7TunnelShunter

Hi Neal Pedant alert You would still need a guard (and hence van). It is only recently that trains were able to work driver only. Initially with the switch to fully fitted freights in the 1980s the guard rode in the back cab, the driver was responsible for the loco, the guard the whole train i.e. checking marshalling, couplings, operation of the continuous brake. Perhaps most significantly the rules around a disabled train set out different duties for the driver and guard. So anytime before the late 1980s a freight train would have a guard but not necessarily a 'guards van' - in steam days fully fitted freights would have a piped or fitted van. For example the GWR milk gains usually ran with a full passenger brake coach. Of course they are your trains, so marshall them as you see fit.

Thank Clive - the best Warley report I have seen this year. No frothing - well except the cappuccinos !

Well as it is morning here ... a Prairie and a heavy Freight tank...

Mornington Crescent...

These bespoke signals can "costa" fortune...! I believe I now get hat and coat and .....

Hi Stubby That depends what you mean by marine diesel... Marine diesel as sold in recent years at marinas is not essentially different from automobile diesel and so is distributed by road tankers and presumably rail tankers of the same heritage as used for petrol. The growth of leisure craft has greatly increased the demand for marine diesel. Marine fuel oil - as used by larger commercial vessels and older fishing vessels is a heavier oil and at most locations is delivered by ship - coastal products tankers - from coastal refineries. Of course there were some rail tankers for distributing heavier more viscous oils that were heated to keep the oil flowing.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT-111_tank_car so these could be used to supply marine fuel oil to smaller ports where demand did not require a ship load! So depends on period as to what the demand was for marine diesel vs marine fuel oil and where you location was in terms of demand and ability to be serviced by sea. I hope that helps Chris

Thanks - I agree lack of artificial light is a further confounding factor - but one was using a hand lamp - to signal the loco, see where one was treading and so was not using to look of brake handles. It is interesting if the white handles became widespread after nationalisation but not in the 'black out' and the PO wagons is further confusion. Image of 2881 - a 'brown vehicle with the roundel' in traffic with white handbrake ends ! http://www.alextrack.co.uk/model_railways/2mm_finescale/non_passenger_carrying_coaching_stock/parcels_miscellaneous_vans_pmv_gwr_fruit_d_pasfruit.html So I think I am going to be searching for images of wagons in traffic pre-war - and a quick search appears to show most without white ends, lots in which it is impossible to tell and some with white ends... Rule 1 applies. Thanks Chris

And talking of brakes... This is a really informative thread and shows cases some excellent wagons... I do love a good wagon. However, I note that all the illustrated wagons have the handbrakes painted in underframe/body colour. I am used to working wagons with the handles highlighted in white... on the real railway in the 1980s and in on heritage lines. When stood in the 10 foot (in the dark) with a rake of wagons rolling towards you picking out which end, or even which wagon, had a hand brake was much easier if they were (weathered) white. So my question is, was this, like white platform edging, a WW II change? In which case I will be repainting the handbrakes on my 1936 era stock (but, looking on the bright side, not having to pick out the handles on future builds!). Any speculation or information welcome Thanks Chris

Thanks for the update - good progress. My joinery skills are not up to things like lifting flaps - I am restricted to crawling on the concrete floor of the garage to get under the baseboard. However the following is an excellent solution - neat, robust and efficient and whats more suitable for the conveyance of God's Wonderful Railway trains! Certainly in the spirit of Mr Brunel's wooden viaducts See post #87 in http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94350-mid-cornwall-lines-1950s-western-region-in-00/page-4 Best of luck with which ever option you go with Chris

Well a Praire rarely offends :-)