checkrail

Many thanks Mike for this great close-up pic. Just what I needed. And I had wondered too about the buffers. Thanks too to Kevin @KNP for copy of drawings. Just need now for Dapol to get on with those 53xx models.

I've just spent a pleasant hour ot two browsing photos of 43xx class, including 83xx series, on the internet - especially the Smugmug railway photography collection. From what I've observed it seems that besides the addition of the weight casting there was little other change to the front end - pony wheels and boiler stays/bracing struts, whatever they're called, remained the same. A conversion job could be feasible. Here are three more of 6305 of Newton Abbot shed (not Exeter as I said the other day), approaching Stoke C. as a passenger train disappears down the branch. John C,

Yes, it had occurred to me that the forthcoming 53xx model might make a better starting point. And if the running plate of the Dapol model is diecast that might make it easier to remove and work on. And somewhere at an exhibition a year or so back I noticed a trader with heaps of Bachmann mogul loco bodies for sale (in case the buffer beam didn't survive surgery!). As for Dapol themselves doing an 83xx I think it doubtful as it would probably require significant re-tooling for a prototype that didn't survive into BR days - or only just. But there were about 65 of these locos operating in the late 20s and 1930s. Looking for pics in my photo albums I've found some that show the weighting block from the side*, but haven't come across a pic showing what the front end of the running plate/footplate, between the smokebox and the buffer beam, looked like from above. My knowledge of the 43xx class and its variants is slight, at the moment. Can I take it that the 83xx modification left the siting of the pony truck as is? *. There's a great one of 8300 at Tyseley in 1934 on the warwickshirerailways.com website.

Inspired by some lovely pics of a mogul and pannier meeting at Little Muddle @KNP this morning here are my 6305 and 8709 crossing paths at Stoke C. I am pleased with the Dapol mogul, but what I'd really like is one of the fairly short-lived 83xx variants. There were no less than 19 of these at Newton Abbot, Exeter or Laira in 1938, but only one other mogul (my 6305). I must do a bit of research into how feasible a conversion of the Dapol model would be. John C.

Elsewhere on this forum yesterday I admitted that I hadn't done any proper modelling for a while, due to other duties and distractions. (As I've said before I'm a bit of a part time modeller at the best of times.) In fact all I've done in the last month or so is give the track a clean. This is a chore I often put off due to the high risk of collateral damage to ground signals, point rodding, point levers, barrow crossings and other fixtures. I use a Peco track rubber, followed by a quick but careful going over with the vacuum cleaner. I don't use track cleaning vehicles or fluids and pads as I like to keep the brown paint on the tops of wing rails and check rails intact. This weekend I must make a 'to-do' list, which I suspect will soon turn into a 'to-buy' list. In the meantime here's 6305 on an up class J freight, heading perhaps for its home shed at Exeter. John C

I am, Robin, I am! And I've had RoS email about them. They look great.

Those buildings are beautiful. There's a nice spacious look to everything here. I feel this is going to be a very photogenic layout, especially as you now have focus stacking in your armoury.

I've had the same malaise - got distracted/lumbered, and felt motivation ebbing away. All I've done in the last month is clean the track. But today I'm going to make a 'to do' list. LMS van and wagons looking good Graham.

Fascinating stuff - I had no idea. What en epic trip.

What a transformation! Good work. Phil's @Harlequin signal box nameplates are great aren't they?

That's what my barber said yesterday.

My contribution to Castles Week continues as the two locos pass in the station ... ... and finishes with this shot of 5000 entering the cutting. I thought I'd exhausted all the possibilities for new photographic angles, but don't think I've used this one before. (Though it did take quite a lot of judicious cropping to make it acceptable.) John C.

Always nice to see your trains. That first Castle certainly has a back story! Looking forward to seeing the actual (model) viaduct in due course. Great spot for train photography.

And here's 5000 'Launceston Castle' coming the other way. John C.

Yippee! The surgeon's embargo on climbing a loft ladder (or driving a car) expired today, so up I went to blow the dust off Stoke Courtenay. As Neal @Neal Ball has designated this as 'Castle Week' I thought I'd better wheel my two out again. Here's 5041 'Tiverton Castle' for starters. John C.

Fine fellows!

Both nice pics Neal. You can see a bit more of both locos in the first, but in the second I like those two blokes showing an interest. Nice toplight too!

Yep, that was one of the questions that were prompted!

Wow! Looks exquisite (and prompts a lot of questions which I think I'll find the answers to in due course).

Indeed - on p.97. And next to it there's a photo of a complete rake, sharing the same description, 'post-1945 chocolate and cream'. But on that pic I can't make out any lining at all. On the other hand I can't make out any coach numbers either so it might just be my eyesight and the quality of the photo. On the same page there are two pics of these coaches in wartime brown, showing twin shields, and an official ex-works pic of a 3rd in crimson lake. So quite a rich seam on one page. Until I reached for my Russell I hadn't realised that although these coaches were planned in 1913 they were not actually built until 1921-22 due to the war. They're quite unusual and I hope Dapol do well with them. I'll be waiting for the corridor toplights.

Reminds me of the old, " The train now arriving at platforms 3, 4 and 5 is coming in sideways". Nice Castle. One of mine is from that first 'Tintagel' batch.

Now all the excitement has died down 5557 can run round its train .... .... before heading off down the branch with the next scheduled service to Earlsbridge. John C.

Fascinating stuff, and quite a modelling challenge, though one we know you'll rise to successfully.

A last look at the Paddington express as it disappears into Stoke Courtenay tunnel. The last two vehicles in the train are 1935 Centenary stock, as later modified with Airstream window ventilators. The cream self-adhesive tape I used to fabricate the latter has faded a little. Adding Comet sides to these vehicles is a notional medium-term project idea. Meanwhile, at the down end, 4908 'Broome Hall' now has a clear road for its short journey back to Laira, running tender first and showing a 'light engine' lamp on the back of the tender. It was fun putting this operating sequence together and photographing it. Though the inspiration came from the Hubback photo mentioned earlier some big dollops of modeller's licence were added. The shunting moves were a bit different from the actual ones at Brent owing to my reversal of the track layout - what's 'west' at Stoke C. was actually 'east' at Brent. One through coach has to stand in for two due to space constraints, and in the late 30s 'Broome Hall' was neither a Truro nor a Laira engine, but was allocated to Newton Abbot. The exercise also got me looking through the Hubback book again, to my great enjoyment. One thing that stands out very strongly in the photos is the immaculate state of most GWR main line track - not a single ballast chipping out of place. Beautiful! John C.

Your suspicion is correct Mike - they wouldn't have had to leave their seats. And they could have done a bit of loco spotting. I wouldn't leave my computer on a railway carriage seat!