Coppercap

7 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

The LNWR had some seven-coach sets for the Birmingham area made up:

brake second / second / second-first composite / first / first-third composite / third / third / brake third.

 

That presumably gave the desired number of seats for each class but resulted in six carriage types!

I count that as an eight-coach set of seven carriage types... 🤔

2 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

But a set without the full thirds, just having the brake thirds and composites would look very nice on a layout which did not have full length platforms.

But then the ratio of first class to third class would then be too high. Better to have two brake thirds, one all-third and one composite.

10 hours ago, Ian Hargrave said:

Would one needed to acquire a full set of six to make prototypical sense ?

In the GWR period, yes.

6 hours ago, Al51 said:

15 hours ago, melmerby said:

I had that once with a RM delivery from Derails.

A couple of "attempts" to deliver it complete with time slots, which didn't happen and then an e-mail that the item was undeliverable.(😕)

It turned out they couldn't find it.

Derails sent a replacement, I never got the original and I don't know whether Derails ever got it back.

 

Not from Derails, and not model railway related, but a relative of mine repeat-ordered something online, and had an email stating that it had been delivered by RM, with a photo of the parcel on a doorstep. Except it wasn't their doorstep, and clearly it wasn't anyone else's in their road, or even on their estate. You could even see the (correct) address in the photo. They contacted the seller who then contacted RM, who claimed it had been delivered correctly, but they eventually accepted it was not the correct doorstep in the photo, and had no clue where that doorstep was either. Seller then despatched replacement that arrived without issue (probably the regular postman...). Item was valued at over £100. Shame that the seller was legally held responsible for this, and had to make a loss on it, even though they were 100% blameless. The parcel was apparently never 'returned to sender' nor returned to RM to deliver to the correct address.   

29 minutes ago, Bulwell Hall said:

Another interesting feature of this photo is what appears to be an auto trailer in the platform next to the Mainline and City set.  I wasn't aware that these worked in to Paddington?

I think you will find that it's actually a slip coach. These had end windows and gongs.

2 hours ago, Miss Prism said:

True, but the nature of the enquiry was a bit ambiguous - apologies for the confusion.

 

I'm trying to find a pic of a Metropolitan Bo-Bo with the stock.

 

Edit: This is the pic I had in the back of my mind, but I think that is articulated stock rather than H&C.

 

 

Looking at the 1922 Bradshaws (admittedly thats several years before this photo with the Met Bo-Bo), morning through GW trains to Liverpool Street started at Southall or West Drayton with one train from Windsor & Eton. Regarding this photo, I wonder where the loco was changed? 

Edit. Since found this:

32 minutes ago, Miss Prism said:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rtw501/6847737334/

 

Though that's not running on Metropolitan lines.

1 hour ago, Guardian said:

 

Hi Penrhos1920 and Coppercap,

 

Thank you for mentioning these two types which would be an attractive tractionfor the Toplight City coaches. Unfortunately, none of the is available or announced as an RTR 00 model. Maybe one day...

I'm well aware of that - a Metro tank has been on my wishlist for a while, even though it'll never happen...

1 hour ago, KeithMacdonald said:

I know this is not the current Kernow GWR steam rail motor, but perhaps a future variation?

Found in Swindon Central Library album on Flickr.

 

 

 

Found some notes on it here:

https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/zrailmotor93/history/pictures/sub_gubbins.html

 

It's hardly a 'variation' - I don't think anything you can see is common to the Kernow version. It would need to be a completely new model, and most unlikey to appear. These weren't very long lived when compared to the one we now have, limiting their appeal. Also, the fact that there isn't a 12" to the foot model to measure (only drawings, and photos) would make it even more unlikely.

5 hours ago, Guardian said:

Dear All,

 

As I recently aquired set 3 (choc/cream twin cities crest) of the Toplight City coaches, I am curious about the proper traction of such set prior to the introduction of GWR 61XX class in 1931.

 

Was it simply the preceding sub-classes, I.e. classes 5101 and 3100/5100? Or (also) something completely different?

 

Thank you.

 

Best,

Mark 

Typically one of these, a 'Large Metro'. This one, 3599 (seen here in the twilight of its career away from London), was a Southall engine for a long time, and my great grandfather most definitely drove it  - he was on the suburban trains in and out of Paddington for over 20 years up until retirement in 1924. Many 'Metros' didn't have cabs, only spectacle plates, even as late as the early 1920s ('get wets', they called them) and these were condenser apparatus fitted for running on into the City over the Metropolitan, which was what these coaches were designed for. 'County Tank' 4-4-2Ts were also used in and out of Paddington, though unlikely over the Metropolitan lines.

49 minutes ago, Andy Keane said:

Has anyone added stay-alive to their sound fitted Railmotors yet? I am certainly going to need some.

Also what are those two fabulously vulnerable loops on the gutter rail for at the non-motor end. With my clumsy hands I doubt they will be there very long. They are clearly prototypical but I have no idea what they are for!

I think it is the so-called butterfly valve, which has to be reset if the emergency chain is pulled. They rotate 90 degrees if chain is pulled, and in a train of several carriages, it can be seen in which carriage the chain's been pulled. They do appear to be vulnerable though, don't they? 

16 minutes ago, The Johnster said:

and why single-cylinder motorcycles are kick-started. 
 

Things have moved on a bit since the 1950s - virtually all single-cylinder motorcycles these days have an electric starter, without even a kick-starter as a back-up for when the battery's flat! 

13 hours ago, Invicta Informant said:

I got some in Lined Crimson livery. The models come in packaging similar to Rapido's LNER Dynamometer Car. You must fit the couplings yourself and you are provided with four 'bar' style connectors (similar to what I have seen used on Hornby and Bachmann models of DMUs and EMUs), two shorter ones and two slightly longer ones. You also get one tension lock coupling with the brake carriages.

 

The models have a nice weight to them, and have the look and feel of a quality product. The lighting in them is superb, with a working tail light on the brake carriages that lights up red, depending on the direction. Recommended.

It looks rather like the bottom of the side is bowing in and out, comparing it to the solebar.   

Logging on to my account, I can see it shows that I ordered and paid for it 16/12/2022 (not sound fitted). Despatched 16/1/24. Faulty, so sent back 1/2/24, delivered to Kernow 5/2/24 (from Royal Mail Tracking).  There is no mention of the replacement being despatched on my account, nor did I receive an email (but then I didn't email them either), but the Royal Mail Tracking shows the replacement was despatched 6/2/24, delivered to me 8/2/24. As it was a replacement as opposed to a repair, I guess I was more quickly processed.

42 minutes ago, gwrrob said:

 

Apparently, according to Dapol on Facebook, they are still at sea  and they don't know where the boat is due to shipping issues.

IF they know what ship the container is on, there are shipping trackers to look at. 

6 minutes ago, melmerby said:

 

If it come off a function output on the decoder, unless the decoder is seriously deficient in adjustability, it normally can be dimmed.

It should also not need any intervention to change the direction effect.

I would suggest KR models need to up their game.

Are KR Models doing an SRM as well? 🤔

50 minutes ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Perhaps SRMs should come back again, as the weight of passengers has increased by the corresponding amount 😁

Ah, but your new SRM would then have to be bigger, on account of the passengers not only being heavier but also wider, thus requiring wider seats, so needing a bigger SRM for the same number of seats... or maybe add a trailer! 

24 minutes ago, mikesndbs said:

Mine was sent last Sunday and not heard a thing, maybe the replacement comes tomorrow :) 

I didn't get an email that my return had arrived with Kernow (sent Thursday last week), but they sent me an email on Monday that (the replacement) had been despatched. I then got further emails from Royal Mail that they had received it, another when it was due to be delivered, and then another after it was delivered. If you haven't yet heard anything regarding your return, it might be worth contacting them. I presume you used their return post system, and didn't just post it back at your expense?

4 minutes ago, Harlequin said:

Sent mine back last Thursday. They probably received it on Monday. No news yet.

 

Took mine to the PO last Thursday afternoon, got the replacement yesterday lunchtime.

1 hour ago, Methuselah said:

Mine arrived today. I checked and tested it, then packed it away for now, but I meant to check to see if the non-powered bogie has pick-ups but forgot. Has anyone checked....?

Of course it has, we've moved on a bit since Tri-ang Hornby! 😉

Today I received a replacement Railmotor for the one I sent back last week (the LED at one end had completely failed). Straight out of the box, this one is a slightly smoother runner than the first one, with no hesitancy at all, and after half an hour or so running-in in each direction, it's even better - it will crawl slower than would be normal operation, but I'm especially pleased I can make this one start a tad more realistically... and the LEDs are still working!

I do like the low-glow interior lighting -  they slowly dim after stopping rather than go straight out (DC), and much more realistic than those searchlights in the Hattons Genesis coaches (I'll have to try and tone those down a bit).

2 hours ago, mikesndbs said:

00:00 Introduction

00:28 Arrival and unpacking

00:53 packing and accessories

01:06 Instructions

01:42 first close up look

02:22 Initial prototype history.

03:05 First test run

04:45 Detail close ups

06:35 Underframe details

07:25 Lighting inside and out

07:57 Initial lubrication

08:15 how to open the body and problems encountered.

09:36 LED wire concern and how to avoid breaking.

09:58 Internal details.

11:49 Destination boards

12:52 Running section and extra history.

15:22 Trailer coach operation.

16:20 what’s that pesky clicking sound? Last tip

 

 

I notice that you said the LED at one end (the 'leading' end) has failed completely - the LED on mine has failed at the other ('trailing') end. It was certainly working for a few minutes. After seeing you showing the getting inside, and the complex and fragile wiring, I'm reluctant to even have a look inside mine. If I did, I don't think I'd be able to find what's at fault and fix it anyway...

Mine was a bit hesitant initially at slow speeds, but after running-in it was better, but when attempting to start realistically it is still not as smooth as it ought to be. I think might be going back for replacement...

I'm not too disappointed, as faults do happen, but it did cost £180...

4 hours ago, Siberian Snooper said:

 

That looks like it might be a foot step, as it's black, it could be from a buffer beam.

 

 

Well done, it is, thank you! From just below the '7' (of the 97) on the trailing end. Much closer inspection shows the paint is actually brown, not black as I thought. A bit of superglue will fix that, if it doesn't ping off out of the tweezers first!

2 minutes ago, Neal Ball said:

 

Suggest you discuss this with Kernow - as I have said before, they seem friendly enough.

Well I will do in due course. I've had plenty of experience with LEDs failing, and I sometimes thing they are a bit of a PITA.   

Mine arrived today, courtesy of Royal Mail.

Firstly, removing the Railmotor's own box from the transit packaging, it was clear that the box had been dropped at some point - NOT by Royal Mail. Well, they might have dropped it at some point, but if they did, it didn't cause this as the transit packaging was undented both inside and out.

On opening the box and removing the clear plastic packing from it, I could see the chimney was loose within, so I carefully opened it to make sure I didn't lose the chimney to the carpet, but before I did, I also saw a tiny piece of what looks like brass shining in the light, and part-painted black. I can't work out what it is, maybe a step or something? I can't see another one on the Railmotor like it anywhere. The chimney pressed firmly back into place without any problem.

On the track (Gaugemaster controller, on DC), the Railmotor is slightly hesitant and doesn't moves off particularly smoothly, being slightly jerky at realistic stopping and starting speeds (I would be critical seeing it do that at an exhibition), or at slow speeds as if there are tight spots (but it doesn't seem to be at the same point of rotation each time) requiring much tweaking of the controller to try and keep the speed constant, but I'll see how it is after an hour or so in each direction.

Lastly, the LED head and tail lamps are very bright at anything other than slow speed. I've not got much of a problem with that, BUT after five minutes or so, I noticed that the LED at the 'trailing' end has failed completely, so it doesn't illuminate in either direction.

All that said, it is a fantastic model, superbly detailed and finished.  But, it might have to go back...