cctransuk

I am sure there is or was a Jidenco kit of these? Mark Saunders Forthcoming from Cambrian Models. Regards, John Isherwood.

Rich, The washers are placed over the tender coupling pin, between the loco coupling bar and the underside of the loco - a dab of adhesive will stop them falling out when you uncouple the tender. The purpose is to prevent the loco 'nodding forward' in the absence of the spring on the bogie pivot. The removal of vertical movement between loco and tender may also transfer a little tender weight onto the loco driving wheels. I have now added some lead to the loco bogie, between the two clip-fit mouldings that make up the bogie. I have also removed the cast 'coal' from the tender and replaced it with sheet lead, covered with crushed real coal. Haulage performance is now entirely in keeping with the prototype. Etched plates, including an RCTS headboard, from 247 Developments provide the finishing touches. Regards, John Isherwood.

Well - that works !! I took out the front bogie spring and washer, put two 10BA washers on the tender coupling pin, between the tender drawbar and the underside of the tender, and the haulage has vastly improved! ..... and the front bogie doesn't derail, even without adding extra weight. Sorted !! Regards, John Isherwood.

I have found that, by removing the tender / loco buffers (they just pull out), much more realistic close-coupling is possible. Haulage is not huge, but the ability is there. External weight on top of the loco transformed matters. I wonder if weighting the front bogie to keep it on the track, removing the bogie spring, and putting some tender weight onto the draw-bar would be effective, (perhaps via the spring from the bogie) ......? Regards, John Isherwood.

You should have seen the pink Brush Type 4's (Class 47s) on test down the Midland Mainline in the 1960s !!! Regards, John Isherwood.

Not a wagon, just a container. BR A40709B - I have the cast plate, ask not how - and ...... it appears in an episode of "All Creatures Great and Small". Bishopdale, Yorkshire. Regards, John Isherwood.

Don't ask !!! - just go back a bit in this thread, reading D1030......'s postings. Regards, John Isherwood.

I suspect that there is some frantic research underway! " Following feedback on the project the exact identities of the vehicles are being reviewed" suggests to me that they are hoping against hope that there is an authentic identity that they can apply to the model that has already been tooled. I think that they'll find that the answer is a resounding "No"! I'm afraid that I have no sympathy - we did try to help when the subject was first raised but it seems that we wasted our time; our information apparently fell upon deaf ears. Regards, John Isherwood.

As requested. Such a cruel close-up highlights the deficiencies of my modelling and painting techniques but, like Tony Wright, I am producing 'layout stock', not museum pieces! Regards, John Isherwood.

As promised, a photo of the TRESTROL with shortened bogies. Sorry for the low res. - this image size limit is a real pain! Regards, John Isherwood.

Well - a bit of a fiddle, but it worked. The correct, shorter length of the bogies really emphasizes the length of the extended well body. Just a bit of touching up to the paintwork tomorrow, then I'll take and post some photos. Regards, John Isherwood.

Adrian, The old wheels, (sliding wheels / half axles on a plain axle), came our very easily by springing apart the bogie sideframes. The bearing holes were drilled a little deeper, brass pinpoint bearings dropped in, and Markits wheels sprung into place - no bother at all. Right - off to have a hack at the TRESTROL bogies - again! Regards, John Isherwood.

Mike, A razor saw and a bottle of solvent - no probs!! Regards, John Isherwood.

Mike, You are correct in that my bogies are now too long; you have also solved the mystery as to why the buffers are too high, and require the substitution of LOWMAC wheels to correct this. In order to restore the correct relationship between the buffer-beams and the outer axleboxes, it will be necessary to move back and consequently lower the buffer-beams. Tri-ang moved the buffer-beams out and higher, following the rake of the frame ends, in order to move the outer axle inwards. So, ASAP, I will move the buffer-beams and, I trust, install the correct diameter wheels. Photos to follow. Regards, John Isherwood.

Mike, I'm away from home at present, but I'm sure that I checked the stretched bogies against the diagram (reduced to 4mm. scale). Whatever; I'll check when I get back. Anyone got a pair of TRESTROL bogies to dispose of, just in case? Transfers - something that I compiled for myself, I'm afraid. Regards, John Isherwood.

Below is a photo of one of a pair of Keyser B-set coaches that I have just completed, finished in early BR lined crimson livery. Regards, John Isherwood.

As promised, the photos; (which are not flattering to my modelling or photographic skills)! Regards, John Isherwood.

Adrian, The bogies on my two (now one) TRESTROL have moulded fixings for pick-ups - presumably for the searchlight version. So it may be that the moulds, if they still exist, could still produce the TRESTROL. Finishing off my cut-and-shut TRESTROL, I found that the model sat way too high with 12mm. wheels fitted, but was much better when non-authentic LOWMAC wheels were substituted. (This 'fix' is not obvious because of the heavy outside frames). It suddenly occurred to me that the reason for the 'shortie' length of the Tri-ang TRESTROL was nothing to do with track radii; rather the limiting factor was track gradient changes. The flyover bridges and gradient piers were a much-vaunted feature of the Tri-ang railway system at the time that the TRESTROL was introduced. The transition from level to gradient was quite abrupt and a long, low wagon such as the TRESTROL would 'ground' at the top of the gradient, or lift its wheels at the bottom, if it was scale length. I've now fitted the buffers and, after a dab of black paint on them, photos will be taken. Off to scrape at the prototype of the Airfix meat wagon now !! Regards, John Isherwood.

Actually, it's a doddle if you cut 1mm. off-centre on both of the transverse braces. OK, you waste one wagon but you can pick them up for next to nothing on Ebay. The model is nearly finished now - it's painted and I'm just about to apply the transfers. I just need the buffers to be delivered now. Regards, John Isherwood.

The concrete beam wagons were given new BR diagrams 2/800 - 804, (see http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/SpecialVehiclesIssue.pdf ); the original identity of the various component wagons are given. Regards, John Isherwood.

Inspired by this thread, I am in the process of cutting & shutting two Tri-ang TRESTROLs to match the BR 2/681 diagram, in as-built condition. The two bodies were cut 12.5 mm. off-centre and the two longer sections were combined. The bogies were cut into three parts, 1 mm. off-centre of the two transverse bracing bars, and the longer outer sections were combined with the longer central pivot section. This gives a model that matches the BR diagram and is much more impressive than the original Tri-ang shortie wagon. I also fitted brass pin-point bearings; in my case spaced 0.5 mm. off the sideframes with plastic card to match the axle length of the wheels that I am using. When the buffers arrive, these will be fitted along with cosmetic coupling hooks and HD / Peco functional couplers. Trialled on my test track, the wagon glides through Peco medium radius crossovers even without additional ballast, and without undue overhang. In the meantime, I'll get on with the painting and lettering - photos here when completed. Regards, John Isherwood.

I seem to recall that the assessment of more knowledgeable wagon experts than myself was that it is underlength - whereas the more recent Mainline / Bachmann model is overlength. Regards, John Isherwood.

Astonishing - I had scanned that page numerous times - a case of 'can't see for looking'! Sorry, John Isherwood.

Nope - just the H2 announcement. Perhaps you could give a link directly to the USA announcement, or quote the relevant text, please? Thanks, John Isherwood.

As far as I can see, the link refers to the H2 Class 4-4-2 .......... or am I missing something? Regards, John Isherwood.