Iltman

Yes that’s true, in the mid thirties the idea was to build a set of 4-6-2 2-6-4 Garretts for the Basingstoke Exeter line. It went as far as getting a quote from Beyers and the board authorising the purchase. It petered out due IMHO to Maunsells health issues but for Southern modellers it gives an excuse to run the U1 ‘on trials’ at least that’s my excuse

Got mine today and it looks very nice somehow though I managed to stab myself in the nostril opening it 😂

I hope you don’t mind but if the date is correct then it wouldn’t be the cross country sets as modelled by EFE, they were built between 1908-12. it could be one of the Suburban sets built around the turn of the century

Oh boy this was rather unexpected. I will be ordering one as she was SR based during my modelling period. FYI this was the engine that infamously during her sojourn at Derby MPD had to by run up and down the yard by a pilot engine to charge the batteries enough to switch her on!

Why Mr Rapidoandy I do believe you’re spoiling us

Of course if you model the right period you can model them on the GE. My dad used to commute through Liverpool Street during the early 1950s and used to reminisce about the time the traverser was under repair in 1951 and A5s wren working trains instead of tender engines. Although he was a GWR man he had a soft spot for the A5s as well as the Buckjumpers

Coincidence does seem to have a sense of humour. I got a copy of Kevin Robertson’s The Railways of Winchester and there on page 36 was a photo of Bar End goods shed on the DN&S in BR days with three Iron Minks in front. No date I’m afraid but based on other pics by the photographer I’m guessing around 1960

I think we might just have to adjust ourselves to this new reality I’m afraid. Do I like it? Not particularly but I’ve ordered a BR version and as I’ve got some Oxford Rail wagons on pre order will have them all shipped in one go which saves on the postage. Oh and talking to the chap at Rails there’s a distinct possibility that we’ll get a yellow Portland Cement version in the future.

I hope the group won’t mind my input but I got mine this morning so thought I’d post a pic. I haven’t managed to put her on track but from my (admittedly poor) eyes there doesn’t seem to be an issue with the tender or the number.

I’ve already ordered three (one five plank and two seven planks) and I’m really hoping these herald a series of accurate Southern prototype wagons

With regards to banana van working D W Winkworth has a section on banana trains in Southern Special Traffic. He gives an example of a block train from Avonmouth up the GW main line to Reading then via the Southern to Redhill where the train was broken up and individual vans were forwarded to various destinations by ordinary train.

Oh very well done AS. Not a Southern loco (cough cough) but a beautiful model and at a very reasonable price so I may just add one to work the Portsmouth to Cardiff interregional

I have to admit I’ve already ordered a Crimson Van as this has been very high up on my wish list.

As Frothfest 2021 has (semi) officially started I thought I’d add my 2ps worth. Please note this is not a wish list but my thoughts on what might be on Hornby's radar; firstly I’m feeling that a Saint might just be on the cards and I wouldn't be surprised to see some Toplight coaches to go with her. Secondly i’m not seeing any LNER steam this year but we may se an original Patriot as the new build is getting close, and some more Period three coaches. A period one engine may be coming and Lion may be it but I seem to remember reading that the tender currently with her is not the original so that may be an issue. A new decent wagon is a fair bet and I’m thinking an iron mink or similar wouldn’t totally surprise me. a WOW model, something that no one saw coming that will grab the headlines, I leave the identity to our fevered imaginations! and finally an industrial which I wouldn’t be totally shocked to see a being a Manning Whadle (think of the light railway liveries).

I hope you don’t mind if I elucidate a little. As you rightly say all tank wagons for petrol and fuel oil were pooled in 1939 when the government took over the supply and distribution. This ceased in 1947 when the tank wagons were handed back to their owners, and MOS and Air Ministry tanks were distributed as well. Its known that some tanks in the pre 1939 stone livery were still to be seen in the early 1950s but please don’t go overboard on the weathering as class A tanks tended to be not as mucky as the class B fuel oil variety