Miss Prism

That's interesting. I didn't realise passenger trains actually went down the dock branch - it's not a long walk from the station to the ferry entrance, really. The path of the dock branch through the town is still traceable, but there are no signs of track on it now. But there are a few remains of the end of the branch within the dock area itself, and here's a couple of snaps from early this year.

Ok, thanks for that. I wasn't aware that diagram still existed, and I've tended to travel on the line only in winter weekdays. I'm trying to find my current timetable, but I've lost it somewhere!

There was a brief spell when HSTs worked through and from Pembroke Dock, but I'm not sure about the Fishguard line.

Fingers crossed for the crank loctiting, Nick. CofG ok?

Very pleased to hear it's running smoothly, particularly that the binding has gone, which is probably the most annoying (and common) chassis fault. Did you drop your wheels out before squeezing the horncheeks or did you manage to do it in situ?

A bright mid-bauxite, to be more precise.

Mmmm. Needs a suburban Toplight set in crimson lake.

Nick - were your horncheek flanges tight on the blocks when setting up the wheelbase during chassis construction?

I like the colour of those tyres.

The only thing carrying coal from Ratio or Coopercraft is the Coopercraft N13, and that was specifically for loco coal. You should be thinking private owner wagons for general coal.

A good rant, Brian! Integral side and solebar mouldings are indeed a bit crazy. It is possible in the 5-plank open to split (piercing saw) the side from the solebar, but that will mean destroying and having to replace the solebar to body gussets later. The split can't be done on the Iron Mink because of the narrower body width. (The brake van has solebars separate from the body.) I fit W-irons to mine, so the problems you had don't arise, but I make sure there is enough room between solebars for rocking or sprung irons to go in - 25.4mm clear is usually about right for rocking irons, a bit less than 25mm for sprung ones. This clearance distance usually requires filing a recess in the rear of the solebar where the W-iron is, and I seem to remember the solebar on the Ratio open got very thin to give the required clearance. Floor heights need watching if using rocking irons. Even if I was in OO gauge I would fit separate W-irons because of the constructional conundrum you describe.

I'm sure the deployment of the Holden stock and their 8' wide predecessors was a lot more complicated than the brief picture I've painted, and I don't suppose we'll ever know the full detail of how they were cascaded down to other services and districts as newer stock came on stream. Non-corridor clerestories for example were numerous, and would have been increasingly used on suburban traffic as they in turn were superseded by corridor stock. Whatever way one looks at it, using Holdens in a non-London modelling environment is perfectly valid in my view, and hey, it's your model railway.

The last steam-hauled GW services on the City lines were 1905. The introduction of new Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan electric stock at that time made some of the 23 sets of Holden City stock surplus to their original operating role, with most of the surplus probably re-deployed to the Birmingham district. They finally disappeared from the London scene c 1922-1925 following the introduction of the toplight bogie City stock. If the Faringdon specimens worked the branch "for at least forty years", then I guess the most logical date of their introduction to the branch would have been c 1905.

Looking very nice - I like those chunky bonnet vents in particular - so much better than the skinny etched offerings in some kits. Not sure what to suggest on the underframe front. A couple of Bill's external units for the outer axles and keeping your inside one on the middle would improve the rollability, but would probably mean too much destruction of what you've already got in that build state. I find with internal units (although I haven't tried Bill's) that a lot of running in will improve things a bit, but they always need lubrication. At least you haven't got the 'perfect pinpoints' problem of it running away with only a puff of wind. You could pretend it's a brake compo... Do you use solder paint for the bolections?

Yes, they are pretty, but please note (thread title!) these were 4-wheelers, not 6. I don't think there were any end-ducket 6-wheelers. Anyway, these end-ducket 4-wheelers are a T diagram 31' brake 3rd, but the diagram number is unknown. (John Lewis might know.) Batch 582, completed 4/7/1891. Numbers were: 400/10/1/3/4/6/9/20/2/7/9/42/4/53/61-4/75/6. There might have been a pre-1890 batch(es), but I don't have that info. You already have probably the best broadside view - figure 59 of GW Coaches Volume 1. See also fig 45 for another 3/4 view. I think the Ratio sides would cut up fine, as the compartment widths are standard as far as I know - the only problem is the lack of panelling detail on the sides of the Ratio duckets.

tea boy - my apologies - the bogie frame shape is the same as the 20 (ignoring of course the sandbox and brake cylinder differences). I should have studied my Marsden & Fenn a bit more thoroughly!

I apologise for giving offence. It was not my intention, but I admit the inclusion of 'tiny' was a gratitutous adjective too far, although it reflected my indignation when I wrote what I did. So let me re-formulate the (essentially simple) issue in non-emotive terms - why is it, in the face of a customer demand, that UK manufacturers are unwilling to entertain a business model that includes the selling of an undecorated model for the same price as a decorated one.

Not a lot. But you make a sale, so who's complaining? Err, so you and your manufacturer could actually make more profit!! But again, who exactly is complaining at such a prospect? The costs of producing it would not be the same. Whether buyers expect the price to be cheaper is neither here nor there, really; if they want it, they will buy it. Look at what the American market has been doing for the last 20 years. All you are admitting is that UK manufacturers still cannot get their tiny brains around the market for undecorated models. And whilst we're on the subject, didn't I read a magazine editorial a few years back extolling the virtues of the availability of undecorated models? I wonder what magazine that was.

Looking forward to seeing this materialise.

38SWG? Where can I get some of that?

We took such design aspects as granted, Dave.... Are you fishplating 'as you go' (Exacto) or later?

Well this is a long shot, but here goes - if anyone is doing a replacement chassis job, and consequently has a spare one they don't want anymore, I'll give you the price of postage and packing.

Waay to go, Dave, but I hope you've got the height of the flexi and that ply'n'rivet aligned...

It's important to let any point actuator complete its proper movement, and Fulgurexes are no different. Martin - use one of the two sets of auxiliary switch contacts on the Fulgurex to switch your crossing polarity: The other auxiliary set can be used for indicators etc. More Fulgurex wiring information can be found here.

There is about 8.5mm movement at the Fulgurex motor itself, but it is suprising how much of that can be lost between the motor and the destination turnout if using thin wire, sloppy cranks, and inadequate guides for the wire. I read the Fulgurex instructions, but they were gobbledegook to me. Have a look here.