GeoffBird

Have you seen the "new" announcement on their website for the Drewry Class 04 diesel shunter? To quote: Over the next few years, we plan to produce the first batch of ‘04s’ with 3ft 3 1/2in wheels and original cab design, the main production batch with 3ft 6in wheels and cab with larger windows as well as the Southern Region version too. Skirted and non-skirted options will also be available. This will be a very complicated project, with many different detail options. Over the next few years, we plan to produce the first batch of ‘04s’ with 3ft 3 1/2in wheels and original cab design, the main production batch with 3ft 6in wheels and cab with larger windows as well as the Southern Region version too. Skirted and non-skirted options will also be available". My hope is that the "skirted" version, aka W&U, will be one of the first. Comments awaited and expected.

In the article about bthe SECR stock, there is this unfinished sentence: "The 6w SECR brakes will also be leaving the factory within the next month. These fabulous little brake vans complement our previous range of SECR freight stock. A limited number of our SECR ballast wagons and box vans remain available to order. All they need now is a loco..." Is this a hint at a fuuture SECR freight loco - an Class O1 perhaps - even one with the Siriling cab would do for EKR fans.

I would like to see a new version of the 57xx 0-6-0PT (DCC and sound available) in GW & BR liveries. More adventurous would be a 517 GW 0-4-2T or a "Metro" 0-4-2T to go with the City & MainLine coaches.

It could be worse, on Olivias Trains is a GNR Single at 700.GBP (sound fitted OK) if you need something to pull yourf coaches!!

I have contacted a very helpful person at the GER society about the liklihood of crimson stock on the W&U and is answer was - "What is said about the adoption of a crimson lake livery is correct from 1919, as is the use of steel panels on new carriage stock. How much stock received crimson lake before 1 January 1923 is unknown but during the 3 1/2 years probably well over a half. Have in mind also that existing paint stocks would have been used thus prolonging the use of crimson period into Grouping by perhaps a year or more. It is known that at least one bogie tramcar was repainted in crimson. My suggestion is that if you are keen to adopt crimson for you models there are unlikely to be anyone out there to contradict you!"

I ask my self what have Bachmann done for GER fans? The J70, N7 and the W&U items are not from Bachmann. What about a J67 or E4 then Bachmann?

If we are getting a new chassis, then Hornby will be able to produce B2 class locos (may I suggest 61671 Rolyal Soveriegn) for all our Thompson fans next year.

What about the crimson colour that Rapido are using "post-1919" condition? Very attractive, but would such a minor line as the W&U have received or repainted stock in this livery?

Does this mean that Dave knows that an E4 or J67/9 are about to be announced?? Perhaps if we get a coujple of new CR locos then he will do the same with the CR carriages!!

RoS are now advertising what seems to be a new batch of Bulleids, including C&C, BR(S) green and SR Malachite Green .One of these (34-800 is a Brake Composite - is this the long awaited 3402 version . (Set No. 69) needed for WoE trains?

In the Middleton Press book "Craven Arms to Wellington" , the first picture is at Craven Arms and is of Railmotor No. 74 about to haul two coaches to Much Wenlock. No date but the railmotor is in chocolate and cream livery. Given the hilly route, I would have thoight two extra coaches would have been a bit too much for a rfailmotor. Comments please.

I alsohave this book and if youlook at the first entry for 1939 you can see that the train was hauled by 10000 from Grantham to Durham (where it failed!) and then by a G5 to Newcasthe. So a couple of interessting alternative locos for you-

I shall certainly purchase 1310 as I had a chance as a memeber of LUURS to fire it after it arrived at the Middlegton mid 60s. A nice engine but a bit small to bring three mineral wagons up from Balm Road sidings to the yard.

I copied it from the caption on the film which is thus incorrect- "Valencia" of course is in Spain- But some wonderful photos of Irish railways going back tp the 30s- Especially there are some in the DN&G section that look just like the LNWR "Genesis" coaches. Not surprising as the locos and coaches were originally supplied by the LNWR-

Was not Valencia the most westerly station in Europe at this time?

Where was 7684 based at this time? 1946-48? Cant see any matrkings on the bufferbeam.

I hope to be able to folow your example soon as I also have 35024. My question is how can you get inside to add passengers? I assume that there is no internal lightring fitted-

I have just ordered some LNER six-wheelers and on looking through my Middleton Press book Ipswich to Diss I can find a picture of J15 65447 (with early BR emblem) at Haughley station on the 1.45 pm train from Laxfield(ex-MSLR) on 24th July 1951. I assume the coaches are still in LNER livery, so a useful excuse to run 6-w coaches in BR days.

The link is that as the Drewry prototype DS 1173, it is reported as having run on the W&U in LNER green (lined in white )in 1948 - another loco livery variant-

Talking about DS1173, I seem to remeber reading somewhere that this loco, as a private venture from the manufacturer (Drewry), was tried on the W&U in 1948 when it was based at Cambridge (?), although no photos exist. From G. Bannister LNER Forum:- DS1173 was originally known by its Drewry build number of 2217, and also carried the Vulcan Foundry number of D46. It was initially based at Gorton shed in or shortly after June 1947 as a demonstrator. The official loan started at 39A Gorton from February 1948, and included Ipswich (May 1948), Lowestoft (June 1948), Norwich (June 1948), Cambridge (July 1948), and Stratford (end July 1948). During this time it was painted in LNER green with black and white lining.

Great! All we need now is a black liveried 14xx to haul the train as seen at the beginning of the film.. There don`t seem to be any readily available. Perhaps this is the next thing that Rapido will announce to complete the "Titfield Thunderbolt" representation. By gthe way, who owns the rights and the mopulfds for the DJM model?

Super. I had hoped that this would be the case as othre manufactures are doing this nowadays. Why don`t they state this in their description. Anyway, just saved me 20.00 GBP to get them delivered to Austria.

Looking at the pictures available so far and the descriptions in Accurascale and Rails posts, it would seem that to finish off these wonderful new locos we are going to need to add some proper etched name andnumberplates. Am i right?

I notice that on the Hattons website delivery has slipped frlom June to between October and December 2022. Also there is no sign of them on the Heljan.dk website.