snowy1051

Thank you so much, but sadly Wilkinsons don't have a branch here in Southern Alberta!

Any kind person give me a quick tip please on how to clean set Milliput from my files? Many thanks.

Hello, I know that pull-push trains/auto trains/motor trains are normally worked with the locos bunker next to the drive trailer. Has anyone seen or heard of the train locomotive being coupled with its chimney next to the drive trailer? I've looked at lots of bunker first workings, for example, there are 3 together in Colin Giffords Decline of Steam (photos 34,35 & 36.) One is obviously not a p-p train, the other two do not appear to be as I'm sure the coaches are not auto. I run 3 p-p/auto trains on my layout and a little variety now and then would not go amiss. Thank you for any info.

Excellent, thank you.

Hello, I recently acquired a Hornby R2208 Patriot "Caernarvon" (BTW, it is now 45517). There was no paperwork when I received it, so I am querying just where are the lubricating points please? I took it apart and repaired one of the copper pick-ups on the loco/tender coupling. It now runs well, except when first starting in reverse, just for a few seconds it is slow and makes a slight grating noise which appears to emanate from the drive cogs in the tender, once that is over, it runs nicely. Should I apply a drop of oil here and there? Also, when I put it alongside my early Bachmann Jubilee, the Jubilee appears to be smaller than the Patriot, therefore is the Patriot oversize? The period I model is the mid-fifties and completely missed those electrification flashes on the loco, slightly mortified when I opened the box and was staring at a mid sixties loco!! I remember in an earlier post I referred to missing The B******" Obvious, well, I did it again...................just one of the joys of getting older, oh well, c'est la vie. Any help re the lube points would be most welcome. Thank you.

Thank for all the tips etc., I just fixed my R59, it was the magnet, spun it through 180 and bingo, runs oh so sweet again.

My sincere thanks to all replies and tips. Thank you. I'll give it a go later today. I'm "reallocating" most of my older locos, but am reluctant to let this one go. It runs so well (now) and is just 15 years younger than me (it has the early mark 2 (?) couplings). I've also "reprofiled the wheels so that it now copes with code 100 Streamline. Took a file to 'em.

Hello, the other day whilst running my very old Tri-ang R59, 2-6-2T, she started to run slower and slower. I removed the body and ran it and could see and smell burning. So I changed the motor. She now runs very well again, but opposite to the controller. Everything seems to be as it should be. Have I missed the b******* obvious? Also, is the wheelbase of the new Bachmann ex Midland 1F 0-6-0 tankie the same as their Jinty? I ask because I have some very tight curves on my layout. I'm the guy that filed off the centre flanges on the Bachmann Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T, which is still running after one the front and one of rear drivers came out of their sleeves and are now super glued back in. Thank you for any help and advice. Gordon.

Excellent, many thanks. I guess that means that of those 8, the other 7 remained in original form.

Hi Pete, thank you for all of that. I thought there was a BR database somewhere. Good news. Regards, Gordon.

Hello, earlier this year I acquired a very nice whitemetal kit built Stanier 3 cylinder tankie. It is on a Hornby Dublo chassis with scale wheels. But, as my layout is based around the Midland lines in Worcestershire and my main interest is prototypical operation, it doesn't sit too well with my other locos. So I am considering converting it to the 2 cylinder version. Ignoring the differences below the boiler and smokebox length, I reckon the main differences are the boiler mountings and the cab entrance. I have just been through all of my books and even Googled for pictures and have found two pictures of 42544 with the the same top of boiler configuration as the 3 cyl locos. Does this mean then, that the boilers were interchangeable? The two pictures are in the 1962 Observers (location unknown) and the Michael Mensing/Bradford Barton "London Midland Steam in The Midlands". 42544 is shown on a football special on the freight line between Stechford and Aston in Birmingham, which seems a little unusual as, 42544 was a North Western engine. Anyway, as at least one of the 2 cylinder locos had the combined dome/top feed configuration, I guess that could just leave me with the cab side alteration. Wish me luck. Gordon.