Richard Pike

Couple of pictures of a Observation Coach I built last year.

SB's 08075 and the 12 Ton Crane got to venture out onto the Fourgig East Preserved Railway at the weekends Mansfield Show.

Some of my SB loco's are virtually finished, so I thought I would share a few pictures. First up is Dapol 08075 which was allocated at SB for nearly 5 year before being withdrawn in 1981 Next up, the first of many, Heljan 20005, a Tinsley machine most of its life, it could often be found at SB working out the local pits. I purchased this next loco, a Heljan 20 in Green with the intention of repainting it Blue, but then found several photographs of 20023 running in Green at SB up until 1979. The loco was in fact thought to have been the last Disc Headcode 20 in Green, repainted in September 1979. Heljan 47165 with its Silver Grey roof was a ex Stratford machine that was transferred to Tinsley and subsequently could be found working off SB. As far as I can research 165 was not fitted with SSC so would have been used for trip working rather than on the Power Station circuits. Finally PRMRP 56073, initially this was one of the two loco's fitted with Remote control for use at Eggbrough Power Station and was assigned to Knottingley but by 1980 the Loco had been transferred to Tinsley and its sub depots. 56073 claim to fame whilst working off Shirebrook was on its first turn after coming out of Doncaster works in January 1985, spent 4 days derailed under the Bunker at Welbeck Colliery......Red faces all around.

Hi Ian, Plan on dropping in on Sunday morning.

Just been notified to expect a delivery of 37's on Wednesday, 1st March.

Good to see you back Nick.

To speed progress of construction of the layout I have been busy building a GJH Plasser 12 Ton Hydraulic Crane, all finished apart from needing a little light weathering. It has helped so much with progress I have actually got the Main line virtually completed. Yesterday actually got to run my first trains and apart from some fine tuning, they ran very well.

Simon, Do you intend having the fiddle yard as a scenic feature ?.

Wow, more of a kit than I imagined, I was expecting a kind of pre assembled sides and roof that just needed putting together, looks like a few hours modeling to assemble.

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Hi Ian, Once finished, if a layout is ever finished ?, in exhibition format with just a small fiddle yard either end, it should be around 45' long and 4' wide. I would be very interested to attend your show, especially with it being local. It may be possible for next year. Hi Paul, Yes I speak to Duncan quite frequently about his 2mm re creation, I also speak often with Bertie Austin whom is doing the same in P4.

Currently away from home, so no practical progress, the second and final section of point work is finished and ready for collection from Stephen Freeman, so hopefully in the next couple of months I should make good progress. I am slowly building up the loco stock, my current fleet is; 08 x 2 20 x 4 31 x 1 37 x 2 47 x3 56 x 1 I am also lucky in having regular visits from a mate with another 08, 47 and 56. Progress is also coming together with the wagon fleet which currently stands at about 40 units made up of HAA's and 16 Tonner's and I am also working on an engineers train that will include two Hydraulic cranes. Once I get back home I will upload some pictures of the stock.

Sorry Guy's, I have been having a little personal issue and have hardly been at home since October so had little opportunity for any modeling. Hope to be allowed back home at the end of the month and get caught up on the back log of projects.

I am not at home at the moment but my 2 kits where delivered yesterday.

Anyone heard anything regarding the pending release of the HAA and HEA ?., I have quite a large number of HAA's on order with an expected delivery of early spring, provided by my supplier but it appears difficult to get any official release date from Dapol.

Just wondering if anyone has heard anything regarding a release date for the depot ?. I spoke with Heljan at Telford and they suggested that they where trying for a December 2016 release which has obviously come and gone.

I have added 500g (1 LB in old money) of lead formed into 2 x 250 g packets and fitted them between the body sides and motor assembly over the axles and performance is vastly improved, in fact so much so I managed to propel 18 HAA's which is quite some load. Great model.

The same.

Installed a Zimo decoder supplied by Paulibanger today into my 08, very impressed running light engine, however when I tried with a load of 10 HAA's I find it not so impressive, whilst just managing to pull the hoppers when I tried to propel them, all I got was wheel slip ( straight level section of track). Am I expecting too much from the Loco ?, it appears to be very low geared and I did expect better performance.

Got a pair of 37's lined up as Bankers for the gradient, but it does look a little steep 02 chimneys ????, tell me more, don't know about those.

Modelling period is 78-80 ish, so sorry no Bones.

Track laying has commenced, Thanks to Stephen Freeman for producing the initial Northern point work, I have got the first track work layed and am busy wiring and fitting Tortoise point motors. My rolling stock collection is growing, I have 13 Skytrex HAA's along with 2 or 3 various wagons and loco stock is a 20, 31, 37, two 47's and a 56, so starting to get there.

The Observation car is a Pullman First Kitchen with the first window blanked and a half window fitted.

Bachmann Pullman Parlour and Kitchen cars, and a Hornby MK3 sleeper.

I think it might be something in BR Green and carry these nameplates, apologies for the poor picture, I can't get the hang of this photography lark.