MarcD

it was a very common practice with English and Welsh companies. Even the original, should we mention them, GWR's DC1 brake had leavers at the same end. Scottish company wagons had a tendency to only have a single brake block on one wheel on one side so when t came for them to fit the extra brakes it was just another singe block on the opposite side. As a side I have just retooled my MR/LMS Medium Cattle van, and the MR/LMS Tariff, SDJR Road van and the MR/LMS unfitted Banana van should be ready by this time next week. Marc

Interesting photo. It's the first time I have seen a Midland wagon with a brake lever pointing in that direction. Marc

I like the SMJ cattle van is interesting. I haven't seen it before. Marc

So yesterday I got some track out on the base board to check positions of things. And to work out how much foam i need to order. Realised I didn't have enough Flexi track by 3ft. Found out that my local model shops didn't have any 0-16.5 in stock. Also found that you can only buy it in boxes of 12yards from all major online model shops. Finally found some on eBay, having wasted alot of time. I have also managed to draw out the 5ft wagon turntables. These should be printed this afternoon if my resin delivery arrives in time. Marc

Going back to the shape of slates and where they came from. As some people might havw seen I'm in the process building Tywyn Wharf. In the process of going through all my books on the Talyllyn looking at every photo containing slates. Well they come in all shapes and sizes and they all look like the have been stacked up in wharf yard. Marc

This year I will be building a 7mm narrow gauge micro layout over the two days. Tywyn King's Station will represent the Tywyn Terminus of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway circ 1900-1940. Starting from just a base board and a box of track we will see how far I can get in just 2 days. come along to see how I do. Please remember there is no such thing as a silly question so please ask. Marc

The vans are now available from the website, www.pregroupingrailways.com. Both the 4mm and the 7mm kits has a HD 3D printed body and roof with brass 3 point rocking compensation units that contain the brakes. It comes in two variants 9ft wheel base and 10ft3 wheel base. The only difference being the bolt heads on the sole bar and the shape of the running boards. The 4mm version is £35 and the 7mm £75. the body is also available in HO, S and G1(1:32) from the website (pregroupingrailways.com). When is says "on back order" it really should say manufactured to order. Marc

That's my understanding as well. All lines ran straight on to the loading wharf via wagon turntables. the Run round was installed in the late 1950's. Which saves some space. Marc

Officially I'm not staring this project until Saturday at the Furness MRC show where I'm going to endeavour to build most of the layout over the course of a weekend. Although the prototype is actually about 6ft long and 2ft wide in 7mm its being squished into 4ft by 18inches. The baseboard has be reclaimed from "Scratchy Bottom" as have the point actuators. The NG track work is straight of of the box peco 0-16.5. This is the effect I'm hoping to get when finished. Some of the stock has already been built (See photos). I have a Branchlines chassis on order for Tal-y-Llyn. All the wagons are/will be fitted with modified Greenwich couplings operated by small Permanente magnets. I probably should say that this is a build that is strictly not for me as its for My little lad who is really into his Narrow gauge Marc

For any one who is interested I have a few new wagons available in both 4mm and 7mm as complete kits and HO/S/G1(1:32) as bodies GNoSR/LNER Open Fish £55 (7) £25(4) LBSCR 8t Dead buffered Mineral £55(7) £25(4) LBSCR/SR dead buffered timber truck £45 (7) £25(4) M&SWJR/GWR 17Ton brake van £75(7) £35(4) I have also just retooled the following wagons GER/LD&ECR/GCR/LNER 10/17 Ton Brake van £75(7) £35(4) LSWR/SR 17Ton brake van £75(7) £35(4) NER/LNER/BR open fish £55(7) £25(4) NBR/LNER/BR 3 plank open (3 versions) £55(7) £25(4) GNoSR/LNER Coke £55(7) £25(4) GNoSR/LNER/BR 3 plank open £55(7) £25(4) LSWR/SR/BR 1plank open £55(7) £25(4) LSWR/SR/BR 3 plank drop-side £55(7) £25(4) FR/LMS 10ton hopper £55(7) £25(4) GNR/LNER 4plank open £55(7) £25(4) Rhymney Railway/GWR 10ton 4 plank open £55(7) £25(4) MR/LMS/BR Shunter's Truck £55(7) £25(4) MR/LMS/BR 4 box bunker coal/Road stone wagon £55(7) £25(4) FR/LMS/BR 2 plank slate wagon £55(7) £25(4) Cambrian/GWR 2 plank open (2 versions) £55(7) £25(4) More wagons being released every 2 weeks. All kit now come with 3 point compensation and brass brake parts Marc Pre-Grouping Railways

I'm working on Both the GER Dia 1 and 2 brake vans in 7mm and 4mm (EM/P4) at the moment I can't see why they wouldn't run on OO wheel sets. I'm doing both the 9ft WB and the 10ft6 WB versions both laster until the mid 1940's Marc

The slates in the 2 bar slate wagon at Tywyn has just got square ended slates in. So that begs the question which slates are correct for the talyllyn? Marc

I picked one up yesterday from Amazon for £2.50 Marc

I saw a demo of slate manufacturing at the Welsh national slate museum at llanberis and they were rectangular in shape. I think those carried on the talyllyn were the same shape, but don't hold me to that. If anyone is in llanberis the museum is worth a visit. And it's free. Marc

Mike Are these any use? Marc

I've not coloured my ones as they are used to demo the couplings. It was told that a fine "sharpy" should work. Marc

The GWR had 6 wheel transporter wagons that 6 NG wagons were end loaded. I believe that they start life as coaches. Other than that I don't have very much info on them. Marc

Yes but they had drop-side or fixed-side wagons (See PGR-41A/B). The LSWR used 1 fixed sides and 3 drop-side wagons (PGR-105/106) and LNWR used 1 and 2 plk fixed sides (PGR-121/122) as well as a dia7 state wagon transporter wagon where 3 NG slate wagons were loaded directly on. Marc

Silly question Jamie. Yes PGR7-08 on the website. Marc

That great at least I'm not going mad. So my shunting plank will have to be pre-1902 Marc

At Scalefourum, I picked up a London Road Models LNWR Webb 0-4-0ST kit from the bring and buy stand. I was under the impression that the LYR had 5 and I thought it would go nicely with my pug. However, when I have come to look at the instruction and online I can't seam to find any evidence of the LYR having any. Can anyone how is wise in these matters point me in the right direction? If they didn't have any it's still a nice loco. Marc

It was my first time as a trader can I pas a big thanks to the organisers for making me feel very welcome. And as a bonus I managed to get a bargain off the bring and buy to boot. Marc

I placed an order with them on the 23ed of August this year still not seen anything. Starting to worry as I need the parts to do some demonstrating at a exhibition in 2 1/2 weeks. I will have to phone them to see what's going on. Marc

As someone who is in the process of recycling a large 22ft ogauge layout into several smaller ones. I have had a mixture of responses to my bookings for local shows. Most want something small and new each year and one was a little disappointed when I told them that my large layout wasn't available any more. My reasons for going small is was unable to operate the big layout on my own. I used to operate the layout with my father but he is not able any more some hand has been forced. I did do Guildex this year where there wasn't any "Big" layouts and there were a number of people who did grumble about that. But is this a reflection on the direction of the hobby? IE smaller can be constructed by one person who doesn't have to do what everyone else in a club wants to do. In my younger days my local club did Blue diesel in 00, Swiss in HO and US railroad in N none of which flots my boat so I didn't stay long. Marc

Just got the first 4mm shunters truck off the printer last night. Really happy with the finish. I will have at least 2 with me at scale forum Marc