br2975

Wayne - good to bump into you today. . Will PM my new mobile number . So if you're ever passing. . Brian R

That's all my wife does - "tolerates my hobby" . But now I have grandsons; so today we went to where I started trainspotting, Ely (Main Line) to watch a pair of Black 5s, then into Cardiff Queen St. on "blue diesel train" (anything ATW when you're just under 4 years of age), where they were excited to see "red diesel train" aka EWS Cl.66 . Amazingly they can tell you a Deltic, Western, Class 20, Class 37 etc and even differentiate between British and American locos . All in under four years, whereas the wife knows as much now, as she did when we first met 40 years ago ! . Brian R

My wife likes wildlife programmes - the rush from the recently opened Warley doors to the Bachmann stand would allow her to witness a herd of Wildebeeste stampeding across the veldt to avoid a pride of lions - without travelling to Africa !

I don't intend to find out . I find satisfying my modelling needs can be financially restrictive. . A divorce settlement and starting a 'new life' could seriously damage my modelling health. Brian R

STOP PRESS . The Murco refienry at Waterston has been up for sale for three years. . Only one firm offer was apparently made, and this collapsed this week. . As a result the owners have started a consultation process with the 400 employees and their staff associations/unions with a view to closing the plant. . This could spell the end of one of the longest running and best known Cl.60 workings (Waterston - Theale/Westerleigh). . Good luck to the employees. . Brian R

Sparks . Railway Magazine, October 1965 . I've sent you a PM with more info . Brian R .

Perhaps there were supplements published for the BrA1ns passport - special stamps for those who bought EvoStik instead of Light, Dark or S.A. ? . Brian R

Back to the thread !!!!!!! . Marc . There is a two-part article on the NCB Graig Merthyr system in Railway Byelines Vol.12 Issue 5 (April 2007) and Issue 6 (May 2007). . There's also a two-part article on the Maesteg system in Volume 13 Issue 7 (June 2008) and Issue 8 (July 2008) . The Graig Merthyr article has photos of the (old and new) miners train platforms at Pontardulais, which appear to be built from old sleepers and are 'very' narrow, 'very low' and 'very' short !. . Brian R

While Budgie's music was never my cup of tea - how's Burke Shelley these days, last I heard a few years ago, he was taken seriously ill on tour ? . Brian R

I took several shots of BDA B950192 in 2007 - to show the deck of the wagon, which, like a number of others was protected by wire mesh. . ASW bought some redundant YNW & BDW wagons from Healey Mills around 2001/2002 which apparently had plywood floors - the firm went into receivership before the wagons entered service. I have some shots of them in my files. . Brian R

Wayne . A couple of shots of the modified bolsters on BFA wagons - taken at Tidal during 2005. . There were several there at the time - I've never seen them in the works proper, but that doesn't mean they haven't been used for ASW traffic. . Brian R

The Crown . Na-na-na-na-na ! . Over the left shoulder in this picture -> Brian R

EDIT How I thought that was Windsor Esplanade, I'll never know ! . On and off over the years I've researched the Glamorganshire Canal Railway ownership of which (together with the canal) passed to Cardiff Corporation in 1944. . The railway which ran from East Canal Wharf to the canals sea lock serving industries alongside Dumballs Road continued to operate until closure in February, 1963. . This photo probably dates from one of my field visits and the houses are located on the south side of Crichton Street, with The Glendower to the right, on the corner with East Canal Wharf where the northernmost end of the Glam. C.R. terminated. If those houses were standing today, they'd be in the centre of Callaghan Square. My interest in the Glam C.R. stems from a cab ride on the Greenwood & Batley battery loco just before closure - organised by my dad who worked for Cardiff Corporation and the driver, who lived in our street. . Then, I came across an article on the railway in a mid-60s edition of the Railway Magazine, written by Ian L. Wright. . I think Alan Jarvis may also have photographed the line at times. The GB battery loco (the only loco post 1945) was scrapped in 1965 by Western Metals, Ferry Road (next door to Bill Way's scrapyard). . Thanks Brian (BT). - Must improve my filing system. . Brian R

How about this for a setting for the kids to be playing ? (No snow, but a ready made adventure playground) . A mile or so west of Splott - I think it's around Windsor Esplanade, but stand to be corrected. . As for your NCB tongue twister - I think the brick building is a better option, and a small, narrow and low sleeper built platform for the 'Paddy Train' would fit nocely, and increase operational potential. Brian R

Greetings Wayne . Please excuse any erratic typing, just back from The Butchers (Llandaff) !! . In a previous post you asked about the short billets leaving by train. . Generally they only moved from the EAF billet bank to the 15" (?) billet bank - a distance of about 200 yards for rolling into sections. This involves drawing the loaded 'SB' wagons from the billet bank alongside the EAF into a headshunt, then propelling them into the 15" mill billet bank, a distance of about 400yds. . I don't believe the short billets left the site ..... and when required, due to demand, additional 15m billets were brought into Castle Works as opposed to being railed out. . Years ago they came from Scunthorpe, Rotherham and Hamworthy ( Poole ). . Here are two pics of BDA wagons loaded with ether billets (taken at Tidal) or 'rebar' en-route from the Castle Works to Tidal (and eventually Rotherham). . Brian

A couple of shots showing the ends of billets cast at the Tremorfa works of Celsa (UK). . Brian R

Having posted above, I decided to see if I could cure my personal pangs of nostalgia, and found these which may be of interest:- . http://www.flickr.com/photos/52150321@N02/7198987418/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/52150321@N02/7199001404/in/photostream/ Brian R

I hate it when people do this, so sorry, but Bulmers did pay toward the overhaul of KGV, but didn't actually 'own it' . It was overhauled in Newport Docks in part, I believe by A.R. Adams - a mate and I came across it in undercoat whilst walking to Cashmores scrap yard. We were allowed to crawl all over him whilst a group of chaps carried on with the overhaul. . I was also at STJ on 2nd. October 1971 for the return to steam trip ............. along with literally thousands of others. . Sadly, I don't have any details of the Pullman cars, but good luck in your quest. . Brian R

Here it is, in glorious colour.................. http://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?img=RE00851C&serial=984&page=61 Note that the far driving car is in BFYE livery Brian R

But how many can 'throw out a chain' ? . Took me a while ( in a former life ) to master the art. . We employed a 'chain man' when carrying out surveys - albeit he generally held the ranging rods and the levelling staff. . Brian R

His dad's gonna be pretty lonely then - Ninian Park was demolished years ago ! . Those of us who couldn't go today, because we were driving to Heathrow and back can contemplate an evenings modelling on Rosamund St. . BTW junior, where did you get the window sprues again ? . Big Brother

Think on this ......... in a coal train you may have a rake of say 50 in number mineral wagons. . Each is to be loaded with coal consigned from colliery to dockside. . The railway is paid for the carriage by the ton per mile. . Bearing in mind BR was operating almost 300,000 16 ton mineral wagons of varying types and moving millions of tons of coal per annum you can understand why as an exact a weighing method as possible in tons / hundredweights / quarters was so important. . Brian R

............. the sector plate at Rosamund Street worked fine, it was the Bachy 03 that shrugged its' shoulders ! . Transpired it was the granite setts standing proud - not a problem with the Hornby 08s. . Brian R

As the last two 6-wheeled vans on BR were withdrawn on the same day (one ex-LNE, one ex-LMS) and both in South Wales it does make one wonder whther they were flagged up on TOPS ? . Brian R

I remembered why 1979 was such a memorable year for my noting parcels stock......... . E70670E the last LNER designed siw wheeled BZ was withdrawn on 28th June at Haverfordwest. . M32978M the last LMS Styove R or BGZ was withdrawn the same day at Canton, the last six-wheeled NPCCS vehicle (save milk tanks) on BR . The last LMS design CCT vans (a la Hornby) were withdrawn on 6th June. . The last SR designed BY van S713 was withdrawn at Coventry on 8th August. . The last GWR designed 'Monster' (?) W600 was withdrawn on 31st August at Peterborough . The last LNER designed CCT, E1307 was withdrawn on 11th September at Stranraer. . Brian R