MartinTrucks

I largely agree with you. I have modelled SR wagons off-and-on since the late 1960's. The ABS kits were superb. Humbrol #142 was a good match for SR Wagon Brown (as defined by the MERCO sheet circa 1933) - see my post of 19 December 2019. I do not agree with your description of it though! It is definitely dark chocolate brown! best regards, Martin

I am no expert on lager, but the LB&SCR hosted large advertisements for Tennent's Pilsner Beer. Martin

One lives in hope! Happy New Year! Martin

No - Your photo shows what I knew as the 'Combined Engineering Depot' which was part of the Chief Civil Engineer's empire. Don't be misled by the number of locos parked there! IIRC, there was a fuel point at the far end of the EMU shed to cater principally for the diesel shunters. Martin

The tomes give two existing by 1961, one of which continued in service until at least 1963. Martin

The production models appear to be the same colour as the livery samples, so it is the livery samples that were incorrect and no-one at Hornby did anything to remedy it! Martin

I can only assume that the tail is wagging the dog! Hornby seem to be at the mercy of their Chinese factory. I am sure that they and their researchers know that this is wrong. For 25 quid a wagon, I do expect the body colour to be something like the correct shade!

The pics on the Hornby site are still of the livery sample models. Rails has a pic of R6913, a SR van, which confirms the fault on the production models: https://railsofsheffield.com/products/37361/Hornby-r6913-oo-gauge-sr-ex-lswr-20t-diag-1543-goods-brake-van-no-55062 An unhappy Martin

Regarding handbrakes on PO wagons, I asked this question on a UK chat-group earlier this year: 'Although I am aware that the fitting of handbrake levers on both sides of PO coal wagons was mandatory for new build vehicles from about 1911(?), was there a date by which retro-fitting was mandatory? I noticed a photo on page 69 of John Arkell's 'Private Owner Wagons of the South-East'. taken at Hythe, Kent and dated 1936 showing an 'Anderson' wagon with brake levers still on one side only'. I received the following reply from my Bluebell Railway colleague John Arkell, who is the HMRS Steward for PO wagons: 'It was originally intended to make a second set mandatory by 1926 but the private traders protested at the expense and timescale and so a derogation was given till 1931. Even this was not enough and the final derogation was 1938 when a seven year exam for all wagons was started. Any wagon not having a second set of brakes automatically failed the exam and had to be taken out of service or converted. It was also the date that wagons that had been converted from Dumb Buffers were to be scrapped, these wagons would have been built before 1887 and converted to spring buffers before 1914, though a few survived WW2 to be scrapped by BR in the early 1950s'. Hope this helps. Best regards and Merry Christmas! Martin BTW, in the UK, Santa visits us overnight Dec24/25 so presents are normally opened on Christmas morning. However (according to the latest TV news) the Royal Family will open their presents at Sandringham tonight!

You obviously mean a LBSCR K or I3 class? Best regards, Martin

Does anyone have said van(s) in their possession yet? If so, pics would be appreciated. I know that there is no evidence of them being with retailers yet, but they have been on sale from Hornby for several days. Thanks. Martin

The SR wagon livery was derived directly from that of the LSWR, being dark chocolate brown with brake vans having blood red ends. This is confirmed by the colour lithograph sheet(s) produced by MERCO (Model Exhibition Railway Company) circa 1933 (photo attached). The initial Hornby coloured CADs intimates that they intended to produce the SR versions of the van in dark chocolate brown, one assumes as per their superb SR cattle wagons. As regards Hornby's livery sample of R6913A, SR 55009 in pre-1937 SR livery; this appears to be based on a black-and-white photo of the van taken in August 1937 by E.L.Scaife which appears on page 63 of volume one of 'An Illustrated History of Southern Wagons'. The photo is taken in bright sunshine and the brown may appear to be slightly pale. I did wonder momentarily whether it might be a representation of SR Engineer's red oxide, but of course 55009 is in traffic livery, so I now wonder whether some bright spark has attempted to obtain the 'correct' shade of SR brown by colorizing the photo and has cocked it up! I will doubtless buy at least one of these Hornby vans, but may put it off if my chocolate is not the right colour! BTW, I do not consider myself to be an expert on the subject. I have been involved in the preservation and restoration of SR wagons for 40 years and have learned much from many people (most of them on the old British Rail) but every day is still a school day!

And finally, .................. https://www.hattons.co.uk/254694/oxford_rail_or76n7003_class_n7_0_6_2t_69612_in_br_black_with_early_emblem/stockdetail.aspx Hattons have the early BR crest non-sound ones in stock! Hooray!!! Martin

A prototype question regarding 50037 Illustrious, the Dapol model of which portrays the loco in early NSE livery. I have only been able to determine a timescale of between 1987 and pre-June 1990 for the loco wearing this early livery before it was altered. Could someone help me with a more precise timescale please? Thanks in advance, Martin <edited end date>

The Hornby R6923 LNER (Dia.064) 'Toad E' Brake Van No.162007 and Hornby R6924 BR (Dia.034) 'Toad B' No. E140580 are arriving at retailers now. Regards, Martin

My 00 layout has been torn down for rebuilding and I presently use an oval of Kato H0 code 83 Unitrack but do not have any points/switches. If it is anything like the n-scale version, the Atlas B23-7 will have all-wheel pickup and, of course, a much longer wheelbase than the 64xx. My present small n-scale layout uses Kato Unitrack and runs pretty well although I have found that the switch blades (mainly on the crossovers) cannot be relied upon to conduct unless they are really clean, so I have had to install extra power supplies behind the points/switches for smooth running. This of course negates the 'self-isolating' function of the points but this is not needed where the crossovers are located. I also had an issue with a Kato n-scale power supply track section and now solder wires directly to the rails instead. I have had no problems so far with the H0 version. Hope you have your problem sorted now. Martin

I am surprised that Bachmann do not state in the loco instructions that the model is fitted with a coreless motor and should not be run as 'Loco #0' on a DCC system. The few instructions that I have seen for Farish N-gauge locos with similar motors are conversely, quite clear in their warnings.

Don't forget Glen's 'Lake', Graham! Regards, Martin

IIRC, the LNER built some of these Lowmacs for the LMS and GWR, which in BR days were coded Lowmac MW and WP respectively. Martin

Only just found this thread. I have just bought an old R127 with the intention of improving it at some point, but on the model I have, the sheave block at the top of the jib seems to be high to gauge. Have those of you who have 'improved' the model made the jib sit lower on the carriage? The other question(s) I have relates to the prototype. I do not have access to a copy of the article mentioned earlier. I assume these cranes were ordered by the wartime Railway Executive? Were they each allocated to one of the 'Big 4' companies? Were they supplied with runners (I suspect not)? If not, what did the four companies use (I am aware of what BR used in later days, thank you) as runners? Thanks, Martin

Forgive me if I have missed it on this thread, but what tooling did DJ Models 'lose' to the Chinese? I am particularly interested in the fate of that for the LSWR Beattie Well Tank, O2, GWR 14xx etc and the 13xx 0-6-0ST. Thanks, Martin

Oxford Rail have posted the following on Facebook: 'OR76N7004- N7 Late crest Livery detail includes white smoke box ring, White chimney top. Full lining including Westinghouse pump and a red smoke box number'. The artwork shows 69670. I will be a happier bunny when I have my early crest version. Martin

Depends on whether or not one was born within the sound of Bow bells, old chap! Martin (One who was!)

Thanks. I was looking for something online that I could share. However I did find the shot to which you refer in Mike King's SR Rolling Stock in Colour book. Sadly, it is taken from the stops end of a siding (probably at Horsham) with stock in the adjacent road and is not really suitable to enhance our discussion. I am sure that I have seen better on the web ...... Martin

I have been unable so far to locate a photo of 2850 (later CWT13 and CC99013), the last surviving shorty Bulleid (now sadly broken up circa 1991) which may have assisted in this discussion on sidelight/window sizes: http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=487 Please note the new home for the former HRA Carriage Survey. Martin