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The caption on p.151 mentions that if the banking loco wasn't fitted with the 'special' uncoupling hook on the smokebox handrail then the train stopped in Binegar station to uncouple the banker to allow it to drop off near to the summit. Regards, Ian.

Hello Stephen, There's footage of this practice being carried out on the S&D (all be it in BR days) on one of the many DVDs in my collection, I'll see if I can find it later but IIRC the banking loco (a 3F tank) was attached to the train at Radstock up to just short of Masbury summit with the brake van guard then uncoupling it on the move, using a special hook attached to the banker's smokebox door, so allowing the banker to 'drop off' and return wrong line back down the incline to Binegar. According to p.146 in the Pictorial Atlas of the S&DJR (part 1) this practice was brought into force from Oct 10th 1927 due to an economic measure relating to a reduction of hours of Masbury signal box being in use. There's also more information about the practice on p.151. We tried to include this feature on our (Leeds MRS) model of Masbury station but trying to be clever with conventional DC and two controllers it never really worked very well and as it took place almost as soon as the train banker appeared in view we decided not to bother again with it. I think that I later removed the switch and wiring as it just caused us confusion the next time that we exhibited it. I do however (as I now own the layout) sometimes run the bankers into the station area as if there has been an issue with uncoupling and allow them to use the crossover by the platforms to return just for extra interest. Regards, Ian.

I'm just about to go and collect my first RUB 77L from my local Argos having read both this article and followed the path of @Gilbert's Lockdown Fen on here ... I've got some ideas going on in my head ... if I can make them fit ? Thanks for the inspiration. Regards, Ian.

Fully agree with Dave's ( @TT100 Diesels ) comments regarding the Macclesfield show, a good exhibition all round and a great advert for our scale with the 2 layouts on show and the collection of diesels on display for which I overheard many favourable comments from non 3mm folk. With our numbers being into double figures it was a great mini-convention and a good chance to have one-to-one conversations and for me personally to 'connect' with members who I knew previously only either by name or face. A good day out and a great inspiration to get back to either my workbench or rejoining my Masbury layout back together tomorrow before starting a week of night shifts. Regards, Ian.

I saw Delyn-Y-Coed at Sheffield last week and am coming over for another look today at Macclesfield as it was always a favourite of mine in it's previous life, along with Heybridge Wharf of course. I'm also using it as a reconnaissance trip as I've been provisionally asked if I will bring Masbury over next year if it all works when I join it back together ! I'll bob my maroon Society t-shirt on if anybody wants to say hello. (Crew cut and shorts will be another giveaway !) Regards, Ian.

Great model Dave, you've certainly captured the essence of the prototype from Lenny's 'starting point.' You've painted and weathered it just as I remember them. Marvellous. Regards, Ian.

Yellow litter bin, timetable board next to the arch, 2 hanging baskets out in front of the arch and obviously the circular flower tubs but I'm sure that you've already noticed these. As regards the chimney stack 'I would suggest' that they are rendered stone or more likely brickwork but I think they are looking quite dark as they are wet after a spell of rain (looking around at the roof slates, platform surface and the sheen on some of the platform edging.) I would 'imagine' that that they would be more of a fawn or buff colour when dry so I suppose it depends on whether you are modelling Glenfinnan on a damp or dry day ? I'll check some of my photos later to see if I have any clearer views. Looking very good though and at least these are only small details. Hope you are enjoying the trip. Regards, Ian.

Still the same for me, I'm afraid. As suggested it could be an issue with my browser (Chrome) which I have known for a while won't update with newer versions as it no longer recognises my tablet system. I'll get my 'techy' son to have a look later ... but it may just be time for a new tablet !! Of note I'd also lost a few features from my phone version when I first went on this morning (couldn't react to posts) until I signed out and back in again... seems to be working fine now. Thanks for your help Andy. Regards, Ian.

Thanks Andy, I'll give that a go. Just seemed strange that it was on both of my tablets, of which one (the iPad) I barely ,if ever, use. Regards, Ian.

I'm experiencing this same problem on both of my tablets, one is an old Samsung Tab 2 whilst the other is an iPad of unknown age. I can access all of my normal threads as usual but images aren't being displayed and at the bottom of each post I can only either 'bookmark' or 'report' with no options for quoting available. The reaction button automatically gives me a 'like' without showing me any other options and the 'reply' section is now a single line, unusable box ?? Everything else looks the same. The problems seems to have started around the same time as we lost the top headline banner in red stating that the Classified Ads section was temporarily out of use, so I wonder if it's a problem with the revamped version ? Luckily I still have full use on my iPhone but this is really not my favourite way of using the site as whilst I find it easier to add photos via the phone I haven't worked out how to use and add 'links' when posting. Do you know if Andy is aware of these issues please ? Regards, Ian.

I've also seen a photo very recently of an 08 with match truck working at Edinburgh station to help with track circuits which I'll try and find again.

Thanks for the replies @acg5324 and @PaulCheffus regarding the van parts which I'll look into; whilst I'm reasonably handy with my brasswork soldering, resin casting is a skill I am aware that I need to develop and has come up recently in conversation with another RM Web modeller so now may be the time to tackle it. I'd already been aware of Paul's first ferry van having looked on his website ... marvellous modelling ! Thanks again, Ian.

I bought a couple of ferryvan chassis at Doncaster from the society to make a couple of these (having found a photo of 2 of them at Oban and in other WHL photos) so your photos are a great encouragement. I take it from Andy's comments and the fact that you are now resin casting these that the etches are no longer available ? Regards, Ian.

Just arrived this week for the workbench, 2nd hand from a shop on the IOW, is this Hobby Holidays chassis jig and rolling road unit which are no longer available, so was snapped up once I saw the advert in an email. I do own a couple of other types of chassis jig which are a bit more enclosed than this one but found them a little awkward to get in at with the soldering iron last time I tried them, hence the decision to try this more open type. Thinking about it I may even have another type which is more similar to the ones being currently sold by the Society ... Hmmm ... I'll have to check my workbench drawer area again as I've probably never even tried it. I've got a lot of flat pack steam loco kits in the stash so anything that aids an accurate 'first time right' free rolling chassis is money well spent in my book ... this latest one being considerably more expensive than the Society ones but I like the look of it ! I will report back when I've had a go with it in a couple of months time. Regards, Ian.

Those last 2 photo angles do it for me, photoshop them into sepia and you've invented time travel between you !