Icknieldrobin

Looking slightly further afield I captured this image of the harbour cranes in Salerno in Italy last year. Used for loading and unloading containers, on tracks as above and virtually free to roam wherever needed.

I recall when I was in my teens my father would always buy the Model Railway Constructer sometimes The Railway Modeller and occasionally The Model railway News. The MRC was always first choice and the 'stand out' in my opinion and it was a sad day when publication came to a halt. This may sound spooky but this morning I was looking through all my railway wagon books for drawings and photographs of BR Pallett shock wagons for a possible future project. I found a no of pics and then moved on to a large binder where I've kept articles which 'might be of future use'. Here I came across an article in the the Data file series [August 1983] covering the BR 20 ton Standard Coke Hopper Wagons, which were produced in three different body types. Here were photo's and background notes from David Larkin and excellent drawings by Trevor Mann. Seeing such detail was hugely encouraging to me to lift my game back in my teens, so I thank them for their 'investment' in me!! The series was, I guess , the forerunner, to the standard text 'An Illustrated History of B R Wagons Volume 1' which for me as a wagon nut is a brilliant reference book. I hope no one is upset if I take this opportunity to push my research perhaps a little further and pose two pleas for help as the string does seem appropriate. Does anyone have a list of the MRC Datafile articles or a note of where I might get copies of all find the articles. Does anyone have or can point me in the direction of, 4mm scale drawings for any of the BR 12t Pallet vans excluding Diagram 1/211 [the subject of the Parkside Pallet wagon]. I've got access to the outline drawings on the Barrowmore site. Thanks in advance and well done to allegheny1600 for reminding us of events from 30 years ago!! Doug.

Esmedune Have you tried contacting SP with an email? A couple of years ago I wanted a set of Griddle car sides and was faced with the red X on the web site. So I sent an email to Kidderminster [?] asking if the sides were likely to be available in the future and low and behold a couple of weeks later I was the proud owner of a set of Griddle car sides. Excellent personal service in my book. Doug

Over the past 12 mths or so I've had 'packets' of calls say 2-3 a day from no's within a range of 5 of each other. These have been from Switzerland, Italy, London Sheffield and Cardiff NONE of which were in my not insubstantial contacts list. This teed me off a tad so my process is simple. I don't answer the initial call, wait 5-10 mins for the caller to leave a voice mail [which they never had] and then go back to the no and add to my blocked list. Gradually the no of calls has reduced and this saves me hours of wasted time, I don't get into arguments and I'm far less likely to fall for any sales patter. If as happened last week a friend called and I ignored him, but he left me a voice mail which I listened to in which he told me he had a new mobile no and subsequently called him back and added his new no to my contacts. I have over 60 no's in my blocked list which is where they will stay. Doug

Thanks gwrrob Eileens have stock as they have confirmed my order tonight. Doug

Thanks for the one pager very helpful When the camera's went live I'm certain I was able to scroll back along the red line at the bottom of the screen to see activity say 3 hours ago. I don't seem to be able to do so anymore. I sent a message to the SVR about a week ago and have rec'd no response. I watch a number of live streams on Utube of the activity in Southampton docks and have always been able to 'track back' Does anyone have a solution or is the problem just my settings perhaps? Live Utube can be very therapeutic but watching nothing moving does not do it for me.

Martin I don't post very often but after watching your tutorial using an NLS 50" map this morning I felt I had to write and say thankyou. I had a shot at using Templot about 8 years ago when I was planning my Radstock West [GWR] layout but impatience in learning the software saw me abandon Templot and make it up as I went along using an NLS map overlaid by my baseboards ….. all very unscientific. Building the EM track for Radstock was a joy and was completed a few years ago but the layout itself is nowhere near finished so the likelihood of using Templot in 'anger' is unlikely. However I'd like to applaud your commitment to the cause and say I've spent a couple of hours watching the online footage today and it looks very much more user friendly to me, but I put that down to your guiding vocals. I'd certainly use it if I was starting afresh today. It may be a personal thing but I'd much prefer to hear you explaining what you are doing with some background on the technicals, than watch an arrow moving around the screen. I think you've also referred to errors you've made as you've gone along with the streaming. That becomes apart of the learning for us all so my vote goes for visuals supported by vocals and please don't cut out the 'errors'. I'll be watching out for the next episode of Templot. Many thanks Doug

I've tried PVA which works OK, tried a carcase of plasticard caused warping but now settled on hot glue and foamboard as my preferred methodology. I've been building a variety of buildings large and small with a carcase made from foam board [4 sheets £10 Hobbycraft ] then glued with a bead of hot glue along one edge to initially hold and then around the remaining edges . This works with Wills and Peco embossed plastic sheet. Benefits quick drying but sufficient time to adjust. With internal bracing very strong but light. Its also cheap!! HTH's Doug

Last Thursday I drove down the slip road at 5 ways onto the Hagley Road going west . I noticed the dual carriageway had been dug up under the tunnel and parked in the debris was an artic lorry with a load of pot sleepers [I was driving so no pics I'm afraid] So real progress from my last visit a couple of years ago. That said I guess its disruptive if you were a regular user of Broad Street down into town as I used to be!! Doug.

Drew Can you put me down for two for Fawley Hill Sunday please. Cheers Doug

A big thankyou DT for flagging this short term price reduction on Affinity Photo. Having just built a PC with a spec far beyond what Affinity called for, it was always my intention of buying Affinity photo. The reduction allowed me to buy the work book which arrived within 48 hours almost within budget. Being an amateur photographer, as soon as Adobe started down the subscription route, I decided that paying monthly when I may not do any photography for a couple of months was not sensible. From many hours research Affinity won hands down. With 480 odd pages to read this is a comprehensive work book; I can see the layout slowing down. Thanks again DT.

DT Take a look at https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/10119-official-affinity-photo-desktop-video-tutorials-200/ There are a load of short [5-10 min] video's demonstrating the many software attributes. I'm intending to buy; at £50 for an amateur, feedback tells me this is great value compared to the 'market leader' and I don't like paying subscriptions when I'm not using the software for more than a few months a year HTH Doug

Jeff Have you seen Karl Crowther's Hebble Vale Goods? I've seen it at exhibitions and his method of joining Wills sheets together produces an end product which is superb. He did an article in MRJ explaining his methods about a year ago [sorry don't have the precise date] but http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/ will give you an idea what he's achieved. Not sure how you will mount the plastic on your ply frame, I've had a lot of success using narrow strips of double sided tape on foam board as well as ply. Just a thought. Doug

re your plans for Radstock. A while ago I shared some pics of Marcrofts with Paul B who now has them on his site http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/?q=radstock I used to live in Radstock and when I retired my long term intention of building Radstock West commenced. I have modelled from Marcrofts to beyond the infamous level crossing about 35' long almost scale length on two sides of my garage. I've set the EM gauge layout in 1959 the last year of through passenger services. If I can be of any further help give me a shout Doug

I've taken a look at Hugh Longworth's 'BR Mark 1 & Mark 2 Coaching stock' which suggests the LMR did receive a no of BSO's in the '60's. All were from the first batch Lot no 30170 built at Doncaster between 1955-1956. The dates below indicate the month of transfer to the LMR and any subsequent regional movements. E9205 .......07/65 E9206........07/65 E9208 .......07/65 E9209....... 01/66........back to ER....07/71 E9210....... 04/68 E9212........01/66 E9220........10/68 E9221........02/67 E9225........01/66 E9226........08/65 E9227........10/68 E9228........07/65 E9229........by '72.....then to Sc 02/81 E9230........04/68 E9236........01/66 E9237........01/66.....then to Sc 02/81 E9241........by '72 E9250........04/68 E9252........by '69....then back to ER 05/70 Hope that helps Doug

Nick Sorry I can't be your 100th 'lurker' as I'm already lurking. Love the layout and especially all the behind the scenes stuff!! Doug

Drew Many thanks for organising the open day today. Another great day out and very useful from my personal perspective. I've thanked Pete for the personal tour, as it turned out, of 9002. What a cracker of a coach and restored to such exemplary standards. Can you thank the boiler lads for turning out on their day off and explaining some of the technical background to their work, very interesting. Well done and see you in a couple of years god forgiving!! Best Wishes Doug

Castle Wonder if I could ask a big favour. When everyone was chasing around for a Bachmann Inspection saloon I thought my money would be more enjoyably spent on a Comet Special Saloon No 9002. I was in the middle of ordering when Geoff was taken ill but the family ensured I got the full kit so I can have my own VIP saloon for which I'm truly grateful. As 9002 is now on the stocks and progressing, is there any chance of a look inside the original for a few pics on the Sunday open day. If this is difficult no worries at all but if I don't ask then I'll never know if it was possible. Thanks in advance whatever the answer is. Doug

Castle Bad news........... my mate has just told me he has an unexpected leaving do to attend for his vicar [hence Sunday] so I'm down to a 'oner' for the open day. Sorry for the late advice Doug

Hi Drew I missed last year [my fault entirely] but I'd like to take up your offer of a couple of places for a copper and green nut and myself. Thoroughly recommend the behind the scenes guide hence my urgency in seeking a couple of places. Thanks in advance Doug

Mr Controller Another suggestion which again is news to me...............I'll see if I can find the mag you refer to. I do have a copy of the Model Railways Dec '72 where the wagon works connected to the S & D was featured. I've also got my hands on an article in an undated Model Railway Constructor which was based upon Marcrofts wagon works which was B & NSR connected. Thanks for the steer............ much appreciated Doug

Dave My EM gauge layout extends from Marcrofts at the Frome end to just beyond the level crossing Bristol end of the station and is just about scale length so anything within those parameters is always of interest. That said for that matter anywhere along the B &NSR is of interest. I'll seek out both books through my local library first to see what pic's are included. Thanks again for the useful steers. Doug

Dave That's very kind of you to pick up my plea to Kevin. I've had the Through Countryside and Coalfield for some time and have used the plans in the book in my building the goods shed. I've never seen the other book by Ivo Peters so will follow up through ABE. Before he died many years ago, I did asked Ivo Peters himself if he had any pictures of either Radstock station. He told me he'd taken very few as he did not find either station particularly photogenic and concentrated his time elsewhere. As a consequence I've never looked too closely at his more general non S & D books. It's sad to say I found a picture on EBay a couple of weeks ago which showed the SB from a different angle and thought it was Christmas again!!!. So thanks for taking the trouble to alert me of another source Cheers Doug Kevin Sorry to hijack your interesting thread and keep the 'local' photo's coming. Cheers

Kevin Now the question I'm dying to ask is will the pic's extend a little further down the line into Radstock? I've managed to find a few pic's with help from a good number of people especially Tim Venton and local photographer Derek Fear in support of quest to build an EM gauge layout of Radstock and which extends from Marcrofts to beyond the level crossing almost to scale length. But you how it is............always on the look out for that elusive picture taken from that unusual angle...........so any chance?....please Doug

Andy The give away is I think the BR1F tender which AFAICR were only fitted to ER originally based loco's for the longer distance fast freight down the ERML. Still a beauty and of course it's your railway!! Going back a few posts I had intended to mention the first Peak I ever saw was D15 on the south bound Pines on the south Platform in the year of their introduction. My father gave into a young sprog who was keen on seeing the new engines and living in Oxfordshire at the time these were very new to me. I believe Bristol Bath Road would use the mighty machines to fill in on a local return to BTM before sending it back up north later in the day from BGP. A picture of D12 taken at BGP 24.09.63 has a caption to confirm this activity. I'm not sure if you've seen the 4 books by Ivo Peters "The S & D in the Fifties & Sixties". There are a good no of photos of loco's at the sheds at BGP, many would have worked in from the north or Bristol Barrow road. BTW as I recall the S & D 7F's often worked to Avonmouth & with freight in addition to their duties on the S &D. One last thought, there were occasions when the Bath GP turn table was out of commission, so a train of loco's would be tripped to the triangle at Mangotsfield and turned there then tripped back to BGP. Now there a different working for you!! Hope that helps a tad Doug