carlwebus

I have acquired a box of bits. Among them is what looks like a Hornby Dublo 2 rail R1 - but I think the chassis is wrong - possibly a Hornby Dublo Jinty. The R1 body is clearly marked Hornby Dublo Mechano Ltd but the only marks on the chassis are the letters M/H/I on the block at the front end. The chassis is an 0-6-0 with flangeless middle wheels and what looks like an X04 type motor. Can anybody confirm for me the chassis make/ type?

Many thanks to Stoker. Star man! Now all I need to do is to try to find out some technical details on B21C. And, yes, doilum, it looks like the saddle tank of B13C on the healeyhero site picture has been taken off and not put back correctly!

Thanks guys for your responses. I can see, from picture of Black Hawthorn 0-4-0ST Wellington, that the loco on my photo does have a sort of "Black Hawthorn" look about the cab and tank area. I also see that the Butterly company made parts/ castings for locomotives - so the sandbox could be from them. It also seemed the company owned 10 coal mines at one time before nationalisation. Can't find out if Ollerton was one of them.

Hi to all I have the attached black & white photo (bought at an auction with loads of others of all sorts). I am interested in modelling industrials - especially the sort of thing now appearing on heritage railways such as the Mid-Suffolk. The photo is marked on the back ""OLLERTON CHESS" and "Ollerton September 1956". Now, Ollerton Colliery was in Nottinghamshire (an area that I have railway connections with) - on the edge of Sherwood Forest - and had the reputation of being one of the most left-wing politically. I can't find out anything about its locomotives. This looks to me like a Hudswell Clarke. It compares quite closely to No.1208 "Mitchell" (colour photo attached) and Hudswell Clarke certainly supplied diesels to Ollerton. But it could be a Hunslet or even Manning Wardle? If anybody out there could shed some light I'd be most grateful.

Many thanks to 73080, eastwestdivide, keefer, petethemole, wickham green. Star men (I presume) all! Don't feel such an idiot saying it looked like and LMS class 4 - because, of course, that's basically what it is: Derby built 1947. I've actually been to Port Rush - but with three non-railway oriented people (including wife who says she's had enough of steam railways)!

Hi all Can anyone help me with the location of the attached picture? It looks like an LMS or BR 4MT tank at a branch line terminus with a single (clerestory?) coach. The photo is marked on tha back "Alpha Bar PR" Its dated 28/8/76 - so is presumabley on a heritage railway? The only standard gauge "PR" I can think of is Peak Rail - but I don't think they have/ ever had a class 4 and I don't think the location is any of their stations.

That's excellent! many thanks.

Hi Hayfield Veey grateful for your speedy response. Much to my surprise (as this was the first loco kit that I did the whole thing for - even the chassis etc) the chassis does run freely! I just get a 404 error message when clicking on your link - so wonder if you could recommend a supplier for the slimline plus gearbox. I think I can get one already fitted with Machima motor?

Hi I have a kit built LNER F4 2-4-2T which I built several years ago (from a Nu-Cast kit I think). It has never run properly and a friend who has checked it over says the motor is shot. He's had it a year before finally coming to that conclusion (no criticism of him) so I don't actually have it in front of me now. I think I put an Airfix 5 pole slimline motor in it. Anyway, the point is that I now need to replace the motor. I no longer have the instructions but don't think they had any recommendation as to motor. Anybody got any ideas/ recommendations on the motor to source and fit?

Thanks fellas Your time and comments much appreciated. I’m going to list it on eBay auction with a starting price of £69.99. It is unusual and nicely done. I will describe it as “representation of”

Hi there all you knowledgable types. A mystery (to me at least): A few years ago I bought from a guy on eBay what he described as a Hornby P1 2-8-2: locomotive number 2394. He had two to sell - one modelled on No. 2394 and the other on the only other P1 actually built No 2393. Now, as far as I can tell, Hornby never actually produced a P1 (unless you know better). It seems to me that this loco has been built from Hornby parts. The two P1s actually built had the same boiler as the A1 and A3s - but with a 2-8-2 Mikado wheel arrangement and 5'2" driving wheels. If I am correct, the job has been nicely done with separate handrails and detailed cab face (in relief). The main chassis and tender chassis are marked "Hornby MADE IN GT BRITAIN". The front bogie is stamped 54426. It is TENDER DRIVE. The time has come to sell this loco to make room for some kits I am finishing off. But how to describe it: Hornby /Hornby based/ something else?? Can anybody help? See pictures.

Hi David Many thanks for the advice. You have confirmed that I have destroyed the gaugemaster feedback handheld. I was pretty sure it was the controller that had gone wrong - although I must admit I don't understand why it seems to work for one direction but not the other. Should have engaged brain and disengaged the Gaugemaster controller before connecting the old home made job! Live and learn. The inertia controller from the loft was built for me by someone I used to know. He was a model railway buff who worked at BT Labs and knew a thing or two about electrics/ electronics. I have checked the obvious potential sources of trouble. The gromit protecting the mains lead is sound all round and the speed controller and indicator led sem fine. It seems to work all my locos pretty well - I can get very reasonable slow speed - but I will have to keep my track cleaner than before. Thanks again. I will go away and connect the old controller permanently.

To all you knowdlegable electrics wizards: I am a mature (to say the least) modeller - but a complete novice when it comes to controllers, electrics etc. For many years (20?) I have run my branch line terminus/ shunting layout using a Gaugemaster handheld feedback controller running from a transformer and via a Relco track cleaner. All well and good. But I am finding that many of the new models coming out use coreless motors "for smoother running". Feedback controllers (according to Gaugemaster and many blogs) are "not suitable for use with locomotives having coreless motors". So, having decided that I will buy locos with coreless motors (new Dapol Adams B4 etc) I have tried to run the layout using two alternative controllers: viz the system mentioned above for cored motors and a non-feedback controller connected directly to the track for the coreless ones. I duly dug out of the loft an old non-feedback controller (with interia) made for me by a friend of those far off days before I went "feedback". I connected it to the track and tested it with an old loco that has an X04 motor. It was fine. Then I tried it with the B4. Fine again. Then I disconnected it and powered up the feedback unit for a running session. Calamity! I find that the cored motor locos will run fine in one direction but cut out in the other. I am presuming that, because I didn't disconnect the transformer/ Relco/ feedback controller before trying the old controller (although the feedback system wasn't actually powered up) I have in some way cobbled up the transformer or gaugemaster. Question 1: Can anybody tell me what has gone wrong? Question 2: As it looks like I might as well now run the whole show on a non-feedback controller, I am wondering if the old from-the-loft controller is still safe (having spent 20 years in the hot and cold of the loft). Can anybody advise on the choice of a new transformer / controller for the layout (including the coreless motor items)? At the moment I am looking at a Gaugemaster Combi. Many thanks in anticipation.

Very grateful for your confirmation.

Star man! many thanks again.

sorry Jason - I meant No 1 is Slough!

Many thanks Jason. No 3 is apparently Slough - with DRC shed at the side leanto.

Many thanks for identifying Shrewsbury. Most grateful. Many thanks Nick. Much appreciated.

Good afternoon To all knowledgeable experts Can anybody tell me where any or all of the steam sheds in the attached pictures are / were located?