Ian Major

I have been a read only member of this forum for some time so perhaps now I should contribute a bit. I am not as productive as most members of this forum, so my results tend to be rather slow in arriving. First up is a rebuild of a Coopercraft GWR Dia O4 open wagon which is well on the way to completion. Some time ago when I was a member of a model railway club, I did an exchange of wagons. I had scratch built a Midland Railway open for the club’s LMS based 7mm layout. The funding was tight, so I was convinced to exchange my MR wagon for a “slightly damaged” GWR one that the club owned rather than receive the expected cash. Initially I could see damage to the buffers, headstocks and brake gear. Nothing apparently too bad. When I got it home and on to some track it proved to be a complete lemon and would not stay on the track. I put it on a sheet of glass revealing 3 wheels touching the glass whilst the 4th was at least 1mm above it. I also found that the chassis had been packed out to one side so the body was off centre when viewed from the end. I immediately looked in the mirror but couldn’t make out the word “Mug” on my forehead but decided it must have been there somewhere! For more than 20 years it sat forlornly in my workshop acting as a suitable container for small parts made for other vehicles rather like the time expired full-sized versions that used to be seen outside of railway works. A few weeks ago, I decided to take the plunge and rebuild it. I have not built any of the Coopercraft kits so before starting I decided to look around the various fora to see other people’s experiences. A useful one (in 4mm scale) was here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/73776-gwr-four-plank-wagon-from-coopercraft-kit-gwr-one-plank-wagons/?p=1095280 From the photos in the above, I noticed there were studs on both ends to support the floor, and the solebars had upward extensions. The article suggested the resulting floor level was too high. On mine the studs had been cut off and the tops of the solebars cut down. In fact, the solebar top flange had gone. Without the supports the floor was skewed and the one end did not sit properly on the headstock, leaving a markedly tapered gap. This I decided was the cause of the uneven chassis. I set to stripping down the wagon and was able to recover the following parts. There had originally been brake gear on both sides but on receipt it was totally smashed on one side and quite badly damaged on the other. The DC brake levers were just stumps. I also noticed that the brake push rods were wrong for DC brakes. The swan neck lever behind the right axle guard lifts to apply the brakes which means the pushrods should be left over right, not as they are in the photo. The plastic of the ”v” hanger at the end of the solebar showed areas that had gone white indicating they had been bent and fatigued. They were severely weakened. All very sad because I had hoped to retain the DC brakes and the final result was a bit of a mongrel. Oh well. The original kit supplied 4 strips of stainless steel for weights which I retained. These add up to 24 gm (9 oz). I did a trial fit of the solebars on to the wheels to measure up for components to rebuild the chassis and to check for ride height. The photos show the comparison with a Slaters/Parkside Dia O24 that I recently built. You will probably notice that I am using the O24 to hold the bits and pieces now! Edit: 04/01/19. Changing first entry to reflect start of new project.

John, I have sent the photo to you in case it is different. The door to the groom compartment is open and it is possible to see the internal detail. It doesn't show the access hatches to the horses since these are viewed end on. Ian.

John, I have a copy of Russel GW Coaches 1903 to 1948. Page 96 there is a side view of a Dia N13 horsebox with all the doors open to reveal the interior. The Parkside PS105 models this version. If you are interested I will scan it in and send it to you on a PM. I wo'nt publish it here to avoid copyright issues. Ian.

Hi, I have just found your log and I love your work. It brings back happy memories of Blackpool holidays with my grandparents. I thought you might be interested in some photos that I took in 1965 on one of those trips. At this time the network had been cut back to the seafront line. On previous trips we used to go to Stanley Park on the tram. Wonderful. These photos are not of the highest quality I am afraid - I was rather young with a very basic camera. First some ground level shots taken near South Pier. A couple of photos taken from the tower looking straight down on the tramway. I will not add any further descriptive comment because I can guarantee that you know more about these trams than I do! Some of the surrounding items and street furniture (including bicycle straight out of a Hovis advert) are interesting. Ian.

Absolutely wonderful. Where did you learn such modelling skills? .....or is it something in your tea (if so can I have some)?.....or does it just come naturally? Ian.

Excellent job. Looking good.

Out of this world. Fabulous work. This deserves a place in the Brimingham Science Museum. Are there any more photos? Ian

Actually, looking at the side of your carriage, I think it is actually a diagram E140 - the fifth compartment is a 1st - D109 has all third compartments. Photo of an E140 on page 148 of the appendix one. The number W6975W ties up with this putting it in Lot 1455 of 1931. The interior shots are from page 172 - very useful. Ian.

I used to travel in one of these when I was young (Diagram D109 if I am not mistaken). The droplights could be right up with the bottom rested on a ledge (which is how my Mother preferred it), right down (how I preferred it) or in an intermediate position held by a hole in the leather strap hooked on to a brass pin. Looking at the photos of carriage interiors in my Russel Appendex 1, all the straps shown had 6 holes. So yes the droplights had set positions but quite a few. So you can model yours in a fairly random way. Ian.

I have just found this thread and am enjoying reading it. Excellent work. I think the Athens and Piraeus Railway that the Hudswell Clarke engine "Olga" was used on is a different line to the one that Unhooked is modelling. If I am wrong I am sure Unhooked will correct me and I will go hide myself in the corner of the room. "Olga's" railway originally used steam traction and was electrified in 1904. I travelled on it in 1976 which was about the time that it was nationalized and renamed Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways. I photographed the train on which I travelled at (the other) Piraeus station. The train consisted of a 1st generation EMU which had wooden bodies. I loved it. There are some interesting, if brief, entries in Wikipedia for the Athens-Pireaus Electric Railway and the Hellenic State Railways (SEK) . Ian

Peter, That is absolutely wonderful. The last photo takes me back to being a young child often standing on that spot. I would be waiting for a large prairie to shuffle in with some ancient non corridor stock to take me back to my village near Evesham. To my young nose that part of Snow Hill always smelt of fish! On one of my visits to Snow Hill (I think 1962) the steps up off the platform were fully carpeted. The manufacturer wanted to demonstrate how durable their carpets were. Ian.