MarshLane

My god isn't it sacrilege to be hired to the red team? Despite the fact that I worked for them its not something I admit in public .. oh, oops! Good to see inter-company assistance in this day and age however, and the customer got his train. Layout is coming on Marcus, that fencing looks superb. Looking forward to the arrival of my centre-headcode Railfreight red-stripe 37 in a few weeks time once Heljan release them in O gauge! Those pics of 37678 at Peak Dale show me what I'm missing! Rich

Thanks Jinty, One down, four to go Steve at Railtec has kindly provided the numbers for the next two - just need to find some time, which is in VERY short supply at the moment. Rich

Fascinating background info Philip. Rich

Stunning mate, well done! Rich

Steve, Sorry for the late reply - manic week or so, thanks for the kind comments. Rich

Really enjoying reading your progress with this. More a main line modeller, but always had a fascination with Dinorwic and Penrhyn, and subsequently the Quarry Hunslets. I'm almost tempted to buy one of these for a display, but that big sheet of etched brass is scaring the wotsit out of me! How have you dealt with brass bending? I'm assuming there will be some soldering to be done/ Rich

Guys, sorry I've been busy and caught up with other things the past few days - thanks for all the input, I'll get the document updated with the latest info. Rich

Hi Phil, Superb and wonderful really don't seem to cover it! Always enjoy your updates, keep up the good work! Rich

Simon, Are you using rattle can sprays, or airbrush? Whose paints do you find work the best? Rich

Interesting. No, not come across that. I've got the blue TOPS numbered ones and just plugged the Zimo chip straight in and it worked fine. Rich

I picked up/saw a leaflet for these at Bristol I believe. From the picture they looked good, but to me had that tinplate look about them - but I stress that's only my opinion from a photocopied picture, and I'd want to see a proper photo/a real model before committing either way. My initial reaction was nice, but prefer the HJ ones. Not that I'm any expert!! Interesting development tho, and I hope they get them right and it works for them. Rich

Surprised nobody has commented how it's typical Liverpool some git has nicked the bloody rails! Can't wait to see how Paul's going to move that 40 in time for tomorrow's 06.55 to Newcastle! Nice modelling mate! They look good, too clean, but good! Do I take it you've sold the ELJ baseboards then? The dark side really is a big pull! He says looking at his bank balance lol! Rich

Thanks Hump Shunter, I've searched Google for TOPS related info a few times, and never come across that - very useful. Cheers Rich

Thanks to the Fat Controller, Rivercider, Stationmaster and SR Green. Can anyone identify any of the Speedlink traffics handled by Healey Mill sorting sidings? That location seems to be a be quiet on documentation. There was obviously a fair amount of wagonload traffic sorted there, due to the size of the sorting yards. Rich

Hi Martyn, Wow! Where is the stunning button! Rich

Absolutely superb Rod. Will be a great addition to WKT..

Looking good Simon - can't wait till its finished! Rich

Afternoon all, Ah - great, I'll compile the additional info and add it in. FC, thats really useful thanks - just touches on the period being covered. WoodyFox, many thanks. I knew about the 'Coal' book, but not the 'Wagonload' ... off to the rainforest to check! BB: Thats great, again many thanks. Presumably if the main train went to Exeter/Westbury, it conveyed traffic for other destinations? Rich

Guys, Many thanks - I've just updated the document - from the original two pages that I uploaded at 5.30pm yesterday, its now eight pages! Thanks to everyone for their contributions so far, hopefully it will keep coming. If you've already looked, please have another look and see if you can fill in any of the blanks! Do we have any ground or yard staff who would be willing contribute their knowledge? jony7777: I've not come across timber traffic from Boston during the period, as yet. ess1uk: Thanks, there is some info in the document on Eastleigh - UKF vans for a few destinations travelled via Eastleigh Yard John H: Thanks, I think I have that book here somewhere, just need to find it! Plenty of sources to be going at, but each piece of info seems to throw up more queries at the moment to be honest! Cheers Rich

Just make sure you know whose paying your bill Rich

Ah, that I didn't realise - I though the common TRAs remained through to the privatisation point. Rich

Hi Banger Blue, That is immensely useful - thank you for that. Interesting to see that there are TOPS locations for companies now - is this something that has come in since privatisation to get a power report for a specific company's vehicles, or is it just that those are the predominant locations for locos? 42159 was Crewe if I remember right - 52900 I cannot place in my mind, but I'm thinking possibly London or a HQ address? Rich

To those who have already responded, and the four emails I've had, many thanks. I can see this forming into a very useful document going forward! Also, thanks to the chap who PM'd with details of how the wagon flow for industrial coal to Rugby worked. All useful data. I've updated the document with all the latest info. A lot is bulk traffic, so if anyone has any info on the smaller flows that went with Speedlink, that would be very useful too. Thanks again - keep the info flowing Rich

Evening all, Following on from the work that a couple of us having been doing around the TOPS system, we thought we would try and identify as many different types of traffic flows and customers as possible. Acknowledging that a wagonload (subsequently Speedlink) service from Bescot Yard to York Dringhouses could have 40-50 wagons, each potentially being for a different customer to a different destination, there appears to be few places where such information is logged for historical reference. We've made a start and will keep adding to this, through the attached PDF document (v2), and as new information comes to light (either contributed via rmWeb or discovered ourselves) we will add it, and I'll ensure that the document on this first post is always the latest we have. For each wagonload or bulk train flow we are looking to identify - Origin - Destination - Product being transported - Customer(s) - Wagonload or Trainload - Types of wagons - Any related information or notes on the flow The related information could be timings, operational information, more detailed wagon type, how the vehicles were circulated, which yards involved in the movement, rough or accurate dates that flows started/ended - basically ANY information that is related to flows. You might not know it all, every little helps (to quote a well known superstore!) so even if you maybe worked at a yard and can only remember odd bits, please post it, and we'll collate it all together. We have primarily started in Yorkshire / North East, but that just because its our area of interest - information from anywhere across the country would help, and should be documented, so that it truly becomes a nationwide project. For reference, this isn't our project. We're treating this as public domain historical information, the PDF is there to be used. A credit or reference to this thread if it is used or posted anywhere would be nice, as that may generate additional information. If you know people who might be interested in helping who are not on rmWeb, please print this post and the PDF, tell them about it, and ask them to email any info recollections, notes, copies of document anything, to marsh.lane@outlook.com. Today's railway is vastly different from 20-30 years ago, the idea of a wagonload network will be unimaginable to some younger enthusiasts, so lets document it now, while people remember and have archive material/photos to fall back on. Even if you cannot help now, please follow the topic, and check back regularly - as bits of information come up on different workings you may be able to assist us in the future. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. Rich File Updates from the original posting: v2 - Original Upload v2.1 - Updated 1st February. v2.2 - Updated 1st February. v2.3 - Updated 2nd February. Total Downloads to v2.2: 21 - Mentioned because the download figure resets every time I update the file. Traffic Flows v2-3.pdf

Hi Simon, Not come across an IL or AM enquiry - care to elaborate Rich