250BOB

To this day,I can still hear those excited cries.But I still can't understand why they didn't shout " Duchess ". Perhaps because the name Duchess was applied to comparatively few and in any case my spotting territory wasn't LMR...originally,anyway.

As one of the regular platform Enders at crewe, we only ever referred to the class as a "Semi"...... My era being late 50's early 60's.

Could never understand why my dad referred to them as Duchesses, but he wasn't a spotter, he just fired and drove them as a top link 5A man all his working life.

Hi Jim,

At Derby th other day a pal of mine saw 2 Super 60's now smart in Colas Rail livery - but it was then like spot the difference 60 085 had the bump hat on the cabside horizontal whilst 60 096 had its bump hat at 45' & with ear protectors fitted.??

Any thoughts.

Bob

Someone remind me please.......does the late crest model have a smoke deflector fitted.??  Or for that matter the early crest one too.???

 For all who await this loco, my local dealer states that it is due for release on Tuesday the 14th.

Down to the last few days then.???

I heard today that this colliery is to close by the end of the week, July 3rd........was originally planned for closure summer 2016,

.

Cheap imports, emphasis on renewables and large stocks at power stations given as the reasons.

Personally this loco has been on my wishlist for ages, I think it will sell in sufficient numbers due it's rarety value.

Mine too,,, ,,,, and on many others I suspect.

And have no interest whatsoever in "Hush Hush".....but then its a regional thing with me, no doubt it would probably be more popular than the mogul.

I bought the Hornby Mag / Bachmann limited edition twin set of D8000 and D8001.

I know it sold out, as I bought one of the very last sets, about 5 yrs ago I think.?

So I won't be in the market for one of the Locomotion models I'm afraid, and neither will any other purchasers of that twin set, possibly.

That said, I'm sure it will sell to collectors again, and sit on a shelf or in a box somewhere. I prefer to run the locos I buy, but everyone to their own I suppose.

 

 

I have heard that Chinese manufacturers 'interpret' drawings and specs, so therefore the commissioning organisation/customer (in this case Hornby Mag.) should as SME's have a tighter rein on China in terms of specs and contractual T&Cs.

 

 

And each time a sample is rejected, I suspect it can take months before a re vamped sample is sent again.

2 years. You're quite the optimist. Still waiting on the warflats as well

Exactly 2 years since it was announced, and still only at the drawing office.!!

I don't know why they bother announcing so early........I realise it putting a stake in the ground indicating others should steer clear.

Brings the Bulleid diesel to mind from Kernow........................has to be near 5 years since that was announced, and last I heard on that one was that no one had yet visited York to look at the drawings.

But this seems to be the way of things today.

Had a good look at the model on display on the Hornby mag stand at the GCR model event last weekend.

Looked stunning to me.!!

But I did overhear a conversation that went something like. "The delays are caused by it keeps having to be returned for rectification."

I think I would be happy with how it was on the stand..... !!!!

Nice article in the May/June issue of Steam Railway Mag entitled Alien Spaceships..

Not much txt in the article, but about 10 or so lovely photos, not seen any of them before.

Bob

Hattons email quoting availability on or after mid july.

Well sir, I beg to differ ........

 

image.jpg

 

And this is my scratch built Bristol & Exeter 4-4-0 later taken into GW stock

 

image.jpg

 

So, not all GWR locomotives are the same

Just short of a bit of streamlining and some smoke deflectors.

They still had stock of more than 10 of a heavily weathered version last Thursday as I had been thinking of buying one to add to my pristine version bought a year ago now and not yet tested...oops!

 

Looks like Hattons have pulled them for some reason, maybe as a source of spares.

I wouldn't bother with a heavily weathered version....just get another pristine one and get it professionally weathered by someone.   The Hattons weathered version is hardly dirty.

GWR 28XX now there's something to haul ya coal !

Sorry........I know GWR is a lot of folks favourite region, and good luck to them......but its the bottom of my list.....they all look the same..!!

All gone.

What..........Hattons sold them all...??????

Well I suppose there is little else for us to spend our money on.........mine is still going strong.

Bob

Ted--much obliged,

Ed

Ed

I am looking forward with eager anticipation to seeing your Combe Martin when in reveals itself.   With all this invaluable help and advice, you cant fail to produce a magnificent model.

Bob

Any news on the brake tenders.....I note checking the date of the first post on this thread, that it has now been 2 and a half years since it was first announced.

I know that these time scales are par for the course at the moment........I'm also keen on getting a Bulleid diesel from Kernow , it must be 4 years since that was announced.

Patience is a virtue..!!!

Ha I like that. As the main author of that book I am glad to see that you are appreciative of the hard work that went into getting that book into print. There were some compromises from the planned book and what got printed namely a reduction in the amount of colour plates as this had to be scaled back due to prohibitive price increases that would have pushed the final book price up beyond the planned £13.95. I am very proud of the book all these years later.

 

As WBM has pointed out there are some differences between the ICI and Summers wagons and if you wished to overlook these and went for the its my layout I'll operate what I like viewpoint then you could just as well use the ICI versions without the letters and repaint into Summers grey and remove the vacuum cylinders and pipework. Remember to use only wagons with plate frame bogies. Commission some transfers and go from there. I have a feeling that a company Black something or other did some 4mm Summers in a rub-down format.

 

But I am uncertain whether Hattons/Oxford Rail have realised how much demand for Summers wagons as well and if they have done their homework then they will suss out the common parts.

 

Cheers Paul

Great book about the hoppers Paul, well done.

I note you also appreciated that look on my wife's face when she saw that I'd bought it.

Can people still get the book anywhere if they are interested.? It's a real goldmine of info on the subject.

Bob

I remember about 6 or 7 years ago spotting a book in a cheap book shop here in Uttoxeter.

It was called "The history of the ICI Hopper wagon", and contains some great pictures.

I put it on the coffee table when I got home, only later to be spotted by my wife.

She looked down at the book, and slowly read out the title......she then looked up at me with that look that says " what the .... ".

It's one of my favourite books, picked it up again today for another read now that some models are on the horizon.

In announcement / delivery for smaller suppliers over the last 24 months (or so):

Oxford Rail (all) is 3 / 0

DJModels (00 steam only) is 9 / 1

Heljan (00 steam only) is 5 / 0 (Not counting the Garratt which was delivered about two years ago now, but we can make it 6/1.)

.

Do I understand delivery is initially scheduled for end 2015, I think that is what I saw on Hattons stand at Ally Pally.

Well that certainly captures the look and feel of Bournemouth Central. Very well done there.

 

Not sure about the Midland signalbox though.....

Action point for Ed.

1. Attend to signal box before next visit of 250BOB, or serious leg pulling will ensue.

The final 4 photos, this time of Bournemouth West

Another 5 photos

Hi guys

Ed has asked me to post a series of photos that I have taken of his layout, ref Bournemouth Central and Bournemouth West.

This is the first of them, as a test, tomake sure it worked. The rest will follow shortly.

No doubt my good friend Edward(alias Oliver Bullied) Plant will comment on the photos shortly.

Regards Bob