apollo 079

Depends on whether or not they include the rectangular folding access panel on the side with the cooling group to the left, between the trapezoid panel/grille and the radiator grille. Most if not all 45s had this mod by the time flush fronts appeared but 46s don't seem to have. I believe that they are aware of that issue as well, but time will tell. We really need to see some EPs to be sure, tho. Kevin

I didn't ask about timescales, didn't want to push my luck! Kernow says Q4 2019 but with re-tooling (or at least slide tooling) I think I that's optimistic. I'd say it's more likely first half of 2020, but still I reckon it will emerge before the Hell-Yan (phonetic spelling) rival. Certainly as the website shows this is expected to be their next rep special edition. Big up to Fran, Alex, Gareth, Steve, Brian and everyone else we chatted to at DEMU 2019. And to Fran, the boys did us proud last night! Kevin

Hi all I had an interesting chat with the Bachmann guys at DEMU yesterday. I was informed that the new 45/0s will not be a straight re-numbering of the old "Royal Marines" model with the new chassis (21 pin and lights). They intend to use slides to represent different body styles, which should include the trapezoid lower body grille for 45022/41 and an improved representation of the access panel for the other three. This was not a "blanking panel" as many have described it. All 193 peaks were built with a removable panel in the lower body, but the Brush-equipped machines (the later class 46) had the panel replaced by a grille some time during the 1960s. Twenty class 45s received the same modification, these were (in TOPS terms) 45008/19/22/26/41/56/102-9/12/4/21/2/34/41. The small rectangular grille (for the boiler) at no 2 end was blanked off on most locos probably at the same time that the water filler access footsteps were blanked off on 45/0s; or removed altogether for 45/1s. Again I am informed that Bachmann are planning to include the blanking panel for this grille and to improve their representation of the footstep blanking; which on earlier models they have recognized to be somewhat overscale. Hope this helps prospective purchasers. Kevin

Craftsman (I think, or maybe A1) used to do an etch to convert the old Mainline 45 to a 46, along with plating for the battery box covers. I have some somewhere... Or we could speak to Brian.

Not possible with current tooling, even if they used slides for the noses. 44009/10 carried Farr grilles which look very different from the standard type. Brian at Shawplan deds etches of these grilles, and I'm using a set of these to produce my own model of SNOWDON using a nose sawn from a spare 45 body. All 46s and quite a number of 45s carried the trapezoid shaped grille on the lower body side. 45022 and 45041 were two of the latter, so they seem to have made an error choosing those particular machines. 45/1 would also need new tooling. As well as the boiler roof section noted above, the body section where the water filler footsteps had been was re-sheeted instead of the steps being plated over. There are some other errors for a late 45/0, notably the wrong type of nose doors as already discussed, the oiling points on the lower body side which should be covered over, missing body lifting points and (for 45s only) a hinged access panel on one body side. Still, I've already ordered some. Kevin

I have recently used this shop for the first time online as I have had excellent customer service from Scograil for some Continental models. Model arrived by courier the next day, well packaged and perfect condition. One thing to note is that, if paying by PayPal as I did, the transaction appears under the sister company Coastal DCC which threw me for a moment until I googled and found it was at the same address. Overall I found their service to be excellent, with competitive price too, so highly recommended. Kevin

The train in the photograph is 6Y80, the 09:46 Bevois Park (Southampton Up yard) - Halling empty Rugby Cement train climbing the incline up to Battledown Flyover. It was taken from the foot crossing; with St John's Road bridge, East Oakley in the background. The load would usually be the 15 PC017C cement tanks built by Fauvet Girel in 1985 and now produced (all 15 of them) in 00 by Accurascale. However it looks like there may be a "straight barreled" PCA (diagram PC010A) on the rear, which was not unusual as there were no maintenance spares in the "French" fleet. The train was a regular turn for a 73, though 33s were not unknown.

Perhaps surprisingly; given the work they were designed for; some of the 121 DTSs (originally described as Class 149) did have end gangways retro-fitted. There are photos of W56289 preserved at the East Lancs Railway which clearly show this feature http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/56289.html. From memory it was not unknown for the Western Region to substitute a failed 117 DMS with a 121 trailer. This left the 3 car set to rely on just one pair of engines; far from ideal but better than nothing. Another odd combination which was known to have occurred was a 3 car set formed of 117 DMS+121 DMBS+121 DTS. Quite why the bubble was formed in the middle of the set is beyond me as if they had marshalled the trailer in the middle it would have allowed through movement between two cars (but still no toilet or first class facilities, obviously). KG

Not quite correct The loco received correct sized large logos when it was dual braked at in December 1983 (one of the first three 37/0s to receive the livery along with 37183 and 37264), see https://www.flickr.com/photos/30268259@N03/2887548303. The loco was then the first class 37 to be painted in the drab all-over departmental grey livery in June 1989. About a year later it had the yellow stripe added to convert it to the infinitely better Dutch livery. Its second stint in large logo, with oversized and wonky large logos and numbers, was for its naming at Inverness in March 1994. This lasted for a couple of years, but by August 1996 the logos had been painted out, though the wonky numbers remained. The livery modelled is therefore correct from March 1994 to some time in late 1995 or early 1996. hth. Kevin

Exactly what I thought, which is why I got them to send me a photo of the part they were proposing to send me. Kevin

Give them a ring on 01455 245575 or e-mail service@Bachmann-europe.co.uk. I phoned them back in September last year and a very helpful lady called Jennifer made sure she got the correct part for me (stock code is ASM5, I think). The spare parts are linked to a specific model, so if you ask for underframe tanks for 31-659 you will get a set of original style tanks which are pre-weathered; but if you ask for 31-659DS you should get an unweathered set. That is assuming they have them in stock, of course. The cost was £7.00 including postage. Kevin

I should have noticed from the name of the file lol! One other thing to note is that 24009 (like a number of early members of the class) featured the additional headcode disc clips which it received for working on the Southern Region in its early days. Honestly, class 24s are a nightmare when it comes to detail differences..... Kevin

The classmate alongside 24009 looks (from the sideswipe cab damage) suspiciously like 24147; one of the locos which gained the headcode box "wings" which I mentioned in an earlier posting. Kevin

Slight concern re Bachmann's "extensive research"; in fact 327 of what became Class 25 were built. D5151-5299 and D7500-7677 (or 25001-327 if you prefer). Not the first time Bachmann have slipped up in this regard. And the first withdrawal was 5278 in May 1971, followed by 7605 in March 1972. The remaining 325 survived long enough to receive TOPS numbers. 25045 was the next casualty, withdrawn in October 1975 followed by 25015 in December of that year. Then there were 323 locomotives left. Planned withdrawals of the 25/0 sub-class then began in late January 1976. KG

Hi To answer your question, I assume that this is ADRR95214 (formerly ADE 330102). This crane remained allocated to Tinsley at the beginning of 1986 (source Platform 5 Track Machines 1986 edition) and was still listed as a steam crane (many were converted to diesel around this time). There is a photo of the crane at York in March of that year http://www.bdca.org.uk/gallery/index.php/Ransomes-and-Rapier/ADRR95214/95214-York-March-1986-John-Turner-photo, which suggests that it was either re-allocated or more likely was on its way for disposal. This crane is at the NYMR now (but currently out of action, I believe), see http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7355 . It is certainly Ransome and Rapier 45 tonner and looks very much like one of the versions being produced by Bachmann (the one with the "toolboxes" mounted on the jib support runner). As the photos show it was in departmental red livery when withdrawn. Some were still black but one (ADRR95213) was repainted all over yellow, probably for Plymouth Laira's 1985 open day. If anyone has any good photos of this particular machine in yellow, I would be most interested to see. Re the other vehicles in the breakdown train, Departmental Coaching Stock 1985 lists ADB975377 and ADB975419, both converted from fish vans as BTU tool vans, ADB975470 http://www.departmentals.com/photo/975470a converted from BTK/BSK M34527, ADB975488 http://www.departmentals.com/photo/975488 converted from BTK/BSK E35099. These were BTU staff and tool coach and tool and generator coach respectively. There were also ADE87380, another BTU tool van (converted from an unspecified LNER vehicle), ADE320610 (withdrawn by 1985) another BTU tool van ex GER BTK E62490E which was dumped in Tinsley Yard and finally ADM395481, also a BTU tool van converted from LMS PI BCK M6617M. This is all I can find that was allocated to or based at Tinsley at that time. Kevin

Vitrains have recently brought out some Aln 668 series 1800 railcars in original and XMPR liveries. Vitrains is very much alive and well and manufacturing models in H0 scale. They just haven't been commissioned to manufacture anything more in 00. That said, the T.A.F. EMU which they have promised seems to have disappeared off the radar.

Good question! My research indicates that 97201 was given the name after a visit to Doncaster Works in 1979-1980 when it was first repainted into RTC red/blue. A photo here http://www.derbysulzers.com/5061.html shows the nameplate affixed inboard of the large bodyside grille on side where this grille is to the right. A number of undated photos show the loco with no nameplate affixed on this or on the other side, suggesting that the nameplate(s) may not have always been attached. However, I have found four photos from two events in 1985 which are most interesting. Photos taken on 6th July 1985 at Cardiff Canton open day definitely show the name affixed to the side described above but no name affixed on the other side. There are also pictures taken on 1st September 1985 (just 8 weeks later) at Coalville open day which show again just one nameplate affixed bit this time on the other side, i.e. on the side with the large grille to the left. Examination of the photos where no nameplate is attached show no trace of the former position, suggesting that the 'plate was never permanently affixed to either side of the locomotive. All this tends to suggest that there may never have been two nameplates, or that if there were the possibly one was either stolen, lost or damaged beyond use by mid-1985. All pictures after September 1985 (and whilst the loco still in service with the RTC) seem to show the loco without 'plates on either side. A later picture (on the same website as above) shows a 'plate attached again to the side with the grille to the left, but this was taken in August 1991 at the Midland Railway Centre after the loco was sold to preservation. Shortly after that date the loco was repainted into RTC Red/Blue for the final time with the number 5061 added on the secondman's cabside; again with the nameplate affixed to the left and was exhibited at Cambridge station open day in September 1991. So the short answer seems to be some time in 1980 (when newly painted in Red/Blue) to September 1985, but not necessarily all the time, and possibly not on both sides at the same time, unless anyone can prove otherwise, of course... Kevin

This photo https://www.flickr.com/photos/37190-dalzell/8688235163/ suggests that the loco was repainted some time before August 1990, which may well be when it gained the numbers at No 2 end. This pic http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Rail/Locos/24/i-mJ95srQ shows the loco in 1992 with the bottom centre disc missing from No2 end. During its stint at Llangollen the loco ran with no end numbers (and masqueraded as 5000/24005 at one point). Kevin

Hi. I have found photos of both ends of the loco at Crewe Works Open Day 22nd September 1979 which confirm that on that date it carried black cab front numbers at No1 end only (the loco by this date had grease stained silver buffer heads). Another photo shows still no numbers on No2 end http://railphotoarchive.org/rpc_zoom.php?NextImg=0995000001000&aid=&InFrame=&_PAGE=. The photo is dated 18th July 1980 (loco still with grease stained silver buffer heads in this pic at Crewe Diesel). Given that the loco was withdrawn about 10 weeks later, this photo suggests (unless the caption date is wrong of course) that the loco probably never carried black numbers at No2 end in its BR service days. Unless of course, anyone knows different? Black numbers have since been applied at both ends at least twice since withdrawal (once at Steamport Southport and more recently with very small numbers at G&WSR). Hope this helps. Kevin

Hi If you scroll down to near the bottom of this webpage you should find your answer:- http://www.derbysulzers.com/changes.html Basically it's all down to weight saving. Kevin

Update, I've been to Howes today. They have "display samples" of the next batch (for release in April/May as mentioned above), and the blue models both now have blue cab rooves! However, D1030 with the small yellow panel looked exactly the same shade as D1073. Which raises the old old question once again (also mentioned on the Kernow limited edition website, I see), was it a differnet shade or not? My view is that Heljan's D1030 doesn't look like the colour pics of the prototype which I have seen. Kevin

Has anyone noticed that the pre-production photo on the Heljan website seems to show the two blue locos having black (or dark grey) cab rooves but blue paint over the central section. Now I won't pretend to be an expert, but I do have a few colour photos of blue Thousands knocking around the place; and plenty show the whole roof stained in an overall layer of "clag"; but none I have seen show a loco with this particular livery "variant". A figment of a Danish imagination, or does someone know better? Kevin