robertcwp

As if I don't have enough Peaks already (27 of which 24 are Bachmann), the economy green split box 45 is welcome and may well become the 28th in my fleet. Images show D138 modelled with single centre headcode, indicating refurbished condition (the early 46s were built with split centre boxes) so it should have the trapezoidal grille but this is omitted. A Mark 1 revamp is good but I probably have enough to last me a lifetime (over 300, including some of mine that are on Retford). However, it looks a bit half-baked. Doing the ends without the steps on blue/grey ones is good and the retooled bogies should make them very free-running. Nevertheless, it looks as though they are sticking with one roof for each type rather than doing the later roof vent arrangement which was characteristic of most built with Commonwealth bogies. One thing that would be good for me is some in a better shade of green than Bachmann has managed so far, with their Mark 1s either being too light or too dark. It seems Bachmann was already well advanced with their 30/31 when Accurascale announced theirs so we have duplication, which is good for competition. For me, the Accurascale one still wins, not because there is anything wrong with the Bachmann one but because I have lots of Hornby ones which I'm not planning to replace unless they fail (and they are a bit dodgy in various ways) and Accurascale are listing the liveries I would like (pre-TOPS blue and green with full yellow ends) plus a 1970s 31/4 whereas Bachmann's depicts a 1980s refurbished one without the valances.

I agree. I would rather the show were in the bowls hall than not have it at all.

My first one has arrived: IMG_0571am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Will test later today.

A few photos from today's running session: 34003 Plymouth - the train is modelled on the winter formation of the Bournemouth-York through train: P1090146am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A Phoenix/BSL LMS Sleeper Composite, recently acquired second hand: P1090145am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Station scene: P1090144am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Accurascale Manor: P1090142am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Bachmann 94XX pannier tank: P1090141am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Bachmann V2 on a pigeon special: P1090140am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr DJH Standard Class 2MT, acquired second-hand some years ago: P1090148am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Gresley end-door SK - the body of this carriage was, I believe, built by Roy Jackson. It was swapped for a crimson and cream body from a carriage originally built by John Houlden: P1090147am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr

Retford will be well stocked with Pacifics. If I recall correctly, Retford has the following A1s, plus A1/1 60113: 60117 Bois Roussel (Bachmann) 60118 Archibold Sturrock 60123 H A Ivatt 60125 Scottish Union 60135 Madge Wildfire (Hornby, originally a Railroad 'Tornado' and much altered) 60136 Alcazar 60139 Sea Eagle 60156 Great Central (which Sandra purchased from me - I bought it from the old King's Cross shop in 1987) I agree that 60123 is an outstanding model which runs well and will haul any train on the layout without difficulty.

When an order is posted, there is an email notification from SLW and then one from Royal Mail with the delivery date and time range. They are clearly now working through the orders but given it's a small team I expect it will take time for all orders to be sent out.

I don't regard the number of locos I have as something to boast about. It's more a sign of an addiction bordering on sickness that leads me to have so many. My active fleet (i.e. excluding stored, defunct, withdrawn and some reserve locos that were bought cheaply just in case I need them) totals 353, including a few awaiting commissioning. That doesn't count the units. Whilst almost all are RTR, they have all had something done to them, although the extent of work varies. My records suggest I have dirtied up 240 of them so far, which includes a few factory-weathered ones. Many of the not yet weathered steam locos have coal in tenders, which itself has been a major project (still ongoing). Counting Classes 44, 45 and 46 together, the Peaks are the most numerous, with 27, no two of which are completely identical as I have renumbered any duplicates. The combined total of active 24s and 25s (23 at present) will probably overtake them once Bachmann finally gets round to releasing their new intermediate body style 25 and SLW do some more 24s, if ever they do.

I cancelled my order. I am beginning to wonder if this book will ever be published. Sooner or later, the publishers will have to either publish it or cancel it completely.

A couple of videos. I changed a Bachmann 117 to have yellow panels and replaced my old and not to scale iron ore hoppers with tipplers. Iron ore 117s

I recall going to Expo EM not long after I turned 40 and it struck me that I was one of the youngest people there. Last year, whilst waiting for the doors to open at the Warley show, I looked around and the vast majority of those around me were of similar age or mostly older than me and I'm now not far off of 60. The Warley NEC show was a huge event for a club to put on and I can understand the issues that have led to this decision. Sad nonetheless. I think I have been to every Warley show at the NEC except possibly one or two when I was away for work. I helped exhibit layouts there a couple of times. Now, I shall have to find something else to do with the last weekend in November. Quite a few weekends have opened up in my diary with the demise of far too many shows recently.

This video of Retford from 2003 shows what it was like before that work was done.

I agree with keeping it factual and leaving the reader to draw conclusions. Comparative information between Peaks, 47s and 40s would be interesting, as would comparisons with Westerns and Warships.

I have recently completed reading this book and it is a very worthwhile addition to the library. It was particularly interesting to have an insight into the discussions that went on in BR and with supplies, in particular Sulzer, as the locos were being designed and as issues arose with production and whilst in service. As a result, I tracked down a copy of the book on the 47s that Simon Lilley co-authored and have now made a start on that one. I agree with Peter K that the book would have benefitted from a better proof read but I think such things are a luxury nowadays as most books have lots of errors, many of which are not the fault of the author. There are many from other publishers that are much worse than this one. One thing I did not find a clear explanation of was why the additional grille under the main grille was added to (it appears) all 46s but only some 45s and what was its function. I do wonder if it was part of the refurbishment specification which Brush stuck to for the 46s and Derby did not for the 45s. I was intrigued by the statement that Class 46s up to D148 (or thereabouts) did not have yellow panels when new. I don't recall having seen any photos of 46s in that style apart from the first few - D138 and D139 for example. One error I noted (page 55) relates to the cut-off when new between 46s with split centre headcodes and those with single piece centre headcodes without the middle divide. Other books get this wrong at a basic level by asserting that all 46s had the latter style from new. I believe the first one with the single centre panel was D174. There is a published, pre-refurbishment shot of D174 with single headcode and one of D170 with split centre box (Diesel Heyday - Sulzer Diesels in the 1960s, p27). I have a photo in my own collection of D171 with a split centre headcode (the number is clear on the full-size scan): D171_Retford by Robert Carroll, on Flickr

This photo provides a good comparison.

Very obvious if you know what to look for. D6583 later exhaust: D6583_Merstham_4-5-68 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr D6541 original exhaust: D6541_WortingJunction_c1967 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr D6535 original exhaust: D6535_May-66 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr The original was closer to the cab and there was a kind of box with a deep groove around it.

There is a blast from the past! I had forgotten about this. There is absolutely no doubt about the revised exhaust being there from new on the last few 'standard' 33s (ie not Hastings ones).

Speaking of Retford, this video from 2016 shows what I believe is a guest engine on test on Retford. Footage is credited to Tim Easter. The slightly disturbing thing is that I appear in the background. Others may recognise themselves. At least one person, Chris Foren, who appears is no longer with us. This is another video from the day.

As the 'driver' of Frank's J2 on the up Boat Train, I can confirm that it was on rather less than full power when Frank took the video. There was no trace of slip or difficulty in taking the train up the gradient in the GC fiddleyard. Once it was running, it would go round happily without any adjustment of the controller. This is I think the heavier of the two Boat Trains as I don't think I have taken the ballast weights of of the stock in this one. I did so for the down train. All the Boat Train stock is currently RTR, which has made the train a bit lighter than it was in Roy's day. It's still a good test, though, as it's an 11-carriage train.

The 1949 crimson and cream style on the streamlined stock was more high waisted than later repaints. I think the divide was moved down to line up better with Thompson and Mark 1 stock (the latter from 1951).

Your book is next to me right now. Just about to start reading it.

I think you mean the brake first twin and the brake third, later second, triplet from the Silver Jubilee set. There were only five carriages in the Fife Coast Express set. This is from 1955, when an additional carriage was inserted on Saturdays:

There are plenty more caption errors than the ones listed on his website, including some very basic ones such as on page 154: Upper photo caption: “…and the Tourist twin on the rear (BTO-TO)…”. There were no Tourist twin BTO-TO pairs. The image appears to show two (non-articulated) Tourist BTO vehicles at the rear of the train.

I'm inclined to agree. I think one of the authors in particular is agonising over it all at such great length that it might never appear. Part of the problem is that said author has quite possibly burned so many bridges that others who might have sufficient knowledge to assist won't be keen to help by reviewing things. At what point will Crécy simply pull the plug and direct the authors to another publisher or to self-publish?

Some more Mark 2 air-braked variety from the 1970s: This working is unidentified and is probably a portion of a longer train. 2xTSO 2c, TSO 2a, BFK 2a: 47_1C94_SEP-74 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr This was at the time part of the Saturday working of the 'Master Cutler' set. Nine carriages - the rear is indistinct but the leading two are Mark 2b and 2c firsts and carriages five and six are Mark 2c TSOs. Per the carriage workings, the formation was FK, FO, RB, RMB, 4 TSO, BSO but it is evident from the photo that the two TSO added at the north end on Fridays and Saturdays are outside the brake. The Monday to Thursday formation had an additional FO, making an 8-car set including two catering cars: 47377_Derby_31-8-74_m by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 11 in the formation for this Cheltenham Spa-Paddington service in 1973, formed FK 2b, FK 2a, FO (Mark 1, Diag 72), RB, BFK, 5 TSO (two 2b, three 2a) BG: 1949_WhiteWaltham_0805-Chelt-Pad_31-1-73 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr This set in 1970 has been strengthened to 13 carriages and is a mix of Mark 2a and 2b, with Mark 1 BG, RB and FO: D1927_Denchworth_1970 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr This is the Manchester Victoria portion of a Liverpool/Manchester-Glasgow service in the early 1970s. The Liverpool portion comprising BFK, 3 TSO, would have been added to the front at Preston. The whole set returned south as a Glasgow-Euston service. This portion comprises Mark 2c stock with a Mark 1 RKB and BG, formed 3 TSO, RKB, FO, 2 FK, BG: 428_Salford by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A 'Deltic and Eight' comprising BFK 2a, 2 FO, RU, RMB, 3 TSO 2a: 55_1A21 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr And, for a bit of variety, a 'textbook' 10-car WR air-con Mark 2e set: 1937_WhiteWaltham_0807-WSM-Pad_31-1-73 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr And, remaining with the air-con stock, a Deltic and Eight: 55012_Darlington_1700-Newc-KX_c1974 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr

A couple of mid-1790s WR formations: I suspect this train should have an RMB but it is missing. Formation is TSO 2a, FK 2a, BSO 2c, TSO 2a, TSO 2b, TSO 2b. 1049_Taplow_6-1-76 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr This rather longer set has at least one 2a towards the rear but after the BSO 2c at the front, the next five Mark 2 carriages are all 2b: 1029_Waltham_1Z55_1974 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr