br2975

Was he either (a) daft ( B) undefeated reigning World kick boxing champion © unaware of the health implications of wearing such a shirt east of Briton Ferry bridge ? My soapbox has taken a bashing today ! For those thinking of going to the Lord & Butler Show tomorrow (Sunday) - you'll enjoy it, and it's free - apart from a donation toward Macmillan Cancer Care. For those not thinking of coming ........ . Brian R

I'll be there with my brother ('naturol') and his 4mm circular "Castle Works".Drop by for a chat.Brian R

First ever house I went in as a young PC, I didn't step on a roller skate but a rather large steaming mound left in the hallway by the family pet dog ! . And it was very near to Ely Bridge !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this time my school was next to the Radyr - Penarth Curve North line; and each morning a trip working would pass the school just after 11:00am en-route to Radyr..The trip which I believe started at Newtown Yard/Long Dyke then called at penarth Curve was ostensibly a Cl.08 turn, but regularly employed an officially withdrawn 'nine-fiver' (no self-respecting local has ever called them a Cl.14)to drag up to 50 SLU worth of wagons to radyr amidst a terrible screaming din that announced its' approach in advance..The last 'nine-fiver' I recall 'working' was in December 1969 shunting Canton Mileage Siding and idling under the footbridge, we stood over the exhaust to keep warm..Amazingly, all published works on the class never mention how they were kept running on local workings in order to keep them in anticipation of purchase by industrial operators..Brian R

Here is a link to this year's Cardiff Show http://www.cardiffmodelrail.org.uk/ As not all the layouts have been confirmed, it would be improper to post details at the moment. . Please note the venue has changed since last year and is now Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, Llandaff North, Cardiff. The older members may remember it as Glantaff High School ! More information will follow Brian R

Is that John Major sat reading the newspaper in the foreground ? Brian R

66079 working 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh passing Llandevenny, Gwent 09:58hrs Weds. 11/04/2012 (about 30mins up). . Poor quality due to standby camera (poor excuse). Brian R

Back in 'the good old days' of the not too distant past, Margam could produce 60060, 60033, 60013, 60094 and '60a-n-other' inside the shed. . 24th September, 2005 . Brian R

60045 heads the 6V05 Round Oak - Margam past the site of Newtown Goods depot and Tyndall Fields Yard, Cardiff 1350hrs Thursday 1st. March, 2012 ..................(Dydd gwyl Dewi hapus). . Brian R

Pixie The most active of the MoD ranges in South Wales is/was undoubtedly Castlemartin, Pembs. . I believe MoD trains still run (infrequently) to either Haverfordwest or Pembroke conveying AFVs for exercises there. . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlemartin_Training_Area . Try Rob/Bob Masterman's YouTube channel, he has footage of an EWS Cl.66 shunting Warflats/Warwells at Haverfordwest. . Another range was at Sennybridge around Mynydd Epynt. . In the 1990s the odd MoD train ran to Cwmbargoed carrying AFVs for exercises there.- not exactly a convenient railhead. . In a former life (pre-retirement)we would be roped into joint multi-service anti-terror operations, which whilst not employing AFVs did utilise a variety of other lightweight thin skinned vehicles. . I recall one exercise in the late 90s which started out in the Welsh Marches (that'll give it away) and ended up with a sort of 'shoot out' on a hijacked train at Burrows Sidings - IIRC one of the 'Dutch' liveried Cl.47/9s brought the stock down. . Brian R

I don't think this practice is the sole preserve of 'Austerity' owners. We regularly see preserved steam and diesels masquerading on both the main line and heritage lines under 'assumed identities'. If it's acceptable to renumber a mainline certified Cl.50 then why not an 18" Hunslet ? Bunking NCB sites around the South Wales valleys I saw many, a number of which were so dirty you couldn't tell what colour they really were - how many preserved locos are as grotty as they were when working for BR ? Because of their numbers, design and build quality, they were still around when the preservation scene was just getting off the ground, no one knew how succesful railway preservation may become so money was tight and when you could pick up a six coupled 'austerity' for almost scrap value and have it running reasonably quickly the same couldn't be said for a rusting hulk from Woodhams. Anyway, as the photo shows, I like 'Austerities'. . Brian R

As they were initially refurbished, the 37/5s were allocated to canton and used on MGR trains in South Wales. . After a short time they were transferred to Thornaby, but still ran to Cardiff Tidal on the daily Tees Yard service. . Here are a couple of shots of 37517 & 37518 I took at Tidal, back in 1989 ! Brian R

This photo I took of Bath Road from Temple Meads in about 1974 sums it up for me. . Already times were changing, a couple of years before we'd make the trip for 'Warships' and "six-three-ers", and by late '71 would have to bunk Marsh Jct for those in store.. . Now the even Hymeks were fighting a rearguard action, and that Western must have been nervous as well. . But look at the selection still on view, from left to right Gloucester RCW 'Cross Country Unit' later Cl.119 Cl.03 'Noddy' hiding an 08 Western D1070 Cl.50 in front of a 'Peak' and at the back of the line the Departmental Co-Bo Cl.37 or 'six-eighter' with what appears to be a Cl.31 (Brush 2) behind. Another 'Noddy' atop what looks like a former GWR auto-coach Then a second Cl.50 moving past. . And, check out the all those BRUTE trollies, you remember British Rail Universal Transpotting Equipment ! Brian R

70012 - and it's been returned to Erie PA for 'assessment' . Brian R

On some of my many trips across the river for Severnside derby matches .......................... A lot further to walk from train to ground than it was when we used to visit 'The Gas' and infiltrate the 'Tote End' See, there's more to life than railways ! Brian R

Tim The diesel shunter in the link is an 0-4-0DM built by Baguley 3568/1961. It was purchased by Corrall's (aka P.D.Fuels) in February 1968 from the brewers Bass, Mitchell & Butler, Burton on Trent. Another diesel, a Hunslet 0-4-0DM arrived from the MoD/Royal Navy arrived in early 1971, followed by a Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0DM from the Manchester Ship Canal in December 1975. The latter loco (in PD Fuels house colours) is shown in action, during 1986 here:- http://www.freewebs.com/brdiesels/hampshire.htm There were other interesting systems in the area, on the west bank of the river including, eg Pollock, Brown & Co. Ltd - scrapyard. Chapel Tramway Southampton Gas Workd I have sent you some info, and maps via a PM. Brian R

At least you made the show Wayne. . As for your pipework, I used various Plastruct / Evergreen tubing and a mitre block to cut angles etc. . It's quite easy making the brackets, supports joints, flanges once you get into it. If you want to pick my brains (ha !) just PM me, here or on FB. . Brian

"BR Departmental Stock - a pictorial survey" by Dave Larkin, pub Bradford Barton contains a photo of DB992042 taken at Lostock Hall in 1969 and the caption makes mention of the livery as being green "not the usual olive green" . Brian R

Go big Wayne - as big as you can get, in the space you've got. . Don't forget, the steelworks buildings, mills and warehouses are huge, and dwarf locos and stock. . Here's a couple of shots of the mill building I built for my 'bar and section mill' currently in hibernation ! . The building was made from 5mm foam board, clad with Pikestuff panels, held on with double-sided tape, so I could re-use the cladding on any future project. Brian

Whilst I stand by my earlier selection; reading through a variety of magazine back numbers this weekend revealed a handful I had forgotten about:- (i) Tetfield, 4mm GWR 'BLT' by H.H.Tetlow (ii) Torpoint, 4mm GER 'BLT' by John Harrison (iii) Milldale, 4mm narrow gauge well executed rabbit warren by George Grainger (IIRC) Also (iv) Rhosnewydd Jct. 4mm 'EM' late 70s early 80s in the Wrexham area. (v) Hedges Hill Cutting, 2mm 'sarf of the rivvu' The quality of modelling has improved drastically over the years, and these layouts are evidence of that. The Gaiety 57xx and Farish 51xx shunting Tetfield are testament to that, compared to the faded and weathered Cl.40 on Rhosnewydd, but as with all things, this hobby evolves. Brian R

With Leon's permission, here's a few more shots of Barry Open Day, August 1990 - I haven't scanned the Cl.33 and Cl.37 hauled specials (yet). . It was one of the best Open Days I've attended, and was amazed at the variety of locos and stock on display. . Keep it Leon Brian R

Leon . From your post above, it seems that like me, you've recently suffered a 'loss of motivation' - which we've both found again. (Down to a good holiday ? - it was with me). . Anyway, nice to see the FY Cl.59 - which got me digging thro my 'archives' and found the following I took at Cardiff Central on Saturday 18th August, 1990 . All you need now is a 'Dutch' liveried Cl.73 a Cl.50 in one off blue trailing a solitary FY bogie hopper. . Brian

Thanks Kevin. Due to an 'anomally' (that's an excuse for a mistake !) in the layout design, the 'exchange' road, and also 'No.1 & No.2' roads have short straight sections of varying lengths at the (i) toe of the point in the 'exchange' road, and the heels of the point accessing 'No,1 & No.2' roads. . As a result, the three magnets will be installed one per siding, and not in the headshunt. . Thanks for your time. . Brian R

Currently under construction is a glorified 'Inglenook' design, intended to sit in what is known hereabouts as my 'library' a 5'0" x 5'0" glorified cupboard. . Two fiddle boards will be built to enable enhanced operation e.g. through trains, and the exchange of stock to/from the yard - and attached to the layout when operated outside its normal home, or possibly when exhibited. . A seperate thread, charting 'Coldblow Lane's' development will hopefully begin shortly elsewhere on the forum. . It is intended to use Kadee couplings on some (modern-ish) stock, but other stock will be equipped with three link couplings. . The concept is shown on the attached plan, and it is my intention to place Kadee delayed magnets under the track at the heal of the points of all three sidings i.e. Exchange Siding, No.1 and No.2 roads instead of just one at the toe of the headshunt point. . My reasoning is that previous experience has shown that Kadees can be tempremental at times on such curves and over pointwork. I'm seeking opinions and experience of other contributors. . . . . . The floor is yours folks ...... . Brian R Coldblow Lane-2.doc

Wayne . Spain was fine - hot, and expensive . . . . . no new shed for me, not for a while ! . 'Cardiff Bar & Section Mill' has been evicted from the shed, wrapped up and stored in the garage. . 'Coldblow Lane' is taking shape, the pointwork is down and Thursday night a built a jig to re-space Peco sleepers to a more acceptable appearance (as shown elsewhere on the site). Unfortunately I forgot to check my measurements and put a 7mm spacer in between the sleepers, instead of a spacer that gave 7mm sleeper centre to sleeper centre, so tonight a built a new jig ! . As for the point rodding, if you're going to the Cardiff Show I'll show you what I'm doing. . Anyway, enough of my ranting, this is your thread - mine will start soon. Brian