Bulwell Hall

This just gets better and better Robin - keep up the good work! Gerry

I have a GWR loco lamp here if you need it - just ask if you need photos, dimensions etc! Well it's BR(W) actually but its the same thing. Gerry

And I was lucky enough to be in the first coach behind the engine as she left PDN - the only time I have travelled out of PDN behind a King. We could tell by the time that we reached RDG that KGV was in trouble and could smell the hot box through the open windows. Needless to say when we found out that she was not returning to PDN we didn't bother with the return run to London and caught the next DMU home to OXF. It was a very long time indeed before I was lucky enough to travel out of PDN again behind a GWR 4-6-0. Gerry

You lucky b....r Tim! One of my greatest ambitions is to have a footplate ride on a Castle on the mainline - likely to remain unfullfilled I fear! Gerry

I thought I heard some extreme cussing from down the lane! Very sorry to hear about that Chris. Gerry

They most certainly do - as a former resident of Weymouth I can assure you that holiday makers were always known as Grockles. Gerry

Saint?

Well blow me down - I didn't see those coming! Very, very welcome indeed and if they are as good as the Hawksworths I shall be buying them in multiple! They certainly look to be to the same standard as for example the grab handles are not moulded in but there are dimples for seperate mouldings to be fitted - very promising! Post-war GWR livery for me please - to match the Hawksworths! If Horrible Hall was to be upgraded to the current highest standard we would really be getting somewhere! Gerry P.S. How about a 53xx 2-6-0 to the current highest standard to go with them?

Another major dissapointment for those of us looking forward to a good Hall to modern standards. The Hornby 49xx was a major dissapointment and now the Modified Hall is similarly unsatisfactory. Several have already commented on the very distinctive look of the front end of a Modified Hall and the Bachmann model just hasn't got it It seems as though us GWR/BR(W) modelers are destined not to get a Hall - OK from a distance just isn't good enough. Perhaps Rapido might like to have a go and show us how it should be done! If other modelers are like me there will still be a market because I haven't bought the Hornby 49xx and will not be buying the Bachmann Modified Hall either. Gerry

It is my understanding that 'Tunnel Motor' refers to the Dean 633 class 0-6-0 side tanks with condensing gear that preceeded the 97xx class - although the later engines probably carried on the tradition. Gerry

Very nice Gilbert - I should like to pop down and take a look at that sometime! Gerry

It's OK - but a £300ish version scanned from the real thing and made to Rapido standards would be much better! I do wonder about the wheels on the proposed model of No.1 - not only will it look like it is standing on tip-toes as an OO model but part of its charm is the very delicate nature of those 8' diameter driving wheels. They will just look far too clumsy in OO not to mention the compromises required to get over scale depth flanges into a very tight splasher - and then there are the clearances around the bogie already mentioned. It will certainly present Rapido with a challenge!

Perhaps having scanned a full size locomotive this will be the first RTR P4 locomotive - shouldn't be any problems with clearances then!

It will no doubt be a beautiful model. If it is as good as it should be given the price - and it is a good price for a good model - then perhaps they will consider scanning the loco that she is standing next to - GWR 2-8-0 No 2818! Much more to my liking!

I wouldn't worry too much about the lamp on the front of the pannier Andrew. The blokes often used to plonk the lamp on the nearest lamp iron to the platform to save themselves a hernia - I can show you plenty of photos to prove the point.

As in Kilmar, Caradon and the fabulously named Cheesewring.

Some Halls - as well as some Saints and Stars - were most definitely painted in unlined green in the post-war era. If you look in Tony Sterndales book 'Great Western Pictorial No.3' published by Wild Swan, you will find examples of all three classes painted thus. The Kenneth Leech book 'Portraits of Western 4-6 -0s' also has photos of some engines without lining - No 2912 St Ambrose being one example that immediately comes to mind. For a period after nationalisation engines emerged from Swindon with out any signs of ownership at all and later they had British Railways in full in GW style lettering - see 'Early Years of Western Region Steam' by PM Alexander, again published by Wild Swan, which has a photo of No 4017 Knight of Liege at Bath in 1948. Of course this will require you to refer to an actual book in an actual library rather than relying on the internet - it's by no means all online! Gerry

How about doing some proper research - not everything is on the web? However I have it very good authority that the one-off M13 was condemned 5/57. It was known to the railwaymen of the time as the 'Noah's Ark'. In my early 1950s photo it is so grubby it is impossible to see any lettering so I 've no idea what the BR livery was. Hope this helps. Gerry

When allocated to Taunton 2211 had Churchward 3500 gallon tender fitted with token catcher for working on the Minehead and Barnstaple branches. Therefore the tender from your 43xx would be fine - although I don't know where you would get a token catcher from. Hope this helps Gerry

I have a photograph of Weymouth yard taken around 1951 - 2 and the van is visible in the background. It appears to be in traffic as it is with other parcels vehicles but as it is a black & white photo I cannot help with the colour - the lettering is also not visible under the grime.

This is exactly what I wanted to know. I do not have the Jenkinson book - most of my reference books have a distinct 'Western' bias - so a scan of the York photo would be most helpful. I presume by York photo it is a LNER official York Carriage Works photo and not something from the NRM? Gerry

Does your York print of CCT No 1296 show the whole vehicle? If so could we see it please - I should like to do mine in as built in 1939. Hornby have produced a fine model but the lettering on the NE liveried vehicle looks a little over size - your photo may be the only record of these vehicles in original condition. It rather looks as though the 'toplights' have been plated over - or at least covered in mesh - and rather begs the question as to why motor cars would need additional ventilation? Gerry

Very nice John - very 1950s BR (W)! Gerry

I actually saw a 'Dukedog', 'Earl', 90xx or whatever, in the flesh yesterday evening - I don't get out much so this was the first one! It really is a lovely little model. It is to be earnestly hoped that, come March, Bachmann will anounce the production of a 'Bulldog' using the 90xx as a basis - that really would be something. Whilst no 'Bulldogs' survive it has not dettered Backmann from prodiucing a J11 which is similarly extinct so it might happen! Fingers crossed! Gerry

Whilst the 'Dukedog', 'Earl', 90xx, or whatever else you care to call it, is only just hitting the shelves is it too soon to express the hope that Bachmann will follow it with a 'Bulldog'? Tender, loco chassis and cab should all be suitable - 'Blasius' in GWR post-war black would be my choice but there would be plenty of scope for all those modellers of the pre-war GWR scene. It would make such a lovely model and were more widespread than the 90xx. Just a thought. Gerry