Northroader

Well, there’s two 5’3” locos mixed in with the rest. I have to confess they all run on 32mm gauge, very naughty of me, as you can get the proper axles from Slaters these days, and when you see a model done properly it does stick out. It’s just I didn’t want to have two layouts, and I draw comfort as several Irish modellers do take the easy way out.

Your problems have occurred at the same time as a record heat wave. There’s already been a suggestion on here that heat expansion could be part of the problem. I’ve found before I did a full loft conversion that temperature variation is considerable, and the expansion could cause soldered joints to tear, so it would be worth going round checking all your track joints as well as worrying about just the electrics. Good luck with it all, matey.

My lofts just the same for the remaining roof space heating up. This weather I keep the velux windows wide open, and it makes a nice draught to keep the rest of the house cool,

Well, tank engines are simpler, quicker and cheaper to make, and fit in better on a little line, although I do have some tender types, just restricted to 3 axle types because of the traverser.

“Colour” ‘e sez. So here’s five “greens” and a red, plus Routier du Nord kindly throwing in a different green, a black (though with nice red lining out and some brass), and artillery grey, which he insists is a colour.

Totally impressive line up, you’ll have to change the name to York. (Ps Of course!!! It was folks from the NRM getting your approval of their next release)

Thinking about it at my leisure over a pint of shandy, well, it is a warm summers night, you’d never know from what bit of line I have that I had read any books on scenics. What I do is keep it quite simple, going for a fairly level terrain rather than hills and cuttings, and just do ground texture, rough patches, varied colours, tufts and patches of vegetation. Then put a backscene behind, and try to get this to convey a feel for the surrounding countryside as far as hills and so on go?

Then you can look in on the Kalmbach Books titles. Their book by Mclanahan showed me stuff like “zip texturing”. https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/catalog/books?filters=fad1ce900f1b40479549a4c670bb57de&page=3

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rblYSKz_VnI

The SECR wainwright saloon of 1903 ran with three conversions of older first class coaches, and was a bogie coach 50’ long with two lavatories, three saloon compartments, and a coupe. It was intended for day use only. Other later saloons were added, but it only saw use for journeys in the SR area, such as to link with Continental trips, Cowes, or race meetings. If night accommodation was needed, the LMS train would then be needed. What little bit I saw of such workings you could get royals sleeping overnight in a secluded siding, to emerge bright eyed and bushy tailed at some venue first thing next morning, and this practice still occurs. One peculiarity was that this saloon was numbered 1R, and the SR numbered it 7930. However, it was called the English Royal, as another 1R existed, a 54’ 12 wheeler, which had lavatories, saloon, bedrooms, and compartments, built by the MSLR in 1883. This was stabled at Calais, for Edwards little trips abroad (say no more, nudge nudge, wink wink) and this was the Continental Royal. The SR numbered it 7931, but it wasn’t repainted, and was sold in France in 1927.

Norman Eagles, of Sherwood Section fame, did an article on modelling one of the second series, 1523 (1907 numbers) in the Railway Modeller No.69, (-sometime in late 50s) from drawings prepared by himself plus friends in Burton on Trent shed. They do make a handy model.

A narrow guage one, I’m afraid, but how about one of the battery locos that worked the WW1 mustard gas plant at Avonmouth? Two went on to be converted to third rail and work the Hythe Pier line, ninety odd years Day in, Day out, and still going strong, so deserve recognition. Ugly little b*******s.

O Tempora!, O Mores!!

The B&E didn’t do a standard gauge version of the 4-4-0ST, but there was a 2-4-2T sg version, done as well and back tanks, which did have a family resemblance. I’ve lifted an illustration from the RCTS book, including an intriguing footnote.

Thanks for the link, Jack. Had a good read even if not modelling the particular line what sparked it off. Sympathise with you, Jordan, on outstanding jobs.

B&E 4-4-0ST?? Now you’re talking. I think the BGS are working on a kit for one, in the meantime, one of these days, I’d like to finish this off.. one of these days...

I’ve decided it’s just too hot for modelling, (30^ here this afternoon), although I did sit outside this morning cleaning paint off tender wheels and doing a bit on a platform. No trips out by train either, although we’ve just done a long weekend with the W B garden club, first call at Blagdon (wrington vale light rly /GWR.) You look at pictures of the station and layout, but being there it strikes me what a pleasant setting it is in. Then on, glimpse of Buckfastleigh as we flew past on the coach, and into Plymouth, using the trackbed of the SR Friary line, and staying at the Duke of Cornwall, dead opposite the end of the GWR Millbay station. Into Cornwall with a fine view of the Saltash bridge, and that was about it for Railway interest. No, main purpose of this post is to put a link in for required reading in the shade, as they’ve kindly featured a wagon from here, besides the good bits.http://www.lbscr.org/Models/Digest/LBSCR-Modellers-Digest-7.pdf

I am trying to bring him up to be nice to manufacturers, but...

The “chopper” gets my vote, if not particularly royal. Routier du Nord approves of your idea, and sends this:

You won’t until you find a dead sheep in your bed.

The end of the S&D as we know it.

Wasn’t that gradient post at the top of the slope for the lifeboat ramp?

Er..Newport.