Sitham Yard

You may get a response if you put the question in the 7mm modelling section or the small suppliers section. Ragstone Models were listed as attending the Gauge O Guild show in Kettering on 4th March but I was not able to go due to illness so don't know if Andy was there. Andrew

My understanding is that aim of the introduction of the RCH 1923 standards and their use by the then big four railway companies was that any wagon could be repaired anywhere in the country without having to obtain spare parts from the builders. This was to alleviate the then current problems of waiting for parts. Most wagons were relatively simple in construction. Whether that aim was ever achieved is another question. Andrew

News of his death was posted on the Gauge O Guild website in November 2022. He did not leave a will so the probate procedure may take some time. Andrew

I believe that the "Common Carrier" legal obligations of BR did not cover the carriage of livestock so they had much more freedom to refuse to transport livestock. Andrew

Am I correct in saying that you must use separate a transformer for each controller? Andrew

I recall reading, many years ago, about a bus garage that was being constructed. When the concrete roof beams were delivered they did not fit. Only then was it discovered that the drawing for the roof was 90 degrees out from all the other drawings. Andrew

Looking at the blog on their website, I don't think they are in business any more. Andrew

Definitely. WD40 Specialist Contact Cleaner for use on electrical contacts, plastic and rubber as stated on the can. In this context WD40 is just the brand name. Andrew

In 1952 BR decided to to transfer 15,960 loco coal wagons to traffic stock. Source "British Railways Wagons" by Don Rowland page 10. Andrew

searching for "etched brass" brings up the earliest UK product reference as the George Allan siphon in the March 1973 issue. However back in 1961 there are references to etched brass Interurban cars and Box Cab loco from the USA. I think these were RTR and etched brass may only refer to details. Andrew

Cannot see anything about the Burwell line in it. Andrew

Would the oval plates be details of repairs? Would not need to be referred to regularly so not painted? Andrew

Do you have a date for this please? In theory it should have a wagon plate (could get broken off I expect) and the markings should not be on black patches although I think this sometimes happened. Another possibility is that the bauxite paint was renewed just where the markings go and in a black and white photo a trick of the light could make it look darker. Andrew

I believe an offside wing mirror was a requirement at least by the 1950's probably 1930's. Looking at photos a small rectangular mirror was popular. Not sure when nearside mirrors were required, possibly 1950's. Andrew

Looked it up - Kingsbury Terminal Railroad by Marshal Vine. Andrew

Are you replying to the query regarding piped vans? If so why would a vehicle that is only piped ie. only working brakes on that actual vehicle are handbrakes have eight-shoe brake gear? I thought only fully fitted vehicles had this. BR conversions surely only refer to fitted vehicles. Andrew

Great Western Coaches Appendix Volume 2 by J. H. Russell shows official photo of W311 in what I assume is crimson and cream but the lower colour looks darker but could be a trick of the light. 1951 photos of W292W in crimson and cream and W324 in a single colour presumably crimson. Additionally official photo of W325 again a single colour. Andrew

@ColinW are you aware that although you have this thread there is no entry in the Exhibition Calendar? Andrew

Please note as the WRG is a very informal group we are unable to offer any card facilities so show will be cash only. Andrew

The Railway Magazine, December 1958, has an article on the loco presumably based on a BR press release, no author named. It states "It is only to be used for testing overhead line equipment and to train instructors and drivers for the main-line electrification to Crewe." In the February 1959 issue there is an article, again no author named, on the electrification between Crewe and Manchester. This contains a photo of E1000, with class A headlamps, "at Mauldeth Road on November 26, 1958, after its initial run with a passenger train on the Styal line from Wilmslow." Doesn't mean that there were actually any passengers on board. Andrew

I didn't spot that. Andrew

Just tested my Thorne No.1 straight out of the box. Test track has two Peco code 100 three way points electrofrog with Gaugemaster Combi DC controller. Performance is fine, yes you do have to open up controller a little on the points but that is acceptable to me. If you go very slowly, particularly forwards, over a sharply curved point it might stall or derail but a little more power is fine. Judging by the noise any problems are possibly caused by a combination of the curve and the gap at the frog/crossing nose. Probably sensitive to any unevenness in the track particularly at points. Andrew

According to my edition of the bible (third edition 1998) "Underframe same as O31/2." Logical as these are of the same period. Great Western Journal No. 40 has a copy of the diagram confirming 10'-00 wheelbase with details and photos of some wagons but no mention of any being retrofitted with vacuum brakes. Only 50 built as an experiment. Andrew

I expect it would. I don't know about earlier periods but in BR days I understand that any consignment over 1 ton had a wagon to itself although I believe that changed to 2 tons later, possibly late 1950's. Andrew

The V shaped island platform with sidings around it occurs elsewhere. I am thinking of the original York station and Norwich Victoria. I expect there were others. Andrew