wagonman

I'm tempted to say 'desperation' but I have seen other wagons belonging to Wm Evans and the style is the same. This is the result of many hours spent scouring the background of old photos with a high power magnifying glass... Still, as you're modelling post-1940 when all the PO coal wagons had been pooled, you don't have to worry

I can't find the original print but as it was published in Maggs' book I guess it doesn't matter too much. What I did find was a print of a detail of the photo, taken back in the day when I had a copy camera set-up, and I have scanned that for you. According to Maggs the photo must have been taken no later then 1906 as the extra loading bank had not been built at that time. Also visible is a wagon from Walsall Wood colliery. The Mark Whitwill wagon (not visible in this print) probably carried coke. Hope it is some use – no details of the wagon can be made out on the print with any degree of certainty though it was probably still fitted with dumb buffers at that time.

Steve It's a shot looking across a crowded goods yard towards the station platform. It was originally a commercial postcard but has been copied and sold by Lens of Sutton. I suspect it is out of copyright being something like 100 years old so, when I can find it I will post a scan on here. Might take a day or two.... As a general rule I suspect most of the coal for merchants in the Calne area cam from the FoD and Cannock coalfields, but I can't quote you chapter and verse on that.

Hi Jerry Don't have any conclusive evidence about Calne merchants buying from N Somerset, but there is a photo showing a Wm Evans (Old Mills Colliery) wagon at Calne c1910, so somebody there must have done! Richard

I too remember the MRJ show at the Central Hall. Most of what I saw was the backs of other peoples' heads, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Martyn has since surpassed even himself – if you ever get the chance to see Monks Eleigh grab it with both hands... Richard

The roof at Frome was designed by Hannaford but it only ever had two tracks under it. The OP's plan did scream "Tavistock" as soon as I saw it! I would add to all the comments about traps, changing the double slip to a simple diamond etc, and would add that losing the turntable would make it more realistic and give scope for an increase in goods yard space by extending the loop to the left. Perhaps use part of the space for a private siding instead? Richard

I wonder if the wagon really was an exPO? It has metal T section stanchions at the fixed end which was usual on the 1923 RCH standard wagons built by/for the LMS and LNER but very unusual on PO wagons. Of course it could have been a later replacement. As Craigwelsh says, the Exactoscale 4mm scale wheels and axles are superb. I'll use nothing else from now on. Pity they don't do them in S7 as well... Richard