bbishop

To continue the theme, whilst the Maunsell S15 was the more efficient locomotive, the ex South Western enginemen preferred the Urie version on freight traffic, especially in bad weather. Bill

Other than checking on Hilda's welfare, I'm only turning on the radio for cheerful news, such as the weather. In other news, I plugged in my new telephone this morning. The broadband, of course, went on the blink. But I pressed the button on the side and after a while amazingly, I got three blue bars. Miracles still happen. All I have to so is to register the telephone. Oh, they seem to have given me a mobile phone with the set; do I have to register it somewhere? Bill

I think this thread is proving, that each railway designed a locomotive specifically for its own traffic. Thus comparisons can be unrealistic. Just two examples, the Garrett was popular at Wath and highly unpopular on the Lickey. The S&D 7F locomotives were designed for short hard bursts of power and were unsuccessful when trialled on the Midland main line. Tony is right, the 9F was the best heavy freight locomotive. It was also the second best heavy mixed traffic locomotive, behind only the LSWR / SR S15 class. Hat, coat, duck. Bill

She's home, and brought a friend with her. Bill

Is Hilda pregnant? BILL

By rear entrance Nile means: turn left at the top of the stairs, right at main road, left at church, right into Hilda May Avenue. We may get a bit damp! Sarfeastern Trains regard Swanley as the Zone 6 boundary, so Grumpy passes are valid. Bill

Have I mentioned that I'm building a stable for the church's nativity scene. Basically a 24" x 18" box built as per a layout, so the plywood screwed and glued to blocks. Should outlast me. It's also going to be lit, using by DC transformer, I've outsourced the star. Off into the garage to paint the components before assembly. Bill

Martin, My query was about the new station. Bill

Andrew, are you qualified to wield an awl? Bill

The station was moved from the "V" in 1939. What I don't know is whether it had two or four platforms. I can remember catching an excursion train from St Mary Cray to the Kent Coast mid 1950s. I was aged about five and can distinctly recall that it was hauled by an Arthur. St Mary Cray had two staggered platforms. I then observed the rebuilding through Petts Woods, when we lost the pedestrian level crossing from Hazelmere Road. I started commuting to prep skool the September after the Phase 1 implementation, when the new St Mary Cray was still unfinished. Bill

By the by, as we are writing about Danny, does anyone have one of his GNR 4mm horsebox kits maturing in their cupboard? Only I have been tasked with building a h/b train for Southwark Bridge; the 7:07am trip from Kensington (Addison Road). Bill

Richard, Can't really help. I missed yesterday's games and highlights due to a meeting and concert, and was at church during our game. Just saw (most of the) second game. Bill

Off to a South Western Circle meeting in West Byfleet, then a concert in church, with an amateur orchestra playing Mahler 4, albeit with professional co-leader playing the "wrong key" part. Bill

Just for once Bob isn't at risk. Bill

That's a wee wee. Bill

John, apologies for a delay but had a b/band outage again - probably a duff ADSL filter. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Yes, do turn your blog into a book, but could you continue to take notes, because the bereavement and grieving stages are so important. Bill

Thoughts and prayers with John and Sandy. Bill

To set the rest of my post in context, my father was in Auschwitz between 1943 and 1945. I have no problem with layouts set in Germany during WW2, indeed there is a thread on RMWeb about Al's N gauge layout, The Bridge at Remagen. I have seen and admired the layout at exhibitions. However I would be distressed to see a layout with trains depicting transportation to concentration and prisoner of war camps. Bill

John and Sandy. Best wishes, Bill

This will be my first and only contribution to this thread. On the first page it announces LSWR brown and tan. Do you mind, chocolate and salmon please. Bill

RIP Joe Grundy. Bill

Off to Southwark Bridge in the morning. Back Sunday? Bill

As you all may know, I cannot watch Wales live, as they always lose when I do. (I've watched 2 minutes in 2019, suring which we shipped two tries). So watched the highlights. Looked for a fixed telephone and there was just one in John Lewis. I'd better buy it. The next item to die is my vacuum cleaner, still works but is very much knackered. And only a decade old! Any recommendations, other than Dyson which I won't buy on principal. Bill

Simon, I'm assuming you are thinking of HO? If so, there are very significant differences between Prussian and Bavarian prototypes: track plans, buildings and stock. Most of the offerings in this thread are of Bavarian stations, if you want to consider an (almost) Prussian option have a gander at the Grafenwald video which is somewhere in this section. A problem with many prototypical track plans is they are very long. So they may not work in an exhibition setting. Whilst Grafenwald was a beautiful piece of North German modelling, there wasn't much happening per linear foot. However, I've done the opposite with my Franconian Spur Null layout (Höchstädt) with a scenic section just 16' long. So one has to suspend belief when the goods train shunts in front of the station building. A final thought. I don't think any Bavarian Lokalbahn stock made it to Prussia, but the reverse did happen (ie BR 78s around Nurnberg). Bill

Nat, Dave may be off the radar pro tem. John, May or may not be of help to you, but you are both in my prayers. Bill