JonHGB

Thanks EWD, I have a few 'period' publications I wouldn't sell on either... I'll have a look around for what I can sniff out. Cheers, Jon.

Incorporating as we now are the Mail stock; what would the 'Stowage vans' in a TPO consist have been, BG's? Jon.

They certainly have. Thanks again, Jon.

Brian, this is priceless stuff. Thank you for imparting the knowledge, and more importantly for taking the time to do so. Very grateful. Jon.

Thanks, Derek, I didn't actually remember Longsight or Mayfield! (In spite of my 08 'Starlet' winking at me!)

Thanks, Brian, I had heard of the Heaton- Red Bank empties; interesting point about the NPCCS coverage; the Larkin book is like hen's teeth (I've seen them listed as 'SOLD' nearly everywhere I've looked, except Amazon where the sellers want £24 upwards.... Crazy. For now I'll stick to Paul Bartlett's site and here. As a thought, would any period Coaching Stock books (i.e. Number listings) have made mention of any of the stock? Cheers again, Jon.

Thanks guys for your input, its very well received I assure you. To just quickly cap on what gen's been received so far, then; Newspapers traffic on the Western would have been ETH fitted stock (And loco, course) Siphons wouldn't have been out of place into the '80s and there would have been at least one regular carriage for the sorters. TPO's did occasionally also convey passengers, or vice-versa with passenger workings hauling Postal stock; examples being the York-Shrewsbury (1M41) Carlisle-Perth (1S81) and Milford- Paddington Sleeper. Manchester Victoria was the starting point for Newspaper traffic with the empties returned to Red Bank. SR Newspapers services ran from Waterloo/ London Bridge and returned here as parcel workings. So, to pose some more queries: Where were the most popular destinations for the above (Manchester) Newspaper workings in the '70's/ '80's What stock would have generally formed the Western Region 'Paper workings; i.e. Siphons and ____? What publications should I look out for related to NPCCS traffic? Thanks to everyone for their continued contributions! Jon.

Right, I, myself, can vouch for the York mail having passenger acommodation; just found (Herehttp://www.flickr.com/groups/cfas/discuss/72157623408382014/ ) normal comp. was 6 TPO/ Stowage vans, 4 pax + 2/ 3 vans for Manchester (Interesting read overall actually) Thanks guys. J.

Thanks again Brian, I have a 'Bible' Oct-88 to May '89 and all the bits and bobs; but if 'Papers vanished in '87 I might push back to anywhere '75-'87 if I can catch a WTT or two... As an aside, when did 'Siphons' and Thompson 63 footers get wiped off the system; I guess the 'Tommys' were just after blue-isation, but I've seen 'Siphons' in Blue with 'Papers brandings photted in the '70s? Again, I'm just after some variety in van type here... Cheers, Jon.

Cool, thanks Steve (Western Empire)... I'm not a confessed Deltic fan, I don't tend to like 'long noses' (Locos, not Dorniers) but nonetheless, if I ever had the urge for a Bachmann 55, then after appropriate re-naming ( 55013 "The Black Watch") it might see some use.... hmm. Anyway, cheers. Jon.

Even better, 'Papers! Thanks EastWestDivide... I've got another working, again from 1H83 (Loco hauled services c.1983) 1M41, M-F 22.34 York-Shrewsbury, Vac. braked. This was the York/ Shrewsbury mail's headcode (?), so would it have had, for it to feature in a Passenger service listing, pax accomodation as well? Sorry to keep throwing them up, I'm just going for accuracy! Regards, Jon.

Thanks, Ravenser. I'll go back to sourcing some WTT's... In my 1H83 book, loco hauled services circa 83/84 timetable, there's a working... No, two: 1A03 03:33 M-F London Bridge-Bexhill, Vac braked and 1A05 03.33 SO London Bridge- Bexhill, Vac braked, both 'Does not convey Passengers beyond Eastbourne' Could this be a Parcels working, not dissimilar to the ones you mention above? All the best, and thanks for the info. Jon H.

Yes, very much! I've got an itch for a very unrealistic 'tail chaser' oval; essential I'd split it in half, and have the two curved 'ends' representing two different locations to show the workings at different stages of their journey. One idea is Norman Bank, in Edale, which would be good on workings to/for Manchester Victoria (Red Bank C.S.) As the for the other end, I was thinking Dawlish on the Western or Redhill on the Southern. I'd tie this in with another board with simply some carriage/ van sidings and a small hidden fiddleyard on the principal: Loco+Consist in > Loco off and then off-scene for stabling > 08 (Cheeky 09?) on and vans split into carriage roads. Then reversal, different vans/ order, and new loco on opp. end and off-scene and onto loop. Still in planning here... Thanks, Brian, very helpful.

Afternoon all, I've been trawling for info regarding NPCCS fleets and their home sites, also for notable workings (To-From, Composition, etc.). So far I've turned up not much, Paul Bartletts' excellent site has given me a few pointers in terms of stock stabling locations (Notably Old Oak Common,Bristol Pylle Hill, Crewe and Cambridge?) and I know about Red Bank, have I missed anywhere else? Also, more towards the 'Papers workings, would I be right in thinking Man Vic would have been the starting point for most North East, North West and Midland services? I say this because I know there were (Still are?) printing presses in the city, and obviously the notorious 'Bank was right outside, so two and two together... Anyway, where else (London, Glasg'ee) would/ could these working have originated? Flicking through Flickr (eh!?) I've seen photos of Eastfield 47's on the WCML pulling Newspaper GUV consists; even some NSE liveried ones too... So where would these have come from? To summarise, then: Q.1) Where were the main NPCCS allocations held? Q.2) In regional terms, where would workings begin/ end? (I mean workings made up mostly of Newspaper vans, in the late '70s-'80s, LM or Southern Region preferably) Q.3) Would I be right in thinking Parcels workings would be separate to TPO/Postals? And, therefore, would TPO's feature in a WTT covering Pax/ Parcels workings? I'm mainly interested in the Dover-Manc TPO and York-Shrewsbury Mail, plus the SO Leeds City- Red Bank C.S. vans. Ta. Any help greatly appreciated. J.