longchap

I found an interesting video following the routh of the Southsea branch from Fratton to East Southsea stations. I worked out of an office in Southsea for many years, so am familiar with the region.

It's looking really good now Neal, well done. Are you fixing the front running plate to the chassis?

Yep, photos are rare, yet I'll take a gander, but you could lean a shovel against the bunker while the fireman takes a cuppa.

It'll say in the GWR rule book, but the modelling challenge is more interesting 😃

Ah, the good old sliver of brass trick. That'll do nicely.

With my H&S Exec hat on, that would be a definite no for doors open when in motion, but the opportunities for cameo shots is persuasive. I need to look closer look at the Hattons 48XX and see how they do it. A wire pin at the bottom is easy enough to locate in a hole in the floor, but the top needs some careful thought.

It sounds as if you're trying to open up as much of the cab as is practical to help interior visibility, so could you open the cab doors? Of note is that that the Hattons/DJM 14/48/58XX came with posable cab doors to help show off the interior.

A joyfull work of passion and patience. Best, Bill

That's a really great looking carriage Graham, very well done and I remain as confused as ever with the period of CR 🙃 Best, Bill

I could not agree with you more Neal and have made he same nomination. I already miss Hattons and although I've re-ordered most of my pre-orders with Kernow, I'm still considering the toplights. A sad week it has been.

Thank you one and all for taking the time to contribute to this interesting little diversion from railway modelling. I’ve learnt much more about certain aspects of railway history, which is always good and enjoyed further research inspired by comments above. As suggested, I’m sharing further hopefully clearer images below should any modellers find them useful. For an alternative copyable version of this map, visit https://sremg.org.uk/sr_map/lswrmap.html Happy research and modelling

For the curvature across the top of the smokebox front, I've collected a range of copper tubes and pipe fittings of different sizes to bend the curve around the smokebox. Start from the middle of the front and work round down the left and right boiler sides to produce a one piece unit, strictly observing Rob's warning above ( I fell victim the very first time and as I was using piano wire (well it was the 1980s), it was a bit of a challenge to bend the wire!

A jig sounds good and I have several, used for different purposes. I suspect once you have fashioned the ideal handrail for your coach end (of course it will need to be handed), it would be easy enough to transfer the profile (or profiles) to a suitable timber block and fashion the shape of the curce or curves with some strategicaly placed pins to bend from. Sounds like a consistent result will be worthwhile and most satisfying. Bon courage Graham 😎

No, you're not going mad, but do these mad things because you can. Great stuff Mike 🤪 Oh and don't forget the dented billy can on the shelf above the firebox door for the crew cuppas.

A very sad day for our hobby with this unexpected announcement. My heartfelt sympathies to all at Hattons from a very satisfied regular overseas expat customer, for their truly outstanding service and communications since I returned to the hobby 9 years ago. Good karma for all at Hattons. My very best, Bill

Thank you all for your helpful comments and I’m happy to know that the map represents the LSWR system from before 1914, after which the railway effectively ceased to function as such, due to the war, when the line seems to have been essentially used for military storage, finally ceasing to exist following the 1923 grouping. As suggested by @Miss Prism, I'll post the system map in bite sized chunks for information purposes, hopefully tomorrow, when I'll also catch up on some further reading on the East Southsea Branch, continuing with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southsea_Railway Although in my dreams, it was a lovely thought if the map was an original, reality has taken hold and I'll still be happy to display it in the new railway room, slowly taking shape at one end of my workshop. Following this enjoyable escapade, I'll get back to the Great Western Railway, where I belong! Best, Bill

Many thanks Jeremy and the mention of East Southsea threw me into a quick internet search which revealed that the Southsea BLT used to be within walking distance to where I worked for many years, to provide access to Clarence Pier for the ferries to the Isle of Wight. I’d like to think that the carriage map was originally secured inside an Isle of Wight railway carriage and remained on the Island until we moved to Eastleigh in the mid-1980s. Fascinating stuff 😀

A fascinating post Rick, as social history research in itself always provides rewards. I had to look up antimacassar and was delighted with the results. Yes, respect in so many forms it can take, makes the world a better place to inhabit.

Just found this pre-grouping carriage map while tidying up today and was wondering if any knowledgeable enthusiasts might be able to shed some light on what date before 1923 it might hail from and / or any further interesting information concerning it? We bought it some 40ish years ago in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, where we lived at the time, due to having all the Island’s stations, as well as my beloved Princetown on it, so we parted with £12.50 and it’s provided interest ever since. I assume the inclusion of golf links was a marketing ploy to lure more gentlemen to travel on LSWR rails in their plus fours. All comments gratefully received. Best, Bill

Wow, what beauty nestling in such beastly weather !

No reason not to solder, although if you need to alter the track plan again, it's more work. I always add power droppers to each piece of track to try to ensure power continuity, but we all tend to have our particular methods. Good luck whichever way you go.

Seems like you're doing just grand with all the gubbings above deck there Mark and thanks to BBC Radio 4 Extra, I can still get my fix of The Navy Lark here in France. Funilly enough, I used that same below deck expression only today on another forum . . . small world. Job's well on the way, just some gauges, pipework and stuff and then a stab of paint. A fine job, crack on and have more fun.

There's a copy on the sheves of my railway library, which always produces a smile.

Possibly, but you can never have too many pussy cats 😺😸😽

Wonderful kit bashing and as evidenced elsewhere, skilfully painted and weathered.