it's-er

Coachamn's post 466 photo - is that the real thing or a model? Wow - hard to tell - wonderful! John

Tony. At post 3321 above you comment that the GNR tender with Heljan's O2 "wiil be the first RTR GNR tender (won't it?)". I suspect this isn't the case. Don't Hornby do a GNR tender with coal rails for their A3 - as for example with 60062 Minoru they have just announced for 2015? Then there is the Locomtion/Bachmann C1 Atlantic, which is due soon, ahead of the O2. Locomotion's press release said "Two tender versions are being produced in the form of an original Great Northern Railway and later LNER types". I can't find confirmation from the relevant thread on RMweb which tender types Locomotion mean, though there is reference to the class B 3670 gallon type with equally spaced wheels used up to 1907, and the 3500 gall tender introduced from 1908 with unequal wheel spacing (6' and 7'), which all large Atlantics had by the early 1920s. Presumably the O2's GNR tender is something bigger - any idea what type and capacity it is? John Storey

The major manufacturers have done a lot for LNER modellers recently, with models for GER and GCR lines. The GNR is coming along nicely with Hornby's N2 available, and models announced from Heljan for the O2 2-8-0, Locomotion/Bachmann for the C2 4-4-2 Atlantic, and now Hornby for the J50 0-6-0T. I wouldn't be surprised if Bachmann announce the J6 0-6-0 in March - a lovely loco, and the tender might share parts with the Atlantic's tender. Logic would suggest the manufacturers will then turn their attention to the NER, as the remaining 'obvious' gap in loco provision. In which case we might well see the G5, and J21 and 27, to add to the Q6 coming from DHModels. John

As Bachmann originally announced the SR CCT/PMV in March 2012, in their 2012/13 programme, it is good to see first photos of these - they have had a long gestation. To my mind they look strangely inanimate in dark grey plastic - they are going to look much better once paint and printing is applied. There was a thread for these, but it is currently at page 7 of the Bachmann area - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/58096-39-527-ex-southern-pmv-parcels-miscellaneous-van-br-green/ It has sunk down the listings with time. No real need to link them now, as the earlier thread doesn't add to what we have here. John

Agree 31A"s comment that on Bachmann locos the running plate is a metal casting - the LNER K3, for example. Can someone confirm what it is on Hornby's K1, please? From the above, it sounds as if it may be a plastic moulding, but no one has stated the material, so far. John

Ah Andy - excellent! Many thanks indeed! That looks like a fabulous model from Hornby. I don't think we've seen that type of tender before - it looks superb. Looking forward to seeing this in the shops! John

Are there any photos of Hormby's J15 from Warley, other than the one Andy Y has posted of the LNER version? I want to see the BR versions - early and late crest - and I'd like to see a photo from above, so we can see into the tender. Many thanks to anyone who can oblige! John

I'm curious that we have still not seen any photos of pre-production versions of the J15. Hornby have shown these for the Drummond 700, and the D16/3 and K1. If the J15 is now due on much the same timescale (earlier this year, the expectation was that the J15 would be rather later than these others), then surely we should see a pre-production J15 soon? Please ......! John

Can anyone give us a quick run down, then, on fitting a Mashima 1430 in place of the Bachmann motor in those early Bachmann A1s? I'm another who missed out on Bachmann's offer of replacing their unsuitable motor free of charge (I didn't want to entrust my 'Aberdonian' to the vagaries of the post, and be without it for several months). But I'd be happy to replace the motor myself if it is straightforward to do so. John

Oxford Diecast's latest catalogue - 'release programme' - for the period October to January 2015 is now on their website, at http://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/ebooks/oct-jan2015/ This is the full illustrated listing of their range in that period, including the new models recently announced and referred to above. John

Oh, Mike I wasn't suggesting that the NRM shouldn't produce the LNER C2. It was just a thought that, as one possibility, Bachmann and the NRM could half development costs for each of one was to produce the C1 and the other the C2. The possibility of two locomotives, albeit reasonably similar but yet distinctive, from one set of toolings must be quite appealing? I suspect that if this happens, the C2 would appear several years after the C1, to provide enough clear water for the C1 to be a success first. John

I would have thought that a logical sharing of the work going into this would be for the C1 to be exclusive to the NRM, as has been stated, and that Bachmann could use some/much of the tooling to produce the C2. The C2 would also be a popular model, and there is a preserved example in 'Henry Oakley'. Isn't much of the chassis and running gear identical, or pretty much so? John

I just thought I was following standard practice when Ijoined this Forum. But I was expecting to be jts-er - jts being my initials and er (or ER!) being my railway interest. But Google or Apple (I'm an iPad user) seemed to change 'jts' to 'it's' before I could do anything about it! But "it is er" seems to fit the bill! Lots of contributors don't sign off with their name at all, so I thought I was being reasonably transparent in always signing off with John. I am John Storey, and you don't know me, Tony, but I bought your book 'A lifetime with locomotives and layouts' at Glasgow 3 or 4 years ago, and you kindly signed it. I refer to it reasonably often, and I love the material that comes on this thread. It is informative, with so much information about modelling and LNER/ER and ECML matters, along with wonderful photography. Many thanks, and long may this continue! John

Oh please don't delete the photo at post 2629! - it ranks among the very best of model railway photography. Am I really seeing grass grow by the sleeper chairs, or am I imagining it?! The effect is really superb. And am I right in thinking that the station building in the second photo of the breakdown train is Otterington, on the ECML between Thirsk and Northallerton, rebuilt in the 1930a after track widening? John

We are still awaiting the ful listing of Oxford's new models for the October to January 2015 period. OXFORD RAIL But has anyone noticed that on Oxford's web site there is now an Oxford Rail tab, the next page says "Get ready .... It's comimg" with a countdown clock that (today) reads 41 days 20 hours. I reckon that takes us to Thursday 20 November, just before Warley. Clicking on this page then gives this message "Please complete the form below to receive details about Oxford Rail products. Information will be released in the coming months." and a note of a website www.oxfordrail.com John

Are we still expecting some of the 700s in October? Can anyone confirm current expected arrival dates, please? John

Are some of the D16/3s still expected in October? Can anyone confirm current expected arrival dates, please? John

Details of Oxford Diecast's October 2014 to January 2015 programme are becoming available. In 1/76 they are going for some big items, including the following new tooling: Diamond T980 tank transporter WW II Bedford QLD WW11 Thorneycroft Nubian Major 1960s on Leyland Titan PD2/12 double deck bus Volvo FH4 cab current Austin 1300 1962 on Ford 400E van Range Rover - 2013 version John

"Happy Birthday to me { 56 Today }" - post 149. Is that you in the cab? John

I see from Kernow Model Rail Centre's latest newsletter of 28 August that all 4 versions of the LNER CCT are due this coming week. Astonishing, to me at least, as we haven't even seen any decorated samples. It will be interesting to compare it with the LMS CCT, covered fully in the thread above. John

Thanks to Ian Hargrave for his photos of the models at posts 341 and 343. I am sure it shouldn't be so, but my eye was drawn to the two types of tender shown - they are exquisite. I presume these are both GNR types? Were they exclusive to the C1 and C2 Atlantics, or were they used with other locos, such as the J6 or K3? If so, could the tenders be pointers to some other GNR loco Bachmann might introduce in future? John

Larry Many thanks. What about closed cab versions in BR days? John

But we have not seen photos of the 3 that will be available shortly, so we don't know what, say, the lining details are. I want to see what the differences are between the early and late crest versions - right now, I cannot tell. Last year's catalogue had a photo of the real locomotive, and this uear's apparently has not photographs at all. John

But it is odd that Bachmann have not even shown a decorated example on their website - looking at their products list, it just doesn't exist. To my mind it is one of their loveliest models - if it was me, I would want to showcase it. John

The D34 4-4-0 Glens are some of the most elegant locomotives around. If a rtr manufacturer sees fit to light upon them, I am sure many would be delighted, and purchase ........ John