SM42

The springs make up the vacuum pipe. One end fitted to the casting fitted on the bufferbeam, the other end has the fitting that slots into the stop when not in use. You can connect the pipe between vehicles but it looks a bit odd stuck straight out when not in use, hence it is hung on the "storage" component also fitted to the buffer beam. The middle link in the coupling is the instanter link so that the wagon could be coupled with a long or short coupling depending on how the train was being formed. The axle boxes give you choice of types. there are many spares. You also have the solebar moulding for a shocvan there. make sure you use the correct solebar and don't forget to drill out the holes for the body brackets that fit later in the build. As for all that plastic strip you get for the undeframe, it's up to you whether you bother. I just fit the vacuum pipe on mine. Brossard answered at the same time as me and his photo shows you can't really see all that undeframe detail Andy

The Parkin book indicates the floors were corrugated steel with 2" layer of bitumen, rather than concrete, but visually little difference. Andy

If you have access top a copy of the book Mk 1 Coaching Stock of British Railways (Parkin) there are some interior shots on page 30 (BG) and 31 (BSK) Andy PM sent

Ooh, I don't know. I think Parkside will make more out of it. Fanstastic pictures with all sorts of useful details: wagon loads, interior colours of open wagon, general clutter and a Vauxhall Cavalier (?) Andy (in wagon heaven)

Whilst there is no doubt the future will look very different from an economic perspective and many will be sufffering from the non medical effects for many years to come, I take some comfort in the fact that here we are, around 10 years after the last major outbreak of a similar virus (SARS) and, until recently, life in those areas of the world worst affected by that virus, for which there remains no cure of vaccine, had returned to what we would call normal. People crammed onto rush hour trains, people got on areoplanes, people worked in large factories, people went to bars, clubs, cinemas and theatres and people socialised with their friends, relatives, colleagues and total strangers. In time all this will return. It won't be quick and it won't be easy. We just have to hope and pray that the cost (in both lives and finance) can be kept to a minimum Andy

Why am I suddenly in the mood to build some 12t vans? Andy

May I nominate, no photos unfortunatley Woodhouse, nr Sheffield Bordesley, Small Heath, Spring Road and Duddeston, Birmingham None of these are particulary inspiring places to be. Andy

Blakedown was exactly that, Absolute block to Kidderminster, track circuit block to Stourbridge Jn. Further south there was a similar arrangement at Hartlebury which was Absolute Block to both Kidderminster and Droitwich Spa and again used a chip shop style panel. Rotary switches there though for the block instrument and plastic push buttons for the bell. The button on the block to Kidderminster used to light up when the bell rang. I have a poor photo somehwere of the panel Again seemingly second hand bells on wooden cases on the floor inside the panel. One thing about those push buttons at Blakedown, they were only small but there was a hell of a lot on the back of the panel. Andy

Indeed. There would undoubtedly be a proportion of pre BR stock that was vacuum fitted. Would it be fair to say that 10ft wheelbase wagons were and anything shorter not.? Grey stock would be reasonably prevalent but I suspect in the minority in the van fleet and perhaps more in the open fleet. AIUI BR were still turning out some unfitted opens . Agian reference to Larkin (Wagons of the Early British Railways Era ) and taking a quick read through indicates that there was about a 50/50 split fitted / unfitted in the open fleet of the big 4, and about 10% of the BR orders were unfitted. As to vans, GWR, LMS and SR vans appeared to have unfitted versions but there were also significant numbers fitted and of course those later converted. LNER vans appear to be fitted It's a hard one to call, but on balance, if it were me, I would go unfitted for around 10% pre BR vans and certainly anything with a 9ft wheelbase, 30 - 40% pre BR wooden opens and 10% BR built wooden opens. Steel opens of all origins fitted If it doesn't look right to you later, you can always get more wagons. Can't have too many wagons Andy

According to the Larkin books, the fitting of vacuum brakes to previously big four unfitted stock commenced in 1955 as apart of the modernisation program. Wagons that were part of orders that the new BR inherited were turned out in whatever livery the orignal order specified. On that basis if you are pre 1955, then grey or whatever would dominate the pre BR stock. BR built (ordered) would be in the main conforming to the grey / no paint / bauxite rule. Post 1955, I suspect the fleet would be turning brown in increasing numbers as the level of unfitted general wagons reduced. You say you are basing your layout mid fifties and so I would be looking at any inherited stock being grey mainly with a few conversions, the BR standard stuff bauxite Andy

Perhaps the change makes it easier to disinfect the outside of the parcel both before dispatch and after delivery and even during transit. The contents should be Ok by the time they get to the other side of the world, the outside less so. Andy

The perils of making legislation on the hoof. Everyone has a different interpretation of what it means. Where did one hour of exercise a day come from? It's not in the legislation but seems a popular interpretation. But as has been said by the government, if the shop is allowed to be open under the legilation, then it can sell the full range of its stock. Whether the purchaser is allowed to go there to buy just that item is another matter. A model shop can't work from home in reality and anything they can do, within reason, to keep working I would say is acceptable within the legislation as long as the necessary precautions are taken. If that means it may take a bit longer to get my stuff then so be it. If a retailer said, for instance, they only post out once a week on Tuesday to reduce the number of trips to the Post Office then that's OK by me. I know where I stand and when I can reasonably expect delivery. One thing I would say about doing your own deliveries though, is make sure your vehicle is insured for such. Straight business insurance may not cover deliveries. It's good to see Widnes Model Centre were aware of this and upgraded. How many don't and are now driving illegally? I dread to think if all the community volunteers are driving without insurance. I for one, am grateful for the efforts of all the retailers who are doing what they can (and it seems in some cases wondering whether they are doing the right thing) to keep me (and many others) modelling. Thank you all. Andy

Here's a more modern take on the block instrument from Blakedown. The big silver button is the tapper. very satisfying clunk with a hint of squeak to it. The three buttons under "To Kidderminster," operate the block to Kidderminster Jn box, (i.e control the section from Kidderminster - Blakedown) the indication lights lights below. The lights above repeat Kidderminster's intrument for the section from Blakedown to Kidderminster. Two lamps on each in case of the failure of one. The block bell? A dome bell looking thing on top of a wooden case on the floor inside the panel. I suspect it was kept when the old frame was removed and the chip shop style panel installed. Gravity was its anchor to the floor. Andy

IIRC the BR posters were the same size as the timetables. They fitted in the same type of case. In fact a lot of those cases are still out there so you could easily (present restrictions excepted) measure one I'd say from memory that they weren't on every available bit of space. Maybe one two or three cases near the stairs / booking hall exit onto the platform, near the buffet, maybe a couple in the booking hall and perhaps the odd one or two elsewhere. IIRC they tended to be where most people would be for obvious reasons, so near any station building mainly rather than at the extremities. In fact I'd say use any station today as a guide, Things haven't changed much with advertising space of this size. Here's a picture of old Reading, there's one on the left attached to the building. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5628982 Some at the new Reading https://www.thebreeze.com/reading/news/local-news/reading-station-scores-highly-in-passenger-survey/ Birmingham International station has some more traditional large bill boards beyond the station buildings, They could be used for things like films, cars etc as they belong to the large advertising houses such as JC Decaux etc. Andy EDIT: just found these pictures of Stourbridge Jn station. The images of the building give a pretty rough guide to the number of adverts etc. The timetable boards are in the central gap with their backs to the stairs down to the subway. To my memory it's looked that that since I were a lad in the 80s http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/stourbridge_junction.php

Travellers Fare and other assorted self avertisements for railcards and the like I recall were common. In fact BR seemed to advertise itself a lot more than it did others. There is a 1981 Traveller''s fare poster here https://blog.railwaymuseum.org.uk/how-british-rail-limited-the-butter-on-its-sandwiches/ I also recall one from the London area that said somthing like "Every day we carry out operation bigger than D Day, it's called getting you to work" and had, I think, an aerial view of Waterloo on it. There are a few here too. Ok Glasgow related but give a good feel for the style that BR used. Reading would possibly have Railair link publicity https://retours.eu/en/49-train-and-airplane/ And Interrail too https://retours.eu/en/43-interrail-posters/ Season tickets https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/340162578092382966/ Getty images web site has a few 1980s railway posters in there. Bit of a search through though required. A google search for 1980s BR advertising does throw up a few images from the early 80s, but as you said, they are thin on the ground. The timetable would of course be quite popular too. IIRC that you looked for your destination, and it showed the train times underneath from the station you were at and which platform it should leave from, or if you needed to connect somewhere . Each station therefore had its own unique set that applied at that station only. At larger stations they were in a series of aluminium framed cases on a wall or even in flip folder type affairs. It was actually quite a good system and seemed to stand the test of time into the 1990s and beyond. Still see similar on Poland's stations. Not sure if they haven't all gone electronic in the UK though now. I haven't caught a train for a long time. Andy Andy

I'm with you Andy

More from 2010 Don't ask what these are. I didn't record a lot of info. I shall leave that to those who know more about these things. These are some of the highlights / better photos The parade begins Tkt 48 nice. The funnies come out to entertain whilst the locos form up. Don't see many vacuum fitted Polski Fiats The calvacades end the show Andy

The RDG website, staff travel section (https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/faqs.html#MaintPartner ) says this If you are divorced or legally separated from your Spouse or your civil partnership has been dissolved or annulled, then your ex-Spouse or ex-Civil Partner is no longer eligible to receive staff travel facilities through you even if you remain living in the same property. You will need to return all of their staff travel facilities to RST for cancellation (by "signed for" delivery). If you can’t return these passes, RST will be unable to issue you with any facilities for a future Spouse, Civil Partner or Partner until the latest of these passes has expired. In addition, you will not be able to replace these passes with us (for the current lost passes fee) so that these may be returned. Whilst we appreciate that it may be difficult to obtain these passes in your circumstances, the rules of your entitlement only allow the issue of passes to one Spouse, Civil Partner or Partner at any one time. If the marriage still remains the the staff member has discretion as to whether they can still recieve the entitlement. the website FAQ gives further details Andy

As it would be the Wolstztyn parade this weekend, I have found some of the pictures I took at past parades as a sort of virtual Wolsztyn. These are from 2010. We made our way from Poznan by train (how else) but as a bonus it was steam hauled via Leszno and formed of historic carriages Our loco, Pt47-65 running round at Leszno At Wolsztyn the funnies were out as usual We made out way over to the shed to watch the preparations. The crowds were gathering (compare this to 2019's photos) Tkt 48 moving off the turntable Not long now Wolsztyn shed celebrity loco Pm36-2 Piekna Helena shunting to position for the opening cermony on the level crossing In position outside the signal box Waiting for the guest loco to join her (it was Czech not Austrian as I said up thread) More from 2010 later. Andy

Sectorisation was, I was told by the PWME, one of the reasons behind the closure of Stourbridge - Walsall line. Regional Rail would use it ( to serve Merry Hill shopping centre mainly) if Railfreight paid for maintenance and vice versa. Neither wanted the bill so it was shut. Perhaps if Railtrack had come along sooner it may still be open. Andy

Ends from a Parkside Palvan kit. Outer side sections have flat bracing in the Vanwide kit and the corrugated end wrap round section too. You could use the whole Vanwide sides perhap if you removed and replaced the detail on the panel either side of door, but making your own may be easier Andy

A location where a similar arrangment currently occurs is at Calvert sidings north of Aylesbury. The token, collected at Aylesbury North Loop, unlocks the ground frame at Calvert. There is also a token machine there allowing the train to be locked in and clear line for another train, when the ground frame is again locked closed. Care has to be taken with the handling of the token if you are locking one in as it is just as easy to lock one out and release the token for another train. https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/two-trains-in-the-same-section-at-aylesbury This incident was before Aylesbury Vale Parkway was built. . Andy

Colin's shop moved into the old office (?) when they refurbed the station (I use the term loosely but mainly involved asbestos removal from the building first) and put the new bus shelter and bike racks in. I think he had a temporary shop in the car park in the meantime. I don't know 100% what was in the office that became Colin's before but I don't remember any parcels being dealt with in there. In fact I don't remember seeing anyone go in there. IIRC the manager's position was removed some years before Colin moved in. Perhaps it was store room before the shop. The chargeman's office was two doors down from the gents.The cash point occupied that office when they did away with the chargeman. I think the store room was in between. I vaguely remember mops and so on being in there. But the parcels were definitely dealt with at the Worcester end of the down platform in that blue building. I remember the scales being in there and chatting to Bungalow Bill whilst he did his parcel sorting, mainly polystyrene boxes if I recall. Andy

In the 1980s and early 90s the Red Star parcels office at Kidderminster was a little, anonymous, blue building that looked like it was made from plywood. It was at the south end of the down platform and very near to where the old station signal box used to be. The footbridge stands on the site now The station chargeman used to "do the parcels" (an activity I imagine had been going on for some years) in between checking tickets off arriving trains or entertaining the regular enthusiasts that gathered to watch the freight traffic in the evenings. I remember there used to be a regular consignment of polystyrene boxes that IIRC contained some sort living organism It's roof can just be made out on the left in the picutre on the ABC railway guide website http://abcrailwayguide.uk/kid-kidderminster-railway-station/facts-and-figures#.XqquHZnTWUk In earlier times Kidderminster had a large goods yard and there are pictures on the net and in books of parcels and rolls of carpet waiting patiently on platform trolleys for loading onto a convenient train. Andy

Going off into 1992, 29th June to be precise, I recorded 43100 and 43068 at Stafford. I can't find any record of HSTs before then, but then again I rarely spent more than a hour there changing trains. Test car Iris also made an appearance that day When did the 37 hauled B'ham Holyheads start running? Andy