John Oxlade

Checking photos (specifically the 2nd in post #17), I don't think that the second shed road joined back in at the incline end of the exchange yard. I now have a good selection of photos of the exchange sidings, but very few from the incline end. There were definitely 3 loops, and the engine shed track went right through and out the back, but the 4th loop/2nd loco shed track doesn't appear to join back in. Does anyone have any photos to confirm or deny this? Actually, it'd be really handy if someone could come up with a photo of the pointwork at the incline end of the yard, and ANYTHING of the track layout the other side of the quarry line over-bridge. Thanks, John

On my Hornby Maunsells I have fitted Fleischmann Profis between coaches and Kadee 18 (or 19s - can't remember) on the ends. The Profis are a bit stubborn to couple and require the two coaches to be lifted slight to engage, but once they have engaged they seem to work fine.

Born and raised in Redhill (central division). Dad was a driver at Redhill for years and we had a railway house alongside the Brighton mainline just north of the station. I have had railways in my blood since I was born, but only really got interested in British railways (not necessarily BR) once Dad passed away in Nov 2012. Prior to passing out as a driver he was a fireman at Salisbury and I well recall hearing stories of M7s, T9s, Merchant Navies, West Countries, and various other classes; I just wish I'd paid more attention at the time. I grew up with BR blue, but I must've forgotten some stuff because being born in 1964 I am old enough to remember steam (just), and green diesels. I've always had a passion for things narrow-gauge, but did the rounds of pre-war German then 1980s US before settling on BR(S). I hope (?) that is my last change, but my "interest cycl"e seems to be about 12-15 years.

Ah, THAT layout - saw it in April '13 BRM. I liked the 71, brake tender and little cameos - amongst other things.

PS. Just curious... How someone in Wales is so intrigued by SR EMUs? OK, skip that, I live in New Zealand and it doesn't mean a thing! Shut up John, you're rambling.

It is interesting that much of the end detail will not be that obvious once the coaches are coupled up, HOWEVER, what bit of scratchbuilding I did some years ago, it is the small details that make a model. It is almost as if your subconscious is going round... "steps, CHECK, handrails, CHECK", so that even if you don't consciously notice them, it's the small details that make (or break) a great model, and Colin's SUB is undoubtedly GREAT. I may be back in the UK in July and I'd love to see Colin's SUB, HAL and COR in the flesh. Keep up the good (great) work Colin, you're an inspiration to us all.

What do you mean "no luggage racks"? Actually, I doubt you'd be able to scale the cord used, and certainly not to weave and knot them appropriately. Now that would be a good penance for someone wouldn't it?

I trust you will upholster your seats? And make sure that they have that deep, formerly-luxurious but now just saggy-in-the-mid-section stuffing. And make sure to get the pattern on the upholstery right too! :-) Joking aside, the end-on images are about 3 times actual size and even at this magnification they look great. Outstanding workmanship.

Does anyone have any photos of the art-deco station building that used to be at street level on the upside? It was replaced by a fish-bowl monstrosity in the (80s or 90s??) and for some reason photos seem to be a bit thin on the ground. I'm not talking about the original building on Redstone Hill but the one facing the market square. Although the Skaledale art-deco signalbox is "pretty close" to the Redhill "A" box (north end of station), drawings of it would be good too if available. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, John

OK, it is a VERY long time ago, but I have definitely been on one. If they were south eastern only, it is possible that we went London Bridge - Waterloo East on one. However, I thought (?) it wsa Clapham Junction - Waterloo, but I am happy to stand corrected.

Agreed, but Pip and I are both self-employed and working 6 or more days a week. I have enough trouble finding time to take an RTR model out of the box let alone scratch build an EMU. Oh well, I'll just have to check up on your progress from time to time. All the best, John

I wish I had the SKILL to do something like this.

It has now :-) Seriously though, another fine piece of modelling. Someone mentioned travelling in SUBs as a kid... I remember going to Weymouth (Redhill - Clapham, Clapham - Waterloo, Waterloo - Weymouth) for my cousin's wedding AGES ago, and surprise-surprise, one of the double-deckers pulled in at Clapham. Trouble is, I was too young to appreciate it, though I do REMEMBER it. I can also just about remember steam at Clapham. Hope the winter isn't too traumatic this time. Just coming in to summer here :-)

If you're not happy with the Tin HAL, I'll take it off of your hands so you don't have to look at it every day

Uh, how long has there been an observation tower there? I don't remember that.

And it is perfectly acceptable (even in Germany) to write oe if you have no "o with an umlaut".

Actually, I am going to correct myself. Looking through Middleton Press' "Wareham to Swanage, 50 years of change", there's a photo of D6529 converted with high-level brake pipes but it DOES NOT have the lamp socket below the left-hand lamp bracket, so either they weren't fitted at the same time or not all had them.

As far as I know, (and reading various references, not that means they are correct), ALL 33s that became 33/1s were fitted with the socket when they went in to have the high-level hoses, jumpers, buffing-plate, etc. fitted as part of the push-pull modifications in 1968.

Any update on the ED? John in New Zealand waiting (mostly) patiently

I'm in Waikato

"Down-Under Railway Modellers" appears to be pretty much Aussie at the moment and though I have nothing against the big island off to our north west, I wonder if there are any NZ-based modellers browsing this forum?

What ever happened to the plans for a flyover to allow direct running from the Reading to Tonbridge lines without going through the station? I never could figure out quite HOW they were going to do it to get clearance over the Brighton running lines.

I am in New Zealand, and there are only a handful of retailers that supply British model railway equipment over here. I live in Hamilton, fourth largest city in NZ with a population of 150,000. We have one model shop, and they have perhaps 6 or 7 Hornby locos, and about 20 items of rolling stock, some Peco track and that's it. *IF* they have something I want I will buy from them - even if it costs me a bit more, but otherwise it is over to the Internet. I have used Hattons several times and found them to be efficient and not charge the earth for shipping. They get the "thumbs up" from me.

Or this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86615534@N06/8774684983/

First house on the left, there's a long, straight grass strip running parallel to the track behind the house. That's where the coach body used to be. Se my post above, or go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86615534@N06/8664406438/in/set-72157633281123435