cctransuk

Having looked at photos of pretty well most of the class, I have concluded that they were neither. This is my interpretation of the probable shape. Regards, John Isherwood.

Not a copper-capped chimney; a GWR-esque topfeed cover shaped like that railway's safety-valve 'trumpet'. Regards, John Isherwood.

Nay lad - not noordays ! 'Tis true, though, in't old days when't moor-grime came doon, t'lamp-lighter were sent out midday. I mind travelling through Stockport one August dinner-time, (midday o'course), in't early 60s; t'were s'dark you'da sworn it were arter midneet. T'aint nowt like that noordays. All't best, John Isherwood.

I recall an autogyro being displayed in the Wallis showroom window at Mitchum's Corner, Cambridge; (now Staples). My immediate boss at Cambridge City Council was a great friend of Ken Wallis; (naturally, he drove a Rover and had his own glider). Regards, John Isherwood.

It never ceases to astonish me that 'modellers', who are discerning enough to bemoan the lack of their chosen variant of prototype, are unwilling to undertake even the most minor of alterations. I mean, how difficult can it be to crop off a top-feed; scrape off the remains, and touch in a bit of paint??? No wonder the manufacturers are damned if they do - damned if they don't. I despair !! Regards, John Isherwood.

I've got a large bag full - if there are punters willing to pay for them they'll go on Ebay. I've also got dozens of Airfix coach wheels - perhaps they're marketable too? Thanks, John Isherwood.

.... see #987 above. Regards, John Isherwood.

..... because no-one has ever found a set that run true !!! Regards, John Isherwood.

Agreed - I too await the emergence of that elusive colour photo with interest. Regards, John Isherwood.

So much for what the specification prescribed ! As has been said elsewhere more than once; what the painting spec. called for, and what came out of the works were different things entirely. Quoting the spec. and providing a photo are, similarly, far from carrying the same evidential weight. Regards, John Isherwood.

I know someone who would call it "Fake news" ! Regards, John Isherwood.

That quote conveniently omits the bit referring to roof painting, so it has no relevance. Regards, John Isherwood.

I don't think that anyone is questioning what the specification stated - but we can all quote numerous examples of the specification / drawings being honoured in the breach. It would not be unreasonable to suggest that the majority of contributors to this thread are ABSOLUTELY convinced, by the photos posted here, that the battery boxes were painted green, either by North British in 1958, or very shortly after delivery. That being the case, the sensible course would be to supply the models with green battery boxes; those who remain unconvinced can easily apply a coat of Halfords satin or matt primer. The other alternative, of supplying them painted black, would require those - (the majority?) - who require green battery boxes would have to try to match the shade of green. Not an easy task! Regards, John Isherwood.

Then why are the bogies clearly black - after all, the bogies and battery boxes are subject to the same weathering processes? If anything, I'd expect the bogies to acquire a lighter shade than the smooth battery boxes under weathering, as their surface details would trap the dirt. Let's face it - no matter what evidence is presented - you're not going to concede the point at this stage, are you? Regards, John Isherwood.

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I think that this would be prototypical. Regards, John Isherwood.

You may well be correct - though, having spent the morning poring over old images of Lowestoft, it is surprising what was still around in the late 50s / early 60s. It's proving to be a fascinating line of research, anyway. Regards, John Isherwood.

Having downloaded the image and zoomed in on it, I cannot agree, I'm afraid. The boxes are clearly open-topped and the chains are draped from corner to corner. LOWESTOFT This is what I had in mind - the small boat appears to carry a similar box of coal, which would have been craned off the railway wagon and into the boat's hold. Whether the box was craned over to the trawler, or the coal transferred manually, is unclear. I will continue to research this. Regards, John Isherwood.

That does it for me - I was hoping for a sea-fishing location. I would bet that what we see is bunkering coal, ready for discharge into vessels. Was any member around Lowestoft docks in the early / mid 1960s? Regards, John Isherwood.

A final post on the subject - firstly, I did not raise the issue; I merely supported other members concerns. The facts :- Rob caused a great deal of disquiet some time back by doing what he is now doing again - bombarding the group with irrelevant images. At that time Rob agreed - in a post here - to stop doing this; to open a thread of his own for his manipulated images; and to confine them to that thread. It is plainly evident to all that Rob has gone back on that undertaking. So who exactly is at fault here? I have my list settings arranged so that I IGNORE all of Rob's posts, and that suits me fine. I only became involved because, by failing to keep to his agreement, Rob is once again causing disquiet within the group. Now how can that be discriminatory? Regards, John Isherwood.

I don't think so; close examination reveals open tops and, apparently, a mineral load. There is also evidence of hanging looped chains attached to the corners. We have several wagons, (in what may be a train of such wagons), of very uniform appearance. I recall reading of PO box containers for coal - used, I think, for coaling ships; something of the sort was also using in canal boats and on rail for carrying coal to certain Lancashire mills. Can anyone hazard a guess at the location of the photo? The date of the photo must be beween 12/63 and 12/65, as Departmental Locomotive No.19 (61204) is clearly in steam. Does anyone know where No.19 was allocated? Regards, John Isherwood.

I believe that the Mods were involved in asking Rob to open his own thread. Not much came of that, it seems! Regards, John Isherwood.

I can't see any gymslips, suspenders and hockey-sticks - more's the pity !! Regards, John Isherwood.

I have just opened the photo in Corel Photopaint, and sampled the colours of the batterybox and the adjacent bodyside. The RGB analyses of both are virtually identical. Regards, John Isherwood.

If you look at the RH end of the LH bogie, where there appears to be some spilt oil - that's black, but nothing like the battery box. Regards, John isherwood.