wonkychops

While I don't know the whole history of the LMS 40T brake vans, you need to know that at least one survived beyond the Copley Hill service in BR days. There is a photograph of one in E S Tonks books on Ironstone railways and this is branded for use on the branch. There is a good reason for this as ironstone loads are quite heavy and this branch has some fierce gradients of 1:50, so a lot of brake force would be needed in any emergency. Other photographs have been published in Bylines on the Eaton branch/Wycomb Junction/ Waltham branch that also shows the brake van there. See Vol. IX of Tonks on Leicestershire, page 46 dated 28th March 1956 by JR Bonser I figured that the body of this brake van can be made from two Parkside/Peco 20T MR/LMS brake vans, though the bogies look predominantely LNWR inspired I have never found anyone who makes a full kit for them in 4mm scale. Wonkychops

It was any details about the design of a roof or covering for the water I was interested in. There is a photo on page 34 of Midland Record that shows an unusual addition to water tanks - a series of horizontal metal beams across the width of a standard water tank. I am hoping there is a second photo that shows what those beams would be supporting. However during my searching for other information I have come across three photos of Hellifield Station, one about 1900-1910, the second during the 1930's and a third in the 1960's. In the background is the engine shed and its water tank. At first there is an arched roof, later a gable ended pitched roof and finally no roof at all to the water tank. So far I have not found photos of any other water tanks with roofs. But as the Hellifield water tank is in the background details are not visible, though it appears the 1930's version could be made of corrugated iron sheets. This just leaves me more questions, was this a rareity, what caused the design to change and finally was the tank out of use and quite derelict by 1960? It could be the roof cover was a Victorian concept that gradually faded away or it maybe the climate at Hellifield necessitated frost prevention that was not necessary in many other places? It leaves me more mystified. Wonkychops

Please see the only reference to hydraulic power that I had previously come across and which drew my attention. It is an extract from an article by H W Twells called Lineside Buildings, published October 1973 in Model Railways ( or MRN ) - I hope this image does not infringe any copyright - Wonkychops

Many thanks everyone for the accumulator tower references, I hadn't noticed any of these before. However the water tank roof is another matter. I have knowledge of the trussing used inside the water tank panels but I am convinced there was published a photograph of a roof being built - probably in the years since 2019. I believe it was in an unusual publication, such as Bylines or even a national society newsletter, but so far my searches have come to nothing, so I am beginning to think it was a dream. Can someone clear up that belief ? Quite a few publications have indexes, the trouble is not where I have been looking! Wonkychops

In the last few years I think I saw a photograph showing the roof structure for a Midland Railway Water Tower. I think it was in an unusual publication for such a photograph. I seem to have mislaid it, so I have been looking through the publications I have, without any sucess, so can anyone tell me where and when the photograph was published? I am beginning to think I might have been dreaming unless it is found. I have a number of water tanks to roof but this is a topic that is very, very rare. Anothet topic I have found very little information on are the hydraulic towers that used to supply power across sites for lifts and other equipment. There was one article in a magazine but very few other photographs or information about these Victorian structures.

It seems the former Millholm Models range of brass and white metal castings is/will be available through Squires who have bought the Stevenson coaches range. These looked good parts, particularly for LMS locomotives though I have no details about their accuracy, but this seems good news.... Seen at Scaleforum on 25 September. Wonkychops

I acquired a B2 - the Sherwood version. It has some scratch marks around the "nameplate" and I tried to match the base colour "lime green" to no effect. Can anyone tell me where and what colour green the body of "Sherwood" should be touched up to match the factory finish?