Brian D

Sorry if my following remarks drag this off topic somewhat or have been adequately addressed elsewhere on RMWeb but to my relatively untrained (sorry for the pun - couldn't resist) eye, all of these A4s look superb, only spoiled in my eyes by the disproportionate size and whiteness of the headlamps which I also find glaringly obvious in all model railway magazine photos etc. where headlamps are fitted. Whilst it is imperative I think we would all agree to add correct head lamp codes to your layout trains, the size and whiteness is not realistic IMHO. There is surely a market for scale size lamps, admittedly the lamp handles themselves may be difficult to replicate to scale (is it this that makes them look disproportionately huge?). If you look at 1950s/1960s photos, even in colour, the headlamps are as not glaringly obvious as modelled currently. Just a thought. Regards, (edited to sound less like a rant)

I am not sure about the source of the attached "Dimensions Sheet" which cover all scales including O gauge. I think it was a freebie down load so hopefully copyright is not an issue and you might find it useful. Regards, dimension_sheet.pdf

Hi Coronach, Great layout, you should be pleased with your efforts. I especially love the "story" in your post 103 above which sounds eminently plausible and operationally correct. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing the layout evolve. Regards,

Yesss! Haway the Lads. Off the bottom. Onwards and upwards! Sorry, I'll shut up now - not had much to cheer about lately.

Dear "Dibber25", You mentioned a few "Greats" in one of your posts above. I think you can safely include yourself into this catergory. Well done and keep going. Regards,

It makes you wonder about the sanity of the people who appointed him in the first place.

Can't wait to see this layout in the flesh. Right up my street!!

Great work. Can't wait to see the overbridge completed.

Looks great, Matt. I particularly like the clouds on your back scene. How did you achieve this effect? Regards,

Gordon, Great news - Eastwood Town takes a huge step nearer completion. Looking forward to seeing the revised plan. Regards, Brian.

Dear Gilbert, I can only suggest that it is an optical illusion caused by the adjacent trackwork configuration. There appears to be a crossover just alongside the V2 creating a false impression of converging lines. Regards, Brian.

Scott, If you are looking for prototype shed layouts I can recommend "BR Steam Motive Power Depots - North Eastern Region" by Paul Bolger (Book Law Publications). Drop me a PM if you want more details. Regards, Brian.

My steam era train spotting days were mainly spent watching Q6 and J27 hauled (unfitted) coal trains in Co Durham. There is an unforgettable sound when such trains are being shunted as each wagon buffers up to its neighbour, the clang-clang-clang moving along the length of the train as the coal hoppers were pushed into the colierysiding. Very difficult to recreate in model form IMHO. Regards, Brian.

Good luck with the layout JCL - I will follow with interest. What a fab photo in your last post though! What's in the freight cars? Regards, Brian.

Phil, It's a proper Gresley engine first introduced in 1913 on the GNR. I too have resisted investing in previous rtr ex LNER 2-8-0s (this despite heavy discounting on the ex GCR version recently and, of course the new Hornby O1) but could be tempted by one of these ;-) Regards,

Sorry to take so long responding - only just noticed your query. My Jim Grindlay diesel allocation book shows D6120 to D6137 all being allocated new initially, in 1959, to shed code 32B, Ipswich. A sizeable fleet so perhaps they were used on the Suffolk coast route. By 1963 they were all reallocated according to JG to 65A, Eastfield. Regards, Brian.

Hi Scott, Your thread has just popped up on my radar and your proposed layout is right up my street. As a Structural Engineer, now retired, I share your interest in bridges and I will certainly look to include a bridge model in my future layout which, hopefully, I will get going next year. Looking forward to following your progress. Incidentally, it's been throwing it down all day here in the this part of the UK and floods are reported in the west country. I assume you are now firmly heading into summer in Oz now. Regards,

Ah, a small price to pay for all that sunshine Regards, Brian.

Mine arrived today and looks fab and seems to have a nice weight to it, unlike some CCTs I could mention which derail at the drop of a hat when being shunted in a rake of mixed carriages. Hopefully, this will run as well as it looks. I can only applaud TMC's service. I only ordered mine in mid September, I received an email on Tuesday asking me to ring a confirm payment whic I did yesterday morning and it's here today. Mind you, £4.50 postage I think is a little pricey, but I signed up to this knowingly. The prompt delivery reflects this, I suppose. Regards, Brian.

My W und M (speed whiskers) version arrived earlier this week from Liverpool (new stock just in) and not only runs very well straight out of the box but IMHO is small but perfectly formed :-) Regards, Brian.

That might be a kilted scotsman called Eileen? :-) Apologies, couldn't resist. Blame it on my dodgy sense of humour. Seriously, this modelling is top notch. Keep up the good work trains12. Regards,

Huge round of applause! Definitely a contender for "Thread of the Year"!

Great idea, Dave. Super modelling, given the constraints, and really well presented (editorially speaking). A "must visit" post on RMWeb! Regards, Brian.

Received from Hattons at 16.22 today. This is an automatically generated email to tell you that Heljan UK 2300 Class 23 Baby Deltic diesel D5900 in BR Green livery with Small Yellow Panels and 4 character headcode. is now in stock and ready to purchase at http://www.ehattons.com/StockDetail.aspx?SID=31976 for £96.00. I think the first batch went very quickly. Regards, Brian.