Metropolitan H

But all six of the similar Mh class "Engerth" 0-8-4 tender-tank locos built for the Mariazeller bahn are still extant and most are still in working order on various Austrian 760mm gauge lines. The front end of the tender is pivoted under the boiler ahead of the firebox transferring adhesive weight to the rear drivers and getting the locos round the corners - superb machines. Regards Chris H

I'm getting withdrawal symptoms! - When is the next installment of proper trains? Regards Chris H

Which is why I do not bother with the G0G Forum. In reality an awful lot of G0G members have a broad range of interests - but the public face through the (can't say 'their' as I am a member) forum is very off-putting to one who is happy to "Play trains". Some would think that you have to be a very skilled modeller and have a starched white boiler suit and a bow tie to be a member. To be fair, the "G0G Gazette" has provided a broad coverage recently, but the forum is terribly off-putting to one who appreciates both fine museum quality models and good quality "Coarse" scale that I can afford and run round curves that allow me to have a home layout bigger than "Wantage - Upper Yard (WTC)" which is about all I can achieve to scale at home! Good Coarse scale can be just like "Grown-up Hornby-Dublo" (x 7/4) - great fun. I'll now probably be banned from ever entering the G0G website or other events - but I rather feel the loss would be theirs! Regards Chris H P.S. - Looking in the latest (July 2018) Railway Modeller, I am very tempted by the Lee Marsh model of "Fair Rosamund" - but would I dare take it out of the glass case to run? - Much more tempted by Maurice Deane's "Hampstead Moreton" layout in the August 1970 RM, along with Don Neal's Kirtley Branch seen in his article on "Planting Out the Railway. CH

I think you might be referring to a "Nun" and that the supposed hairpiece is actually her cowl! Regards Chris H

A few more that come to mind - in addition to most of the others already mentioned: - Bernard Wright - Swanage in "S" scale. - GP Keen - Norman Eagles - Sherwood Section. - Jack Nelson - Bob Essery - Carl Legg - Lambourn. - Don Boreham - Bill Strickland - James Beeson - W Norris Damn - that is another 10 names and there are more. Regards Chris H

And on railways, we now have the IEP train with pantographs for 25kv AC where the overhead electric string is available and an on-board diesel power-station for where there is no electric string. Surely this is all getting a bit avant-garde for a topic with the heading "Deliberately Old-Fashioned 0 Scale"? Regards Chris H

Just remember - "It is the second mouse which gets the cheese"! Chris H

Going back to Mike's original e-mail, I recommend getting in touch with Paul Lumsdon at www.wjvintage.co.uk. See: Address: WJVintage 29 Wood Road Kings Cliffe PE8 6XF Telephone: 07711 092497 Email: wjvintage@outlook.com Although WJVintage specialises in models of the "Deliberately Old Fashioned" variety, Paul is an ETS stockist and has good links to them. You should be able to purchase one of the ETS mechanisms - which are good - with less coarse wheels. Talk to Paul. An alternative mechanism - which will run on 0 FS track is the old Lima motor bogie - I have one under my 1970s built "Highfield" kit based exGE tram loco. But you would need to modify the Skytrex boiler moulding. Regards Chris H

Which signal controls the departure of a train on the Wenford branch? - Presumably the ground shunt signal associated with platform starter F, on the grounds that there are no passenger moves on this branch? Assuming the above is correct, then you can't have a fouling / locking bar operative before signal F - AND no train loco can pass signal(s) F until one or other of them is pulled off. Is this right? / Does it help? Regards Chris H

What you really want is one of these! Regards Chris H

I might almost have believed you if it wasn't for the reflection of the door handle! - Hope you had the heating turned up. Regards Chris H

The Don Townsley 7mm scale drawing of the "Millwall Extension Railway" 2-4-0T - Manning & Wardle - was published on page 62 of Model Railway Journal Issue No. 53 - dated 1992. Photographs were also published in MRJ issues 55 and 57 - including one showing the loco with "Pears Soap" advertising logo on the tank side. Remember this was circa 1900. Regards Chris H

I hadn't looked hard enough at the boxes - I assumed they were iron castings out to weather before machining, for which they are just about the right colour! Regards Chris H

We had one of the H-D ex LMS design 6 wheel "Stove" van models - when they were new and only 13/- (£0-65p). A very nice looking model, but the centre axle arrangement was rather floppy - to say the least - and there were occasional problems with derailments. Regards Chris H

Annie, That is very useful, regarding the use of the polyurethane varnish do you varnish before or only after application? Also what do you use to fix the overlays with? - Spray adhesive / double-sided sticky tape / wall-paper paste?. I think I know my preferred methods, but would like to get more advice from others. Also your post has brought back memories of visiting "Home of "0" Gauge" by Raynes Park station - marvellous place. The trains I used to get there were mainly the older "Slam-door" variety, so it was a few years back. Regards Chris H

About the one bit of art appreciation class that I do remember is, that the one with the gloves on has just left home to go on the grand tour, while the other one - note also the loosened hair - is returning home from the grand tour having tasted the forbidden fruit! All a bit subtle if you ask me. regards Chris H

And No.NER 13 has a small book about it - and the proposed main line electrification. I used to have a copy, but it might have wandered. Chris H

Looks like you have found the answer - They are lined up for the start of the earliest VCC run to Brighthelmstone from Paltry Circus! Regards Chris H

A pre 1923 "Metropolitan" train has been seen at at Paltry Circus, but considering there are only three rails - rather than the necessary four - this was a bit of a surprise. Regards Chris H

Yes, that 113 m.p.h. trip was exciting. It was a Friday evening "UP" Watercress train which came from Salisbury - all three (?) coaches and about 5 bogie vans, so relatively lightweight. The group I was with travelled down from Woking to Basingstoke, in the knowledge that the "Up" working was expected to be a fairly smartish run. In the event it was rather exciting in a change underwear sort of way - especially when a large lump of coal fell off the tender, luckily no one was hurt. The high speed was held for a few miles. Regards Chris H

????? - Not sure who will be more offended the Ffestiniog lot or the Talyllyn Railway - it was the latter that bought and rebuilt "Irish Pete". Trouble is that despite the democratic selection of the "Irish Pete" name, somebody got all strait-laced when the loco finally was ready for naming - it is now known as "Tom Rolt". Regards Chris H (An "Irish Pete" voter).

Well done, I'm looking forward to bringing some interlopers round for a play soon - Met / LNER or GWR, as Sir decrees? Are you about for a late morning coffee on Monday? I'll try not to bring any residual bugs! A bit of good news is encouragement from the distaff side for the reinstatement of the conservatory floor railway, now that the Grand-childer-beasts will not be here so often! - This was an unprompted suggestion - so I'm wondering if there is a catch! Regards Chris H

I failed to respond to the "River" class provocation as it was getting a bit far fetched. Regarding the GW tank derivatives of the 43xx Moguls - there isn't one in quite the same way as the Met K Class 2-6-4Ts were built from "Woolwich" moguls or the LMS 2-6-4Ts appear to relate to Stanier moguls. The 31xx / 51xx etc., Prairie tanks on the GWR carried much smaller boilers that the 43xx and later Moguls - it was all about keeping the axle loads down to reasonable levels. Also the GWR had a lot of serviceable 4-4-0s for working cross-country trains over more lightly laid lines. The most powerful GWR tanks were the 42xx 2-8-0T and 72XX 2-8-2Ts for creeping about the country with heavy coal trains. These locos had a lot more in common with a 28xx 2-8-0. Now I expect to be shot-down by JRS or other expert. Regards Chris H

I reckon it is something in the water around Nearholmer Towers. Either that or there is a secret model engine breeding plant being used experimentally??? Regards Chris H

Good to see signs of progress. I look forward to bringing a visiting teak coloured train and apple green engine to stretch their legs - before the end of October? Regards Chris H