Merfyn Jones

I was never very impressed by the National, a bit narrow in my opinion. The EFE has it's faults but a better proportioned model. The Olympian is a better job, much better shape than the Corgi effort. Not as good as the Pirate kit but a heck of a lot cheaper.

Hi Tom, I'm enjoying your build very much. A question about the road bridge, are those railings on your bridge commercially available or something you have produced yourself ? I am modelling Blaenau Central station and the bridge at the Bala end has what looks to be the same type. Thanks, Merfyn.

No numbers carried on body. They just had the yellow plastic oval on the solebars with the 99xxx numbers.

Hope these are of help.

And on the subject of numbers, do you know the number of the B R Mk.1 non corridor second/third ?

A PM sent which may help, a list including W R motors. The pic in ROCV is a Midland Region van next to the Scarab, not a FV5 but the NVS, different body to those on the WR. A nice shot of an FV5 WR van does appear in the book and may be available from RTI in kit form Don't know the Scalelink Vulcan, but the WR did have a few. Merf.

Job, I always like to share the information I have on the road fleet. Unfortunately my collection of photographs can not be reproduced here. Starting with the Fordson Estate, this is one of the Classix models, many of which were fictional, in the old way of taking an existing model and painting in B R livery. Numbering was made up and as far as I know B R had none of these, only plain vans. The Springside van dates from the late 20s and probably never made it to B R. I am unable to find a photo of one in red/cream in any of the books. The John Day Morris Com. parcels van was a Midland Region body, the Western ones were different. Could be modified or a new body built. The Thornycrofts on the Western had mainly Swindon built bodies and there are plenty of photos in the books. Most of the Western Morris' had the earlier chassis than the John Day version. Merf.

Austin K2 vans not common on the W R, Thornycroft and Morris Commercials were bought. Fordson Thames estate, which model ? Morris J was used on the W R by engineers departments. Scammell 3 wheel platform lorry. I think this was a one off.

Number appears to be 2320 M S, a Southern Region 3ton covered van with Scammell coupling, probably ex Southern Railway. Considering how many units and trailers that B R had, it is very rare to see a picture of any in transit to and from sites. The 3 ton trailers were usually hauled by Scammell Mechanical Horses, Scarabs or Karrier Bantams

The same way I have used for many years. However the older plates had larger lettering (3.5") so I just print 10% bigger than the modern (7 digit) It works for me.

Martyn, have you thought of the Keene dummy buckeye couplers . Can be used as a bar coupling with no slop between cars but able to split each car. I use them on Bachmann coaches with the close coupling mech. and can have gangways touching on straight.

The way I interpret it is that the 5 x 230 units for Bidston will coincide with the new deliveries arriving for Blaenau and Crewe to replace 230s.

Not sure I understand your method. I have successfully added check rails using bullhead rail and C&L chairs. Remove the inside half of a Peco chair every 3rd sleeper and fit the C&L chairs suitably spaced to the rail. This is then fixed to the sleeper where the half chair has been removed. At the other 2 sleepers fit a C&L half chair to hold the check rail. Problem was finding a suitable glue to fix C&L plastic to Peco plastic. C&Ls own solvent, plas-weld and other solvents were not good, but one of these new fangled glues that you shine a light on for a few seconds seemed to work OK.

After any alterations or renewals, otherwise every 12 weeks when I retired. Is it still the same ?

I have seen pictures of them although none of my own. One I recall was in Elgin on a whiskey job, being loaded on a BR trailer. It would appear to be ex . Freightliner 20' box transfered to the general BR freight operation for places not served by Freightliner services. However I may be wrong ! From my previous post, that's the one.

Still working on it, may find a clearer photo.

I have seen pictures of them although none of my own. One I recall was in Elgin on a whiskey job, being loaded on a BR trailer. It would appear to be ex . Freightliner 20' box transfered to the general BR freight operation for places not served by Freightliner services. However I may be wrong !

Just a very nice replica.. Most dropside tippers in that period were Bedford TKs. or Dodge G08s

George, do you remember when he sold up ?

You just made my day Graham. I'm really glad you found the pictures. I had forgotten a lot of the details of the layout. My main memory of Lou was showing off his loco's strength, mainly Hornby Dublo. He had 4 x 10 coach sets of Kitmasters and he liked to couple them all and run a 40 coach train behind the Duchess. The loco was not far behind it's own tail end. When Lou retired the layout was sold to 2 of our club members who ran it for some time before the layout was sold I believe, but don't know where it went. I bought most of the Kitmasters and the Duchess, which was well knackered and now cannot even pull the tender. Good times Mate.

A lot of people do cut to 60' lengths and it looks better. A simpler alternative is a part saw cut through the rail head only then adding cosmetic fishplates. That makes electrical continuity simpler. You should then get the right sort of noise from your stock.

The one at Hawarden was another 108.

You can no longer run to Traws., but that was the reason it was built. When the line to Traws was severed a foot crossing was added to the bridge for disabled access.

The van has had a top coat of Halfords yellow (guess what the livery will be) and the Maskol removed from the windows and it looks great, the translucent material gives the windows a good colour from a distance without being able to notice the lack of interior.

Yes is the answer. Left the mk2 estate in the same as Paul's and right the more expensive but not most expensive mk4 van. Won't be buying any more of the cheapest type. The van has maskol on the windows, will see how it works out. The estate has had one coat of beige over the primer so far. p s. Has anybody else noticed the wipers are for left hand drive ?