Romsey Les

Bit of a long shot but has anyone by chance got any springs for Fleischmann profi points ? Perhaps you ordered a pack and could spare one or two ? As people may know production of the track system has now ended so you would think they might have some spares available but although the usual suspects say they are available to order it seems impossible to get them . The Fleischmann part number is FL764405 . Thanks, Les

A subject that often crops up is whether a particular model is suitable for prototypical running . The transition between Epochs is something I have always struggled with and here is a case in point where members may have more information. Mitropa was formed in 1917 and seized many coaches from CIWL . One was dining car 1691 which became Mitropa 915 . This was modelled by TRIX as model 23316 . Setting aside what markings TRIX have chosen to put on the solebar I wonder where that coach would have been between 1917 and the early 1920s and more interestingly what liveries the stock with it might have carried . If it ran in , say, Bavaria would all the other coaches have been rebranded as later Bavarian (not konig) or DRG livery ? When did the Bavarian locos get repainted as DRG locos ? Were all the landerbahn railway administrations equally up to speed with absorption in to the DRG ? If UK practice on nationalisation gives us any clue it may be that some locos and stock took some time to be fully branded as BR , some never !

Further reading in a book I`d forgotten I had reveals the answer to the CIWL query. The Prussians had ended a relationship with CIWL in the 1880s but pressure from Berlin society and the royal family meant that the Nord Express started in 1896 (Paris to Russia) . This was followed by other routes including the Riviera Express which ran from Berlin to the south of France via Frankfurt and Stuttgart . The CIWL build listing shows that the prototypes for the TRIX models (the 3 early ones and the set (21215) were built "for Germany" .

Apologies if I`ve asked this before . I understand there were many examples of Eilzug running between different railway administrations before World War 1 . The Trix 6 wheeled corridor stock for example has 3 Bavarian and 2 Prussian corridor coaches with destination boards Munich to Hamburg/Hanover . Questions as follows :- Were trains made up of mixed stock common ? Did locos run all the way through or did the destination area take over at some point - at the border perhaps ? I`ve seen references to Prussian P6 locos running into Bavaria . What about sleeping and dining coaches before the advent of Mitropa (1917) . Did CIWL stock ever run into Prussia ? Thanks for any answers or ideas , Les

Some years ago I donated 8 volumes of Continental Modeller magazine to Hampshire Libraries. The Hampshire Library railway collection has been thinned out and they no longer want the magazines. If anyone on here would like them I can arrange for them to be collected . From memory they date from the first issue .

Further research reveals that the Kader set was dated 2008 . A review of the set on youtube (Sam`s trains) is dated 2018 and the 4MT certainly is DCC ready by then so it looks as if at some point in those 10 years the model was either completely retooled or simply had a new chassis fitted . Maybe someone has a more detailed knowledge of what Bachmann were doing in those 10 years than I can find online ?

I`ve been given this loco unboxed but in the "new" style of plastic inner box. I assumed it was split from the Kader set but after a strange running problem and removing the body I discover it was actually DCC fitted. Can`t tell if the decoder is a Bachmann one . Am I correct the Kader set one was a split chassis version ? The running problem was hesitation running in reverse. Fitting a DC blanking plate seems to have cured it . Was a DCC ready version in the same livery produced . Running number is 75001 and the shed plate is 81F . What would the model reference number be ? Thanks for any replies.

Thanks very much, that`s helpful . Les

Can anyone provide close up photos of the pipework under each side of the cab on the DCC version of R2916 or similar . The pipes are attached to the rear of the chassis. I`ve managed to snap off a couple of bits and would like to reattach them in the right place . Thanks in advance for any help. Les

Does anyone have any in their spares box ? I`ll happily pay the going rate plus postage for a reply. thanks, Les

I`ve checked the wiring as far as I can and there are no breaks between the main wiring at each end. The problem now is that I can`t work out a way of checking the final wires to the switch or the motor as I can`t work out how to get the covers off. The strange thing is that both the switch and the motor worked when tested together off the layout, as did the other ones I had spare. Thanks for suggestions so far. I`ll try reversing the switching wires next although this point has always worked OK with the wiring as it is now.

I`m getting desperate and hope someone can help. I power my point motors using a capacitor discharge unit. All points are switched with Fleischmann switches, the type that form part of a track layout diagram. Some points are PECO but most are Fleischmann profi HO with Fleischmann motors attached. Everything works fine except one Fleischmann point. I`ve tried substituting both the switch and the motor ( and all work off the layout) and the point will operate OK if removed and connected to another motor and switch. Logic suggests it might be the wiring but I can`t see anything obvious, no loose connections or dodgy soldered joints. If the point is set to the curve by hand and the switch is also in that position it will change to straight but it won`t go back again. If it`s set to straight operating the switch does nothing. What could be happening ? thanks, Les

I can see the logic of this although I have seen one reference that suggests that some had the words "third class" put in front of the car number after the war. Is there a reference to this in any of the coupe news links on the sremg website ? There doesn`t seem to be a search facility on there ? Any photos ?

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere. When would the words "3rd class" have been removed from pullman cars ? Would the pullmans running on the eastern region in the early 1950s still have the words 3rd class on them ?

I have just come across the sad news of Dave Cleal`s passing. Such fond memories. I first came across him in Salisbury in the mid 70s. He had a very small shop in Crane Street which I think he shared with Paul Dawaulder the stamp dealer. I sold Dave a Triang southern electric unit which were very collectable at the time. Later he had a shop in Hursley Road in Chandlers Ford. I bought a K`s kit built Ivatt tank for rebuilding. I finished it the night before my youngest son was born in 1977. I still have it . Then of course there were the regular visits to the shop in the shopping precinct and the occasional mail order from Watchet. My sincere condolences to the family.