Metropolitan H

Is that what you call "Half an engine to spare"? - Looks very good and glad you managed a few minutes of sanity in this panicking world. Regarding your last paragraph I was rather (Blackly) amused at the amount of social contact going on between young teenagers, at the GL Centre bus-stop this morning - while they were waiting for the bus to St Pauls school. If one had the virus another 30 have now! - I was at least 50 ft away and trying to stay up-wind! That reminds me of the interesting pair of comparative satellite pictures of Europe in yesterday's Times, supposedly showing the marked reduction of NO2 pollution between early January and this week. Very interesting to note that the real high spot, then and now, is northern Italy east from Milan across to Venice - it is lower now, but still much the highest level in the whole of Europe. Keep playing trains. See you on the other side. Chris H

Re - "a good builders’ merchant around the corner who has a planing-machine and will cut hardwood strips to precise sizes for a few pence". Where? - I need to know soon. Travis Perkins have moved from Fenny Lock to Denbigh - and lost their wood machining in the process. Regards Chris H

Probably an "Unreliable memory" - I wasn't 3 when Grandfather took Dad and me into New England loco and up to the coaling tower to board 60103 for my first cab-ride. The last bit is true. Regards Chris H

As I remember it - "Distilled for and on behalf of the inhabitants of Upton upon Severn" - Is that right? Regards Chris H

I always enjoyed the film - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvOj8FBPAXg , but you can quickly pass the introductory spiel - should you so wish. Regards Chris H

Regarding the buildings a popular BLT station option in 1963 would be a conversion of the Airfix model of "Old St Boniface Church, Bonchurch IOW" - some of which did appear in the RM from time to time. But, as you seem to be very anti-plastic you could always create a confection from the various "Bilteezi" buiding kits - particularly the Stone Smithy and House - they also did a useful dairy / factory building and they do a "SCATS" warehouse which fits your Southern Region leanings. I look forward to your further developments. Regards Chris H PS - I apologise for duplicating Pat B's suggestion - but the Bilteezi kit art work and colouring is still rather marvellous, some might think it better than Superquick?

Kevin, I will now stop looking for the "unfound" H-D wagon. Glad to hear you have the answer - but if you had asked a year back you could have had a pair of the green suburban coaches! Have you taken a picture of the R1 and Nellie together? - I suspect it might show up quite how big a girl Nellie really is. Regards Chris H

But that is surely a B-B rather than a Bo-Bo - as the axles on each bogie are mechanically coupled and driven by the same motor / engine. Regards Chris H

Kevin, I'm with Northroader in respect of your H0e "feldbahn" locos. There are now real heritage heirloom items - mine is still in its original Eggerbahn box, despite being on its second mechanism! Regards Chris H

Another feature of the station stops - particularly of "Down" long distance trains - at Peterborough North, that sticks in my memory, were the attention of the "Wheel tappers" with their long hammers checking that each wheel was "Sound as a bell". This would occupy a number of minutes. Now most coach wheels are of the monobloc type and are subject to regular Ultrasonic or other "Non Destructive Testing" as part of depot maintenance - but in the 1950s most wheels had separate shrunk-on tyres and the availability of modern NDT methods (beyond the long-handled hammer and the wheel-tapper's ear) were well in the future. Regards Chris H

Are you sure you have the right loco? There were at least four locos imported to UK from the Mecklenberg-Pommern Schmalspurbahn - of which this loco was one, but I am wondering how many spent time at New Romney? - I know that: - An 0-8-0 (DR number 99 3461) was at New Romney, now works in France. - At least two more spent time as guests of the FR, having earlier been at Knebworth? - 0-8-0 99 3462 is now back in Germany on the Muskau Forest Railway (seen April 2018) The Jung 0-6-2 T on the Brecon Mountain Railway was there when we visited in 1987 - it was hauling the trains then! Regards Chris H

Yes the skip wagons are a large capacity version in 1:43 - so capable of being more normal sized in 1:32 and the frames are set so that they can accomodate 3/4" gauge wheelsets (2ft gauge at 1/32)! Regards Chris H

Apologies for the delay - I had to go and find the instructions and wind my memory back over 30 years! Unfortunately my loco is out-shedded with a friend in Staines at present so I can't refer to it directly for a while. Taking your questions in order, the answers are: 1 - Correct the the valvegear is modelled in mid-gear and the valve rod does not move, nor on my model do the expansion links. The only parts that move are; a) the swinging lever hung from the 0.9mm wire pin that protrudes from the main support casting - through the lever, centre hole of the expansion link and the end of the valve rod before terminating at the bottom of the drop link from the weigh-shaft lever - and, b) the rod from the crosshead pin - behind the connecting rod little end - to the bottom of the swinging lever (above). 2 - I found Diagram 9 that shows the assembly of the valvegear (left side - right is a mirror image) easy to follow. It all sits on / hangs from the 0.9mm wirepin referred to above ( 1a ), the bent 0.45mm wire valve spindle and the crosshead centre pin. There should be at least 4 small flat-headed rivets in the kit - one each for the joints between the crosshead link and the swinging lever (I passed the rivet end through the crosshead link from the outside, then soldered the rivet end to the to the bottom end of swinging lever - with a fag paper between the two flat rods / levers). The other rivets each side make the joint between the weigh-shaft arm and the drop-link to the end of the valve-rod etc. 3 - After 30+ years my memory of assembling the valvegear is hazy - so anwer is "Don't remember". But, having reread the relevant part of the instructions I have a sort-of memory of there being an error in the part numbers that the instructions say to leave off if you don't know about the valvegear - but as I didn't have any bother following the instructions I can't remember the details. Do you have the one page A4 typed instructions - double-side with 7mm scale drawing - and the folded A3 single-sided sheet with diagrams 1 to 10 that show the various assemblies? If you want I can scan an forward you a copy. Finally I am aware that Roy Link purposely mad the model as adaptable to 1:32 scale - and the skip wagons - to suit the then incarnation of the Crowsnwst Tramway - but that is not my story. Hope that helps. Regards Chris H

Yes it was a bit moist in the Ouzel / Lovatt valley this morning and the Great Ouse by New Bradwell is out of its bed and across the fields - and Little Linford Lane, which is shut! I went to the same emporium for Peco products this p.m., but I used motorised transportand kept dry. One could spend a lot of money there if you were so minded. Regards Chris H

You mean like this one? - It was built from the Roy Link kit before the kit went anywhere near Wrightlines - as were the skips. They all still run nicely. As it is now a long time since I built the kit I will try to answer Questions - but might have forgotten the detail - I'll have to find the instructions. Have you asked Roy Link? Regards Chris H

You might also have mentioned the large collection of HCS Bullock locos from the SBCR that are now kept in superb condition at the Eastleigh "Lakeside Miniature Railway" (see http://www.steamtrain.co.uk/locomotives ). They had a special day on 16th June 2018 with at least three SBCR locos in steam with other similar Bullock locos - it was magnificent. The Beyer Garratts later existence at Shillingstone was interesting - the railway was built to serve the pig farm - but it had some tightish curves, so the Beyer didn't see much use. Regards Chris H

Do not forget the larger Sentinel "Steam-Deco" locos built for Colombia - see http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/colombia/colombia.htm Almost a model for the Emmett locos that ran at Battersea for the 1951 Festival of Britain? Regards Chris H

Yes, but! Although it is sort of recognisable as "Bedwyn Church Lock" on the K&A, there are a number of distinct oddities with the surroundings and buildings: - The brick built house with slate roof, behind the Saint class loco, does not (and never has) exist - you should be seeing pasture up to the roadhedge line. - There is not and never has been a foot bridge over the railway at that point. There was an accomodation / footpath crossing from the north side of the canal bridge. - The canal bridge is / always has been a stone built arch bridge which is right next to the bottom gates of the lock (which also answers sem34090's question - also the canal and railway are not quite so adjacent). - Bedwyn Church has a tower without spire / steeple. The tower is also above the crossing (?) between the nave and choir towards the east end of the church - not at the west end as shown! The orientation of the church is also slightly "Off"! I want going to rise to the bait as it is still a recognisable scene, but the follow-up comments got me going. There are some very pleasent pubs in Great Bedwyn to be enjoyed with the walk west along the canal to Crofton pumps which should be a "Must visit" place for us all. I think a day out in the spring is called for - it is at least two years since our last visit. Regards and Happy Christmas Chris H

Also the only "City" 4-4-0 to look like the one pictured in terms of livery and fittings etc. is 3440 "City of Truro" - as running circa 1960 - so presumably the coaches are supposed to represent the slightly seecond-hand GWR vehicles used on the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton services circa 1960? Regards Chris H

Kevin, Thank you for the seasonal picture - very good. Regarding the link posted by DonW, I am very impressed. I am sure it is Peco SM-32 track and turnouts - the interesting thing is that there appear to be various wheel tyre widths etc in use - presumably with appropriate and compatible "Check gauge(s)". It all looks rather fun. Regards Chris H

Or "Falcon" acted as an agent and all the HMST 4 were built by Hurst Nelson in the first place? Chris H

What a superb picture. The train looks like a set of "Falcon" coaches that are almost identical to those that ran on the "hundred of Manhood and Selsey tramway" (new in 1897)! Etched kits for the coaches are (or were ?) available from Australia - see http://www.steamandthings.com/page14.htm . Regards Chris H

The Woodstock Branch has a couple of very good clear photographs of 1473 "Fair Rosamund" with nameplates dating back to Victorian times - 1896 - as well as through the Edwardian times. It also provides a good record in photographs of the changes (bunkers / cabs / boilers) to the loco through the years till its withdrawal in 1935. Regarding "Lady Margaret", I used that reference to absorbed named tank engines as it is a personal particular favourite. I accept that I had overlooked the three Pannier type "Crane" tanks, but they were a rather special case - "Internal works locos", rather than general traffic locos. Regards Chris H

Correction, Having read a bit more of the book the Woodstock Branch did work "Mixed" trains from Kidlington - including with autocoaches - through till at least the mid 1920s. But I still haven't seen a picture that definitely ties in with the photo shwn earlier. Chris H

Having skimmed my copy of "The Woodstock Branch" - Stanley C Jenkins, Wild Swan 1987 (ISBN 0 906867 51 7) - I'm a bit suspicious of that picture's caption: - 1473 bore the "Fair Rosamund" nameplates above its numberplates from 1896. I can't see them in the picture. - 1473 had inside bearings to its trailing (carrying) axle. It looks like the loco in the picture has outside frames / bearings to the trailing axles? - The only pictures of short coaches in the book are of the 1890 inspection train which consisted of two 4/6 wheel clerestory coaches hauled by a contractors Manning and Wardle 0-6-0ST. - All other coaching stock shown in the book are either 8 wheel / bogie stock clerestory coaches or 70foot autocoaches. - There are no references too mixed train working as far as I can see without a full detail re-read. - The book makes no reference to "Fair Rosamund" being named in connection with a royal train - but it states "....and by March 1896 this locomotive had been given the romantic name Fair Rosamund in comemmeration of Rosamund Clifford (who was then enjoying something of a revival in the pages of local guide books)...". It is worth noting that 1473 "Fair Rosamund" was the only standard gauge GWR built tank locomotive to be named. The Andrew Barclay built 2-4-0T "Lady Margaret" was an absorbed locomotive from the Liskeard and Looe railway. Regards Chris H