Holmesfeldian

As I said several pages ago - I can produce replacements in Brass (denser than Mazak too!) if somebody can get a set of drawings to me!

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/when-the-blues-train-rolled-into-chorlton-1049592

I’m hoping for SLW or now an accurascale version. Or anything where the multiple working plugs are in 4mm scale and not 7 :-)

Brief intro clip here... (available on DVD) https://distrify.com/videos/3VwVm2-black-five

If it's the clip I'm thinking of, I think it's *at* Carnforth. A line of withdrawn Black 5s being propelled by a Co-Bo (seen very briefly at the end of shot). It's the closing scene from Paul Barnes' acclaimed 1968 documentary - "Black Five".

Blimey - mine has never left the brown shipping carton and I’m starting to think it never should !

My Sennheiser MD414 headphone pads turn to dust regularly

Here's a green HYP Class 24 with similar accoutrements. Picture by Dave Marks on Flickr : Return race spl 1967 The loco for the return Chester race Special has been replaced by a Type 2 (class 24) diesel here seen approaching Bromborough. The cheery Chester driver acknowledges my camera. https://www.flickr.com/photos/90752501@N07/8385004306/

Not the best photographic example but the clearest one I could find on google (1971, Crewe Works - OPC postcard) and it demonstrates one of the subtle locomotive detail nuances that has long fascinated me. Can any of the experts please offer suggestions as to why certain locos for a limited period had the thin black surrounds around Headcode discs. I was once told that it was introduced to help identification of oncoming trains in the half yellow warning panel period but as can be seen it continued into the BR blue era to a limited degree When was this spec in force and which works / depots applied it please?

Derby (then 16C) had a Class 27 for a month (D5404) in late 1963 - I'd love to learn more details ! There is one alleged sighting of it working through Duffield and that's it!

As someone who has commissioned 2 separate specially commissioned wagons from Bachmann on behalf of the Midland Railway Society I can advise that it is because you get 4 wagons in a box and 18 boxes in a carton of 72. So 7 cartons gets you (if you’re lucky!) 504 wagons.

The website is showing sold out for non-sound version. So how does one obtain one of these last chance saloons?

When 50023 was cut up at Barrow Hill it had DP2's engine block - recognisable by the different cylinder head covers. A shame that - would have been a good scheme for the Baby Deltic lads to retro fit it to a Deltic body shell

As someone who has commissioned 2 separate specially commissioned wagons from Bachmann on behalf of the Midland Railway Society I can advise that it is because you get 4 wagons in a box and 18 boxes in a carton of 72. So 7 cartons gets you (if you’re lucky!) 504 wagons.

I hope the DCR logo is correct - I produced the original and Hornby never consulted me for dimensions, Pantone references, etc! (Can I claim copyright fees for my original work? )

It’ll be interesting to see how this compares with the Bachmann equivalent (and any possible SLW plans for extending into the 25s as mooted on here)... —- **NEW 'OO' GAUGE PROJECT** Heljan UNVEILS ‘OO’ GAUGE CLASS 25/3 AND ‘ETHEL’ FOR 2019 All-new Derby/Sulzer Type 2 in ‘OO’ to follow the ‘O’ gauge version. Ten versions in development – PLUS first-ever ready-to-haul (RTH) ‘OO’ models of ETHEL train heating units! Development work is well advanced on Heljan’s latest ‘OO’ gauge BR diesel locomotive project – the popular Derby/Sulzer Type 2 in its final Class 25/3 guise. The model will benefit from the research and development that has gone into our forthcoming ‘O’ gauge ‘25/3’ (due for release later this year) and is expected to make rapid progress towards a first release in 2019. No fewer than TEN versions have been selected, covering a broad cross-section of BR green, BR blue and special liveries and offering a choice of London Midland, Scottish and Western Region prototypes from the mid-1960s to the late-1980s. The model represents the final development of the 478 Derby/Sulzer Type 2s, which started with Class 24 in the late-1950s. Our model will cover the D5238-99 and D7500-D7677 batches, built by Derby Works and Beyer, Peacock of Manchester between December 1963 and April 1967. For the first time, models will also be offered as the famous Scottish Region ‘ETHEL’ (Electric Train Heating Ex-Locomotive) train heating units converted from Class 25/3s as a short-term solution prior to the delivery of Class 37/4s in 1985. These machines later found work with InterCity’s Charter Unit, lasting into the 1990s. The new Heljan Class 25/3 will feature our renowned high-performance chassis with all-wheel drive and all-wheel pick-up, illuminated headcode panels and marker lights, a 21-pin DCC decoder interface and provision for DCC sound. All the information here is subject to change, but more details about the specification and pricing will be announced as the project develops. Look out for updates on the Heljan Facebook page and in the model railway press. Heljan CLASS 25/3 MODELS 2530 – BR two-tone green D7645 with small yellow panels 2531 – BR two-tone green D5244 with small yellow panels - WEATHERED 2532 – BR two-tone green D7550 with full yellow ends and BR blue data panel 2533 – BR early blue D7661 with small yellow panels 2534 – BR rail blue D7667 with full yellow ends (twin double arrows – 1,000th loco built at Derby Works) 2535 – BR rail blue 25252 (LMR) with full yellow ends (single, central double arrows) and headcode panel still in place 2536 – BR rail blue 25155 (WR) with full yellow ends (single, central double arrows) and headcode panel still in place- WEATHERED 2537 – BR Rail Blue 25093 (ScR/LMR) with bodyside numbers (single, centrally placed double arrows) and ‘domino’ headcodes 2538 – BR 25912 Tamworth Castle ‘Ice Cream Van’ livery with silver roof 2539 – BR Special two-tone green D7672 Tamworth Castle 2540 – BR blue/grey ETHEL1 ADB97250 2541 – InterCity ETHEL3 ADB97252

There were but the original requirement was 45 locos (D7000-D7044). Subsequent additional orders made it up to 101 in total (conveniently stopping at D7100!). Just to fan the flames further, wasn't there 999 BR Standard steam locos built? Why not 1,000? :-)

As I've said before, if someone can supply an accurate dimension drawing of the block, I can have one milled out, drilled and tapped out of solid brass where I work on one of our all singing all dancing CNC machines.

Here's a brief clip from the film which may help.

Here’s one from my private stash, Al.

Great to see you back in the groove ! This is a video I recommend regarding MGR fixed rakes and weathering. (His channel is full of great 'how-to' videos.