wagonman

You're not far from California either...

From studying the Blakeney and Cley Port Books of the C18, and the records of the Blakeney Harbour Co from 1817 I can say unequivocally that no ships from here sailed to Rotterdam with the sole intention of bringing home a cargo of pantiles. It was also a case of a return load in lieu of ballast for ships that had gone over with their holds full of Norfolk grain. The church has a slate roof on its C14 nave and a building out on the marsh referred to as a 'chapel' – probably a chantry associated with Blakeney Friary – also showed signs of having been slated when it was 'dug' a few years back. Significantly the only non-ecclesiastic house in this village to be roofed in slate is the old Town Hall House, quite an imposing structure, built in 1897. Conversely there are a few old vernacular buildings in the area which show evidence of having once been thatched. There were brickyards in the area – Holkham Hall is reputed to be built entirely from bricks made in their own brickyard using the local gault clay. Not the sort of thing you'd want to lug very far overland. Richard

I doubt Tom Gregory ever took his wagon order book east of Devizes, but there were other builders producing similar vehicles – the Birmingham C&W Co for one. The wagon was built to the 1887 'New Specification'. Many of the wagons built to the 1907 specs were not that different from the later 1923 design (a few inches here and there) but had grease boxes and, up to 1912, one set of brakes. So nothing like a Dapol wagon then. Young Mr Parks of Cambrian Models is now living near Wisbech – very much your old stamping ground! Richard

That's a lovely photo... of Wrington on the Blagdon branch. Wrong sort of stonework!

In I think the 1870s the Commissioner of Traffic for the Metropolis – or whatever he was called – expressed concern that, extrapolating from the current rate of growth of traffic, the City would be knee deep in horse muck by 1920. Then along came Herr Daimler... We call it disruptive technology nowadays; no idea what they called it then.

The carriage that conveyed McNab from the station was indeed a growler, as i suspect so was the unpaid porter...

Including our own dear Glaven!

The website confirms that it was indeed from the Mitchell Kenyon collection though the date must have bee a bit later than 1900 as the system didn't open until 1902. Let's say 1905 as seems to be a popular date round here!

I remember the grounded coach at Morston quay. I also remember the inhabitant though I've forgotten his name. BTW if you think Lewis is a bit out of date, what does that make Agricola? Richard

There is also a brass replacement chassis available: it used to be Haye Developments but I think it's still available from Frogmore. You'll still need axleboxes and springs of course...

I would hazard the 2-plank open is the plastic kit as it has unmodified Cambrian Kits brake gear! Both are lacking brake safety loops (as are many of my wagons). Nice work though...

It could also do with a number! That one was no.10, the figures appearing under the right hand end of 'Warminster', according to my book... Richard

Well they don't print it onto paper... I presume they project the image file either directly onto the resist material, or via a lith negative in contact. Film is much more stable than paper.

Could you not send the drawing as an image file and let the recipient worry about how to print it? Give him/her plenty of dimensioned scale bars etc as an aid.

Beware! Lots of us do...

As it happens Little Walsingham was also a planned 'New Town', albeit in the 12th century, and they had already thought of laying it out on a grid pattern. Fortunately or otherwise only about a quarter of it was ever built.

Possibly the same place as the extra 1/4inch on Brunel's GWR broad gauge? Richard

Nice weathered finish, too...

On that basis you could have anything from about 4ft 6in to 5ft, depending on the size of the horse. Indeed those gauges were used on various early railways – so you can't blame it all on the Romans!

I agree totally with Simon's method for depicting the nuts on wagon ironwork. In 7mm scale an argument can be made for using Grandt Line mouldings, but they are overkill for 4mm scale. The actual work of applying 10thou squares of styrene needs good light, good eyesight, and patience! Don't try doing more than a few dozen at first otherwise what I usually refer to as "doing a nut job" becomes all too literal. BTW, though the GWR and others used rivets on their metal underframes, only the LNWR, as far as I know, used them to hold its wagon corner plates together. If you want rivets, particularly on a surface where you can't push through from the rear, then the Archer products are good. I might try to dig out some photos... but don't hold your breath.

Ooops. Chapess! I've heard a few tales about Shetland ponies too, including one that would take a nip at your backside if you weren't paying attention.

That little chap on the right is pure Thelwell!

The 'notorious' Peter K produced a 4mm scale model of Hesperus as rebuilt by the GWR. The kit was designed by Rod Neep I think, so is at least buildable.

Your summary of the GWR vs Spillers case is accurate. I supplied some of the material used in writing the article (in pre-Google days!).

I'm just wondering whether the 2 NSR opens were carrying malted barley, in transit from the Maltings to the Brewhouse – a short internal journey that would not have entailed bagging the stuff. If so then the load would well within capacity. It seems to have stopped raining...