ringo

Kev. very minor differences , but the mains ones, are the air intake on the wing side, the rear door window appature is a different shape, and the bumpers are different on the front. If you are a perfectionist then they matter, I am not so it doesnt bother me. Cheers R

Technically, the Land Rover shown as the upcoming model is wrong for the 87/88 year, as it is a a TD5 model, which was from 1998 on. However. that said, I converted a BT one that you can get now, to a BR one, very simple, just rub off the BT logos and replace with The sign of the devil! Cheers R

http://www.travellerhomes.co.uk/ I found a web site the other day, or rather came accross by looking for something else, but, if you go through all of the vehicles, there is a large amount of Ex BR busses, vans etc, some are in dreadfull condition, but its worth a flick through as there are some purlers in there. Some examples http://www.travellerhomes.co.uk/?p=1788 http://www.travellerhomes.co.uk/?p=2575 Cheers Ringo

Bernard, fair enough, made a t*t of myself there, , dosent realy matter though, Marina or Ital, they were still rubbish! Give me a classic yellow HA any day! Or has any one got pics of the horrible Commer (i think PA?) with the rounded front without all of the later plastic bumbers/grill. I have to say ive never travelled in a van that was so bad, ever, why did BR and BT keep buying such appaling vans! Cheers R

The Marina van at Crewe isnt actually a Marina, its an X reg Ital van, which also had the revised Ital "design" front end (although not actually desined by Ital at all, just a Morris marketing ploy), and also had the improved Ital dashboard. Soho Distribution & Overheads had a brand new one delivered to them, which was taken out imeadiately after delivery, and road tested at speed, where upon they seized it solid, testiment to a) The brains within the depot and B), the quality testiment of the Morris build quality! R

I remember the Old Oak bus, first off was breakfast in the canteen on platform 1, then catch the bus to OOC, Side saddle and the others, they all had a death wish, from what I can remember, flying past the scrubs at breakneck speeds and down Old Oak lane! Also catching the bus back to Padd, so the tech team and QA team to go to the Pub (especially so on a Thursday night where it wasnt uncommon for a bit of a sing song to 70s/80s music used to break out......but thats another story). I also very much remember that the Saltley bus which operated between Tyseley, New St and Saltley was also driven by mad drivers, Lenny the Lion comes to mind, that was a well beaten Sherpa minibus, one day, Lenny managed to pull out of Tyseley, into the back of a West Midlands double decker! One day as apprentices, we went to Longsight, got picked up at Picadilly, in a Transit bus, and driven to Longsight at light speed, asked why we were driving like there was no tommorrow, the bus driver said that if he drove too slowly through Moss side heed get bricked! Cheers R

And an arty shot in Straford, incidently, Eddison worked at Statford station, before he became famous, as per the plaque on the wall of the station. The plaque About to cross Oxford Street and back into EMD Cheers R

One of mine taken a few years ago in Canada whilst on a test run from EMD to Stratford Ontario, the only time class 66s actually worked across a short line under their own power....and it was very wet! In Poland 66001, moves old PKP wagons in the snow and cold, about minus 20! Cheer r

Mike, best not dwell on it, its done and gone and thats the main thing. Given your insight in the industry, we must have crossed paths at some stage, drop me a PM with your full ame on, and see if we do actually know of each other. Regards R

Mike I understand what your saying, but in reality it was inspected by a totaly independant third party, it did make it more difficult where it was positioned on the back of Allelys trailer, but it was definately done, and as I say there were many legalities to sort out, so as you say, they may have been approached by other parties. But, knowing the person who did it, it would have been quite comprehensive in the first place. I have done the same level of independant inspectons on locos and rolling stock over the years, again for third parties, leasng companies etc, the last report was on 6616 in Rotterdamn, and you have to remain objective and treat it as if it was something that you were going to buy......you want to see me when I buy a car....dealers hate me! However, its gone and thats the end of it, but it would have made a great "Mega Moves" programe......Allelys do America! Regards R

Stationmaster, not true in reference to finding a independant competent engineer to examine 70012, It was examined by a very competent Engineer whom I have known and respected for many years, It was examined on the same day that I changed the bogies on 70009, and that was only a couple of weeks after the incident. I cant go into reasons to why it took so long for 012 to return to the States, as it would be very unprofessional of me, but there were a lot of legalities to sort out. Regards R

Hi, I follow this thread a lot, as I do have an interest in the road vehicles side of railway modelling. If it were to split from here, my own view would be the following: Vehicles pre 1970,-pre yellow van Vehicles post 1970 to Privatisation, yellow van era Vehicles Post Privatisation, you name what ever colour van era! I dont have much interest in pre 70s, but am an avid follower of the BR Yellow fleet, and some degree the post privatisation years too. I dont know how manageable that would be , but at least its another opinion. Cheers Ringo

At Tyseley, we had to prove we could drive a van, so the supervisor used to go out with you, and that was 1985! I had the full compliment on my BR license, except for HGV, but did have an additional endorsement for driving the BRUFF. For the BRUFF and Comando, you had a man from Derby turn up and take you out, but that changed later to the supervisors taking you out. I also had one for the fork lift! Regards R

The bogies on 70009 were changed at Newport docks, adjacent to Transit Shed 5, using two road cranes, one 350 tonner and a 250tonner, working in tandem. A big job to do in the active docks, but all went well, and the job was near as damn it finished by 16.30 on Wednesday, finished off on Thursday and released for service. R

Andyb, That one at Battelfield, contains parts from Ex Tyseley Bruff, C960YOR, when completely finished, my model one will be C960YOR, in respect to some of my former colleagues who where tragically killed when it overturned. Regards R

Ive nearly finished my 4mm BRUFF, I used an ex Airfix Bedford bowser (former JB models type), shortend it and added N gauge wheels regauged to 16.5mm. Still has some paint and bits (such as mirrors) to do, but nearly there. Ironically, just as I was doing this today, I had a phone call to arrange for a BRUFF to attend a derailment of an 08!! Appologies for the quality of the phots, I may some more in daylight. Regards Ringo

Steve, I took a series of photgraphs of the sides and ends, and them scaled them down in a word document to 1/76, I will also then use these photos to make up details in transfers to use on the completed model, also having been an "official" BRUFF driver in BR days, some of its down to memory!. Then, I need to work out how I can motorise it...... I also have one onging in "N" too, but thats a bit of a way off yet. Cheers R

Hi, Im in the middle of finally getting my road rail Rerailing BRUFF together, its early days yet, and only the cab and box body are done, although not completed. I was going to use a chassis from either, base, corgi etc, having now disected a chassis, ive decided to make one from scratch,,,,,another couple of weeks for that! Also included below, is a Net Rail Unimog, which I didnt make, but would make a good basis for a BRUFF chassis, albeit expensive! Cheers R

Jamie 92208 Alas you are misinformed, the Jenbacher engine, was actually designed originally as a diesel/gas oil engine, and not a "Gas" propelled engine. There is also less flexing within a locomotive with a substanial framing than you think, rail veicles seldom see the stresses in the frames that you would expect in a piece of mobile plant, the stresses being more longitudinal rather than tortional. Theres been a lot of bad press in reference to these locomotives/engine by those who are ill informed im afraid, the 70 is a very impressive machine, ok not the best looking, but the performances they are starting to acheive are excellent. Give the loco some time, theres always niggly faults, remember this is a completely new piece of traction for the UK, the 66s had their problems too in the early days, so did the 58s and 60s! R

The train was run under DBS's safety case, FL drivers drive DBS locos, and vice versa, it was not there for insurance purposes, just for positioning! The 70s are now putting some creditable mileages, and the running in problems are now being sorted and are fast becoming reliable and competant machines. R

And....here is the not quite finished N gauge rerailing train that goes with it< Cheers Simon The piece in front of the match wagon in pic 9 is the spreader beam for lifting coaches and locos.

Hi, hopefully the pictures are attached, but here is my first attempt at an N gauge truck, a BR rerailing equipment and personnel van. Chhers R