Metropolitan H

The way the present crew are behaving, that last sentence sounds wholly plausible! I rather think there are ever more outrageous escapades to come. What I am wondering is how long till the "Swivel-eyed Loons" are kitted out in Brown shirts and arm bands to go around harassing the opposition??? - Before or after Christmas?? - Discuss! I hope I am wrong and that a good number of incumbent Conservative (Or are they??) MPs examine their consciences and take appropriate action to prevent the further degradation of the government of our now Third World nation. Big trouble is I am not at all confident that sense will prevail anytime soon. Regards Chris H

My OO "Bristol Castle" is also long gone. So far the biggest "0" gauge GWR loco in my fleet is the 4-6-0 "Kinlet Hall" followed by the ACE 43xx 2-6-0 and three different 4-4-0s - City, Bulldog & County Classes. Much as I like (read as "Lust after") the Castles, they really are just too big for my present railway, while the Hall etc fit well. Regards Chris H

Fred, That is a very good short video, that reminds me of my childhood growing up in Bracknell from age 5. I don't remember seeing a Castle class on a short coal train, but the local freight trains that delivered to Bracknell yard were often hauled by "N" class 2-6-0s, as were the Reading Southern to Redhill local passenger trains. Most of the Castle hauled trains that I remember were main line expresses through Twyford or Reading - including the "South Wales Pullman" - so a Castle on a Pullman set is very realistic, although the duty later got taken over by Britannias (from Cardiff Canton Shed). Many thanks for the nostalgia. Regards Chris H P.S. - My first OO gauge model train was a Hornby-Dublo 3- rail "Bristol Castle" set for Christmas 1957(?) - I still think I was a lucky boy. CH

Hello Kevin, Your abscence this p.m. was noted. You missed a very good get-together. It was one of my trains, with the HAG Re4/4 loco - similar to Fred's brother's, but the earlier version with the cab end gangway doors. The first coach was an original Swiss Darstaed SBB AB (Composite) , the other four were Elettren CIWL types - a Pullman, a Wagon-Restaurant, a Wagon-Lit and a Baggage wagon. As my HAG loco is a single motor version this train is just about the comfortable limit before wheel-spin becomes a problem. I can thoroughly recommend Fred's e-book regarding "Elettren Trains", but beware it could lead one into great temptation. The NAR0GG meeting this p.m. was very enjoyable with an eclectic mix of models on show and running, including Mr Knights' Walker-Reimsdyk 0-6-0T trundling round with a single open wagon at a true walking pace - very impressive. I must also give a mention of thanks to those who provided the teas, sandwiches and cakes that sustained us through the session. They really are the heroes and heroines behind these meetings. In addition to the Swiss / CIWL train I also ran GNR "Atlantic" 251 with the Darstaed LNER teak train and the Keith Murray LNER (ex GN) C12 4-4-2T with three ACE LNER teak 6-wheelers. these were on the side-show track that I provided. We look forward to the full meeting report from Richard Holder and Paul Lumsdon - with the proposals for the next year's set of meeting dates. Regards Chris H

I'm always glad that I was a lucky young chap a was bought a Hornby-Dublo "Bristol Castle" set (3-rail) for Christmas when they were first produced. i looked like the real ones I saw at Twyford or Reading. The smaller Tri-ang TT version never quite looked sufficiently real to me. Regards Chris H P.S. - the H-D Castle is long gone and now I tend to run modern coarse-scale "0" - with a Hall as the largest GWR loco. But it keeps me happy and provides plenty of fun and interest. CH

Piddlehinton is the home of the "Piddle Brewery". The Piddle Amber Ale is very palatable. Regards Chris H

Very good, but someone seems to have been stealing all the coupling hooks. I know you use a different form of coupler to enable remote operation, but the lack of the hooks does look very odd. Regards Chris H

Remember the ex GNR Goods Depot closed in 1956 and the track connections were removed before that picture was taken - or they would be visible. The purpose of the headshunt was to hold a loco used to assist inter-regional trains (mainly freight) from Farringdon to Holborn Viaduct. Regards Chris H

I beg to differ but Mr Raven's finest carried the number 13 and was never allowed to show the way forward for the main lines north of York - a terrible shame. I do appreciate the various Raven steam locos - especially the D 4-4-4T, the 3 cylinder Atlantics that became LNER C7 and the two cylinder 0-8-0 that became LNER class Q6. But the real stars showing the way forward were the electrics - of which no.13 was the best. Regards Chris H

Sorry to hear you have been suffering from Covid (Long or otherwise) after effects. I hope you get fully recovered soon. Now to the delightful picture of the No.1 class 2-4-0 at Swaffham. This took me back to my teenage days reading the MRN in the early (?) 1960s, where I saw pictures of the beautiful model made by Geoff Pember of one of those locos and separately a superb GER level crossing diorama. All rather superb. Regards Chris H

before the advent of modern electronics, you could not take reliable "cylinder indicator diagrams" - to show the real working and efficiency of each cylinder - without someone riding on the front of the loco. Hence the shed - the bloke(s) inside would have been too busy to do much looking out. I'm just glad I never had to take indicator diagrams on a moving vehicle. Look up "steam engine indicator diagram" on Google. Regards Chris H

I do like that picture of the C12 under the roof, and didn't anything wrong with the slight overexposure of the scene beyond the roof. Dad's Zeiss bellows camera 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" format on 120 film would have given a similar result - if you could decern any detail under the roof. But that would have been in B&W - Dad didn't go to colour slide film till circa 1962. Regards Chris H

And don't forget the "Surrey Iron Railway" ran through the area many years earlier. regards Chris H

I think there are at least twotypes of working to consider: - Regular timetable operation of through trains. - Special / Excursions, such as those for Henley Regatta / Ascot Races etc. Although it doesn't apply to the Henley Branch - there were a number of interesting "Regular" inter company / region workings in the Reading and Oxford area. - Southern Railway locos regularly worked long distance "South Coast" to "Midlands and North" from Basingstoke through to Oxford via Reading West and Didcot. (Can be seen in Miniature at Pendon - Guy Williams built a beautiful "King Arthur" for the purpose). - There were LNER trains through to Swindon from ex GCR lines onto the GWR at Banbury. (Can also be seen in Miniature at Pendon - they have at least one LNER C1 "Large Atlantic" and relevant train of LNER teak stock). - Through into BR days there was a regular working by a WR loco and crew from the Western Shed at Reading - taking a train from Reading Southern to Redhill / Tonbridge (?) and back. This was specially run to maintain the "Route Knowledge" of the Western loco crews at Reading. These regular workings would not need the regular presence of Inspectors or Pilot men - as the regular crews would learn the route and sign for it. In the case of the "Special / Excursion" workings, if there were insufficient crews with relevant route and loco knowledge, then Inspectors or "Pilot Men" would be provided - diverted from their more regular duties. Now I await correction / further education. Regards Chris H

Just so long as we ignore "Metro Cammell Weymann" - the other MCW, that mainly built road vehicles! Regards Chris H

Would that be with the original Oak frames - with iron / steel facing plates on the solebars - or a better riding steel channel frame derived from a SR 32ft PLV? Regards Chris H

Oh! I thought it was a bit strange with the focus on The Metropolitan Railway - which had relatively few Four wheeled coaches and only 2 six wheeled saloons, the rest being 8 wheelers (rigid then later bogie cars from the late 1890s). So who holds the archives from Metro-Cammell (the successor to MCW)? - Are they with Alstom or somewhere like Birmingham Museum. MCW did of course absorb a lot of the other builders sometime around early 1900s. Some of the builders also folded or had fires resulting in loss of records. I wish you well in your searches. Apart from the drawings in Jim Snowdon's book, the oldest Metropolitan Railway vehicle I can find a diagram of is the last 3 rigid 8 wheel Brake 3rds from circa 1883-4. They were still in use when the Diagram book was prepared to detail the rolling stock transferred to LT in 1935. Regards Chris H

I hadn't replied earlier, as I had assumed that all who wanted to know about Metropolitan Railway rolling stock would have dug into the LT Museum archives and purchased copies of Jim Snowdon's "Metropolitan Railway Rolling Stock" - ISBN: 9781874103660 - along with "Steam to Silver" etc. But as friend Nearholmer states, I did have an involvement with the refurbishment of Met No. 353 by Boston Lodge Works and the overhaul of the related "Milk Van" No.3 by Wolverton apprentices - in readiness for the celebration of LU150 in 2013. So I do have a few pictures of my own from when No. 353 was parked at Baker Street Platform 1 on 20th March 2013 - along with a very special "S" Stock which was unveiled that day: Of course I and the rest of the general public weren't allowed near the display till after the Royal party had departed, but I was very proud to have been involved with both the LU150 Heritage Trains and the development and acceptance of the "S" Stock - including having had a hand in the nameplate style, but that is another story. One of the things about 353 is that most of the exterior panels are original and cleaned up really quite easily. The replacements were only necessary due to the through gangway doors in the ends fitted by the WC&P. Regards Chris H

Is that a Derwent Valley Light Railway location - ? Wherever, it is rather inspiring. Regards Chris H

Perhaps we should have arranged to go to Switzerland this year - 75 years after my parents went (for the second time) in 1947. We still have a copy of the official SBB programme from the 100 years of swiss railwaya events in the family collection. The above scans have both come out larger than life size, without me knowing how to reduce them to match the originals? Regards Chris H

Looks very good. I cant help with the wagons or the O2, but here are a couple of Dad's pre-war B&W pictures, as coincidental references: - First, 4791 in early 1939 (?) at Peterborough North - on a frosty morning. Second we have what might be 2554 (???) northbound passing Walton (LMS) station - taken from by the level crossing gates - on a much warmer day. Not earlier than 1938, as that appears to be the year the camera was supplied. Sorry, I can't get any better clarity of the scans - from 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" contact prints. Regards Chris H

Glad to see some progress with the replacement layout. I collected a rather posh new loco today, which looks rather fine at the head of three LNER "Teak" coaches (I know it ought to be ECJS vehicles to match the livery - but rule 1 applies). I look forward to the opportunity to meet and play trains again soon. Regards Chris H

Are you absolutely sure that a Right Wing majority couldn't pass legislation allowing them to dispense with General Elections - and at the same time start eliminating the opposition and trade unions. The stuff of nightmares and I occasionally wake in fright during the small hours. A great pity that I do not trust the Unions (not really a socialist amongst them - ?) and their hold over the Labour party is too akin to some of the other malaign influences in present politics. Now I'm going on a weeks holiday and hoping to avoid the machinations of the Tory and Labour parties etc., till after the Bank Holiday. Keep the pot stirring. Regards Chris H

Two superb pictures - bravo. I'm sure that signalman in "North Box" moves around between pictures - but he is kept busy. Regards Chris H

I do like a C12 - here is my "O" gauge one. Regards Chris H