D1059

Track laying is now complete, so a few pics are attached. Electrics and point mechanisms next. STEVE

Same here - preferably the one I had from Ipswich to Norwich one Sunday evening in July 1979. Freshly overhauled, mint condition and riding on Commonwealth bogies. The ride was silky smooth - best I've ever had on any carriage STEVE

Thanks PM sent your way. STEVE

What is your exhibition schedule looking like please ? - I must come and see it when i get the chance Thanks STEVE

Love the layout - right up my street. What shows are you going to this year ? I must come and see it. Cheers STEVE

I'll try that again - hopefully they'll appear inline this time

A couple of shots to show the boards and the start of track laying and the track plan again STEVE

Boards are now complete and track laying commenced last night at the club premises. I'll have to take the camera down on Friday and also replace some of the previously posted shots that vanished when Image Cave went belly up.

The one I saw in use at Norwich was on the front of the rake - ie, the London end of the platforms

I remember seeing one in use at Norwich when leaving the station very early on a school trip - probably 1975. ISTR the amber warning lights flashing on it which I presume meant it was in use. Don't know when they ceased to be used. I certainly never saw one in use after becoming interested in the modern scene in 1977. By that time Norwich and Yarmouth were using Class 31/0's which had been transferred to departmental use after being withdrawn. They lasted until the early 80's and the introduction of aircon stock. STEVE

D1015 is really that red to the eye, so any model of it in preservation condition will have to replicate it. I agree, the models of the 60's livery will need to be looked at carefully. STEVE

The correct shade of maroon is quite subjective. You are quite right about the film used having a big impact on the colour. Agfa film, especially, seems to accentuate the purple, plum tinge, while Kodachrome makes it appear much more red. Just look at D1015 in preservation. When I first saw it I thought it looked wrong, far too bright a red http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=193236&nseq=5 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=297961&nseq=1 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=278997&nseq=3 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=324429&nseq=0 Trouble is, although I know I've seen maroon Warships and Westerns I can't remember the shade as viewed by my own eyes because I was under 10 years old STEVE

Towards the end of the Dollands Moor flow Colas had trouble with rostering their own motive power which led to some interesting hire-ins. As the previous picture shows DRS helped out at least once. My last shot of 6Z48 was on the 1st October 2009 and had a Riviera trains 47 on the front http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=299059&nseq=60 Sorry its so head on, but the livery is almost the same as banger BR blue STEVE

Hi Brian - AFAIK the current Burton/Washwood Heath/Boston flow only started after the Burton/Dollands Moor flow ended - we don't get the Colas 47's through the Thames valley any more (except for the odd working like Ian mentioned). STEVE

Thanks Rule 1 applies

Thanks - it was taken in 2009. In fact, I took a shot of the same working a few hundred yards further south on the same day http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=295310&nseq=74 I'm sure the Burton - Dollands Moor traffic ceased before the end of 2009 and switched to using Boston Docks instead which continues to this day. STEVE

Yes, the load was very varied, anything from 3 up to around 17/18 wagons when a pair of duffs was used. In 2009 the working was weekly on a Thursday. If you've got links to those 2011 shots I'd be very interested. Thanks STEVE

The Colas steel traffic was a regular working during 2009 hauled by 47's either solo or in pairs if the load justified it. I may be wrong here - please correct me if thats the case, but I think that traffic flow had switched to Boston in Lincolnshire by last year if not earlier in 2010. Plenty of Colas steel traffic between Margam and Dollands Moor along the GWML to this day, but only with 66's. STEVE

Thanks Merf - an interesting contrast, more of an angle to the lettering. STEVE

That tallies with what I remember as the original logo was still much in evidence on (increasingly) tatty trailers into the late 70's until they became due a repaint or scrapping

Thanks - I shall keep an eye open for that book at the Abingdon show on Saturday

Talk of the devil - 60071 is currently at Theale and allocated to todays 6E55 STEVE

I can't claim that as one of mine - the site belongs to Martin Loader. I always check it to see what I've missed in the Thames Valley Where are you based Ian ? Within a days travel of Abingdon ? I must mention this layout to our exhibition manager at the Abingdon show this weekend. STEVE

Thanks Ceptic - do you know when those pictures date from please ? I have a feeling that the style depicted dates from later in the 70's and early 80's whereas my failing memory thinks the original 1969 depot signage looked more like that shown by Andy Y

The most notable celebrity Tug in recent times on 6E55 was the silver 60099 last October http://www.hondawanderer.com/60099_Wolvercote_2011.htm STEVE