Dava

Mine is dismantled for painting & weathering but it is clear from this that the chassis could be a very good basis for other diesel jackshaft drive (eg Hudswell Clarke) & even small steam locos. Dava

If anyone is interested, the 'Planet' loco conversion I built is available for sale, at a modest cost, as Coney Hill is now well supplied with small diesels. I've been working on the 02 and Fowler today. PM me if interested. Dava

Answer to d600: The length of the completed loco is 128mm over buffer beams The 30mm plastic footplate to be cut off was measured from the front buffer beam Hope this helps! Good luck. Dava

Let me get back to you on that, the loco is boxed up in the workshop at present!

Ruston is right, oily red rods suit this loco, mine will be similar. Lots of admirers at the Weston show last Saturday. Dava

Look forward to seeing (& hearing) it running...

Look forward to seeing it pushing the improvised Mk 1 control trailer back from Rushcliffe...does it run yet? What happened to the other one? Dava

The wonderful 'Netherwood Sidings' layout in 7mm by Graham Clark is at the Wakefield show on 29-31 November, always worth seeing http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/calendar/event/955-52nd-wakefield-annual-model-railway-show-2013/ Dava

Very interesting project & use of 3D design & imaging tools to achieve authentic-looking mockups so quickly.Will follow with interest - good to see a railway works being model led Dava

Good to see main line steam without a diesel pushing it, as for most of the summer. In the first photo, is that the curving bay platform where the Tetbury branch train left? As in the Heljan AC railbus out soon?

I think Judith Edge do them in 4mm & 7mm...

Does the Derwent Valley Light Railway count as industrial? I'm not sure - it did use industrial as well as main line stock and was the quintessential rural, freight-only light railway for most of its working life. Today the long-awaited 'Rails along the Derwent Valley' (Holne publishing) arrived and it does not disappoint - lots of colour pictures, archive photos, hand-coloured building elevations, track plans and a detailed history. Just what you need to model the DVLR (or a line inspired by it, like Coney Hill) and I wish I'd had it two years ago! Recommended. I'll do a proper review for the Gauge 0 gazette when I've read it fully. http://www.holnepublishing.co.uk/page12.html Dava

Thank you, good to get the back end of the 01 which was bleached out in my shot. That 09 was very smart!

Diesel shunters are too often the Cinderellas of preserved railways, being used for a few years for stock and PW shunting but being cast aside when they need major repairs. But the sheer variety of types ordered by BR in the 1950’s-60’s, most of which are long gone with many classes completely extinct, makes them interesting and they are very useful for models. Seeing the range of locos preserved at the Heritage Shunters Trust at Rowsley, Peak Rail, meant this was an essential visit and their gala weekend on 20-21 Sept was an ideal opportunity. They were running a brake van shuttle service from the cattle dock at Rowsley up to their depot, using two locos which were alternated. The cost of £5/person (that’s two then) plus £3 for a nicely illustrated stocklist might seem steep, but with this group you can see exactly where the money is going – into high quality restoration and depot accommodation for their unique fleet of locos. Plus they are all very friendly and I don’t know any where else you can ride in a choice of brake vans with an 02 on one end and an 03 on the other (or 09 if you prefer). They have 25 ex-BR diesel shunters, including very rare survivors from classes 01, 05, 06 (the very last) and fine collections of 6 x 03, 6 x 04, and 07, 08, 09, 2 x 14 and 97 (PWM ). There are also various ex-industrial and a class 12 and repatriated Dutch 350hp loco around. The restored locos are excellent, with 10 or 11 being operational so far and most of the rest on display. Having multiple examples of 04 and 03 lined up means you can see the detail differences between the versions, for example the early 04s such as D2205 had smaller wheels, a longer wheelbase and different cab from the later versions. You just can’t see this anywhere else. So if you are modelling a heritage shunter and need detail shots, or just want to admire this unique collection, its highly recommended. I’ll be going back – will they roster an 04 please? http://www.heritageshunters.co.uk/ 02 D2854 on the brake vans 03 113 on the other end 05 D2857 heads a line of stored locos 06003 - last survivor, why did we miss all the others? D2205, a first series Drewry/Vulcan 04 D2337, a restored RSH 04 D2953, a rare Barclay class 01 Another Barclay, a WD 0-4-0DM 07001 gleams in the sunshine!

Today I collected my long-awaited copy of 'Iron Rails & Whisky Trails' (Ian Peaty, Irwell Press, £20) It does not disappoint and will become the standard work on the subject of Scottish distillery railways. There is lots on the background of the industry, detailed maps, excellent pictures and even the author's colour paintings of the subject (forgive a few dodgy perspectives, they are pretty). Fans of wee Rustons ( the Longmorn 48DS has 4 photos), Barclay 'Pugs', Cameron Bridge and much else will enjoy it. Its a great field guide to the remaining traces of these lines. The only mistake I noticed so far is that the Balmenach (Cromdale) Barclay on the cover is not at Aberfeldy (that is 'Dailuaine' as he says elsewhere) but is on the Strathspey Railway in Boat of Garten yard when I last saw it, I'll look out those photos. I have plans for a future layout based on the Balmenach branch and it would have been nice to see the track plan - there is one in Industrial Railway Record 85 from 1980 in the article which seeded my interest in these lines. I'll be reviewing it in depth with the aid of a bottle of Glenmorangie (ach, a lassie's drink?) over the next few nights! Dava

Yes, that's the one. I've seen your helpful critique & ways of improving the kit, so will be guided by this when I start building it - a project for the autumn/winter. Once the garage-to-workshop conversion has been done & the layout has done its october shows.

Thanks to Ruston for the drawings which are really helpful, for when I get started on building mine, which is the 'electrifrying trains' clone - having also given up on Karlgarin! Dava

This is such an atmospheric model of the C&L. I've visited the preserved section at Dromod, walked the section around Drumsanbo and sat in the preserved coach at Cultra but this is a superb evocation of what the line must have been like, well done John.

No connection with Ruston's book, but I saw from 'Railway Bylines' that Irwell are about to publish a book by Ian Peaty on Scots whisky distillery railways ,'Iron Rails & Whisky Trails', this has been a long time coming as Ian talked to Julia Bradbury about it on her Speyside railway walk a few years ago. Its a 'must buy' as a future layout project for me is a short line to a distillery, like the Balmenach line at Cromdale. Ian did a book on 'Brewery railways' back in the '80's which has been really useful. There is a siding on my 'Coney Hill' layout which serves a brewery. It needs a 'Coney Ales' sign & more barrels! I like industries where you can sample the end product.

I came across this book today in the Ian Allan shop in Brum - not seen it before: Working and Preserved Industrial Locomotives, From the Bill Reed Collection edited by Peter Tuffrey (2012) 225 photos, lots in colour, of industrial locos (mainly steam, some diesel) in both native environments and early preservation days. There are lots of locos which have not been featured too much before, esp from the coal industry in Notts & Derbyshire. Worth £16-99 http://www.fonthillmedia.com/shop/article_978-1-78155-057-1/Working-and-Preserved-Industrial-Locomotives%3Cbr%3EFrom-the-Bill-Reed-Collection%3Cbr%3E%3CI%3EPeter-Tuffrey%3C_I%3E.html?sessid=KM01rsNn7H4hypA5ihEh2TmzmuBovPwZa7gxgY32rHzCeYLMbIpiKYE8YhCEKBGr&shop_param=cid%3D1%26aid%3D978-1-78155-057-1%26

The MSC tanks were in two sizes - short and long tanks - the KWVR and ELR both have short tank examples which were more attractive to my eye see http://www.uklocos.com/final-results.asp?action=display&id=6599

I saw this loco on its first steaming, good luck with it!

I think the Glasgow & South-Western Railway has been neglected by railway writers & publishers - I've just been given for Xmas the long out of print Oakwood book by Campbell Highet, recommended history read but few illustrations. David L Smiths's books are great oral histories of 'engines & men' but there never seems to have been an album of quality historical photos of the GSW, not just the locos, but carriages, wagons, stations, piers & steamers (there are two on the steamers which are recommended). Does anyone know of one? Is it too late? Dava