Sitham Yard

There appear to be some omissions/errors on the layout list. I went to check on your website but that still has last year's layouts! Kensington Addison Road is O gauge, Canute Road Quay is OO gauge and isn't Redbridge Wharf OO gauge? Andrew Edited - now found that it seems to depend on what links you use. I used bing and from the search page went direct to Tolworth Showtrain and got last year's list. Now found correct list but Canute Quay wrongly listed as O gauge. Andrew

What is on the furthest table is a bit of a giveaway. Andrew

I am minded to do 11103 in green but with original number as pictured in MLI 195. I believe that this had the earlier arrangement of rear windows and handrail, higher than later ones although I need to double check. Andrew

What reference material do you have? I would have thought you need MRJ No.3 and Modern Locomotives Illustrated No. 195 at least. Even amongst the first 15 there were a number of variations. Andrew

This seems to be known as decoder wire so if you search for this you should find sources. Probably have to buy more than you need, perhaps a decoder specialist will sell you a short length? Andrew

As far as I am aware the bolt head was on the inside and what is visible is the nut on the end of the bolt on both the existing metalwork and the added diagonals. Andrew

Very good show although it got a bit cramped to start with. Congratulations to Adrian and everyone involved especially for the informative guide. Andrew

Good to Ewe in the flesh today. Nice to see the lighting in place and thanks for the information. Andrew

According to Amazon it is due to be released on 31st October 2023. Andrew

The GWR used it to access their depot at Smithfield. Andrew

If you want to be strictly correct the Dapol body is not suitable for an ex LMS corrugated end wagon. By the time of nationalisation all four companies wooden bodied open wagons were similar in the way the diagonal strapping went below the solebar. However the LMS when building their post war wagons seemed to have copied the body style from the 100 they built in 1933 and the diagonals do not go below the solebar. Andrew

Will be interested to see what the outcome is as I am looking to do something similar. See Ewe and you on Saturday. Andrew

Depending on local practice I would expect a second signal, Advance Starter, opposite Signal 3. This would mark the start of the token section. Andrew

Nice to see someone caring about signalling correctly but for, the benefit of anyone else wanting to do similar, some queries please. To access the grain unloading siding you would have to pass Signal 9 at danger. Unless there was some local practice I would expect Signal 9 to have a yellow band, not red, in order to permit this. Interlocking Signal 9 with Turnout 5 seems unnecessarily complicated. Moving from the Goods Yard to the mainline over Turnouts 8 and 5 I would expect Signals 9 and 6 to be able to be pulled at the same time. What happens if the train is standing at Signal 6 with the rear of the train over Turnout 8 in the reverse position? Similarly when running round a train in the platform I would expect Signals 11 and 6 to be pulled at the same time. Andrew

I have referred this to the electronics expert in our O gauge group. It would seem that the problems are likely to be heat related due to soldering directly on to the connectors and/or using the switches to switch, rather than to carry, a higher current than they are designed for. We only use separate connectors (expensive and can be hard to obtain) and use relays to switch the DC traction supply and have not had this problem. The only issues we have had are with connectors coming loose or being too long and not lining up correctly. A small piece of plastic in each end of the connector can help with the latter. Andrew

Not tried myself but in the past I have seen a very small amount of epoxy resin glue suggested. Leave to dry and then file smooth and to profile. Andrew

Just remembered, did anyone else who attended either Guildex or the Stafford Railway Circle shows in Bingley Hall notice the litter bins. I am sure I saw at least some of them with Network South East markings. Did the hall buy a job lot when stations changed to clear plastic bags in holders? Andrew

It shows up the bricks and mortar nicely. I presume with that type of brick bonding, this structure was modern enough to have been built with cavity walls. Andrew

There is another thread in this section regarding O gauge fine-scale on tight radius curves which you contributed to. There was discussion on that thread about cutting back the curved road on setrack points which sounds very promising and might alleviate any problems you (and I) might have with overhang. In the absence of any more information have you considered this? I have been collecting rolling stock and small locos for an intended layout that will probably have some setrack points. Andrew

Yes in the diary. Many thanks to all involved in the very good show. A few observations if I may. Lighting is crucial and those layouts that did not have lighting of their own were not shown to their best unless they were lucky in their position under the overall lights. At Guildex made a weekend of it with the O Gauge group that I belong to and having seen the potential, arranged to be in Stafford for a long weekend this time. More to see than at Guildex and took two days to try to take in all the exhibits without too early a start. Well worth it. Only saw the reference to 2 day tickets shortly before I left home (only internet at home) and suggest 2 day tickets are available in future as an option, both in advance and on the door. Andrew

The van is unfitted (no vacuum pipe or cylinder visible) and the LNER were the only pre nationalisation company to paint unfitted vehicles grey and fitted vehicles bauxite*. This is why I expected LNER grey. The only other possibility is that it was painted at a LMS works to LMS bauxite but I don't know if that happened. * LNER brake vans were all painted bauxite irrespective of braking. Andrew

I have always been a bit suspicious about that caption. I wonder if it was what the photographer noted or if it is a conclusion by the caption writer. If the latter (or wrongly noted by the photographer) I would have thought LNER dark grey was the colour as BR wagon liveries were not finalised until 1949 I believe. The resulting hybrid liveries are, to me, an attractive feature of that period. Andrew

I will be in Stafford for the weekend and look forward to seeing everyone at the show. Andrew

Do not forget that wagons were sometimes repaired using planks salvaged from wagons that were being broken up and this could be source of the dark planks on the D663A. Andrew