31A

Sorry if I confused people; I always understood it to be plastic on the K1 from what has been written and from experience with B1s, B17s, O1s etc. I was just thinking it might be better if Hornby followed Bachmann's practice in this area as a more robust component might result (although owners of certain N class moguls may disagree).

Thanks for that - I'll bear in mind should I ever need to remove the O1's top! (I don't think I actually needed to, I was just trying to be nosey but decided to leave well alone after all!).

I look forward to buying my early crest version (for March allocated loco) in due course. If necessary I will refer to the suggestions in this thread for straightening the running plate. However it is noticeable that this part is normally a metal casting on Bachmann locos, and I'm slightly surprised Hornby haven't also adopted this approach on locos such as this where the running plate is quite a weak component (says he having given up trying to remove an O1's body after nearly breaking the running plate).

Brilliant! Save me revamping my old K's Bodyline kit for the umpteenth time!

Yup, both look like pretty good models of K1s.

Thanks for the pictures Market65; they give me a good idea of what to expect when my early crest loco (for the benefit of East Anglian running number!) arrives in due course. The footplate, as you say, is ever so slightly wonky but judging from your picture, in my view not enough to worry bout - I probably wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out. I do like the 'going away' shot!

Of the samples displayed at Warley, one had the raised plate on the firebox and the other didn't; unfortunately I can't remember which was which but there may be images of both knocking about somewhere which show this (this variation has also been modelled on the L1s), and the early crest sample had the rear tender coal plate in the original rearwards position, whereas the late crest specimen had it in the later forward position. All the K1s were built by North British; according to the RCTS Green Book these raised plates (which covered a strengthening patch due to the design of the stays) were later usually absent.

Thanks for these, Chris! I particularly like the 1968 shot - the station was so intact at the time that it looks as though the train is making a stop there (but isn't it an up train?)!

Interesting that the Harrogate - London left from the 'wrong' platform then, as it still does. Fascinating pictures as always - please keep them coming!

Is that the prototype for the George Allan etched footbridge kit in C1790?

Belated thanks for the Chesterton Junction pictures, Chris! It used to be a very good vantage point with a variety of traffic to be seen. I've taken several pictures there myself, albeit somewhat later than the ones you've posted.

Surely that shouldn't be necessary? It doesn't need to be any different from a 4-6-0 in model terms, just with the rear carrying axle unpowered, and given some vertical play so that it doesn't take any tractive weight off the drivers. I can see what you mean, though.

Just sent Hatton's a message of praise - I ordered a Heljan Baby Deltic (headcode discs, no frost grilles - £69) from them at 1705 yesterday and it was delivered by Yodel at 1430 this afternoon! I've always had good service from them but never that quick.

Thanks for these Chris! I grew up near Sandy (Gamlingay to be precise), and was involved with a group who tried to preserve a small part of the LNW line. The last loco I saw passing through Potton was an 08 like the one in your last picture; quite possibly the same one. Although by then no longer a through route to Cambridge (having been lifted from the middle outwards), I remember the equivalent demolition trains at the eastern end arriving in Cambridge past my school playing fields and recall they sometimes also used a short LNE brake van, which were getting pretty rare even then. With hindsight, I don't know how a preserved railway would have fared, as I'm sure the plans to rebuild Sandy station into its present format and eliminate the bottleneck must have been in the process of being formulated at the time.

You're welcome, Ian. I hope the noise from the mechanism doesn't drown out your sound chip - it doesn't seem to be getting any quieter despite oiling and some running in. It runs smoothly enough, but is noisier than the other Hornby N2s that I have. I did wonder whether it's the same motor as was discussed in the P2 thread?

Thanks, 34C - that does ring a bell now you mention it, I have had the cab roof off one of these before a long time ago - I seem to recall the vent pipes on the cab front are somehow attached to it though so some care is needed? Actually I hope a Xuron cutter will be able to reach inside the cab roof to lop off the offending article without needing to dismantle it. Thanks also for the comments re my layout; glad you like it and probably time I did a bit of an update in the Layout Topics section. There has been some progress lately in the right hand corner, some of which can be seen in the lower two pictures, so now I can post views looking in this direction without too much embarrassment!

There doesn't seem to be a thread for this model yet, so I thought I'd start one. I purchased one this morning from my local model shop, and as usual they gave it a test run for me. The first one off the shelf was rather 'growly', especially when running forwards so a second was tried which seemed the same. I bought the first one. Initial reactions on getting it home were good; the standard of finish on this loco is much better than on previous N2s I've bought (two others of Hornby origin, and several of the original Mainline variety), with a nice satin black finish. The lining in particular is very fine. Looking through a magnifying glass, I had difficulty convincing myself there was a cream line between the grey and red, but on viewing my photos under extreme magnification on the computer, I believe it is there! Apart from that, the classification 'N2' is carried on the front buffer beam and RA6 on the cabside. Physical alterations to the body are predictably few, although I don't think I've seen one with correct 'upright' vacuum pipes on the buffer beams before so this may be an alteration - earlier incarnations carried an incorrect short vac pipe. Sprung buffers are fitted as per previous Hornby issues of the model; they're not a bad representation of the GN cylindrical buffers with round bases. As with other Hornby releases, the rear buffer beam retains the square holes which originally accommodated the rear chassis attachment lugs; this function is now fulfilled by the outer lamp irons which are part of the chassis moulding and protrude through holes in the bunker rear. Looking though the cab cutout on the left hand side, there's a strange vertical pillar coming down from the cab roof, which doesn't improve the view of the cab which as usual is filled with motor. On removing the body, it appears this pillar is just a piece of moulding flash which should be easy to cut off. I've not come across a DCC ready version before, although I believe this isn't the first one that's been released; the weight casting has been modified to accommodate this. Perhaps because of this, the boiler front / smokebox has a heavy cylindrical metal weight inserted, which will save me doing it! The large can motor seems to be slightly different from the one fitted to my other Hornby N2s. There seemed to be plenty of grease on the mechanism (although maybe not in the right places); attempting to resolve the growling noise, I lubricated the armature bearings and gears with light oil. After a few runs up and down, it did seem to run more freely if no quieter, and time will tell whether it improves with running in. As with previous N2s however, it failed my acid test of traversing the dead frog double slips in the station throat at low speed. Looks like my usual modification of springing the middle axle will be necessary on this one too! 'Large' type couplings remain front and rear. I must admit I've so far not worked out how to fit 'small' ones to my other N2s either; the attachment point is too far behind the buffers for this to be achieved easily. A little mystery surrounds the prototype picture on the rear of the box sleeve. As noted elsewhere ('Where are the Hornby models?' thread) this model was originally announced as 69589 but it seems was changed to 69543 as that loco carried the type of condensing gear depicted by the model. However the picture on the box sleeve shows a loco numbered 69543, but with the 'wrong' type of condensing gear! The box sleeve also carries the factory code TEC05. Otherwise, for a 30+ year old model, the body is pretty sound and a good basis for as much detailing as you want to carry out. In particular, I think the smokebox door handrail should be moved to above the upper hinge strap as I think all N2s were like this by BR days, and front lamp irons will also improve the frontal aspect. Here's a few pictures of her on my layout.

Some nice pictures of the old goods shed, Chris! I certainly remember it when I used to go spotting after school in front of the Cattle Market by Hills Road bridge, but have never seen any pictures of the inside before. I think the GN loco would still have been standing nearby at that time, as well.

I think it was probably hidden behind those cement tanks most of that time, Jonathan! It may have gone by 1996 though. I see Paul Bartlett's pictures of it are dated 1990. Might have met you on the train in a previous life - I was commuting to King's Cross during that time.

It seemed to live a charmed life, that strange tank wagon! It was there until relatively recently (late 1990s?), not that it ever moved! A couple of pictures of similar ones (DE962033 and 961881) taken at March appear in 'Odd Corners of the Eastern' by Eric Sawford.

Quite agree; I (usually remember to!) scribe the door outlines inside my Bachmann ones, using a Plastikard jig: The long side goes to to the bottom with the left hand corner against the left hand corner of the wagon. Scribe round two sides of the outline of the side door. Slide the jig across so that the right hand corner is in the right hand corner of the wagon, and scribe round two sides of the top flap. Turn the jig inside out and do the same for the remaining side of each door, then repeat on the other side of the wagon. I don't think I've got a jig for the end door top but usually just cut one from a piece of scrap 40 thou lying on the bench. Here's a couple I did earlier - factory weathered ones as it happens, although I have painted the insides! Not worked out a way of representing the insides of the pressed steel side doors yet!

Well there was a Colchester-Glasgow at one time but whether it still ran in 1968 I wouldn't like to say. I've been able to find a copy of the ER Summer 1959 timetable which shows it as 5.15pm ex Colchester, Bury 6.46-6.56pm, terminating at Glasgow QS 5.56am SX (Edinburgh Waverley 4.43am SO). I've probably got a 1968 ER timetable somewhere, but it would be harder to find!

Nice pictures, Dave - thanks for posting! At another time of day, you might have seen me playing Rugby on the field to the right of the line in C566 (or more likely, standing watching the train go past!). At that time, the site of Trumpington sidings was still quite clear, and you can see the buffer stop on the then recently truncated remains of the Bedford line quite clearly above the signalbox roof.

Some more very interesting pictures Chris which once again take me back to a misspent youth when the sun always shone and every train was a green Brush 2! I presume the blue thing in the centre of the first picture is a sugar factory industrial loco? I don't remember ever seeing one at Bury although presume they must have existed.

I wonder whether you're thinking of the LNWR rather than the M&GN when you talk about the Fletton Loop?