MJI

7 hours ago, The Johnster said:

The 28xx was a very good loco indeed and probably as good as any heavy long haul freight loco in the country when it was introduced.  But there was IMHO an opportunity lost with the later 2884s to improve it by incorporating plate frames in line with the Hawksworth 10xx Counties and 6959 Modified Halls. and Hawkworth might have beneficially tried the County boiler, derived from the Stanier 8Fs built at Swindon during the war, on top of the 28xx underpinnings.

 

That said, the WR was reluctant to accept the Riddles 9F when it was first introduced and wanted more 28xx.  Similarly they wanted more Castles instead of the Britannias and more 5101 prairies instead of the Swindon designed Riddles 3MT tank.  In the case of the prairies they may have had a point, as the 3MTs used a very similar boiler, a domed version of the Swindon no.2, on a loco of broadly the same size, but the 3MT's smaller cylinders made it a less powerful loco.  BR classified the GW prairies, large and small, as 4MT.

When first built the 28xx was the best freight engine in the country.

However it never really changed.

They look good as well

My main DMU routes were from Gloucester to Worcester & Birmingham or Swindon.

The fast run was to Swindon and the needle was well past 70.

Done  a few South Wales routes, AFAIR all 116 with corridors, rode on a last year of 116 with 2 power cars and they were power shifting it rather than the 4 second change 3 second rule.

I also remember being on a Tyseley 116 and getting annoyed at the long bench at the end of the car. And also the extra seats in the middle of the trailer. Definately prefered 117 and 118.

Very sad how little 116 118 119 120 preserved.

I have seen the rev counter of a DMU buried in the red and the speedo was nearing 90, it felt like it too.

Not sure on class, but would have to be 101, 117,  118, 119, or 120

11 hours ago, MidlandRed said:

 

A minor point slightly off topic - the last batch of class 120 for the WR (W515xx series) appeared at Birmingham Snow Hill regularly in the early 60s (same era as Western class operated Paddington to Birmingham/Chester expresses) - some were allocated to Tyseley until about 1962 - after which they seemed to be a Laira allocated batch and found in Devon/Cornwall generally. There are also Mike Mensing colour photos of them on Worcester - Bromyard and Stratford on Avon to Worcester/Ledbury trains in 1961-2 in Heydey of the DMU (neither set with speed whiskers or syp)! 

 

The same book has photos of W790xx sets on BSH-Gloucester-Newport-Cardiff (complete with green background roof boards) and a BSH to Carmarthen service. Both have speed whiskers - the leading full width cab on the first (6 car) has the single letter headcode C whilst the Carmarthen has the gangwayed end leading with single character headcodes A under each cab window. 

Interesting.

7 hours ago, chrisf said:

Beware of unskilled caption writers.  There are some colour albums whose compilers do not know the difference between a 120 and a 126.

 

Chris

My DMU recognition is not bad at all.

1 hour ago, MidlandRed said:

 

Indeed, good advice. However The Heyday of the DMU, as well as having a lot of shots from the era when few people photographed DMUs, appears to have well pretty well informed and extensive captions. I was surprised about the W515xx on the Bromyard branch as I've only ever heard of GRCW single units on it, but as the photo's at Suckley, and it has Worcester Shrub Hill in the blind, I think it's likely to be correct. They refer to the W790xx as Swindon Inter City units (the 120s being Swindon Cross Country units). The pictures of those are at Birmingham Snow Hill and Widney Manor respectively (incidentally, I'm not sure whether it's the lighting but the latter shot shows the early DMU green to very good effect).

 

Does anyone know if all the original WR Inter City units carried the green carriage headboards, Birmingham Gloucester Newport Cardiff? 

Seen pictures of GWR 33 38 and GRCW single cars on that branch

Thanks all

I know about 123s (the B4 ones),.

I found a picture of the "similar to 126 sets" on the line now the GWR.

Since I am planning a small layout of around 1960 and that general area to supplement my under contruction blue era, it took my interest.

I actually have a 119 and just started collecting info for a 120.

May ask Worsely for sides (120 and pre 126), but they may get the windows wrong, Brian did suggest also original Mainline mark 1s.

Or would it be worth working out my own etches?

I found a picture a few days ago.

Any information which vehicles this were?

All I know is first batch

Thanks

Martin

No more Greencycle then

3 hours ago, Chris M said:

I would have voted for stern Steve as best judge if he was on the list.

Same so I skipped it.

7 minutes ago, timbowilts said:

That is exactly how I will be playing it if we ever complete the move to Felinfoel.

My current thoughts are along the lines of Llantwit Vadre with a might-have-been of Passenger services having continued long enough for Class 116 and Class 122 to have taken over from autotrailers, alongside various colliery workings. Well that’s my dream.

Tim T

I have decided I now want some green ones and a 121 or 122 is on the cards, will use Lima 117s of course.

2 minutes ago, queensquare said:

It really does amuse me how some are getting so hot under the collar about the possible release of some generic coaches - I think they look great and I'm sure will sell very well. If you don't like them and want something more accurate then don't buy them and build your own - simple!

I wonder how many of those getting terribly excited about 'trainset set coaches' run their trains on a gauge of a little over four foot.

 

Jerry

Due to the fact that OO wheel are wider than scale. The thing is that the overall width is similar but the flanges are closer.

This is why it does not look too bad.

6 minutes ago, Craigw said:

 

Totally agree John, I said and still think it is a terrible backwards step.  Quite how this will push pre grouping modelling forward I do not see. Surely if these are a success, the next thing coming out will be generic bogie stock and then goods stock.

 

If anybody can explain how that advances the hobby then please do.

 

I appreciate the appeal of these coaches if you want to model a fictional light railway but there is precious little evidence of that beinga  major area of interest.

 

Regards,

 

Craig W

 

 

I just had a look, I originally assumed one of the main builders stock which was sold to various railways, but no they are trainset coaches.

13 hours ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

I like your style. A bit like playing football in the park. 

For my own part, as a teenager in the Hornby Dublo years I built a GWR 0-6-0 from a Kitmaster City of Truro boiler, some styrene sheet and a lot of filler. It sat on a Gaiety Pannier chassis, didn't really look like a 2251 but the main thing was it ran and could pull a few wagons.

My wagon building efforts started with Airfix Minerals, two of which have been modified and fitted with modern wheels still put in an appearance on the long coal train over 50 years on. There are usually about 10 unstarted kits waiting on the shelf. 

At three score plus ten I did my first overlay with Comet sides, you're never too old to try something new.

RTR has given me things I couldn't do but there is a lot of enjoyment to be had from seeing your own efforts setting off down the track.

When I last worked on model minerals the only decent model was the Airfix, so I have a lot of them.

Modified as follows.

Top rail extended over door and flat smoothed.

Metal bearings added (but those horrible wheels still fitted!).

Either

Tie bar added, one brake reversed, 2 vac cylinders added, labeled as MXV.

or

Clasp brake gear, 2 vac cylinders, labeled as MCV.

I am happy with them.

Reading these threads points to the fact that most BR Diesel modellers when heavily modifying stuff do multiple units. Clive, Me, Sig69, Brian Kirby, all of us have knocked up unavailable DMUs.

I find it fascinating.

11 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

I skipped nearly all the questions. I didn't know half the programmes or who the people are. 

 

 

 

 

Jason

I noticed that, I haven't seen many of the so called must see dramas. Don't watch soaps. Chat shows are generally twee.

Was pleased to see some streaming programmes listed, so The Grand Tour was a very easy choice. And unlike a lot of people I do know that JC plays a role and is actually a very skilled presenter.

Was only disappointed I could not vote for Not Going Out as well as Good Omens.

Done, also final page got lots of Clarksons on it.

Comedy was difficult as Not Going Out and Good Omens are excellent.

Did anyone else skip all the soap questions?

18 hours ago, robertcwp said:

Like a decent Mark I Diag 24 RB for a start...  Clearly they are very peripheral, as there were only 128 of them across all regions in loads of liveries from 1960 to the 1990s, and with few external changes making tooling a bit less difficult than it otherwise might be. And no, they are not the same as an RU.

 

And Gresley vestibuled (ie gangwayed) stock that is at least approximately the correct shape. And some GWR or LNER dining cars, and a decent LMS one.

 

Not forgetting DMUs - still waiting for a 104, 120 (or 119) and 116, amongst others. 

 

Not everyone has the time, skill or money to build them (or have them built) anywhere near as well as a good RTR model would be. 

Biggest issue with Mark1s is that different suppliers look strange together.

I still like the old Mainline RB.

DMUs I gave up waiting for RTR.

18 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

It was a pleasure to meet you, too, Chris,

 

Though 'heroes' and 'villains' are often one and the same, depending on your point of view. 

 

It's impossible not to come across as pompous when I say 'Why would I need a wishlist or poll of RTR items?' 

 

As I said yesterday, I was told (by two members of staff) that the likes of an article on building a DJH 'Princess Coronation' was 'no longer BRM material - too high-brow as it were'. It probably came across as a criticism (which Andy jumped on), but I was not able to complete what I wanted to say. This was that magazines have to exist in an extremely competitive market, and, if articles the like of which I've written no longer appeal to BRM's readers, then that's a fact. Such 'complex' articles are unlikely to increase copy sales, it would seem. Other magazine editors might appear to take the same view (though not Steve Flint). The principal reason is, of course, that there is now a wonderful RTR 'Semi' from Hornby. At under £200.00 complete, it's less than half the cost of all the kit components. What's the term (which I dislike, by the way), a no-brainer? 

 

Thus, not only has excellent RTR impacted on what one sees at shows and online but also with regard to articles in mags. Because there's no 'need' nowadays to build the likes of a 'Princess Coronation', then an article on building one is no longer 'needed' itself. 

 

All the above said, Debbie Wood (BRM's new manager) is keen to get more 'constructional' articles in BRM of the type I can supply. I have several in the pipeline. Time will tell if they flop, fail or succeed. 

 

As for Thompson's Pacifics RTR, there's no way I'd wish for one (or any) of those. They're by far the most-popular locos I'm asked to build!

 

Regards,

 

Tony.   

I stopped buying one of the main magazines as it was all been there done that.

I want to read a mix of stuff, at the moment RM is the best read of the major 3.

I think now that the NEXT Lima chassis I get will have to be sliced apart to make moulds of the engines and stuff and cast copies in resin to put on basic plastic card floor pans.

My most recent purchase is destined to go under my 119 DMSL.

I will also have to make more moulds from my modified Lima side frame for bogies.

7 hours ago, Classsix T said:

I hadn't thought of that, or long journeys, flights etc Martin. 

 

Keep the kids quiet in the back of the car wouldn't it?! 

 

In my defence, my train commute is only six minutes long! 

 

C6T. 

Great on long trips, DSs, PSPs Vitas, keeeps them quiet.

I have to drive my commute but I occasionally go home via a BOAT for a change.

120 using Mainline vehicles, now that sounds rather intreaging.

I was wondering about the Worseley route.

But rather scarely I have found pictures of 126s on the Western Region.

On 12/10/2019 at 18:25, Clive Mortimore said:

Not up to too much. Operated the train set yesterday, nothing special.

 

There was a thread about converting Lima class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second into a Driving Motor Second. I have two class 118s with two DMBSs each so this afternoon i now have two DMSs. I am converting one into a class 116, in this mornings research I discovered that only ones with 2 digit route indicators were transferred to the ER. I could make into one with four lights for its headcode display and keep it as a WR or LMR unit. Not decided on the final outcome yet. I am however making a Trailer Composite, all parts cut they just need to be made to size. I could change my mind and have it as a class 117 as I still have an untouched extra center car.

 

The other unit will become a class 118. I will enlarge the heacode box and remove the gangway connectors. The Lima model has lower marker/tail lamps, class 117s did not have these until they were refurbished. All but the first few of the 118s had them from new. This will have to stay as a WR unit.

 

Something a wee bit more bluesie for Mr P.

 

 

Just found this thread

Since I have 2 x 101, 2 x 116, 2 x 117, 1 x 118, 1 x 119 it is a good job I model WR.

Best way of treating Tyseley stuff is to remember it was moved to MR and was ex GWR.

Are you still raiding Ebay for Lima DMUs?

On 13/10/2019 at 13:01, Clive Mortimore said:

Last night i was running various Bachy and Heljan class 47s on my BR and LMS cut and shut trains. Both were slightly longer than normal trains as they were only a zooming around the room. They looked and sounded good.

 

While they were whizzing about I bashed these together, a pair of Driving Motor Seconds, one for a class 118 and one for a class 116. I also knocked up a Trailer Composite for the class 116, using the Brian Kirby method of making each seating bay a 1/4mm shorter therefore keeping the coach the right length. Lima made the seating bays too long and reduced the size of the loo in the center car of the 117 DMU so if you do not make the seating bays shorter then you can end up with a coach that is 2mm too long, as I did with my first attempt of the class 125 middle coach.

DMS for the 118, the headcode box needs to be bigger.

 

The DMS for the class 116. The headcode box needs removing and a destination box added to the cab roof. I still haven't made up my mind if to make it one with four lights for its headcode or a two digit headcode box, the later will allow me to renumber it as a ER set.

 

The trailer composite

 

And the other side.

 

Quite a successful modelling exercise for one night.

Took me a few days to assemble mine, was letting glue harden as I went.

As you know I just accepted a slightly longer length, but it is not noticeable, couple of mm.

Lima based 117s are around £100 and about 20 hours work.

So not THAT bad really.

1 hour ago, Classsix T said:

Question.

The Witcher 3 is to be released on Switch imminently. I don't decry that decision, more power to the cult of Geralt and Nintendo, but do you believe a 200+ hour one-player action RPG title can "work" on the system, given its usp of essentially mobile (console) gaming with friends?

 

Admittedly I'm late to the Witcher party, but I know I'm gonna need to be plonked in my armchair with snacks and mug of char to hand for a proper sesh'. Similarly I couldn't imagine playing Deus Ex or Mass Effect without being immersed in my comfy gaming "nest". Aim, shoot, kill, nom-nom, slurp, save...continue. 

 

Or am I being disingenuous to the Switch?

 

Discuss. C6T. 

I would imagine on a long public transport commute it would be great, same sort of use the Vita could be used for.