kingmender

Mainline running locos are equipped with air brakes for the train but retain their vacuum brakes for the engine and heritage line working. The sound of GWR motion operated vacuum pumps can vary between quite harsh and softer depending on their condition

Cracking footage of 6024 in action. Firebox glow (although in poor daylight) also visible around 5:30. Thanks for sharing, brings back many great memories of support crew and footplate running. My last support crew run being the Bristolian in December 2009 - my avatar picture was taken at Acton yard that day. Sadly its unlikely I'll ever ride the footplate again.

Brings back memories of the one I sold about a year ago. She was a '56 gold edition. Badly repainted to red at somepoint, but ran well. I did have a hankering to restore her to original but too many other projects and a need for a tractor with a front loader meant she had to go.

Did someone flush the lavatory in the station? Evidence in the four foot.

I've got a similar problem with Llanfair Grange R2547. A month or so ago I wanted to change the speed CVs to speed match to other locos. Placing it on the programming track my Digitrax system told me no decoder detected. It runs ok, but won't accept any changes. So I put it to oneside and reprogrammed Hardwick Grange R2402 without issue. I've not been back to Llanfair to remove/replace the decoder but I was going to open the tender. Thanks for the tip that its in the loco, the brass wipers on the tender coupling should have been a clue. Rodger

I feel that WKTs may be growing in far flung corners of the GWR. Stunning modelling, thank you @KNP and @MrWolf for more inspiration. Something else added to the pile and an increase in the value of second hand tenders. Rodger

How is the loan act shed progressing? And are the large GWR signal boxes availble in 4mm too? 7mm seems the only option on the website.

Very enticing Ian. Assuming these ran to the south coast naval ports and shipyards they would have crossed GWR metals (if not rule 1 applies). Could you reserve one for me please?

A very simple solution. What font do you use?

Mike Where do you source the lettering for your destination boards? Rodger

Five thousand seven hundred and fifty four pannier tanks. Impressive. The Great Western only built a fraction of that number. well done that man ! 😊

I think you may find “We are gurt by sea”

Progress on my Centenary stock with brake bodies assembled and basic underframes. Airfix rooves and ends loosely fitted. More filling required to doorways. Comet parts for the remainign 6 arrived last week, roll on the Christmas break so I have some enforced time (Mrs Kingmender will be working) for modelling between building garden steps.

I didn't think climate change would lead to this...

Nice work Neal. I’ve made a start on my rake too. Originally I was going to overlay new sides on airfix coaches. But a little experimentation is producing more of a comet airfix hybrid. Comet sides and end etches soldered up, then cut the whole sides and gutters off the affix body shell, so roof and ends are retained. Comet chassis too, but looking to use the airfix bogies. 2 x BTK and 2 x BCK in progress. I’ll add some pictures when I’m home next week. Rodger

That looks like I'll need to rebuild my engine shed scene. So I can start planning what are the overall dimensions please?

May I suggest making your trackbed wider than 50mm inside the tunnels. Certain laws dictate that mass derailments will happen where the risk of damage to locos and rolling stock is highest. Without surrounding scenery (cuttings and embankments) the risk of acceleration at 9.1M/s2 promptly being arrested by the floor may need a little prudence. Rodger

7808 arrived "down under" via Cornwall today. Stunning. Decoder fitted and a quick light engine run tonight. Loaded test run to follow tomorrow. Accurascale have created a serious problem. Nothing else comes close to their standards. The Siphons and now the Manor are hopefully a sign of much, much more GWR to come (and the other big 4 & BR standards too). More please, although at a pace that my wallet can sustain. Manor, Hall, Saint, Grange, County, King, 28xx, 47xx and that's before we even think about tank engines. Panniers, panniers, panniers, 14xx, 42/52/72xx the list goes on.......... Everything I have has just become obsolete. Rodger

I can hear the birds singing. A beautiful morning in little muddle. Just expecting the clatter of the board being pulled off and the distant whistle of an approaching train.

I believe this to be the case. However the income tax free limit is $18,200 then 19% tax rate until $45,000, currently 32.5% from there to $120,000, but only 30% from next year all the way to $200,000. Oh what a problem to have! Pensions (superannuation) here are taxed at input (15%) all returns (earnings) within the pension are tax free, as are payments.

Thanks Tom - I'll do likewise. A simple (and reversible) solution Rodger

Talk of HRR takes me back to my last regatta visit in 2019. Waiting on the platform for the train to Twyford, the railway nerd in me looked at the track. The GWR still lives (or did then) as much was still laid on wooden sleepers with GWR through bolt chairs. Sadly I didn't think to take a picture. Rodger

Picking up commentary from Sunday on Hornby, I had a look at my purchase rate since returning to modelling at the end of 2010. My initial high aquistion rate from both Red and Blue boxes reflected my desire to replace as much of my original 70s and early 80s models with new DCC compatible across the Big 4 and a few BR standards, but also reflected the availability of new models particularly of Swindon origin. 2011 to 2016 averaged 5.4 Hornby locos and 4 Bachmann. 2016 to 2023 Hornby has averaged 1.4 per year and Bachmann 0.6 reflecting availbility of new attractive locos with Hornby actually dropping to 1 from 2021 onwards (I beg forgiveness from this thread as 2022 and 2023 are LNER W1 and P2, if it arrives this year). Similarly Coaching stock has evaporated since Hawksworth introduction (2010) and Collett bow end corridor and non corridor more recently, no GWR stock for a couple of years from Hornby and nothing from Bachmann. Wagons: lots of Bachmann early on (Hattons bundles at silly prices) but had dwindled hugely in the last 5 years, Hornby few and far between with some nice models (GWR and LMS horseboxes, SR luggage van). So having little to abuse my wallet with, Hornby hasn't drawn across the market, largly ignoring an area of high interest for many modellers with what looks to be a focus on the collector of LNER with mutliple variants of W1 and countless Flying Scotsmans, and that is ignoring the reissue of the Great Gathering. I can't comment on the diesel market but I think they have stiff compettion from elsewhere. Delivery delays continue to impact them, having been an issue long before Covid. The original Great Gathering was a while after the actual event (the following year?) and the debacle with their retailers and cancelling their forward orders hasn't helped. The ensuing vacuum is being filled though. Dapol has resurged with multiple locos and new coaches soon, Accurascale (oh my, how amazing are the photos of the Manor?) and Rapido bringing amazing quality to the market. And with higher prices too, but justiifed by the quality. I appreciate that times are tough for many, but the market proves that quility still sells and if you haven't got anything to treat you loyal customers with, attracting new ones at their expense is a costly excercise. Hornby and Bachmann are in danger of becoming (or have become) Ford and General Motors. Letting market dominance ebb away, convinced that their own hype will save them. Not even Ford's ambition to be as sexy as Ferrari in the 60s could change the enevitable and GM have now withdrawn from Right Hand Drive market completely. I haven't owned, or driven, their products for over 25 years and am unlikley to do so in the foreseeable future.

Morning Andy I'd go for a brass etch for the jib. Angles can be folded from half etch lines and reinforced wwith solder. Makes a robust object that by its very nature tends to get knocked during layout maintenance and track cleaning. Put me down for 2 please. Rodger