Roger Sunderland

Might be best to use a seperate thread to explore Gresley buffet/restaurant cars. Getting somewhat away from the Bournemouth West layout thread!

Sorry but at the moment I don’t have access to our notes etc. Another of of our group may be able to help. I will ask.

AFAIK there were different diagrams of Gresley restaurants. The one on the York service was definitely gas powered. To get the right diagram we have used Bill Bedford sides (it may have been Comet) on a Hornby donor chassis.

We run a Comet LMS 12 wheel restaurant car in The Pines coupled to a Stanier open 2nd to give extra dining space. I’ve never seen a Gresley restaurant in the Pines, not to say it didn’t ever happen though. The York to BW train did have a Gresley car in with all Mk1s but this train ran via Oxford, where it changed engines, often resulting in a GWR Hall taking the train on to Bournemouth. This is how we run it on the layout (keeps our GWR fraternity happy.) There are quite a few “reworked” Bachmann Bullieds on the layout including 2 Bournemouth line sets using brass overlay sides.

Yes Robert has also been particularly helpful in helping us get the correct coach formations and supplied us with info for the Belle, the Pines, Bradford and Royal Wessex.

Thanks for the comments Combe Martin. Brian McDermott is definitely your man here, he provided us with info for the services we run on the layout. Currently we operate a Bristol service comprising a set of WR Coletts (4) and a Bulleid 59' set (3). This tallies with a photo Brian provided as running around 1960-61. Occasionally we substitute a Stanier 3 set for the Bullieds. Photos show the Bristol trains were very mixed and could vary between 3 and 11 coaches. We also run a Bath service comprising a Bulleid 59' 3 set. The West - Evercreech service usually comprises a Maunsell 3 set and we run a local West-Templecombe comprising a Maunsel 2 car set and a loose LMS non corridor coach. From what I can tell 64' Bullieds didn't come in till later on but no doubt someone will find a photo to disprove this!

My wife has an immune deficient disease, I’m diabetic, both in our late 60s. We took the very difficult decision to self isolate last weekend. This means we can’t be with the grandchildren or our son and daughter. I’ve tried to limit my news intake as it just makes me more and more anxious. My Mrs is holding up remarkably well, better than me in fact. If I didn’t have this great hobby I’m sure I wouldn’t be coping at all. For those of you who follow these things you may have seen my Bournemouth West thread on here and maybe have seen the layout at a recent show. For the time being all that has gone, the layout is packed away safely. So to the garage and a new home layout. The ideas are starting to form!

I’ve tried this topic in the prototype section but have had absolutely no success. Using the new Bachmann model I’m trying to model the Gorton breakdown train as it was running in the early 1960s. Does anybody have any details, pictures etc of the support vehicles that formed the train please?

Thanks Mullie. I hope you do get to see it. We have done Wimborne and Poole shows already but I believe we are at Southampton in 2021.

We use the GF controllers on our exhibition layout Bournemouth West, I use them on my home layout as well. Ive tried other systems and IMHO nothing - and I mean nothing - comes close to the GF units in terms of both ease of setup and reliability. No connection just a very satisfied customer.

I’m delighted to say we’ve just won the Silver award for layout of the year in the BRM awards. There were some fantastic layouts in the mix so - doubly delighted. Thanks to everyone who voted for us.

Absolutely thrilled to get silver in the layout of the year for Bournemouth West, especially in such exalted company. Many thanks to everyone who voted for us.

Tremendous photos of Bournemouth West Locksley - would you like to become our official layout photographer?

Thanks for all the positive comments about Bournemouth West, it makes it all worthwhile (despite an horrendous journey back down to Bournemouth in a high sided van, road closures etc and arrival home at 1 am) . Some nice layouts, particularly liked Farringdon and Brighton East. Note to the organisers though for next year - please get the heating sorted. We had to endure 80 degree plus temperatures and debilitating humidity on Saturday which buckled the track in our fiddle yard and did nothing to aid good running. Others, in different parts of the building were apparently freezing.

Thanks for this Progers. Yep I saw the article by Paul Chetter but, unfortunately this is for the Hornby W4 Peckett 0-4-0 not the B2 0-6-0. Believe me there is considerably less room in the 0-6-0 version. I have managed to do it though using a Zimo MX648 and a Minnow speaker. The speaker just protrudes slightly into the cab from the coal bunker but adding a crew completely hides it. A stay alive would help further and, with hindsight, a SACC16 with three tantalum could possibly have gone in the bunker itself.

Hi All Following the release of the Bachmann model id like to have a go at modelling this train. Does anybody have any details of the support vehicles - coach and wagon - that were used with the crane in the late 50s/ early 60s. a google search has revealed next to nothing. A long shot but someone may know of a picture etc. Thanks in anticipation.

The lack of response suggests no one has then? I think it can be done. A Zimo 658 hardwired should go in the front of the boiler ok. I have managed to remove the cab roof and rear of cab. I think there is enough room in the bottom of the bunker to house a “small” sugar cube but it may have to slightly protrude into the cab. Will still be hidden from normal view though. An ESU micro with wires might also fit.

Hi Has anyone yet managed to fit sound into one of these? If so what did you use please and is there an install guide anywhere?

Just about fully recovered from the Hornby Great Electric Train Show. What a show it was! The layout ran as well as it has ever done, only one sprung point blade over the 2 days. Not only that but we won the Hornby magazine award for " Layout of the year" as voted for by readers. Then we also won the cup for best scenic feature, awarded and presented by Greenscene for the gardens and allotments on the layout. We were all absolutely thrilled and a big thanks to all the people who voted for us. Next up for Bournemouth West is the BRM exhibition at Doncaster in February. Let's hope it doesn't snow!

Hi Ian when you say "West of England" are meaning Exeter? Somewhere I have the working carriage diagrams for the Bournemouth line, which we used for our Bournemouth West layout. Any good?

Brian. Sad news about Tony Richardson. I do hope his photos are preserved for posterity. Pete N92. Thanks for the comments about the steam although we had an occasional draft at MK which made it drift a bit. Paul was an electronics engineer before retiring and this project is his all consuming passion. Wether it will reach a marketable form any time soon I cannot say, we are just fortunate to be a test bed for his invention.

35 years plus of cleaning model railway tracks so for what its worth here are my thoughts. Peco (and other) track rubbers - Makes it look clean but it isn't (run your finger on it). Pits the rails with scratches and leaves more detritus than was there before. Avoid at all costs. DCC Concepts track rubber - An excellent product uses aluminium oxide, leaves little residue and doesn't scratch the rails. A quick run over with this before an exhibition is usually all that's needed. Dapol track cleaning machine - IMHO totally useless. Not fit for purpose. CMX - Good quality machine ,does the job but easier to use on less complex track, not great for sidings etc. I use one on my own layout with IPA. Not tried with any other thinners yet. Graphite - currently trialing this with good results. to be honest anything that cuts down the chore of track cleaning can only be good BUT the track MUST be very clean before putting it on. The trial area has not been cleaned, other than vacuumed, for 4 months and is running perfectly.

Well only 2weeks to go to the Hornby Great Electric Train Show at Milton Keynes. We've been busy testing since August so I'm hoping it will all go well. On the stock side some of the new Hornby Bullieds will be making an appearance and we will have some more of Paul's steam fitted locos on show, including a 9F on the Pines and a Lord Nelson on a Waterloo service, complete with true 8 beats per revolution synchronised sound and smoke. Have also added even more trees which takes the total on the layout to well over 100 I think.

Hi all After a Set of 6. 3x insulated, 3x non insulated. They seem to be as rare as hens teeth! If anyone has a set available please PM me with an asking price.

Thanks very much Nigel, helpful as always. Also Richard. I like the idea of using the next18 socket.