Combe Martin

How about the OPC book, The Somerset & Dorset in Colour by Mike Arlett & David Lockett. Page 109 lower, of Templecombe No 2 Junction ?

The Middleton Press book 'Bournemouth to Evercreech Junction', plate 83, a picture of the point and its mechanism at Henstridge is very 'close up', is it any good ?

So is that part of the point changing mechanism, ie situated actually by the point ?

I'm doing a lot of S&D photo studying at the moment, but have no idea of what these look like. Can you give me some idea of what to look out for, and where. I've got loads of picture books. Peter.

I'm afraid I don't have the issue number with me. As I said, mine are in storage pending house move (don't hold your breath !). I've just re-joined the trust having let my membership lapse about 2016. The last 'Pines Express' I have (with me) is winter 2015 no 279, so it's before then, though I suspect it's in one that's older than 2010 !

Yes that's possible, I understand that, but the pictures I'm referring to are of it in Barry (that's before preservation) with the extra box just visible !

All the photos I've found of 53809 in BR days in the S&D picture books (& I've got loads) where visible, show it with what I call a 'coal hole' Fowler tender, ie ... a tender that has a coal hole in the tender front that the coal falls down to for shovelling out. The alternative is a 'coal door' tender which has a pair of large opening doors on the tender front that are opened for access to the coal. These stand out quite a bit because they are a 'big wide protruding lump' on the tender front that is almost as tall as the top of the front coal plate, so they are noticeable. Photos of 53810 show it with a 'coal door' tender, but one that has an extra smallish (a foot square maybe) box mounted on top of (what I think is) the normal (left hand side as you look at the tender front) tool box. I've not seen this extra box in any photos of other 'coal door' Fowler tenders on the S&D, and only once in a non-S&D photo of I think as I recall, a 2P somewhere. So, I believe the tender attached to 53810 was unique on the S&D. However, some photos of 53809 in Barry scrapyard appear to 'half' show it with a box in this position as mentioned in my paragraph above. Unfortunately I've not found any that show whether it has the 'coal doors'. So I'm wondering, did 53809 acquire 53810's tender before it was withdrawn. My understanding is that there were very few tender swaps among the S&D's 7F's as per an article in the S&D trusts magazine 'Pines Express' of a few years ago. Unfortunately mine is locked away inaccessible in storage at the moment pending a house move. Also, my understanding is that tender swops at sheds/depots were generally avoided if possible because of difficulties in getting the draw pin out to separate loco from tender. It was easier to get the welding gear out to fix a leak ! Peter.

Many thanks for that, Fame at last !

They're used on Bournemouth West, I saw it at the Bath & West Showground exhibition at the weekend. I watched all day and it worked faultlessly on their Ivatt 2-6-2 tank being used constantly as their station pilot.

Many thanks for the above, now I've got plenty to think about.

Many thanks for the above 2 answers, that gives me a bit more info. I have to confess that the attraction for me is Bournemouth West (I've missed it so far, work and now covid and I'm a very keen S&D modeller having done lots of S&D research and stock preparation) and any other S&D layouts. I'll be travelling all the way from Ramsgate at the east end of Kent and want to avoid driving if I can (I've done enough of it in my lifetime) so was thinking of coming by train (I always use them if I can now). Does anyone know if there's a bus service from Castle Cary or does it have a taxi rank at the station ?

Does anyone know who the organising club is for this exhibition. So far I've only found the web site for where its at, which is the Bath & West showground at Shepton Mallet, so not at Bath. Not much info on there so far.

I live in Ramsgate, but being a long standing S&D modeller, I'll be quite happy to travel to your area to see Bournemouth West, especially as I missed it before because of work.

I don't have my copy of the Gould book with me at the moment (most of my books are in storage at the moment mid moving) but as I recall (and I might be wrong), because there are no repainting records things were a bit vague, and he couldn't be definite about which were re-painted green. Some of the numbers quoted were definitely those of short vans (Hornby's is a long van), I can remember that because I investigated this myself because I'd detailed an original Triang model (Roxley kit plus lots of my own bits) and wanted to paint it green and was unsure if I'd be correct in doing that. I resigned myself to having to paint it red ! The only green colour photos I've ever seen are of the Golden Arrow one when running (where you cant see the number - It does have the centre droplight windows), and as I said earlier, also of it in Stewarts Lane yard where the number is visible. Unfortunately I don't have this picture. As I recall it was published in a magazine that I didn't buy on that occasion, Back Track, Steam Days or something like that probably at least 20 years ago or more !

When I first saw that Braunton was being produced I thought Yesssss.... just what the doctor ordered, a rebuilt Braunton with the re-bodied tender, then the realisation hit me ... its in its earlier original guise. So I wonder, having produced the early version, are they ever likely to do the rebuild ?

This might be because very few were repainted BR green, and there are no repainting records. The Gould book notes a few (5 or 6 I seem to recall ?) repainted green but some of those were the other length (shorter) versions. The one used on the Golden Arrow in later years was green and there is a picture of it in Stewarts Lane yard somewhere where you can see the number but it may be a shorter one.

I thought Hornby had already done the original cab version ?

Me too, yes please, both of these please. How about 34103 Calstock (flat top), and 34046 Braunton (rebuilt) both of which were used on the Somerset & Dorset in the 60's Peter..

I've a suggestion that's not on the list so I cant vote for it, not extra quirky but still an oddity that might have a chance of selling if someone was to actually make it. How about the 0-4-0 Sentinal shunters (BR nos 47190/1) used on the Somerset & Dorset at Radstock in the 50s and early 60s. This might sell quite well as I've always had the impression that anything that ran on the S&D sells. (I'm sure there were others elsewhere too). And, there's even another one currently restored and in use at Midsomer Norton that could be photo'd and measured, though as its not one of the above 2 there are probably some differences. Yes I know there has been the odd kit, but lots don't want to solder something up. I expect Brian's (hello Brian) now going to tell me it's been on the main wish list for ages ! One other thing, I know lots of celebrities are railway/model railway enthusiasts, Pete Waterman and Rod Stewart come to mind, but I never realised the ELO frontman was one of us, let alone be on the wish list poll team ! (from the list on page 1 of this topic). Peter

I'm using a laptop but i still get this pile of junk at the end of your last post. Other topics seem ok though ?

Hello Tim, Now that exhibitions are starting to be planned and happen again, do you have plans to show Templecombe again and if so where and when. I found out about your last shows after the event, if I'd known I'd have been there. Peter.

Dont try this web site address now, it tries to take you to something dodgy !

I suspect we have to blame the chinese for that one, possibly a consequence of changing the chinese suppliers and and their factories. Anyway, I'm very glad to be of help, and it confirms for me what I have to do to make my Calstock. In particular, I now know which rebuild to look out for as its always been a bit vague before.

Yes, I'm not sure I'd attempt this (unless I'd got nothing else to do) as in order to get a paint match I'd probably have to re-spray the whole loco as well as the tender which would also mean re-doing the lining. Something I've not attempted before. I have been hoping that Hornby would eventually 'tool up' the re-bodied tender top, so that they could do both Boscastle and Braunton. I've always got the impression that a model of any loco numbered correctly for the S&D has always sold well !

I've just seen your photo of your Westward Ho and its definitely the correct tender, a narrow body 4500 galllon cut down type, so suitable for Calstock. The easy way to spot the difference is that the wide body versions have that great big water tank extention block on top of the rear half of the tender top, which is not there on the narrow tenders.