Ian Hargrave

Barrow Road 22 A while still a Midland shed had an allocation too.They were used frequently on turns to New Street,Derby and the North.,alongside their conventional Black 5’s such as 45274 wrecked in the fatal Sutton Coldfield accident ( but subsequently repaired and latterly modelled by Hornby ) and the longstanding allocation of Jubilees .

And apparently the best regarded of the bunch.44686 &44687 I believe,despite what Mike Stationmaster comments on their ungainly appearance.Chester 6A locos for a while.

I witnessed the last hurrah of the Counties on e summer Saturday at North Road in 1959….even had a run up from Liskeard on a Falmouth-Paddington turn 13/14 on. Didn’t come off there but went on over the banks (can’t remember if with a pilot) .That was one of a number of the class at work with prodigious loads . The Warships were conspicuous by their absence. Without the much improved 10XX on that day…and others…the WR would have struggled . Ugly ? Maybe but handsome is as handsome does.

Back to wagons and a change maybe of scene. I’ve been trying fruitlessly for any current reference to the new EFE SR Diagram 1410 10T covered wagon. So I’ll make a plug for it here and express my opinion that it’s a lovely model on a par with the quality that we’re getting from Rapido & Accurascale.

For “accuracy “ maybe 34102 ,which IIRC is where the Ambrosia creamery was situated ? Interesting play on words here. “ Bananas going West “ to “Going bananas in Westerly direction “ .But with Southern power….hmmm..

Thanks Phil . The sample illustrated also concerns me re: the rods,which is why I’ve raised the matter, But this ( hopefully) is an EP. So we shall see.

Can we please…for a while at any rate….now switch off the lamps and address what’s IMHO the more important issue for this particular model and consider the representation of the valve gear and motion itself. Hornby has done Caprotti previously with 71000 .What of this Black 5 on that score and what are the cognoscenti opinions of what’s seen thus far ?

By coincidence,I’ve just been leafing through my newly acquired copy of South Wales Railway Gallery ( Stuart DavIes,Pen & Sword 2022 ) bought on the recommendation of CK of Brent Parish. There is a photo in it of a Geest banana train ( unloaded at Barry Docks ) from Cadoxton to Crewe,taken in 1963 by John Hodge at Cadoxton hauled by Jubilee ( yes ,you read it right ) 45651.It’s a long train of vans.:in fact a Shovell load of bananas all apparently steam heated to aid yellowing/ ripening . So to replicate that will require significant investment. Excuse the pun but I’m just entering into the spirit of this exchange. The book is a must for all GW/WR enthusiasts.

This Valley’s boy wholeheartedly endorses your recommendation. Wonderfully evocative of my childhood and youth.

Ah,that’s in Scotland isn’t it.So maybe a dash of malt in that tea ?

You must be joking.These days the average hotel bedroom has the minimal possible lighting. ….except for the bathroom.

Many thanks for the warning,duly noted.Thus far,a Hornby Peckett,a Rapido Hunslet and a Planet Victory have each managed my Chaldrons with West Hill NEM mounted couplings without any difficulty. So that’s disappointing news.

Just an idea that’s going through my mind. How about Lion with some Accurascale Chaldrons ?

Nicely featured also on YouTube. My thanks to all who have made their videoed material available .I couldn’t go,so it’s the next best thing.

l’ll take a shed load 👏

Which bits ?🤭

Thanks Jenny for your YouTube video of it just released.

I should say that one post ( at least ) has been removed. There has been some personal stuff flying around.Not nice.

To return to matters GW ,my pair of Toads arrived,shortly after a delivery of the colourful film prop W&U tramcar and an EFE SR 10T covered van. Adding a 14XX ( Hattons/DJM) from stock,apart from substituting the van for the film’s cattle wagon,I have put together the first ( wrecked by Pearce & Crump ) Titfield train. Well it’s a film so I can maybe deviate a little. The little buffet car is simply gorgeous and the now three vehicles and the loco make a train of character. Thanks to Simon ( Not Jeremy) for the inspiration.

The thread which was started by Jenny Kirk this morning has now been locked due to the aggravation it has generated. It does not make good reading and honestly doesn’t reflect well on certain forum members I regret to say.

See mine and another post above.

As maybe. But I’ve just attempted to access the Collectors Club online which quickly developed into an excursion into thin air.

One of the very few genuine bargains on offer this weekend. I ordered both GW and BR variants. Hattons Sale is remarkable.But they’re not going to the NEC nor for that matter are Rails. And I too have opted out. Rail travel will be rammed as it’s a pre Xmas weekend. Driving isn’t an option although my journey would be relatively straightforward but with M42 traffic and the hassle and cost of parking,it’s not a prospect to be relished.To cap it all,I can’t in any case drive as last Saturday I fell over on the outside step and now my wrist is in a splint as something is broken/cracked. Happy days. If you’re going then enjoy all

Thank you Julie for the biscuits,the good wishes….much appreciated…..and of course for Granville .

And Rapido Toads at £20 …a good selection.