Geep7

Thanks. I'm going to be using the MJT sides. I am aware of some of the shortcomings with them (the trailer second should not be a mirror image around the centre door), but it will be close enough for me. I'll be using them on Replica coach bodies, and powering it using a Replica motorised chassis unit.

Thanks, that's my usual 'go to' reference site for EMU repaint dates, but as you say, they haven't done the Cig's yet.

I know a couple of Cep's got plain blue, but I haven't seen any record of that the Cig's ever did. As far as i'm aware the Phase 1 Cig were all outshopped in Green, then went straight to Blue/Grey. But doesn't mean they never did though. I do know at least one got wrap-around all yellow cabs whilst still in Green. The Phase 2 Cig's were built 1970-74, so were Blue/Grey from the outset.

I'm just about to embark on building a 4mm Phase 1 4-Cig, and am looking at painting it in the original green they wore when first built. However, I would like to know how long they wore it, until being repainted Blue/Grey. The latest dated photo i've found so far is 1968, so does anyone else know if it lasted any longer than this? Thanks, Chris

Ah, yes. I was 3 years too early. I should really have remembered this, as i'm pretty sure I did a club quiz with this as a question, lol.

It was a hovercraft (an SRN6) that ran from a pontoon at Portsmouth Harbour to Cowes.

Good spot..... ooh, I have a soft spot for pw wagons as well....

Thanks for all your suggestions guys. Even my father thinks West Sands is the best choice, so, i've gone with it. It somehow seems right, as Nearholmer suggests, I can just see the poster "West Sands by train", I might even try and have a go at making one. I've edited the history, etc. in post 177 to reflect the changes. Hopefully this should be the last name change this time.

Hmm, so I might have been a bit quick to change the layout name, as now i've had a couple of weeks to mull things over, and the Thorney Island idea really isn't sitting properly in my mind..... also stumbling over another layout with the same name also has made change my mind. So, the latest thought is to go back to one of my original ideas, and have the layout set on the Manhood peninsula. This time set just to the west of Selsey, in an area that I think is known as West Sands, at least that's what the holiday park and funfair are called. So the name is possibly one of the following: West Sands (Selsey) West Sands Selsey West Selsey West Sands Trying to avoid using one of the real Selsey station names, as obviously it's nothing like the real thing.

Thanks, fixed my comment..... don't know why I put MetPak as I know Mek is Methyl Ethyl Ketone. I'm sure it was the autocorrect on the phone.....

You'll be wanting some sort of liquid adhesive, like MekPak, PlasticWeld etc. I personally use PlasticWeld myself, but everyone has their own preference.

I seem to recall saying much the same about a 4-TC......

Had a look at the picture on the twitter feed, and just thought.... The announcement is on 8th May, or 8/05 or in reverse 508..... It does awfully look like a Class 508 / PEP type unit drawing.....

Ah, you're right of course. I got myself confused with the "nationalisation" of buses and assumed that was deregulation. My bus history knowledge is shockingly lacking compared to railways. I have edited the history to now reference the increase popularity of the motor car, which iirc was actually the reason for quite a few lines closing in the 70's.

The beach huts and sea wall idea looks great. Just a subtle impression locates the layout on the seafront.

"The service will now terminate at West Sands, all change please, all change" History So, having been deliberating over this for some time, I have finally decided to change the layout name to West Sands, and relocated the layout down to the south coast on the Hundred of Manhood Peninsula. History supposes that the Southern Railway did in fact take over the West Sussex Railway (The Selsey Tramway), and rebuilt the line to full railway standards. As there was not enough room at the original West Sussex Railway terminus at Selsey Town, a new terminus was built near the beach at West Sands, with a halt being provided at Selsey Town. At the Chichester end of the line, a connection was made with the Coastway route facing towards the Brighton direction, with the regular West Sands branch train sharing the same bay platform as the Midhurst line trains until passenger services ceased on the latter line in 1935. In 1938, along with the rest of the West Coastway line, the branch to West Sands was electrified and west facing chord constructed allowing services from the west to access the line. The electrification and chord construction was justified by the increase in traffic from holidaymakers travelling to Selsey and the adjoining holiday parks. A pier was also constructed at West Sands beach to allow a ferry service to operate across to the Isle of Wight. Having been built by the Southern Railway, the station buildings followed the typical "brutilist" style and in the early 1960's a small fuel depot was constructed to provide fuel for the ferry service to the Isle of Wight, and also to provide heating fuel for the holiday parks. The branch continued to eek out a living, however the increasing popularity of the motor car, and the closure of the ferry route in the mid-70's, spelt doom for the line, with closure happening at some point in the mid to late 70's. With most of the route having now been built on, there is very little trace of the lines existence today.

I think you have to be or a certain generation to remember the classic kids show that was Bodger and Badger......

As already mention on this thread, the Lima / Hornby Class 73, I think, still punches well above its weight and still holds up well against the new Dapol one, especially if it's given a bit of TLC and some weathering. Below is my own example, the ends were repainted (rather than being self-coloured plastic). The underframe was repainted in Matt Black, and then the detail was painted in Tamiya Nato Black, which disguises the boxyness of the underframe. Then a bit of weathering.

Nice idea, I think this idea fits in better in this time period. Iirc, the Portsmouth to Southampton via Fareham line was electrified in the late 80's (1987 I think) so this line would most likely have been done around the same time.

I keep having the same problem as well. I think FJ1701 and I keep swapping almost over the same ideas :-D although mine happen to be set about 10-20 years earlier in era. I think the problem stems from so much of the Southern Region having been documented (largely due to it being the last run mainline steam), and therefore the history of most lines are so well known.

I do have an MLV kit to build, and was hoping there might be some justification for running it. My other slight worry, other than the oil traffic, is running other freight services.... I do still have modelled on the layout a siding with coal bins and a siding with a loading dock and provenders store. I'm not sure, but by '69, coal traffic would be rather limited, so perhaps the coal siding would now be used as loco stabling. I guess there could still be a flow of the odd couple of vans of fertiliser or seeds to / from the provenders store.

Around my time period, the West Coastway would have been served by the surviving 2-Bil, 2-Hal and 4-Cor units in the most part. I have a 2-Bil and a 2-Hal from Hornby in Blue, plus 2 Ian Kirk 2-Bil's to build. I also have a 4-Cep and 2-Epb. The Epb's I don't think got as far as the south coast, so this may become a 2-Hap. I also have a 2-Hap kit to build. So my thoughts are, that i'll have a Coastway service formed of 2-Bil/Hal stock. A London direct service formed of the 4-Cep. The Thumper can form a service to Southampton, with the 4-TC being on a Salisbury service. I'm also going to run a newspapers train, mainly because I like parcel stock, and possibly a cross-country service of some sort. This is probably rather contrived, but it sort of works in my head. I just wonder if this would work better serving Thorney Island and the RAF Base, rather than a holiday camp?

Progress has been rather slow over the past couple of weeks. It's now F1 season, so at least a couple of hours modelling time is lost on a Saturday and Sunday watching (or sleeping through) the "action". However the rebuild of the platforms is continuing. Here are a couple of photos of progress so far. Also, whilst cleaning it's wheels, my Heljan Class 47 has finally succumbed to the weatherer's brush. More thoughts as to the new location, I am definitely leaning more towards either Selsey or Thorney Island. Selsey would give more reason for lots of passenger services (holiday traffic to the adjacent holiday park) and the oil sidings could be for heating oil, whereas, Thorney Island would open up more possible military traffic, but slightly harder to justify a fairly intensive passenger service.

The Railway Enthusiasts’ Club MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION 2018 Woking Leisure Centre Woking Park GU22 9BA Saturday 8th September 10:30 am to 5:30 pm Sunday 9th September 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Entry Prices Adults: £8 ; Children: £3 One accompanied child free with an adult Featuring the usual variety of quality layouts, trade and demonstrators. Full up to date details of the exhibition can be found on the Club's new exhibition website: www.recexhibition.org.uk

This is looking good. Good idea to cut the track back on "Platform 4" to give more room for buildings.... I'd actually be tempted to fence that track off to serve as a kick-back for the siding and only have 3 platforms.