Edwardian

Until they ran out of bounce

Nile of this parish wanted an old cattle wagon for his freelance line and chose the Bachmann under-length Midland. This, too, was steel framed, so he simply blanked it off with plastic strip.

I note the description of the Parkside kit reads "design dates back to 1903, but the kit features the steel chassis used from the 1920's[sic]". Generally I have only seen them in "L G W" livery, which were based in Leith. The builders were Hurst Nelson, a Glasgow builder, though perhaps nothing turns on that, as Cambrian Kits state that HN's sales extended to the South Coast of England. I'm using one of their opens in Norfolk! I suspect that the peak-roofed grain wagons might not have been particularly widespread - finding an owner other than LGW seems hard for a start - and I suspect most of the country made do with sacks in ordinary railway company merchandise wagons, box vans if you were lucky! You could have a fictitious owner.

Well, I had assumed vacuum, not air, braking on the West Norfolk, so another sale lost to O S Nock. Then again, the sponsor of the line was the GER, so that might be thought to encouraged the adoption of the Westinghouse system. But I feel that the pumps might visually overburden the humble little locos I have planned. Further, I think we could dispense with the sun shade and replace with a half-cab. Tempted to make that a spectacle plate only, but this is 1905!

Notwithstanding, I shall aim to be there. [winking face] It would be good to meet you In a way! Ipswich .... Queensland! She's a Bonny Scots Lassie by Neilsons of Glasgow. No reason why they shouldn't have built one for the West Norfolk!

I have never seen the layout in the flesh, but I gather it will be at Doncaster on 11th - 12th February 2017

Mouthwateringly good

Thank you. I have recently finished reading Ronald Clark's Illustrated History of MGNJR Locomotives, clearly a Marriott fan, so am getting into the mood. I purchased it because the book includes a GA and dimensions for the Fox Walker tank I want to tackle, and some other MGN and constitutuent types that could either be Golden Gorse visitors or locos sold off and passed to the WNR. But I have enjoyed some of the descriptions of this line's almost family atmosphere under the long and benign care of Marriott. A man who clearly inspired great loyalty and affection. I must follow up on your kind recommendation if I have a moment today. Those small SS 2-4-0s are very much in my cross-hairs, though I had assumed the WNR would buy them new. The WNR is a small line, with some second-hand stock, but not a shoe-string line (it's me, not the WNR, that's brassic). There are at least 2 kits planned in 4mm, so far as I am aware. Knuckles of this parish has now produced a Furness Railway J1, which was a tank rebuild, so I believe the original tender version will be along at some point in 3D print. Frankly, I'd like a Cambrian, Furness and West Norfolk version, as I love these locos, and their 0-6-0 SS sisters, all with 4-wheel tenders! Other dream locos are the Cornwall Mineral 0-6-0s, both as tanks plus tenders and the 2-4-0 rebuilds, because, of course, the latter were not scrapped at the turn of the century, but sold off to the WNR. Stretching it to still be in E&M umber in 1905, but, what the Hell! One class I was entirely unaware of until reading Clark's book were the 2 ex-LNWR (ex-Lancaster & Carlisle, in fact) 2-4-0 Trevithick Goods engines dating from 1857. We tend to forget that in the Nineteenth century 0-6-0s could be intended for mixed traffic and 2-4-0s were designed for goods work! A number were later converted to tanks engines. Melton Constable replaced their original 4-wheeled tenders with 6-wheel tenders (though they look pretty short) but I just wonder if the LNWR, who seem to have sold off to (and built for!) other lines more locos than most companies, might have parted with a third member of the class to the WNR?

My folks came up for a visit. Took us out for supper this evening. First time we've eaten out in months. First draft beer in months. Two pints of Timothy Taylor's Landlord and I am in a state of mellow contentment.

Not following this at all. Just being obtuse.

You could, but at between Euro 185-190, it's unlikely! Clearly a very considerable upgrade from the Rivarossi Bourbonnais! The old wooden coaches look pretty good too. The boiler mounted sandbox should probably go, but beyond that, it's a question of how picky/how distinctive you want to be. The cab could be reduced to a half cab, the lamps replaced, the steps replaced, the chimney replaced, and I don't like the o/s steam pipe, but, frankly, that's not a whole lot of work, and most of it's pretty optional. Still, if it doesn't fit on a 50' turntable, it can't go into stock with the West Norfolk! Hence the preference for 4-wheel tenders (and nothing to do with their gratuitously archaic appeal!).

I will have a look, but we only have 4-wheeled tenders on the West Norfolk! EDIT: Superb. Well spotted. Pictures below

The works photo is of a Beyer Peacock commission for South America, 1880s. Perhaps the West Norfolk could take advantage of a cancelled order on the part of the Khazi of Kalabar's Guaranteed State Railway? Ooh, yes. Something from my Adopted Heath.

Yes, but not at that price! Still, someone is viewing the house tomorrow. Once that's off the books, all things are possible. Wish us luck. Anyway, could be something like this?

"Wow" would be my answer to your question. Beautiful.

Someone, intended to say "firebox" on the Castle Aching topic, but mistakenly posted "firebomb". I swear my computer slowed down for 2-3 days while the Spooks crawled all over it. Damn, I've done it again!

I have always enjoyed your original and inventive 'period' conversions of RTR loco and stock. Yours is one of the examples that has inspired my own bashing and bodging freelance line. I would be happy to see more pictures of your layout and its denizens. The culvert - coal drop area is nicely modelled and a very effective composition.

With apologies to William Hughes Mearns: Yesterday upon the Net I saw a box that wasn't yet

Terriers were used on the Lyme Regis branch to May 1907, replaced by O2s, which in turn were replaced by Radials 1913-4, but O2s did assist on the branch thereafter. That Triang cut n' shut conversion I posted will give you a 2-coach set for the branch from c.1909. So you can justify up to 3 Radials, and an O2, and do a cheapy conversion for coaches for the Lyme Regis branch or some fictional variant. If a fictional variant, stretch reality to overlap a Terrier.

Many fair points, but I cannot afford to subsidise Oxford's learning curve. I'll save my pennies for when they get something I want right.

Interesting, John. That had been the impression I had formed from photographs, videos, reviews and forum comments. It is interesting that you have formed this view from weighing them up, one in each hand as it were.

Personally I'd try Pollyfilla first. Frothing about no announcement concerning an unknown future model that may not be in contemplation. We have excelled ourselves.

Congrats to all concerned on the granddaughter. Look forward to her posts in due course. Excellent progress on the coaches.

Fair enough. I continue to liaise with Oxford. Some potential issues are best judged upon release. That said, it must be admitted that there are some demonstrable issues with 2309. It remains to be seen if they can and will be corrected.

Very nice!