checkrail

Modelu indeed - haven't they been a godsend to the hobby? I'm glad Broome Hall's crew pass muster. I think it's 63 years since I was on the footplate of a loco in steam, a Hall as it happens. While waiting at Kingswear for its departure time back home to Taunton the driver invited me into the cab and asked me whether his engine was "one of Mr Churchward's" or one of Mr Collett's. Happy days.

They do look gorgeous - it bodes well for the corridor ones (which I think more people will be after). I see they've done them in the short-lived 1930 livery with double lining, as Hornby first did with their bow-enders. Just a couple of points: 1) Shouldn't the bolections be the same colour as the droplights? 2) Did the GWR really outshop coaches with the door hinges in unpainted brass?

'Broome Hall' calls at Stoke C. with a Plymouth to Newton Abbot service. John C.

4574 trundles on towards Hackney yard ... ... while 5000 disappears into the cutting. John C.

Another couple of shots as the trains pass ... ... and one of 5000 and train thundering through the platforms heading for North Road. John C.

Many thanks for kind comment @RikkiGTR - much appreciated.

Having just re-charged the camera I can now post a close-up picture of it. I don't think it looks too bad from NVD but I think the idea a few years back that 3D printing would give us lots of wagons that weren't economical to produce by plastic injection moulding has been overtaken by the likes of Rapido. (Granted that their prices are similar to the 'premium' price that 3D printed models commanded.). In the case of the iron mink a plastic one came out very soon after a 3D printed one had appeared on the market. (This photo has shown me that half a fishplate (a C & L plastic one) is missing. Must replace.) John C.

Many thanks for kind words David. The van is a 3D printed ex-SECR vehicle, produced a couple of years or so back to a commission by Rails of Sheffield. It's in the post 1936 SR livery with small lettering, as that was the only option in the first print run, which makes it look a little anonymous from a distance. John C.

4574 brings the daily Earlsbridge goods off the branch on its way back to Newton Abbot. Meanwhile 5000 'Launceston Castle' approaches with a down Plymouth express, which includes a clerestory composite coach to Dia. E73. They cross paths as the goods train pulls onto the up main line. John C.

What lovely models.

Last three for now of train 'n' vans. The first shot is the only one where I managed to get a bit of van at both ends in the pic, albeit at the price of showing a bit of the layout edge. Mike's @Coach bogie recently posted photo had a nice foreshortened view of a train with vans added on fore and aft. Difficult to do on a layout with almost no straight track. There are a couple of different interpretations of GWR coach brown here. John C.

More of 6305 heading towards Plymouth with E set and sundry vans. I see that the second batch of Dapol moguls has arrived or is imminent. John C.

Beautifully neat top feed removal on both those Kevin.

... and some more. John C.

Looks promising. Will watch this with interest.

Inspired by recent pics shared with us by @Miss Prismand @Coach bogie here are some shots of 6305 on a westbound stopper, formed of an E set with a ragbag of various vans attached. John C.

Snap! Mine is 1100mm too. I use an old swivelling office chair on castors and tend to roll it round the chipboard floor, propelled by my feet, following the trains with my hand held controller. I haven't asked what it sounds like on the floor below.,

It's funny what a difference little things can make. My workbench (aka B & Q table on castors) lives under the fiddle yard, to be deployed when needed. For several years I've pulled it out and plonked a chair in front of it, giving me this view of the fiddle yard whenever I raise my eyes. While installing a new desk lamp last week it occurred to me that were I to pull it out further, and stick the chair behind it, I could instead watch trains go round while I worked, giving me views like this. And now and then I'll pick up the hand-held and select a couple of different trains. Why didn't I think of this years ago? John C.

And now they're off to Earlsbridge. John C.

The Hall having left, 5557 has picked up the Siphon and propels it across the main lines to attach it to the branch train. John C.

Speaking of 6 wheel Siphons here's one destined for the Earlsbridge branch being dropped off at Stoke C. by 5975 Winslow Hall. John C.

Great pic Mike. Thanks. Expect to see more pics on here of trains with sundry vans attached!

Final pic of the C10 shows it acting as a strengthener on a main line stopping train, just so I could place it next to a gangwayed clerestory to compare profiles. (The second coach is a D33, Hornby donor with Worsley Works sides.) This has been an enjoyable little project, resurrecting such an ancient model. I remember the buzz when these Tri-ang clerestories, made to complement their 'Lord of the Isles' loco, were first reviewed in RM back in 1961. Would I be right in thinking it was the first time a panelled coach had been produced using injection moulded plastic? John C.

Well, in addition to strengheners and through coaches I'd say siphons for starters but I guess it could include parcel vans, fish wagons, horse boxes and anything else that might need moving down or up a branch line to or from somewhere in the wider world. Milk tankers? Looking back during the last half hour for some of the pictures that inspired me I found: Bulldog on Taunton - Barnstaple Jct train, 1936. Clerestory compo. + B set + Van Compo through coach (Paddington - Ilfracombe. (Yarwood, 'Window on the Great Western', p41) 45XX at minehead, 1936. Four coach train - B set with strengthener at both ends, one being 'an aging clerestory third'. (Great Western Pictorial No. 2: The Hubback Collection, p59.) 51xx with train in carriage siding at Taunton, 1932, described as 'stock for a local train'. Formation includes 2 x 6-wheel Siphon, B set, plus one other coach, possibly a Collett third. (As above, p78) John C.

These questions have crossed my mind too. I'd love to know. And am I right in saying that GWR men referred to strengthening coaches as 'swingers'?