Mallard60022

47 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Proper traction on Link 3.

DCC Fitted?

P

Did anyone witness the Castle and Hall at the K & WVR Gala? Did a few looks at the Web Cams. Some excellent runs and sounds.

There was also a do at the West Somerset so spoilt for choice? 

P

On 17/03/2024 at 19:57, franciswilliamwebb said:

 

So, are the hugely expensive ones worth the extra?  Asking for a friend 😉

I have some Slides on my Magic Lantern; good cheap price for big big ones.

P

Should have said what a great attitude to an 'inherited' item. I now know that the several G#R 4.6.0s I have ready for you will be well loved and employed (🤐)

I. D. Jut

On 23/03/2024 at 21:06, 31A said:

The Black 5 that sneaked into the background of a recent photo raised some interest on here and with the local spotters, and one of them followed her down to the loco yard to record this momentous apparition.

 

 

 

As I mentioned, this Hornby model came from the estate of a deceased chum and colleague, so I didn't really want to renumber her, and not being much of an expert on such locos I'd probably have chosen one with the wrong sort of boiler or something anyway.  

 

But I did do a bit of upgrading.  I got the Brassmasters detailing kit, but ended up not using a great deal of it.  I did use the etches that provide the front frames (which block daylight between the cylinders and the driving wheels) and provide the motion bracket that supports the slide bars.  The kit provides castings for the tender springs and axle boxes, which are moulded in rather low relief on the Hornby model, but I didn't use them as I also wanted to address the spurious 'ledge' at the bottom of the tender tank.  Instead, I got a Bachmann Jubilee tender underframe and fitted that, which addressed both issues and seemed a lot easier than carving the springs and axle boxes off the Hornby moulding.  The Bachmann item needed a bit of 'adjustment' at the front end to fit the Hornby tender body, but it wasn't difficult.  I did however remove the moulded brake shoes from the Bachmann tender side frames, and replaced them with brake gear from a Mainly Trains etch.  I also made my own tender pick ups to replace the Hornby ones lost in this conversion.

 

I fitted Alan Gibson bogie wheels, but the bogie was then reluctant to stay on the rails on curves, so I added a coil spring above the bogie to give a bit of side control.  The bogie then stayed on the rails, but the loco was now unbalanced (the rear driving axle is sprung) so I added some lead weight in the smokebox to try and restore equilibrium and tractive effort.  She does, however, still 'sit down' a little towards the rear.

 

I made cylinder drains from wire, but didn't fit the Brassmasters injectors as I couldn't really make out where they were supposed to be attached!

 

Some light weathering and she's a useful member of the fleet, but I still haven't come up with an explanation for a Kingmoor loco being at an ER terminus in London!

Hockey or Rugby Special Steve. Crewe failed to return the 5 and used it on this going South to complete Run In after a minor Repair.

Simples as 5s were universal Engines. So easy to Drive and Fire that POrters could do it...but the Injectors needed a big 'ammer occasionally.

No nonsense footy matches required.

Ar$£

On 24/03/2024 at 08:13, GMKAT7 said:

Good morning folks,

 

Following Mr Wealleans lead, Carlisle v Arsenal or Tottenham, FA Cup 3rd Round tie.

 

Football pedant more On.

Forest Green Rovers are based in Gloucestershire and would have been unlikely to be playing in London.

Football pedant more Off.

 

Cheers, Nigel.

Aged Footy nerd says FGR wern't even invented in the late 50s early 60s. 

Created by the amazing Dale Vince I believe he's called. Quite a character. Hippy but makes Diamonds and is strictly Vegan; sometimes all at the same time as well.

Philth

On 20/03/2024 at 14:44, 30368 said:

Tender things have moved on a bit, almost finished...

 

A fair bit of solder cleaning up to do but the new tender compares well with my original version.

 

I have fitted on of Markits opening tender tank fillers which will should be useful when 30335 stops for refreshments....

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard B

 

PS - Phil, when and hw would you like your U1 to be delivered? I may be able to get to the York show if that is useful?

Excuse late response. I have been regenerating.

Don't worry about the Beast but I might just make the York show and see if Steve is going too.

Thanks R.

P

20 minutes ago, 30368 said:

 

Hi DLT,

 

Never trust one of my snapshots! The tender is level and having re-checked the loco, it is level and the cab roof hight is accurate to JH Russell's drawing of the beast on page 241 of Southern Locomotives..

 

Yes you are right 335 as originally built was one of his 4 cylinder 4-6-0 locomotives that almost ruined his reputation. The tender fitted to 30335 was his prototype 8 wheeler originally fitted to one of his "Double Singles" - yet another Drummond masterpiece. Fortunately he also was able to design some masterful 4-4-0's (T9, D15 etc..) but to be fair to him many early 20th Century locomotive engineers found it really difficult to make the step from 4-4-0 to 4-6-0. For example, John Robinson on the Great Central found it hard to better his "Directors" with a wide range of 4-6-0 types none of which were really successful.

The plus side of all this was that we modeller's have a wide range of prototype 4-6-0s to inspire us. I have built a B9 4-6-0 and my next job will probably be a B7 4 cylinder M/T design.

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard B

Sssssh! Keep this a secret to only us reading this. I know that the GWR were the most magnificent at moving on from the 4.4.0 to the 4.6.0. I know this because, again as stated elsewhere, I was there. I am, you see, a Buddhist and have been reincarnated loads of times.

I thank you,

P

Of course, as everyone know, Mk1s were very much an imitation of Bulleids most magnifico Vehicles. I know this as I was there.

I have already left, am too far away to be shot down and I don't care anyway as it's FRIDAY and despite not working since 2014 I still love Fridays, but very much a Boom Town Rat on Mondays.

Yo,

Philth

I find these boxes very personable. 

Thanks .

Phil

Unzipped my Bananas today (Those of a 'certain age' will get that silly quip...maybe).

Good grief they are superbly detailed with an really clever use of light distressing; BR pre 1961 pack.

This be my TMC order (thought it was one wagon but it's one pack..doh!)

Just seen my order from Accurascale themselves for TWO sets has just been dispatched! I'd forgotten that of course. means I have 9 now; blimey!

I know the Box is rather large and the internal packaging well suited, including the clever wrapping, and it's almost Bombproof, but I can't quite cope with the size! I've got about 60 years of trad Box sizitits you see. I shall have to start building a Loft Extension to accommodate the new wave of Box Sizes from the new gangs.

I shall now have 3 Boxes of Bananas.

Beautiful and superbly crafted Models Chaps from Accura; thank you.

Phil  

I often say to folk that talk about Parking fees, " How much do you pay for a couple of Pints?" or "What's a Costa Coffee cost these days?" OK it's more to do with the, "Bl00dy Council Car Parks should be Free!" jobbies.

P

Two Tam ValleyFrog Juicers (6 inputs/outputs) in operation on my Layout, at close, complex and out of reach Xings and Points in close proximity. 8 years old now

The simplicity of the wiring and no need for switching is what they are there for. Not one of my Sound Locos has any issues whilst traversing them.

Otherwise on the Layout I use DC Switched Pointmotors from DCC Concepts on the in site areas and surface mounted simple Peco and Gaugemaster,  plus Micro Switches for the off scene Storage sidings. 

I may even use manual W.I. Tube style for a couple of Yard Sidings once I get around to completing that area of one Yard near the Station.

2 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

Are you two talking about some kind of sport?

Sadly no, Tim. The talk is more about stress, disappointment, occasional elation and huge expense. very much like sex. You klnow what I'm on about eh?

Phil

FA Cup Semi Final Special coming up soon at ANTB then Rob. Double Headed

Brilliant result matey. Will be waving to you going in the opposite direction next Season as well perhaps?

Meanwhile, down the Road from me. Lincoln City have scored 17 Goals in three games!

ATB all at ANTB.

Phil

8 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

Heres a couple from a railtrip in 2006…

 

In 2006 Rybnik celebrated 150 years of railways, with a shed openday and 3 in bound steam railtours, including this one from Krakow.

 

 

it arrived as 2 coaches inc the postal coach, but it quickly became clear the crowd was way inexcess of capacity.., by magnitudes. It was a pay on the day trip and cost less than a fiver !

 

The train was delayed whilst they found two double deck coaches… we still left as the single most crowded railtour ive ever travelled on…

 

 

 

yet enroute we still stopped to pick up more…

 

 

 

At Rybnik we were held to do a paralell arrival with the second inbound tour…

 

 

Of course this made disembarking pure comedy gold…

 

and then number 3 arrived

 

on display was a variety of operational and preserved locos…

 

 

 

 

The next day we headed to overnight to Warsaw (note Russian sleeper ) and onto Bialystok..

 

 

whilst there, we did a depot visit, the shed master giving us a driver and a guided tour on an EU07…

 

 

And later took us back to the station on ET22-951, which was our train loco back to Warsaw.

 

 

Sadly on our way back the driver was involved in a fatal collision with a farm lorry, the farm driver losing his life.

 

 

we were held 3 hours for formalities before being detrained and taking a mile walk to the next station, some opting for horse and cart ride.

 

 

At the time of the collision we were properly motoring, into 80-100 mph range, we heard the driver consistently sounding his horn and then a full brake application, I was thrown from my seat into the person in front, I saw others fly down the corridor, as you can see, we stopped some distance from the crossing on what was a straight down hill stretch to the crossing.

 

oddly, the driver was replaced, the train to continued to the next station, then picked us all up and we all reboarded back to warsaw..

 

 

 

 

In 2003 and 4 when I was on the Driving Experiences at Wolsztyn, the crossing gamblers in the Countryside were horrendous and the Crews knew that worst places so always very alert. I rather enjoyed the Whistling (and Horn Blowing on the Pt47s). 

Amazing how they deal with it and then off they go as you have shown. 

1 minute ago, Accurascale Fran said:

 

Hi Brian,

 

We are still dispatching orders (Mark 2b, Banana vans and warwells all arrived together, so it's taken a huge effort to get them all out!) but hope to have everything away by COB tomorrow. If you havent heard anything by then please drop sales@accurascale.com an email and we will look into it for you.

 

Cheers!

 

Fran 

Quick note to say how wonderful the whole packaging thing was/is. Almost all the materials reusable and Paper Tape on the Main Box, with Bubble packaging fully recyclable. Superb thanks.

Phi

On 12/03/2024 at 17:37, adb968008 said:

Sadly I remember the days when most of that lot was parked there in steam.

 

I was in Lodz a few weeks ago, but illness prevented me going to Poznan for a couple of days and ended up staring at the walls of the warsaw marriott instead !

 

Didnt realize that Warszaw Glowna had reopened for business, railway musueum relegated to the sides somewhat.

 

Its impressive the huge modernisation of Polands railway infrastructure and stations, Chabowka now has a triangle, new station (Stadiom) and the entire line to Zakopane has been relayed, new masts, new signals and new platforms throughout… its shaved 90 mins off the Krakow to Zakopane schedule by eliminating the run rounds at Plaszow, sucha beskidzka (also triangle / new station zamek) and Chabowka to give a through run.

 

The upgrades and modernisation is huge isn't it. I've watched Warsaw West in awe and Wolsztyn has had a fantastic upgrade. Pity it has now only got the Pt47 and the OL (69) is over a year late in returning...if it ever does now?

It's great that you can show us many of the wonderful things that are still going on over in an EU Country that is taking full advantage of its railways.

Thanks so much

Phil

My up to 1961 BR ones have arrived. Absolutely superb little gems. 

I can now say yes we have some Bananas.

Up to The Junction later.

Phil

3 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

 

That's a lot of bananas. 

 

I'm SKINt.

Ar$£

1 hour ago, DY444 said:

I haven't had the "pleasure" of an IET on the GWML but I've done a handful of trips up the ECML, all on 801s, and the ride was terrible at speed.  It felt like continuous hunting to me. 

 

I've not been on a bi-mode but I've seen reports that the GU sets can move relative to the vehicle body and make a banging noise when they do.

Try a Hull Trains Set. I think they are far better.

Phil

15 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

Back in the late fifties/early sixties there was meat traffic for London originating from both Halwill and Bideford/Barnstaple, All fully fitted TTBOMK, and latterly in FM containers.

 

At least some of it used to be attached to what we lads called the "Padstow perishables" which came through Axminster about 6pm.

 

I wasn't sure how long the banana traffic to Devon lasted, hence my raising the possibility of the vans being repurposed by the mid-1970s.

 

Was Welsh coal still being landed at Fremington at that stage?

 

John

I've read somewhere when Nanas stopped coming to Fyffes at Ex Central. I have no idea what happened on the Line after 1965. sad isn't it.

Thanks matey.

P

2 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

 

IIRC, Barnstaple did get banana deliveries from Fyffes, either from Southampton Docks, or the main distribution centre at Exeter Central.

 

By then, though, the vans might well have been used to provide fitted heads.

 

Either way, they were there!

 

John

There was an Abbatoir there John.  Was it still in use and that fast Meat from Exmouth Junction to London still running? That was fully fitted or needed a fitted head IIRC?

Phil

There was a Class 20 in Green around the Wellingborough area in '76 I think it was. It was a bit of a celebrity I seem to remember. Toton or Tinsley? Can't remember.

Phil

Is that what they call an Erratic? Super Visitor.

Phil