IWCR

Dont copy Dapol pipework, my Terrier W9 model has the Westinghouse feed coming out of the cab doorway (correct), this is the pipe to the left of the top (steam) cylinder on the pump, the pipe on the right of this cylinder is the steam exhaust, this should go up and over the right hand tank and vanish into the R/H side of the smokebox however on my model as supplied it connects to a steam valve on top of the boiler (wrong). Pete

I would ignore all polls. they will justify the opinion of those paying for them. Some years ago where I live there was a planning application for two very large wind turbines, the applicant had an telephone poll carried out to produce a report showing general public support for these. I was one of those contacted, on going through address and post code details I was told my opinion was not wanted and would not be recorded as they already had enough results from my post code. The post code in question covers a total of 3 properties all of which were less than 400 yards from the Turbine site. Fortunately there is also the largest roost in europe of a rare bat type less than 200 yards from the site! Pete

Back in the 80's I worked for a local council. Their Policy then was a minimum of 1 1/2 off road parking spaces per property includung flats. One developer didnt want this, wanting to jam more properties in and they appealled the planning condition.. He won, central government granted the appeal and also awarded costs against the council. This was of course followed by a free for all, I dont know the current rules. Pete

HMS Prince of Wales NOT seen off the IOW this Sunday, was supposed to be but didnt leave Portsmouth as scheduled. (as mentioned in the link) Picture was taken around 18 months ago on a previous break down. Pete

Had this this morning, looking at the Penryn Castle thread at about 10.05, suddenly just went into the McAfee page, clicking return put me back in the whats new index where I had been before the Penryn page. Pete

There is a detailed painting specification in existence issued by the Isle of Wight Central Railway to Brighton works for the painting of the Terriers purchased by them. This spec is far and above anything the Central would have done themselves however the repaint was part of the purchase price. Anything the Central painted red themselves was likely a Red Oxide base colour with varnish over, there was a noted reluctance to spend money. Pete

A US problem is that many trains are relatively slow and often very long, there is always a temptation to beat the train to a crossing or your stuck there for some time. In urban areas with faster trains this is not a good idea. If you look at videos intended to give Americans some advice on driving in europe there is emphasis on NEVER try and beat the train. European trains can and do run at 100mph+ Pete

Yes I was aware of the problems with the coal mine however at the end of the day the Welsh Government has decided it wants to go green totally, this was the last significant mine, there is now no large scale coal mining at all, it and the jobs are gone. Industries which need the coal then also end. Tata have announced they will go electric (with government help) but this is a large reduction in workforce and there is nothing now tying the facility to this site. When the subsidies dry up expect total closure, it is cheaper to make the bulk iron and steel abroad where the ore is mined. Pete

The coal mine serving Port Talbot closed last year, still viable but not wanted by the Welsh government. Now with Iron Ore and the coal both needed to be imported the closure of the blast furnaces was inevitable. Government Policy, export the pollution. Pete

I suspect the layout at Axminster was because the station was there and well established with the goods yard to the south long before the Lyme Regis branch was thought of. The branch was built by a separate company and as far as the LSWR was concerned it was a lot less disruptive for the branch platform to be on the north (undeveloped) side of their station than spend large sums altering the goods yard to allow for someone else's branch platform on this side. A bridge crossing to the north avoids conflict with the main line and reduces the gradient off it although it then needed a ramp on the north side to reach the bridge height. Pete

Weathering looks very good, these vans were always filthy, the design being difficult to clean. My local preserved railway bought a number around 1980, one was a reasonably clean BR Blue, the others all-over Brake Dust brown. These were assumed to be Blue, later it was discovered one of these was actually still in BR green with only 1 or 2 replaced boards in Blue. Pete

I have seen this map sold some years ago as a reproduction along with the SR IOW, full SR and an LBSCR map. They were available loose or in a frame as shown above. No doubt similar available for other regions. The IOW maps in the Isle of Wight Steam Railway stock are mainly repros, a give away is the dot for Portsmouth Harbour station is blue, I think the originals are white. As bought they are marked as a reprint with a modern date but this is right on the edge and would be behind the frame (also easily cut off). Pete

Done some Corrugated sheets with aluminum foil pressed over the tines of a comb. Pete

No "tarred Stone Wagons". There were several Gas Works very near the railway as well as Ryde which had internal sidings, Cowes, Shanklin and St Helens had adjoining sidings, Newport received deliveries from the running line on the viaduct above which incorporated a coal chute. Perhaps the Tar traffic was to concentrate the Tar to one of these sites which could then handle tarred roadstone for road delivery or for export by sea as chemical feedstuff. Tar would not have far to go so could be delivered before it cooled if timed correctly. Pete

Most goods arrived by sea by small coaster type vessels, the passenger ferries carried small items such as mail which would travel in guards vans or passenger rated vans, fish was an incoming traffic to Ryde then carried by passenger trains, yes dedicated vans were provided by the SR. The fish likely originated from the main London markets. Fish was still arriving this way into the 60's but by then on a smaller scale not justifying the vans. Likely fruit and other perishables were also carried. The SR had a number of small coasters, barges, tugs etc but a lot of use was made by private companies vessels. Prior to the first car ferries barges were often towed behind the paddle ferry or by a dedicated tug for moving bulk items, road vehicles or livestock, at Ryde these were landed at a slipway adjacent to Esplanade station. (now the location of the Hovercraft terminal). The "Carrier" ran for several years but was not a success, the crossing was often to rough for it to operate. There are no known photos of mainland wagons on the Island (or vice-versa) but there must have been some use, there are records of bills from mainland companies for in traffic wagon repairs for IWC wagons so some of these found their way over. A traffic gone in early SR days was oil, this was carried in "Royal Daylight" private owner tankers, this appears to have originated from Newport where there were oil tanks serving the Power Station, (behind what is now the Bargemans Rest pub) These would have been served by sea to the adjacent wharf. Several Island stations had a small oil terminal for these tankers which carried Naptha (paraffin) used for domestic cooking, heating and lighting. Another Private Owner traffic was chalk from Shide Pit to Cement Mills carried in open wagons in a "Vectis Cement" livery and latterly "Blue Circle", this traffic ceased early in WW2 with the closure of the Cement Mills due to the high risk of attacks on coastal shipping delivering the product. During SR days virtually all of the Island wagon fleet was replaced with new or recently built stock, this was almost all of LBSC design which standardised the Islands fleet and allowed the SR to remove a good number of non_RCH compliant vehicles from mainland traffic. Goods brakes were ex LSWR Road vans. Pete