Flying Fox 34F

Worthington East was the large LNER based layout in Swadlincote. I believe it was dismantled due to issues that developed with the baseboards. Myself and a few friends had the pleasure of running this layout several times as guest operators. We had an exhibition layout at the time, (Riverside Road), which belonged to the late Paul Copper of MRSG in Grantham. Whilst attending shows in the East Midlands, we became friends with members of the Church Gresley MRC, which resulted in our invites. I recall most of locomotives on Worthington East belonged to one member who built them whilst working on ships! He would occupy one corner of the layout watching the trains and providing hand signals if he needed you to slow down. I used to operate one of the Slow lines and had the pleasure of running the loaded coal train. It would take several minutes for it to complete a circuit. Perfect time to grab a cuppa. Paul

Eric, Thank you for information. It was a local railway man in Sinaia who said it was British built. Like myself he is no doubt unaware of the German company. I have photos of this locomotive when it was first put on display minus the fence. Unfortunately, it’s condition is deteriorating. Paul

I believe a batch of P8’s were built at the Vulcan Foundry and I also believe one still exists at Sinaia railway station here in Romania. I suspect many railway engineers were aware of the larger locomotives being built by Private builders, but these same engineers have to persuade their Directors to spend the pennies on bigger locomotives rather than sticking with what is known already. Paul

According to the description of the V2 photo, your UFO is a high speed pigeon! Should we presume the Patented levitation device is a pigeon trained to use a camera? Hat, Coat, Gone Paul

Clive, Its point rodding and signal wires! Are you volunteering to install it? Paul

With regard to the Heljan Class 14, may I suggest you locate a pack of Peco fibre split washers, to pack out the side play on the wheel sets. You should be able to adjust the pick ups to improve the running qualities. Paul

A viewing platform for the District Controller maybe a more appropriate use. Or you could just put Clive the Carriage Basher up there making tea!!!! Paul

Never mind the poop! Just make sure the small four legged long tailed creatures don’t develop a taste for your electric cables, both in the walls and under the layout. Paul

There is the Manual Gate crossing at Woodcroft, a little south of Helpston. Anyone using this crossing has a considerable wait at times as it crosses the ECML and the Leicester lines. Another ECML crossing with manual gates is at Grassthorpe north of Newark on Trent. The railway has tried to close it but the local landowner/farmer apparently wanted an awfully large amount of compensation for extra fuel for all of his agricultural vehicles having to travel further. I recall the sum had seven zeros in it! Paul

I thought Barry had travelled to get all the ballasting done? Hat, coat, gone Paul

With regard to Streamlining, I recall reading Gresley streamlined the steam passages and the outside of the A4 to increase speed whilst traveling up hill. I have witnessed both the Scotsman and Bittern climbing Stoke Bank northwards and the A4 was noticeably quicker. Can someone design an inbuilt locomotive for us to discuss rather than the most recent physics discussions? Paul p.s. I know all the science is necessary, but I also follow the school of if it looks right it is right!

Andrew, Thank you for the detailed reply. It is impressive that your gradients match the S&D and require you to use double heading. I’ll continue my trek through the videos. Happy New Year Paul

The next time there is a failed DMU, I feel there is a need of photographic evidence of the failed unit being dragged into PN behind a J6 or K2. Paul

I’m busy working my way through the various YouTube clips. The layout is very impressive with the combination of a terminus to fiddle yard combined with a continuous run. The clever features are the single line from Lyncombe Vale to Midford passing through the overall roof of Bath Green Park and the Fiddle Yard being positioned underneath it. May I ask what the minimum radius is on the running lines and the gradient on the single line and down to the Fiddle Yard? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Paul

Great Eastern looks in ex Works condition. Possibly needs to visit Dr Timara? Paul

If this happens to me, I just refresh the page. It seems to solve the issue. Paul

I clearly recall the MRJ exhibition. The long queues and the crowds inside. I managed to see Hursley, but the little time I had to study it, mean’t I came away disappointed. Far better to look at the photographs in MRJ 40. I managed to get close enough to Leighton Buzzard, Dunwich and Hardwick Grange to be pleased. However, the layout I spent most time at was Wallsea Main. I had enjoyed seeing the previous version of Wallsea at the Nottingham show and remember being impressed with the operation of these O gauge layouts. I recall it became part of a larger garden line complete with Digswell Viaduct. I hope it is still around? Ironically, in 2019, I spent most of my visit at Stoke Manderville in May shuttling between Arun Quay and Leighton Buzzard. Both layouts have a quality I cannot define, but admire. Paul

I think the PN Station Master will be scolding one of the Porters for not sweeping the station forecourt this morning. Merry Christmas everyone Paul

Just stumbled across this thread. I’ve looked at the comments and concluded the carriage set is being attached to other similar coaches. The Buckeye Coupling is raised. Also the set is being shunted Loose Coupled. The Vacuum Pipe is hanging down and not connected onto the Dummy fitting. Paul

Gilbert, Have you considered having LED lighting underneath the bookcases? That should eradicate the shadows. Paul

Dear All, Gresley rebuilt the experimental 4 cylinder Ivatt large Atlantic with a high running plate and outside valve gear. Another large Atlantic received a twin window cab when it’s frames were extended to accommodate a Steam booster engine. Combine these two together and this would be pretty close. As for an Atlantic version of a V4, it’s a thought, but the boiler may look too small with large driving wheels. Paul

I have seen it written that the Donegal tanks were a similar size to a GWR Small Praire. They also had 4 foot diameter driving wheels and could achieve a fairly high speed. Paul

The Donegal 2-6-4t’s were 8 feet wide. 33 feet long and 11 feet tall. As for the 5’ 3”, CIE had coaches 10 foot 6 inch wide. Looking carefully at locomotive design in Ireland, the wider gauge allowed for shorter locomotives. The firebox and grate area would be shorter than a British locomotive. There were big locos, but most were smaller than their equivalents in Britain. Paul

Andy, The Google Ads have not been an issue. I just thought I’d air my issue with the Digitrains video. I enjoyed watching it once, it was even useful, but it is slowing everything down. My internet is not the best, living in the back of beyond, but it becomes an issue when the video uploads, but users photos do not on different threads, without several attempts. I’m aware of the issues you’ve had to contend with and I appreciate your work in maintaining this site. Paul

Clive, I know how you feel. Every time I go to the next page, the Digitrains video pops up and plays again. I have watched it through completely, thinking it would stop it replaying, but it starts all over again. Paul