Swiftsilver

I still have not seen one on the West Coast Main Line this year! Or anywhere else for that matter. They used to be regular through Stafford on freight, but no more it seems. No Colas 70's either this year. Brian

There were 10 of the class visible on Midland Road Depot last week, and possibly more inside. I haven't seen a Freightliner Class 70 working a train since before Covid. Why doesn't Freightliner simply unload them? Brian

Hi Ray I have the RCTS Book and though it contains some nice photographs it was not a great deal of help. My small layout is 'somewhere' in the West Country in the period 1962-66. Cheers Brian

​My loco is to be 82036. I have several photographs of it but none showing whether or not there is an extra grab handle atop the boiler. ​Does anybody have a pic of this loco which clears up whether it did, or did not, have one? ​Thank you. Brian L.

Same loco - sub topic. My railway is based on c. 1964. By this time my loco would be carrying the second type of BR 'badge' and would probably be green and lined, (and I was wearing a khaki suit and was based in BAOR!). Should both BR 'badges' face towards the front of the loco, or should the right hand one face towards the rear? Secondly, should the cylinder covers be (vertically) lined? Thirdly does anybody have a list of which members of the class were fitted with the additional hand rail in front of the dome? And finally, numerals on the cab/bunker sides seem to vary a bit. Was there a 'standard' size for this class? Thanks. Brian L.

Jim With the greatest of respect, that is just a little too close to rivet counting for me! I'll settle for 14mm! Brian L.

Paul - you got me thinking!! So I went and looked at every picture I could find of this class and compared them with the chimney which came with my original Acorn kit. A 'niggle' I had soon proved fact. The Acorn kit chimney, which is white metal, gets wider the higher up it goes. This is wrong! The chimneys on this class were 'stove pipe' type according to all the pictures and my drawing, and the same diameter from top to bottom apart from the flange around the top and the 'skirt' at the bottom where it joins the smokebox. Scorpio do a lost wax chimney intended for their upgraded Acorn kit of the 77xxx, which is the tender version of the 82xxx, and I had one of these. It checks out measurement-wise and looks perfect, so it is now on my model! Brian L.

Thank you for the 'heads up.' I put my order in to RCTS on Christmas Eve and expect it anytime now. Brian L.

Carry on, Jim. I'll watch your thread! Brian L.

If it helps any I have a scale 7mm GA drawing of the loco and measuring the chimney at the side it is 16mm from top to bottom. I am assuming my plan was accurate in the first place. Having compared it with numerous photos, particularly on Colour Rail, it looks right to me. Irf you are in doubt I suggest you contact Pat At Scorpio Models by phone. You will find him very helpful. Brian L.

​I am now happily building an original Acorn kit of the BR Standard 3MT 2-6-2T from the 82xxx number series. ​Does anybody have a photograph or drawing of the plumbing on top of the firebox and boiler, especially the manifold, that they could copy to me? Available photographs on Colour Rail and similar sites do not show this area at all. ​Thank you. ​Brian L.

​My (business) circumstances whilst I was abroad were such that I was not able to use my mobile, laptop or anything else. ​I am well aware of what I can and cannot do with my mobile and have bid on eBay via it in the past. ​Follow now? Brian L.

Unfortunately I was out of the country and therefore could not bid for this kit, but thank you for the 'heads up.' ​Does anybody else have a BR Standard 3MT tank locomotive kit by Acorn/Jim Harris, hidden away in a drawer or up on a shelf, unassembled or part assembled, that they would be willing to part with for a fair sum? Brian L

Thanks for the 'heads up' to you all. I have followed up the leads so far without success, though not the Lionheart suggestion as I suspect that will be way beyond my pocket! Any other ideas or suggestions, please? Brian L.

​As there are no kits of the BR Standard Class 3MT 2-6-2T tank locomotive in '0' gauge, I am going to have a go at scratch building one. ​I am gradually acquiring suitable parts but have hit a problem. ​I cannot find any manufacturer who produces a suitable chimney and dome! ​Does anybody have any suggestions? ​I have tried all the advertisers on the G0G website to no avail, and I do not have the machinery/tools to make these items. ​Thanks Brian L.