Broadway Clive

No, the concern was on the original English Electric shunters as pioneered by the LMSR, LNER and GWR that had 4' wheels, and spawned the class 11 (12033-12138). (I'd love an RTR model of them, by the way!). But BR increased the wheel to 4'6" for the 08 so as to alleviate the concerns over 3rd rail and connecting rods that the SR had.

Trip cocks are fitted to trains, train stops are fixed to track.

I bought and tried it many years ago but found it wasn't really practicable for my layout which features freight sorting yards, docks etc. Wagonflo requires each individual wagon to be identifiable so the system can keep track of it and direct it to its next destination. This is just not possible with closely spaced or distant sidings holding many BR wagons with their tiny numbers. It then instructs wagons be moved to destinations on the layout and redirects them days later, but many of my local destinations don't actually exist as they are 'reached' by outgoing pick up freights that enter the same fiddle yard as those returning 'abroad'. Manually removing wagons from the fiddle yard is not practicable, and any obligations on the frequency and timing of operating sessions is an anathema to me. Nevertheless there are some excellent ideas behind Wagonflo such as those that require one to estimate the type of goods and the quantity of wagons needed at each of ones local destinations on different days, and the frequency of movements, and I've used those to make my own system on an Excel spreadsheet that overcomes the problems I've outlined. Basically I just identify the type of wagon along with any visible load, and their position in a train arriving from 'abroad', and the spreadsheet gives them local destinations based on the odds for each.

Try using a small 'normal' single blade screwdriver to cut a groove across. I've done that successfully in the past. You'll get more purchase than with any cross type driver.

My copy has finally arrived from Peco and I see a blooper on page 9 in the picture of Jool's Underground station, which my friend John Howe built for him. The 1938 stock is sat in the far platform with a trailer car leading, and the driving motor car possibly removed for repair! That train was supplied by Metro-models with a spud motor at each end and was reportedly an unreliable performer - a double motored UNDM (trailer) being their preferred method these days. John had seen an S Stock train on his visit the previous week, sat in the near platform obscuring the view, and had not looked too closely in case he was asked to enlarge tunnels and lower tracks for it to move! All goes to show what I've long known to be the case, that all the money in the world is no substitute for some personal knowledge and skill! Bad marks for the photographer and the editor for not noticing.

Thanks Keith, I've now ordered mine from Peco too - just never thought they sold it directly. I'm grateful for your help because my friend John Howe has been telling me about Jool's layout for several years as he has been making buildings and constructed London tram and Underground sections for him. Over the years I've found it amusing to hear of the turf wars between his projects and others like the Minic Motorway as spaces and gaps were filled. His last visit to prepare the layout for the article brought a surprise when he found his 1938 tube stock had been replaced with a new Bachmann S (surface) stock in the same underground platforms!

I was unable to find a copy in my local Smiths or even at Waterloo Station when visiting just before Xmas, and now I see one is on Ebay for £9.99 so maybe its a better investment at the moment than my ISAs!

What a lot of tosh written on here about SEEP switches being unreliable. My layout uses 38 and has been in use for about 25 years including many periods of lengthy inactivity. Installation is best made by using Evostick and moving the points manually to ensure the switch makes and breaks correctly. Once working correctly they will work satisfactorily for many years. WD40 is a good remedy if any odd contacts are dodgy after many months of inactivity, but usually several throws back and forth obtains the same results.

Your Exhibit A shows a trainload of brand new Fordson E27N tractors at Temple Mills, east London that will have come from the factory at Dagenham, and all fitted with exhausts on the opposite side to yours. Blue was indeed the standard factory colour for Ford's postwar British made tractors so I suggest Oxford's other colours are maybe rather fanciful. Grey was always associated with Ferguson tractors which became affectionately known as 'little grey Fergies', so are yours in fact of that make rather than Fordson?

Leith Central depot I visited on several occasions during 1966-9 and there was an additional stabling point for locomotives on the other side of the bridge which I was informed about by another spotter on 11/6/67. I noted a 350hp shunter and about ten Claytons stabled there but didnt note every number as I'd already cleared the Claytons and was in fear of being left behind by the coach!

Thanks Chris, thats good news. Just let me know at the time when they're available.

Chris, I emailed you recently about purchasing two of your J72 chassis kits plus parts to replace the Bachmann chassis I have. Are you able to supply everything? If not the Mashima motors, I can likely source them elsewhere if I know the model number to look for.

I wouldn't have thought this would tick many boxes or suit many layouts so I hope it doesn't lose money for it's backers.

I take it you meant the class 11 shunter. Although it might seem just a case of a new body on an 08 chassis the larger wheels means the body would require lowering and that causes difficulty with the different cab roof profile and rear window positions, and details like rectangular side panels becoming too square. In other words the prototype's distinguishing features become less noticeable than the compromises on the model to fit the chassis. There was a brave attempt of a conversion detailed on RMweb a few years ago that explained the problems better than I have, and it ended in failure after several months of expert modelling.

The reality is that a 'No deal Brexit' will actually have many small transitional deals to overcome regulatory difficulties like this that are patently in the interests of both sides. Any failures to do so would not reflect well on those on both sides whose job it is to deal with these things and the reputational damage to authorities, governments and the EU commission would ensure a swift resolution.

Has anyone else ordered his new class 124 Transpennine DMU yet? I heard he was developing it this summer so I've ordered one based on Bachmann chassis rather than the regular Hornby. I've had two 105s and a 4 car 104 in the past and the quality was first class and they were all correctly numbered for my area.

In the 'Illustrated History of the railways of Hull' there's a picture of a J25 0-6-0 with tender shunting in St Andrew fish dock, and a WD 2-8-0 propelling wagons across a level crossing into nearby William Wright Dock. Another Hull book has a picture of a WD with a train coming out of nearby Albert Dock. Nowadays main line diesels access King George Dock Hull and I traveled on a rail tour that went right through the steel transit shed on the dockside there about 15 years ago.

A class 11 shunter (08 predecessor) would be ideal to go with HUOs and Covhops and is possibly the largest class of diesels never available in RTR. Spread across the Midland and Eastern regions during the 50s and 60s and with wheel dimensions that could suit some of the prototypes.

The RT has for some reason lost the battery box at the offside behind the rear wheel, making it now look similar to a 'prewar' RT2 in that respect. Not good!

Years ago I had jerky running with a Bachmann K3 and Flying pig Ivatt controlled by a Gaugemaster HH that was cured by snipping off the DCC boards and rewiring. Later Bachmann produced blanking plugs to overcome the problem and I suspect Hornby use them too now, so I suggest you check that it is fitted tightly as I have known one to become lose.

The newer 'B' shed which catered almost wholly for locos was opened in August 1960 according to 'London's East End steam'. On P.42 a photo caption says 'on shed in October 1960 alongside the new diesel building which was just two months old'.

Would the Germans have brought back the same paganism to mainland Britain that the Romans did before Emperor Constantine brought in his Christianity?

Does anyone know when the 24.5 ton hoppers as Accurascale are introducing were first used on the Hessle to Wilmington chalk trains, and did they carry branding for it?

With a large fixed indoors layout its far safer to leave things in place. Repeated handling invariably causes damage to highly detailed stock as well as to the scenic infrastructure so I can see no rational reason for doing so.