R Marshall

Porcy, Like you, I don't know whether the current tender has a self trimming coal space, but I'll try to find out. I know the tank was rebuilt in NELPG ownership, but not when that was done. Great pictures, by the way. Regards, Roy

Les, I know that you know the capacity of Q6 tenders, so a typo, presumably? For the unwary - all large capacity tenders coupled to Q6s were 4125 gallons and I believe the current version with 63395 is no different. Regards, Roy

Mick, The number on the buffer beam seems to indicate a NER Class P1 (J25), perhaps 2036 or 2038? Regards, Roy Marshall

A further picture of the Diagram 338 with better surroundings - hopefully does more justice to the kit.

Mick, Nice bridge detail. Regards, Roy

David, Tanfield Railway is always good value - you may already know, but Steam Railway says that KESR USA tank 30065 is visiting for the gala on 11/12 June - I'd no idea that some of these worked for the NCB in the North East. Here's a couple of pictures of the pair of Y7s visiting in 2009 - I'm afraid I had to crop them from 2mb originals. Regards, Roy

Les, I use wine bottle corks for cleaning - non-abrasive and very effective. I realise it might be a bit labour intensive on a layout of this size, however! Regards, Roy

Finally some progress to report on my Thompson CL Diagram 338 (much of last year was taken up with an extension to our home (I now have a railway room!)). After several potential materials for rain strips proved to be unsatisfactory, I decided to leave them off, rather than spoil the roof. I painted the interior - dark blue seats in 1st class and red-brown in 3rd, with cream panels above the seating - using acrylics. Then the interior glazing in the half corridors was fitted - important to make sure it fits under the roof and that the lower edges of the interior windows aren't too high. Halfords Vauxhall Crimson for the top coat on the sides (door handles picked out in gold metallic acrylic) and matt varnish overall. Then the glazing was added, using Glue 'n Glaze to fix it - a very delicate operation. and finally the sides were glued on. I'm attaching a picture to show the result - the quality of the pic isn't great I'm afraid. This kit was at the very limit of my ability and I know where all the flaws are in my construction. Nevertheless I'm pleased with the result and have started the first of two Diagram 340 Brake/3rds. I can't speak too highly of the kits. Having started with the D338, I made better progress with the D340. I superglued the surface of the roof before sanding, priming and sanding again and this gave a smoother result. I used a 0.95mm bit in a pin vice to open out the holes for the ventilators and glued them in. When I glued on the etched ends and the buffers to the body shell, I made sure to leave the top of the guard's end loose, so as to be able to insert the glazing after painting the inside and outside of the shell. A couple of pictures to show how it's going - the body is all finished apart from the etched sides. Next job is to drill them for handles, roll in the tumble home and fit drop lights, ventilators and door handles, before painting.

Les, I've got the same plates for 60526 - I plan to repaint the red background to black, because all the colour pics I've got of A2s, including 60526 and except only 60505, seem to show up black - difficult to be sure because of the grime on some. Not a very representative sample of A2s, but the only other red background plate on any pacific is in 60007 dated 1956. Regards, Roy

Well I can't compete with that, but here is a couple from the NYMR last Saturday.

Mick, Outstanding picture - love all the big NER tanks.

David, That last picture leaves me very angry at the lack of strategic vision at the time - what a waste! It's easy to rip up the infrastructure, but putting any of it back costs a mint. Sorry for the outburst. Regards, Roy

60007 at Grosmont, 22nd June 2013 - cropped to fit the upload limit. A bit dark, perhaps.

Tom, Have a look at photo-forums.net - on there look at the Time Capsules section, then look at contributor Chris Davies (sadly no longer with us) - he put up a lot of pictures of Hendon, Ryhope, Hawthorn and West Hartlepool (amongst others). I know it's the wrong side of the Wear for your model, but these pictures capture the essence of the area and they're in colour. I understand there's an exhibition of Ian Carr's pictures at Monkwearmouth Museum currently - I mean to have a look this week. Regards, Roy

Rob, Here's 4468 backing down onto the train at York (same day in 1988 as I recall it) and 92220 at Scarborough in 1976 (both scans). Not much more from East Yorkshire - is NYMR acceptable? Regards, Roy

Apologies if I've posted this before (it's an age thing) and for the quality (this is a scanned photo). I think this would be 1988. Regards, Roy

Phil, Aycliffe is between Ferryhill and Darlington. One of the lines from Shildon crossed the main line there on its way to Stillington and Stockton. You may be thinking of South Pelaw Junction, just South of Birtley, or of Relly Mill, just South of Durham. Regards, Roy Marshall

Differences in NER days depend on how picky you are - here are some (forgive my shorthand): 1) Tenders were of the types I have previously arbitrarily classed as A (3940 gallons, continuous coal rails, D-shaped frame slots) - 1913 batch of 30 engines; D (4125 gallons, rails terminate abruptly at rear of coal space, oval shaped frame slots) - 1917 batch of 20 engines; E (4125 gallons, rails curve down at rear of coal space, oval shaped frame slots) - 1918/21 batch of 70 engines. The 4125 gallon tenders displaced from NER Atlantics with continuous coal rails (types B and C) were not attached until after the 1923 Grouping. 2) Diagram 50 boilers were fitted in NER days. The dome cover was more curved than on the later 50A boilers and sat further forward, on the 2nd boiler band from the front. 3) NER T2 (Q6) locos had twin whistles. 4) Ross Pop safety valves were fitted with a cover around the base. 5) There was a steam circulating valve on the smokebox LHS, not a (Gresley) snifting valve behind the chimney. 6) The LHS boiler handrail incorporated the brass "knuckle" for the blower control and this entailed a short gap in the handrail on the smokebox LHS. 7) The smokebox door was smaller in diameter, flatter and with a wide rim, fastening with a wheel and handle. Eight) (Edited - why do I get a face instead of the number eight and bracket? Annoying!) Cylinder covers and tail rods were fitted (a minor point being that buffer beams had holes in them to allow the piston to be drawn forward, but this was done after the Grouping). 9) Sandwich buffer beams were fitted to the first 50 engines. The others had steel plate beams . All engines had NER taper shank buffers in NER days. 10) Lifting holes in the front frames were cut only after the Grouping. 11) The mechanical lubricator was originally fitted to the top edge of the RHS frames between the leading and 2nd splashers, but from No. 2243 (1st of 1919/21 batch) it was fitted to the footplate in the same place (by 1952 the lubricators were relocated behind the 2nd splasher on the footplate). 12) NER black, lined red, livery came in two different varieties - the 1st 30 had large brass number plates on the cab sides and were lettered N.E.R. on the tender. Engines built from 1917 had small cast number plates and the engine number painted on the tender sides between the letters N and E. Some, at least, of the 1st 30 were repainted in this livery before Grouping. 63395 (or 2238, if you prefer) is well documented in it's earlier preservation NER livery, though its overall condition was not then NER, of course. It will be interesting to see how faithfully Hornby captures the detail appropriate to the locos they model. Me - I'm holding out for a Q6 in N Scale! Regards, Roy Marshall

Rob, Intrigued by the picture - is that a tender and, if so, is it a Bulleid? Regards, Roy

Well, I guess I must have spoken to you without realising - small world. Will look out for the exhibition this year. Regards, Roy

Porcy, Were you at the Darlington Exhibition, then? I enjoyed it - small, but perfectly formed (the exhibition, not me) - even got a brief operating stint on Wansbeck Road (the 2mm layout pictured with the Q7, built by Mick Simpson). Regards, Roy

Edlingham is a lovely spot for a picnic too, in the grounds of the castle by the viaduct. That pattern of casting in the canopy supports is a surprise - I'd always thought that the local version at West Hartlepool (see attached picture) was usual (certainly I've an illustration in a book showing Middlesbrough had the same) and that the ornate ironwork was a florid representation of the initial "NER".

This list may not be exhaustive: "Type A" - B13, B14, B15; D17, D18, D19; J39/3; Q5, Q6. "Type B" - C6, C7; D21; Q6. "Type C" - C7; Q6. "Type D" - C7; D49; J39/3; Q6. "Type E" - Raven A2; B16; C7; D49; J39/3; Q6, Q7. Regards, Roy Marshall

Lovely weathering on those 16Ts!