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.

I have Crab model 32-178. The accessory bag contains a black plastic box with a slot in it. The service sheet shows it as part number 175-004. Does anyone have any idea what it is ? Thanks, Les

Having a sort out I`m looking for information on the accuracy or otherwise of some LMS brake Vans. Dublo and Wrenn ones are very close in length to Hornby R718 which I think dates from the 1980s ? All three are shorter than the Airfix one which seems to match online prototype drawings ? Has anyone any further info on the Dublo/Wrenn ones or the old Hornby one ? Thanks.

Now on ebay- My seller ID is soldierles.

Mark Lodge from Hornby responded to my complaint. He repeated what the guy on the phone had said only rather more politely. At least Hornby responded. The whole lot will be on ebay later this week -- Complete box/cracked body/damaged chassis/all the parts and the broken bits/detailing bits. I hope someone can make use of most of it, maybe a RMweb member.

Interesting. My damaged one measures 136.12mm. Attached shows the only obvious damage to the plate under the cab insert, one end only. The opposite end is the one that`s cracked. I`m not at all confident of a positive response from Hornby or indeed any response at all. It`s possible my son might want to do the Lima conversion job. If not the whole shooting match (box /body/chassis) will probably go on ebay.

As far as I can see the only chassis damage is to the plate that is underneath the cab seat unit (the lights contacts are screwed to it) and that`s just at one end. The plate had broken apart. The ends of the main chassis under the cabs seem to be warped slightly so I guess the whole length has expanded ? I have the tiny bit of plastic from the body, in fact the other side has gone as well and I have that too.

just for completeness here`s a pic of the body damage. I`m sure I could repair it but certainly not sure I would get a satisfactory finish. Probably better (as has been suggested) to put the whole sorry package on ebay for parts and at least recoup some of the expenditure.

I get loads of emails from Hornby telling me about their new models etc etc and read Simon Kohler`s blog avidly but I cannot recall ever seeing anything from them about Class 31 problems or of a cut off date. Where did it appear and when ? Unlike white goods and electronic products my "toy train" is not in constant use and has "failed" through a defect in original manufacture acknowledged by Hornby and replaced/credited until relatively recently.

Oh no ! Just about to go and check my 2 N class (I think I`ve got 2, a while since Southern stuff has been out)

I joined in January 2008 but as I noticed the damage to the loco only this week it was not something I was aware of. Like many others I have many more models than my fair size layout can accommodate at one time so sometimes locos don`t get run very often. The points made already are generally fair and although it is difficult to find exact comparisons I don`t agree with some of the quoted analogies. These models are clearly intended to last for a very long time with reasonable use and proper servicing. The Hornby service sheet still lists parts for R2420 which might suggest that there are still examples being used that have not suffered the rot/cracked body ? The loco is not obsolete and has not become damaged through use or incorrect storage. Hornby have accepted that the damage has been caused by substandard materials used in during manufacture. OK I`m probably too late. Maybe I might have felt a little better if the guy at customer service had explained some of the history instead of just saying "nothing we can do just scrap it."