leave a slight gap between a rail joint. Alternatively, if you want the wagons to stop in particular places, just snip a 'v' notch out of plain track - but make sure the two notches are exactly opposite! This enables the wheels to 'drop' into the gap. It might be worth experimenting on some bits of old track if you have any. Of course, if you have lots of wagons in the rake, gravity may take over and pull them out. Any excessive gap could be 'hidden' with grass or weeds etc. I use this method in my sorting sidings which slightly run down away from the yard throat. Brian

Hello Tony and everyone who makes this thread so interesting and informative. I wonder if anyone can help me with an operational query? In the Summer 1958 GN CWN (courtesy Robert Carroll), there was a 9.10amSO Hertford North to Skegness. The formation from Hitchin was given as: BSK (3) TSO Mk1 TSO MK1 FK Thompson TSO Mk1 BSK (3) CK Thompson SK (8) SK (8) BSK (3) The front six were weekday Suburban CW No.51. The rear four were from Hertford North, attached at Hitchin. My questions are: What class of loco worked from Hertford North? How were the four Hertford North coaches attached to the rear of the six at Hitchin? What class of loco worked the train onwards? Are there any known photos? The same set came back later that day but, of course, with the four now leading. At Hitchin, it was presumably a simple unhook with the train loco taking them to Hertford North. I wonder if the service caused something of a problem because, in 1959, the train was shown as being the six coaches only. I don’t have a 1960 GN CWN, but the Summer PTT shows an 8.58am from Enfield Chase. The 1951 GN CWN shows a Saturday Only 6-coach train (similar to above) running Hitchin-Skegness. Many thanks Brian

Hello 34C Last August, I prepared a table for MREmag showing steam locos announced or produced from all-new tooling since 2000 by the major makers. I have summarised that below (updated to today). It excludes duplications: LNER: 28 (five tank, 23 tender) LMS: 27 (eight tank, 19 tender) GWR: 23 (11 tank, 12 tender) SR: 19 (eight tank, 11 tender) Brian

Hello 34C The Stirling Single fared as below: 2012: Middle Polling 2013: High Polling (7th in the LNER Loco list) 2014: High Polling (3rd in the LNER Loco list) Bear in mind that the K1, J15, Claud, Q6, P2, Atlantic, Director, V2 and B12/3 were all ahead of it in 2012, but were subsequently announced - allowing it some space to move up the LNER ladder. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello No Decorum Checking the recent results, I find: 2014: SR Breakdown Crane (from the Top 50); 94xx (just three votes outside The Top 50); and they 'took over' production of the Class 117 (which was in The Top 50). 2015: This was something of a 'consolidation year' so we only saw the 2 HAP (which made a lot of sense). 2016: Class 20/3 (from the Top 75); 1P 0-4-4T, Prestwin and Vanwide (High Polling); Class 410 (Middle Polling, but only by one vote). Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello again Joseph I have just checked a recent Poll in respect of individual votes for individual subjects and am happy that there is a fair spread of people who vote for specific Autocoaches as opposed to any 'blanket voting'. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello Joseph The validity or otherwise of The Poll has been discussed many times. The Poll Team recognises that it isn't 'perfection personified' but no-one has yet come up with a viable alternative that is as comprehensive. Bear in mind also that The Team provides The Guide To The Poll, giving outline history details and relevant information to assist voters. Perhaps it's time for Neal Ball to run one of his specific focus Polls? If he does, may I ask that the content is open for discussion prior to firming up a list. Recent Polls have started up only to have items amended or added. If Neal wants any of The Poll Guide data, I'm happy to supply it. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello Joseph May I suggest that this thread is not the place to discuss the pros and cons of The Poll? I am simply reporting some results which may be relevant. To answer your point whist here, The Team has considered many options for The Poll, but has always returned to the original concept. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello Oz The Bachmann Autocoach was High Polling in 2012 (just behind what is now the Hornby Colletts) and was removed for 2013. Ian (#58) may be interested to know that the following have been announced since the 2016 Results were published: 3 items from The Top 50 7 items from the remaining High Polling segment 3 items from the Middle Polling segment 0 items from the Low Polling segment. Brian (of The Poll Team)

Hello everyone I thought you might like to see a summary of The Results of The Wishlist Poll 2014-2016 in respect of the B-set and GWR Autocoaches. As you will see, the B-set is consistently highest (just); there is not much differentiation between the four GWR Autocoaches; and the BR-built A44 has been consistently lower. The B-set and GWR types were all ‘high polling’ (the bracket which in 2016 covered 443-164 votes) ; the A44 ‘middle polling’ (163-120 votes) GWR Collett B-set (1930-1931, 1933-1936) 206 - 2014 206 - 2015 230 - 2016 GWR Autocoach – Steel-panelled Collett (Diags.A27, A28, A30, of 1928-32) 210 - 2014 202 - 2015 202 - 2016 GWR Autocoach – Wood-panelled 70ft (e.g. Diags.E, L, P, T and U, of 1905) 174 - 2014 157 - 2015 199 - 2016 GWR Autocoach – Wood-panelled 59ft 6in (Diags.J & N, of 1906/7) 162 - 2014 160 - 2015 197 - 2016 GWR Autocoach – Wood-panelled Ex-Steam Railmotor 70ft (Diag.A26 of 1928-36) 179 - 2014 171 - 2015 193 - 2016 (GWR) Autocoach – BR-built (Diag.A44 of 1955) 128 - 2014 111 - 2015 132 – 2016 Brian Macdermott (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello everyone A photo on page 55 of David Percival's book King's Cross Lineside 1958-1984 shows a set at King's Cross on 16 October 1965. The caption says it was making a trial run from Leeds. Brian

Many thanks to the TCS for an excellent show. Thoroughly enjoyed it all! Brian

Hello everyone A picture of W68571 (as made by Hornby in BR Grey) appears on page 7 of the book Railways in Profile No.5 - Cattle & Brake Vans. In the panel next to the number, someone has chalked the name: "The Potsmill Flyer" (or maybe Postmill?). Can anyone throw any light on this inscription? It might be a nice little bespoke lettering job for those so inclined. I received my vans today and am very impressed with them. The handrails are very fine as are the front and rear lamp irons. Many thanks to Hornby! Brian

Hello Greg Photo plate 30 in Terry Gough's book The Southern West of Salisbury shows No.35009 working tender first from Axminster to Exeter with five Mk1 non-gangwayed coaches in August 1960. This was the 8.00am departure and was almost certainly a return working from Exeter. Brian

Hello Colin If you would like to PM me, I will contact Pat Hammond on your behalf. Brian

Hello everyone Readers may like to see: Famous Layouts - A Railway Modeller Special No.2 (1990). That has two Berrow articles - one seems to be a reprint of the June 1960 version as well as an all-new one specifically for this publication (Berrow Rebuilt). In that, Mac says: "A fresh timetable is being worked out on the lines of John Charman's quite classic article in the RM of February". I was in touch with Mac back in the 80s when I was Publications Manager for the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust and he was very kind to send in some lovely photos. I'll have a look through my files to see if I still have his letter - it may hold some clues about his timetable. Brian

Hello everyone Congratulations to Rails and Rapido on what looks to be a lovely model. It has been High Polling in The Wishlist Poll since 2014 and was within the Top 100 in 2016. Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Many thanks Rodney. I'll PM you with my email address. Brian

Hello Rodney I am not a member of the project but would welcome a copy. I'd be happy to reciprocate anything that I have. Brian

Hello Phil The book you mention is one that deserves another look as it covers WR services specifically on 9 July 1960 - not just the West of England. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone. I have known the author (Richard Woodley) for well over 30 years and can vouch for his diligent and detailed research. If I were cast away to a desert island, my signed copy would definitely come with me! All the best Brian

Hello everyone I thought you might like to see how today's Oxford's announcements fared in The Wishlist Poll 2016. The GER N7 0-6-2T was in the Top 50. The Class A & B Tanks were not listed as they have already been announced by Heljan. The Warwell wasn't listed as it has been announced by Hattons. The GWR AA3 Toad Brake Van wasn't listed as we previously had AA15 and 6-wheeled versions listed - and they have been announced. (We referred to the '4-wheel spin-off' in The Guide notes appertaining to the 6-wheeled version.) That brings the running total of items announced from The Poll since the results of 2016 to: 3 - Top 50 4 - High Polling (other than Top 50) 1 - Middle Polling (and that missed being High by just one vote). Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

Hello Roger Firstly, all the best with this excellent project. I am following it with great interest! If you want 'first hand knowledge' of the operational aspects of the station, you won't do much better than speak with Peter Smith who I know was at one of your first meetings. If you don't have his contact details, please feel free to PM me. Brian

Hello 81C It would be impossible for us to list every variation... hence we noted certain diagrams in The Poll Guide as possibly meeting the needs of many. The 2016 Poll listed 22 GWR coach types/ranges; Neal's list of Toplights only is about the same content. As we said in the Poll Q&A, there are over 400 types of GWR diagrams, so we have to draw a line somewhere. Neal's survey is a way of trying to sort wheat from chaff. Brian

Hello 81c The best John can offer is that plating over may have started in the later 1930s but there are no actual records that he knows of. All part of the difficulty in sorting out what is a major task! Brian

Hello Ian More reliable records indicate that 58086 was towed away from Bath Green Park on 10 August 1960. Brian