Edwardian

Some mysterious Eastern destination where projects remain ever young, and, despite the passage of centuries, never mature? Bachmann's release programme has found its way to Shangri la!

"Well, unless you're running some special Dirty Mac browser extension (there's a computer pun in there somewhere) I don't see how anything smutty would appear in an image search for 'Edwardian'", added James, somewhat wistfully. Perhaps I am not viewing the material correctly: All books can be indecent books Though recent books are bolder, For filth (I'm glad to say) is in The mind of the beholder. When correctly viewed, Everything is lewd. (I could tell you things about Peter Pan, And the Wizard of Oz, there's a dirty old man!)

Ah, the Agony & the Ecstasy! I undercoat everything (from plastic soldiers to coach sides) with grey car primer (Halfords). So much cheaper than any alternative. Like the Artist's Fixative idea for varnish. I have found the Games Workshop spray varnish pretty reliable. Anyway, looks good so far ...

Don't image search "Mallard" either; just pictures of bl**dy ducks ....

Not disgusted, and, perversely, I would like at some stage to have some backdated E4s using the Bachmann model (probably because at least they did do a pre-Grouping version of this instead of TURNING THEIR BACK ON THE PRE-GROPUPING MODELLER, so I am not so ANGRY and FRUSTRATED!). Time for my medication, I suspect ....

I have long wanted a copy of that book, and glad that it is the basis of your research. Very much a fan of Sudrian railways, having learnt to read and love railways simultaneously thanks to the Railway Series. I love little Victorian and Edwardian lines. Your project, thus, ticks a lot of my boxes and it's beautifully done, with, if I may say so, just the right mix of verisimilitude and whimsy. I had assumed co-incidence, but I am thrilled that you took note of my efforts and approved of the livery. I rather like the idea that our two lines might have something in common. I think that must be correct. Elsewhere, and with reference to Rev. Awdry's building Toby article (see post 15, http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/113746-y6-tram-engine/), Toby was a G15, rather than a C53, so would either have had to be one of the last W&U pair, or a member of the class believed to have been withdrawn earlier. Thanks for your kind offer. The Bishop's Lynn tramway hopes to run a G15, a C53, the W&U van withdrawn from that line in 1903, a 4-wheel and a bogie coach to the same diagrams as the W&U coaches and a GE 6-wheel coach tramcar conversion like those produced for the Kelvedon & Tollesbury LR, and, finally, a van of the type that the W&U used from 1903. I would happily have some plans, particularly for a C53 and the 'new' W&U van, as I have no drawings for either as yet.

Me neither. I enjoy it all the more vicariously on ANTB knowing I shall never own one!

That sounds hopeful. BUT I have read here that the E4 disassembles in a way that would allow the older boiler to be substituted, which would thus allow named versions in Stroudley Goods green and IEG! I have also read that the Dukedog disassembles in such a way as to facilitate the substitution of a Bulldog body (if the old Nu-Cast/Ks boiler were back in production, I'd have a go at that swop). Bachmann has shown no signs of doing either, however. Thus, I am not hopeful of an umber Atlantic. RTR manufacturers' reluctance to provide more tooling options is often understandable, but it begets a reluctance in me to invest in an expensive 'near miss' release, to then hack it about. Part of me just hates the idea of rewarding a manufacturer for neglecting earlier periods; after the one-tool/multiple livery dodge by Hattons on the 4800/14XX, I would not purchase one on principle, I'd rather go for a kit or back-date the Hornby version! Every time a manufacturer releases a model and either makes a poor job or neglects tooling options for key variants or key periods of a class's history, it kills any hope of that variant for a generation. Thus, for instance, it may be argued that Hattons has actually done the pre-war GW modeller a positive disservice by releasing its model, having decided to compromise on the tooling. I have to think very carefully these days about where the hard-earned goes, and I find I am simply not prepared to reward manufacturers who are not prepared to invest in other periods. I don't necessarily blame them for failing to do so, but I won't reward or reinforce that behaviour either. Second hand RTR to bash and bodge, supplemented by kits. That is the way I find I am going. The lack of transparency of the commissioning process, the cost and risk involved on both sides, and the effect of the Bachmann back-log, suggests to me that no-one would step forward to commission an umber Atlantic. I wonder if there is room for a niche company devoted to such commissions. I don't mean the bogus wagon livery game, but selective, accurate, re-livery and tooling commissions, based upon subscriptions. It would have to have some financial substance to work, and I would not expect a manufacturer to play unless satisfied of that. Without the retail umph of an on-line supplier, it would have to be by firm subscriptions, and could you guarantee to fund a minimum run? Just think, we could end up with an accurate pre-Grouping Adams Radial, in Adams or Drummond livery. You might get a back-dated Brighton E4. Or a LNWR tank in lined livery. How about a brace of GE Y14s, unlined goods black and a later one fitted for mixed traffic in lined Prussian blue. Or what about the C Class returning in the full Wainwright livery? Not that bl**dy hard is it? If you could guarantee sufficient sales, I don't see why not. But could you?

Yes, currently I am looking at a c.1905 light railway in Norfolk, some GER stuff I can use for that and a planned later, c.1900 GE layout, SECR and LBSC stuff for a projected c.1912-14 layout, LSWR, LNWR and pre-WW1 GW, and, of course, more for the South Devon mainline in 1935 project! That's quite enough to be getting along with, and anything that I cannot stretch any of the above to include - e.g. Hornby Huntley & Palmer Peckett and this US Ugly Duckling - I am just going to have to ignore! Given Rob's period, it does not offend on ANTB, and I have enjoyed seeing it in action there.

Shame. As you know, I have no patience with manufacturers' failures to support earlier periods because I see it as ultimately short-sighted (I realise many disagree); I understand the reasons for it, but understanding that will not make a nationalised or, in this case, Grouping, product any more relevant to me. Yes, I could hack up an RTR version and re-spray, but, frankly, if put to that trouble, I'd rather support a kit manufacturer than an RTR manufacturer not willing or, apparently, able to support my period. So, if Bachmann don't commit to an accurate umber version, it'll be an addition to my list of kits. DJH provide a choice of H1 and H2, so I imagine the thing to do would be to save for both! Falcon Brassworks list them too, at a keener price, but not yet available. Can anyone comment upon the merits of any of these kits?

Only 3 things wrong with it; over-domed, over-ugly, and over here.

Where's the "Oooooh Matron!" button when you need one?

One of those engines that's so ugly it's attractive! Like very much. Could never justify one, but like it.

Well, modern RTR is so expensive (not a complaint, but, nevertheless, a strain) that long lead-times to save up for announced items is most welcome. Most of my purchases have had to be planned 2-4 years in advance! I believe there will be no pre-Grouping livery version in the first release, which means I can happily ignore it and have even longer to save! No bad thing.

Not sure how I have missed this so far, but enjoyed catching up. Beautiful track, and a very sensible approach to modelling, if I may say. It is always good to see a Grouping era layout for the colour and panache, and the GW in South Devon in the Thirties is my first and most enduring railway enthusiasm, so it has been a pleasure stroll through the pages.

RIP Colonel Gerald (aka Duke of Westminster), Hon. Colonel of the Cheshire Yeomanry, one of the squadrons in which I served in early life. Died at Abbeystead, where I was once a guest, a wonderful shooting estate. You don't get many fully-staffed Victorian houses these days, so it was a rare experience. At the time, I recall him telling us that he had unearthed evidence of an estate railway at Eaton Hall and was intent upon resurrecting it. Turning to Wiki, I find a page on the original railway of 1896 (15" gauge) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaton_Hall_Railway) and it seems that it was revived in the 1990s. I read that this was with a replica locomotive, the original having gone the R&E. All roads lead to Boot, evidently. Wiki has this rather lovely 1898 shot:

An excellent collection of vehicles, very inventively but believably conceived. I note the similarity between WSR coach livery and that of the West Norfolk Railway. Some old stock and NPCs would be plain green, but the WNR's 'mainline' coaches were certainly in green and cream, though the cream was a paler, less yellow, off-white shade than the WSR's seems to be. It's a good combination and I think will work well with red locomotives (WNR's were 2-tone green). The Bishop's Lynn to Flitching tramway (GER) inherited that W&U van circa 1903, so I'll be attempting a 4mm version in GE livery. Really enjoying this excellent topic.

You're welcome. If you want truly idiosyncratic tramcars, rather than the cast-off W&U, you could build the GER 6-wheel coach conversions. Some were lowered by fitting small wheels, and reduced to 4-wheels. Verandahs were added at each end, and side doors sealed. Because the GE stock of the time was typically built with rounded tops to the door and quarter lights, despite their origins, the converted coaches bore a family resemblance to the purpose-built W&U stock. It's a nice example of tramway-type stock run on a non-tramway Light Railway.

Listed, for many years, in the Peco holiday guide, was an S&M model railway, in Swansea, which could be viewed, it said, by appointment. I used to spend quite a bit of time in the Mumbles area (affaire d'amour) many years ago, but never saw it, as no one ever answered the 'phone number supplied!

Excellent project. If Oxford fail to correct the shape of the Dean Goods belpaire fire-box, they will only be useful for cutting up for the round top version, so I will watch this topic with interest!

Save that the little 'chap' is Jamesdóttir again, I couldn't agree more. The Shetland goes by the name Kipper. He is a right so and so, though seemed to take to me, for some reason! The Offspring came 2nd in the fancy dress, too, despite spending less than a tenner on foam-board and (hopefully) washable black paint. Artistry by the Mem. Budget modelling! And guess where the foam-board off-cuts are going? Yes, that's right, into the landscape of Castle Aching. Waste not, want not. Version for Kevin: Waist not, wont not.

Well, borrowed pony, borrowed horsebox, borrowed jacket (the Mem's), borrowed tie (mine), but she got there and rode well for a first timer (double clear rounds on the jumps), and had a wonderful time! And, yes, the Zebra was ridden (by The Boy). Very modellable building in the background. Light Railway in the Yorkshire-Durham borders?

Kelvedon Tollesbury Light Railway. Not a tramway, but famously in later years the repository for a couple of W&U tramcars. Before this, however, c.1905, it had its own tramcars, converted from old GE 6-wheelers, which also seem to have supplied about 50% of the structures on the line! Great collection of images here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0IzumB7tUw

I find that the GER is very well supported online, which is helpful, as I don't have any books on the company. I have learnt a lot about GE wagons from Basilica Fields, and GERS has some wonderful articles online, which really helped me to mug up on GE carriage development. Really like that IWC tank, Kevin. Bunked off work this afternoon to drop in on the Smallest Fry's first gymkhana:

Jim, is there not a famous house/cottage somewhere, round for the same reason? Oh, but I forgot. There was something at Redcar of relevance to CA; a GER horsebox. Marske today enjoyed the luxury of a little 0-4-0T to shunt for the train engines. She needed to get at some fish trucks to be added to a passenger train, but had to dispose of the GER horsebox first. The train engine, a BTP, did not have to exert itself beyond running round, while all the shunting was done for it.