Dava

aka @Warycat on Twitter & Mastodon! Feline social media accounts managed from one bureau. Your reward:

So if Accurascale are also planning a Gauge O loco, I can’t see a better candidate than the J66/67/69! Well traveled, compact and ideal light railway loco. Dava

Yes I have the article and also built a DVLR station for my ‘Coney Hill’ layout, based on the DVLR. I like the buildings and also built a tariff shed which several stations had on the platform. Dava

The Portable Building Co. also supplied the similar station buildings on the Derwent Valley Light Railway, o f which one survives in the preserved DVLR at Murton. Alphagraphix provides a card kit of the single bay version, in 7mm and possibly 4mm scale. Dava More information here: https://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/51/Derwent.htm Dava

I meant public places such as overbridges, which the first photo seemed to be taken from, as well as approved work locations. Dava

A really interesting detail-rich photo which could inform a cameo model. You could start a thread of rail infrastructure work photos, taken from safe or approved locations of course. Dava

Three castings for frame, hood and cab. Lionel acquired the K-Line model so maybe available in 3 rail. Dava

I model US O scale 2 rail, I do see 3 rail items which are generally to scale standards except for the aberrations in the wheel and truck areas. Sadly, 2 rail is a niche here although we have a Facebook group for American O-Scale in the UK, please join if interested. Conversions are possible, I saw this loco at the GOG show in Kettering last weekend on the Ellis Clark stand, they also have a haul of US 3 rail items. I was told it had an undiagnosed fault but for £75 decided to try and fix it. It is a K Line Plymouth switcher, these were only made in 3 rail so this has been converted to 2 rail with finescale wheels. A week later I have sorted the DCC problem but not yet found the setting to get the sound to work. It runs nicely, ideal for a minimum space layout. In my to-do collection there is a Bachmann Williams GE 70 tonner which awaits rewheeling for 2RFS. nb my test track is multigauge with an off centre 3rd rail for 14 & 16.5 gauges. Dava

How do you remove the blanking plug from the Dapol Y1 to fit a DCC chip? It’s taken me 3 years to get to this one. The instructions say use the tool provided, it wasn’t in my NQP box. I can’t see a way of levering or pulling the 21 pin plug out of the socket which is horizontal in the bunker. Advice welcome. Dava

How do you load cattle into model cattle vans with the roofs glued on? I acquired 2 Gauge 0 vans, one a scratchbuilt NBR van, and a 3H MR van, and have been unable to see how to load them without major surgery to roof or floor. So they stay empty or for brewery use in moving barrels. Dava

I have donated, this is a very historic site and workshop, home of the Dalmellington Iron Company described in the epic history by David L Smith. The Doon Valley Railway keeps it alive. https://www.railscot.co.uk/companies/D/Dalmellington_Iron_Company/ Dava

The diesel shunter was a good representation of a NBL loco as used by BR in Scotland. Dava

This is what the LCUT TT120 hut kit look like. Its small, , less than 3/4” long. They are planning to make their N gauge range available in 2.5mm scale. Dava

Was the sign put up after one did? Does the TV program you refer to (1970?) still exist anywhere? Dava

I remember him talking about how his father removed the 2nd n from Betjemann when it was unfashionable and being debagged in The suburbs, maybe in another film as Oldudders said.

Has the film been edited to remove some content on Betjeman’s personal history? I suspect it has. Dava

Recommend a trip to Porthmadog & Aberystwyth to see for yourself. The VoR locos work hard on the climb to Devils Bridge. Replica L&B loco & Russell at Port. Dava

I’ve noticed that LCUT Creative have introduced a yard office hut kit for a mere £3.69, ideal for trying the scale. I’ll collect one or two next Saturday from their stand. http://www.lcut.co.uk/index.php?product=B TT0-00&title=B TT0-00 Dava

Thanks, message sent. Dava

From today’s grim news, what will the impact of the coke ovens closure be on rail operations at Scunthorpe? Presumably no inbound coal trains or internal coke traffic, but replaced by imported coke? How much is that going to cost to buy and import, and where from? Dava

Thanks Justin, Those views are very helpful, I’ve seen the first and last views but not the four in between. There are probably enough photos of parts of the stables to make a composite drawing which would work for a small scale model. I’ve added the evocative coloured view I found which shows the goods yard side, it’s not in the Colour Rail catalogue. The stone loading dock is still there, I noticed last weekend. Dava

I’m following this project with interest, having known the CHPR for 40 years and walked or cycled most of it. I am exploring a modelling project, possibly of Steeple Grange goods yard and the adjacent junctions with the branches to the Killers and Smarts quarries, now relaid by the 18” gauge Steeple Grange Light Railway. This section was the last haunt of the LNWR Choppers. The goods yard site is now houses, one being the former goods agent cottage, the site of the former stables is another house. Alf Rimmer’s book includes track diagrams which are consistent with the OS 25” scale maps, as below. But I’ve found very few photos of the goods yard and buildings, as distinct from the Killers branch area now occupied by the SGLR,. Any views of the yard and stables building would be very helpful. There is an evocative ColourRail view of a Chopper tank passing the yard, (I’d like an original slide copy) but it would breach copyright to reproduce it here. As to scale, I considered 2mm finescale (a Chopper chassis kit is available) but it’s just too small for me. I am considering TT120 with hand built track, but nothing is definite. 7mm is my normal scale, but would take all my available space. Dava Photo from SGLR website https://www.sglr.co.uk/history LMS diagram from Rimmer book.

I built one as 34055 “Fighter Pilot” on a Triang ‘Winston Churchill’ chassis back in 1977 or so. Painting the original body crimson had not been a great move! Dava

I’ve been modelling American O scale 2 rail in the UK for just over two years. I’ve not found anything available from UK dealers. The Facebook group American O-Scale in the UK is useful to join. I also joined the US group https://groups.io/g/OSCALEYARDSALE This is open to buyers & sellers, every day I get several lists or offers of US 2rail stock, details, scenic, road vehicles etc. Some dealers won’t export to the UK and for a loco you have to anticipate USPS fees if $65 or more plus possible Customs and VAT. It’s frustrating to see Weaver and other boxcars going for $25 or so but in most cases it’s not economic to buy them. But I have bought & imported consignments of turnout components and two small brass locos where the vendors were happy to export and the total costs were acceptable to me. Transferring the money can be surprisingly complex through the primeval US banking system if they don’t use PayPal. The orders took a while to arrive, especially during Covid lockdowns, but all arrived safely in the end. It’s also into see what’s available. Dava

Roco could make one using their BR80 chassis! They won’t but there is definitely a market for one. UK TT120 needs an 0-6-0T shunter & the US S100 and JZ class 62 would have European appeal. Class 62 Drawing below. Dava