Alex TM

Hi folks, Yes, always worth shopping around for these. Currently 'Rymans' Edinburgh branches are doing special offers although stock varies quite a bit across branches. 'WHS' also seem to do a '3for2' every now and again. 'Hobbycraft' tend to keep a good range but I rarely see deals on them. I have no connection with any of the above companies other than as a customer. Has anyone tried to build a layout in one (I've seen a couple in the magazines but wondered if anyone her had done so)? Hope this is useful. Regards, Alex.

Hi again folks, Rangers - thanks for the additional information. Grandabob - thanks for the pic. I see that, now sleepy Weldon, is still named on the return address of the wagon. It is quite a bit darker than the Bachmann ones. Mark - thanks for the link. I think the wagon type is of the right era, but still drawing a blank on prototype pics. As for the Bachmann wagons, I have three: the lettering varies slightly, and all have different running numbers. Again, thanks for the help. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Please don't apologise (I am not a local). As a Glaswegian I enjoy occasionally offending the locals by using four-letter words such as "tram"; to some it's more offensive than many other common ones .... ! I do have some pics of the local 68s - I'll have a look and see if any are good enough to post. "Stormtroopers" works for me! Like the "SpotRail" livery reference too! Regards, Alex.

Hi Rangers, Thanks for that information. I hadn't realised that S&L hadn't come into being until quite as late as that, possibly because most of the folk I knew from the works had been there only in BSC days or later. Glad to read that the Bachmann wagon is the right colour though, interestingly, the Modelmasters transfers (P 063) state that the wagon should be a red oxide (white shaded black lettering on an RCH 7-plank with side door only). Any thoughts? Thanks again. Regards, Alex.

Hi, Great collection of pictures of these beasts. The picture of 'Fearless' in post 2 is actually in Edinburgh Waverley working what looks like one of the peak service Fife Circulars (I work in Leith, and the locals can be a bit touchy about confusing the two places, despite the port having been a part of city for nearly a century!). I haven't heard any of the locals call them anything other than ugly (usually with something Anglo-saxon added in). Milk floats at Mountsorrel - I also, as stated in post 13, seem to remember two of them being there in 2011 just before I moved from the East Midlands to Edinburgh. Hope that's of interest. Again, great photos. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, I thought that I would post tis question here, rather than in the prototype questions section, since it is focussed around one particular industry, location, and producer. Question: What I am hoping to find out is what types and liveries of wagons were used by Stewarts & Lloyds during the period from 1923 until 1947. Particularly, I am interested in the stock used in and around the Corby area. I have information on LMS coal, coke, and iron ore wagons but not on S&Ls own ones. Background: From 2008-2011 I lived and worked in Corby; during that time I discovered that a vast amount had been recorded in both written and photographic form about the works, its quarries, and railways. Despite searching then, and more recently, all the rolling stock information that I could find related to the period subsequent to 1948. As my modelling interests have moved back to the grouping area, and I am thinking about building something with an East MIdlands feel to it, this has renewed my interest in these particular rail workings. So far all I have been able to find are photos of Bachmann or Dapol 8-planks! Many thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Alex.

Hi Richard (47137), I have had this happen in the past with one of mine. As soon as it was on the track the wobble disappeared. Found this happen, too, with a pannier tank that made me feel seasick when watching it on the rolling road, but was fine when on the less than perfect track. If it's of use, it was a Bachmann roller setup. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Thanks for all the additional comments and information. The video is really interesting, especially as it's shot in the light. As for the question from roythebus (post 6), you are quite correct - the 90 was at the back of the train leaving Euston. Again, many thanks. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Thanks you gentlemen, for your help, I can also confirm that there was no loco change, other than to drop the 67 at Wembley; it had dragged the sleeper set, and class 90, from Euston. Once under way from the Yard it was electric all the way. Part of the reason for the question was that I have bought some of the Quail map books and begun to trace some of the journeys I have undertaken; this was the only one where there was a gap that I couldn't figure out for myself. Again, many thanks for your time and knowledge. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, I am hoping someone may be able to enlighten me as to the route a diverted sleeper service may have taken one winter night late in 2007. My wife and I were booked onto the Euston-Edinburgh service however, for a variety of reasons, we were diverted from the WCML to ECML via north London. All I can be absolutely sure of is that we travelled from Euston to Wembley Yard (hauled by a 'royal' 67) where we waited before heading in 'reverse' across the north of the capital, passing the new Arsenal ground en-route. The highlight of the journey was waking up in Darlington, in the snow, to see two other sleeper sets alongside. Any suggestions as to the likely route will be appreciated. Regards, Alex.

Hi Andy, In light of the comments about curtains I feel I had to comment that what's great about this layout is its "Martini" approach to modelling - i.e. it could be any time, any place, anywhere, with all of the above dictated by imagination and locomotives. Great work, great layout; keep up the good work. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Thanks for taking the time and trouble to share your memories and information. Some great photographs there. I must admit to being really quite surprised at how long some of these lasted without seeing a brush and some yellow paint. The specific request in terms of D8028 was simply that I was thinking of getting one of the current Bachmann releases but wondered about whether it would have lasted in such a condition until as late as, say, 1967. I was happy to renumber but was hoping to avoid doing any painting. Again, many thanks for all your help. Regards, Alex.

Hi Dave, Thanks for the pic - it's certainly new to me. It looks like one of those locos that, if you modelled it as in the image, someone would pull you up and state that " ..... there weren't any like that ..... ". As for the hunt for a date, the MLI edition on the 20s has some nice shots of one of the Kittybrewster engines in plain green dated to 1964. Once more, thanks for the help. Regards, Alex.

Hi Jim, Have you just 'outed' yourself as an Airdrie fan? That makes two that I know! Back to the topic, all this working signalling is very, very, impressive. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, One of two questions tonight about how late plain green liveried diesels ran on the Scottish region; as they are about two different classes I have split them into separate threads. Anyway, how late did ScR members of class 20 (especially D8028) run in plain green? Thanks in advance for any help offered. Regards, Alex.

Hi there, Just wanted to back up some of the positive comments already made; this is all fine modelling, especially on the military side. As a sometime wargamer and military modeller I have seen quite a lot of fine work, and yours is definitely at the higher end of things. I also have a small collection of the Valiant figures; they're great as they come, let alone for conversions. The only snag is that they are a bit on the big side as they average 26 mm from soles of the boot to top of the head. Should we watch out for some RMP conversions to keep an eye on things?! Please keep up the good work. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Many thanks for your time and input. As a result I'm having to learn to juggle the laptop and an underground map at the same time ... ! I've looked at plenty of pics of the latter days of steam on the Underground and had never seen much beyond engineers stock; your answers have explained why. That said, there seems to a great deal of variety of both that stock, and the BR stock brining in parts, etc, that there would be plenty to model as it is. It's all food for thought. Once more, many thanks. Regards, Alex.

Hi LULFAN, Thanks for the response; I'll do a bit of online research to see what I can come up with in respect to those lines. Many thanks. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Having acquired a Bachmann London Transport pannier I wondered what use I could put it to. Having looked online, and read the truly brilliant "Red Panniers", I am aware of the engineering work that the panniers did during the sixties. What I am curious to know is whether or not any commercial freight was hauled over London Transport metals at that time. As ever, many thanks in advance for any answers or pointers. Regards, Alex.

Hi Adams442T, Try Craftsman Models, as they do kits for the original and rebuilt versions; they also supply boiler fittings as spares. Hope that is of use. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Over the last few years I have made occasional orders from Simon; all books have been in perfect condition, promptly dispatched and well-packaged. A nice touch is the handwritten thank-you note. He's recently changed his image as rather than a film poster card of the 'Titfield Thunderbolt' it's a selfie of Simon in 'Denis the Menace' mode. No connection with the business other than as a very satisfied customer. Regards, Alex.

HI folks, I have now got two of them (BR 41661, and LMS 7125) and both are fantastic; no problems with broken part, running, or loose motors. Neil (Nile), thanks for dismantling one as it offers some ideas as to what Bachmann may be able to do in the future as regards variants. The only question I have is: how does the cab come off? Many thanks. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Just got my copy of REx. Good to see the layout in there - good pics and words. Like the idea of the 'what if'. Looking forward to catching it at a show sometime. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, fantastic work there. Especially like the 24 and 25. Just one question: are those drivers cossacks? regards, Alex.

Hi Mark, Just read your article in the new BRM; shows the layout off well. Great idea and wonderfully executed. Looking forward to whatever comes next. Regards, Alex.