Flying Fox 34F

Dear All, It was a pleasure to be amongst your company on Saturday. I'll admit right now that I was so engrossed in trying to work the schedule that the poor J69 got overlooked by me most of the time. I can second Mr Wright's comments on the quality of everything that has been constructed so far. The next thing is to sort me out. More training!!! Required Paul 4475

Another set of draws for keeping buildings in? Paul 4475

An incredible approach to railway modelling. I looking forward to the next instalment. Have you managed to lay a complete loop of track yet? Paul 4475

Ron, I can imagine you had a good view from the bedroom window. My Great Aunt lived at 79. I've noted that your avatar piccy is of Ancaster. Just so happens that this was my first Signalbox that I was based at when I started on the big railway. Paul 4475

Do we have any indication of colours for those wagons? I'm at it again! I have been searching the web for references to these local coal wagons. According the the Private Owner Wagon list on Steam Index, there is a reference to the Garton wagons in the book by Bill Hudson, "Private Owner Wagons", published by Oakwood Press, ISBN 9780853614920. I do not have the said book, but that certain website is listed two available. The Index list mentions a page number of 80, but no idea what information is contained within? As for the Bowman fleet, these are not listed, but I'm pretty sure they are black on closer examination of the photograph. Ron, Mr Nicholas can give you more details on the locomotives rostered for the Nottingham trains. There is at least one D2 that I know of! L1's are much, much later. By the way which number Huntingtower Road did you live at? Paul 4475

Do we have any indication of colours for those wagons? No official idea as to the colour of the coal wagons, though I suspect from the tones that the Garton wagons are Red! Bowman's may be black. I need to visit the local library, so I'll have a look in the reference section for any details. As for coffee pots, I will beat a path to Derek's door. By the way, I presume you haven't shared your comment with your good lady? Finally, a welcome to Ron. I'm sure you'll be able to chip in with information. I can remember Stanton Street until demolished in the early eighties. My History teacher actually cried at the site of it been destroyed! Paul 4475

I got the Bit between my teeth and I was off searching my collection. Not found a picture of No.2, but another of No.1, inside the packing shop with a wagon. I have also found a couple of pictures of local coal merchant wagons in the same book. As for the shunting loco sat behind the cattle dock on the works line in the Aerofilms shots, this must be No.2. The sunlight reflecting on the saddle tank shows that it is a conventional shape not the upright piano style of No1. I,ve searched the works complex, but cannot see the early machine stood anywhere. Here's the pictures As for a model, No.1 is very similar to the GER Y5 tanks, but I do not know if there are any kits out there. I have just checked the net and found that Smallbrook Studio has the Juno saddle tank in 7mm narrow gauge, which looks the part. Pity it is 7mm By the way have you counted the number of Cattle Vans on the rear siding in the yard! Paul 4475

We have a picture of a Hornsby work shunter in the process of being scrapped According to the company book, this Barclay built loco dates from 1882. Looking carefully at the Cawston picture, this is the same engine. In light of the other bit of research from the Barclay archive. The loco in this picture would be Hornsby No1. It is possible that the one in the Aerofilms images is No.2. I know somewhere there is a picture of a more conventional looking saddle tank in the packing shop. I'll keep digging Paul 4475

Graham, Just had a quick look at the site. Quite a lot of material there. Anyway, as usual this has bugged me a little and as I had been asked by a colleague at work, the name of the locomotive builders in Kilmarnock recently, I decided to look up Andrew Barclay. Can believe it, works number 844, completed 5th May 1899, 0-4-0st, outside cylinder 13"x20", 3' 2" dia. wheels, for Richard Hornsby & Son, Grantham. listed as Hornsby No.2 One heck of a coincidence. Now the question is, does anyone have a drawing? Paul 4475

Graham, Just had a quick look at the site. Quite a lot of material there. Anyway, as usual this has bugged me a little and as I had been asked by a colleague at work, the name of the locomotive builders in Kilmarnock recently, I decided to look up Andrew Barclay. Can believe it, works number 844, completed 5th May 1899, 0-4-0st, outside cylinder 13"x20", 3' 2" dia. wheels, for Richard Hornsby & Son, Grantham. listed as Hornsby No.2 One heck of a coincidence. Now the question is, does anyone have a drawing? Paul 4475

Graham, That's the book. I'll have a closer look at the image. I know it is poor, but from memory it does remind me of a Scottish Pug! It is possible that the local book on factory has an image with the shunter somewhere in the background. I know locomotives were built at Hornsby's, see the 18 inch gauge Ackroyd diesels for Woolwich Arsenal for example, but no idea about standard gauge steam power? Paul 4475

You certainly have got the look of Gonerby Tunnel and I'm sure the wing walls could be pulled in slightly. As for the south end of the layout, I'm looking forward to seeing the schedule. As for the Works Shunter, I've spotted the works shunter on the aerial photograph. I know there is a picture of a Raven A2 on a special train and the Works Shunter is sat in the exchange sidings adjacent to the factory. I have to root it out Paul 4475

Graham, The south end of the layout is coming together nicely and now I can see why you want to extend the siding on the downside back under the Great North Road bridge. It is a bit short of length. Mind you, most of the pictures I've seen of this area, there are usually carriages stored on it! I know that there was a down goods loop south of the bridge from sometime in the 30's and the mid 50's. As for the position of the bridge, are you pondering adjusting the track layout south of the bridge to hide the widening of the 6 foot between the main lines? Paul 4475

Now, all this talk of buses has activated my other brain cell. I'm searching for an excuse to include a Royal Blue Coach passing 'the Junction' on a 'mystery tour from Exeter'! Mallard, Don't forget to consider Grey Cars coaches on tours round the area. Let alone a myriad of Independent operators in that part of the world Paul 4475

Jason, Just read through the entire thread and I'm impressed. Also now feeling inspired to have ago myself! I have an old version of Turbo CAD with 3D, which I never fully managed to crack, but I think I might just download Blender and see how it goes Paul 4475

4-8-2, still in its box. No work due to other duties, i.e. family entertainment officer, plus bottle washer, now the wife has strained her back. Only model railway activity is on here and the other forum. Hopefully normal service will resume once the school holidays are over. I get more time to myself then. Paul 4475

Wath Banker, not authorised in the sectional appendix!! Next it will be motorised coal wagons to assist the loco over the hump! I'll get back in my box Paul 4475

I hope the Flyover is fixed down well! We don't want any accidental demolitions by the south yard operator. Paul 4475

As it is Christmas Eve, I thought I would wish everyone seasons greetings of humbug depending on how you feel! Layout is coming along nicely. I have sent our leader a PM containing some useful (or not) pictures that I took recently Paul 4475

As usual, exquisite! Paul 4475

The Barrowby Stream is the name of the one nearest the cattle market location. It used to pass under the ECML under a normal arched bridge which is now filled in. For some unknown reason, my father always refered to it as the Midland bridge? The stream is now piped under the embankment and underground all the way to Wyndham Park, the other side of town. There is another stream nearer to the tunnel, that comes down from Great Gonerby and passes under the ECML in a brick culvert, but it's name escapes me at the moment. The Blue Bull looks great. Perhaps the real one needs a retro restoration to match. Paul 4475 p.s. I've not forgotten the request for a Mountain update. The study is full of seasonal celebration stuff, so a little difficult to work or photograph at moment. Something for the evening of the 25th perhaps, whilst everyone is snoozing on the sofa!

If the drawing for the concrete base cannot be found I can always measure the ones that still litter the cess around here! They are quite a hazard when trackside at night on failures Paul 4475

Must be rather chilly in the old chapel! I only used to dress up like that when scrambling around under old buses trying to make them go, but that was many years ago. Nice to see the LMS wandering minstrels that came along Paul 4475

You comments about the travelling public having to put up with slow services at very busy periods is quite correct. Up until the mid to late 50's long distance coach travel had to contend with narrower roads and fewer bypasses and the vehicles were officially limited to 30mph! It only really began to change when the first motorways opened. In fact one bus operator, Midland Red, built high speed coaches capable of 100mph. It does go someway to explain why things changed so drastically in the 60's and 70's! Paul 4475

The last hour on a Sunday is going to be very busy!!!!!!! Don't forget all the funny Neverwazzers as well Paul 4475