Phil R

Can anyone confirm the identity of the leading coach in this photo please? https://www.flickr.com/photos/33106/8157234952/in/photolist-pe9wtB-oyKTrU-dZTDE9-bD45dF-jt3S8v-Cbj14E-2dpkkZ4-dqPXKW-mmTPWT-K2edUN-JZreuo-BricG6-oAuk4z-23ZJS1N-KPi4aP-4gU9eo-cUvYcA-mmTQ72-cUwdg3-cUwqLC-cUw8uy-cUwAQ7-cUwctQ-cUwCbC-b39QrX-218h49E-b39ZzD-b39Xi8-b39Zbr-b39SDF-b39XXv-b39UYt-b39VDi-2c2K5X6-K4fqhs-wUwJdP-Aivpq3-K8U7L9-kScfzv-PKgGZP-LCBEZW-96ycEG-b39SiT-b39TAZ-zJN1B9-b39SZv-b39U6g-b39Su6-b39RSx-SCu6Cu The photo is dated 27th June 1987 and is of the 1V67 1010 Scarborough - Paignton service. It looks like a Mk1 BFK but I thought they had all been withdrawn by this time. In addition, the Newcastle - Poole/Weymouth services in 1987/8 were usually a rake of around 6 Mk 2 aircon TSOs, with a Mk1 BG & RBR. The first class accommodation was also Mk 2 aircon. Can anyone confirm whether FOs or FKs were used and also whether the TSOs were Mk 2d, e or f? Many thanks Phil

Hi Ross Looks like a Mk2c BSO to me. Sure someone will be able to corroborate this (or not) shortly. Regards Phil

I'm sure I remember reading in one the Marsden Recognition guides that as well as the other changes mentioned earlier, the carpets were also removed from Mk2 FKs when they were declassified to SKs. A number of Mk2f FOs were declassified to SOs (64xx) and then later converted to "high density" (my terminology) TSOs (68xx no range) around 1990 for use on commuter services on the MML to St Pancras and the ECML to Kings Cross. The latter conversion involved altering the internal layout, IIRC they had 70+ seats many in airline style configuration. Regards Phil

Hi Chris Re the differences - Cumbria machine has a recessed rear cab step, also the bodywork above the lockers slopes from the rear of the cab to the back of the vehicle, on the other it runs parallel with the top of the lockers for the whole length of the vehicle. The also have different style lights and ladder arrangements. Depends how much of a compromise you are willing to make. Langley Miniature Models do a 1/76 Leyland Freighter pump, ref G185, with Lancashire markings. Far as I can see it represents one of the D-H reg machines. The various batches having bodywork by either Fulton & Wylie, Mountain Range or Reynolds Boughton but looking almost identical. The Fireflash Delta 64 website is probably the most comprehensive record on the internet and is a superb reference. Which NW brigades are you interested in? Regards Phil

Around 1990/91 the pale grey POAs were used on a flow of limestone from Whitwell quarry in NE Derbyshire to Witton, Birmingham. Often hauled by a large logo or Railfreight Construction liveried Class 56. Regards Phil

Kingsway models do a free download of a Wilkinsons shopfront, as well as some useful high street buildings http://www.kingswaymodels.com/page27.htm Fox Transfers also supply some useful 80s-90s style fascias - PO, Rumbelows, WHSmith, Boots etc, as well as some more generic ones. Think I'm correct in saying that as time has passed the number of independents in whatever sector has diminished greatly. If you want to give a sense of place, using a local chain might work, bakeries seem to be a constant for example. Cynics like myself would say all you need for a modern day high street in any large town or city is several coffee shops, betting shops, charity shops and a few takeaways. Many of the larger stores would be in the main shopping centres. There are also a few stores that would fit in any decade - Ernest Whiteley in Bridlington for example - fourth picture down https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/stitches-in-time-the-shop-that-s-hardly-changed-in-114-years-1-7220744 Regards Phil

Hi Definitely 33050, 33207, 60001. No doubt a few more too. Regards Phil

Hi Richard I am attempting to model the Derby area in late 1980s/early 90s. As you say, coal was still a major freight flow, a lot from Derbys/Notts coalfields to power stations in the Trent Valley. There was also Avenue coking plant near Chesterfield There were also flows to/from further afield. Usual motive power was 2x20s, 56s and 58s on MGR services with HAAs, also Speedlink coal services with HEAs often with Class 37 hauled. To easily add variety, MGR services from Denby opencast site just north of Derby had a brake van at each end to enable the train crew to operate the gated crossings along the route. Have got more info on freight and passenger services, will dig out and post. It's certainly a good area and era to model. Lot of variety in services and locomotives. Regards Phil

Evening Resurrecting an old topic. I'm interested in Summer 1988 services, several NE-SW workings used a class 47/4 hauling a HST set with a Generator Van at one end and a HST Barrier Vehicle at the other as discussed earlier. Is anyone able to identify the barrier vehicle in this shot? Looks like a Mk2c BSO but only carrying a 4 digit TOPS number rather than a Departmental ADB 9xxxxx number. Nor does it carry any specific branding. https://www.flickr.com/photos/blackwatch55013/5511742841/in/photolist-9p487Z-9p7bUs HST Barrier Vehicles were renumbered into the 63xx series but this was around 1990 I believe. The Colin Marsden book HST Silver Jubilee states that depots made up their own vehicles from spare coaches, fitting a buck-eye coupling at one end. Would this be done ad-hoc and why not use the dedicated departmental vehicles? As an aside, despite the departmental vehicles being branded as "barrier" vehicles, they are (more correctly?) referred to as "match" vehicles in some books. Thanks Phil

Plymouth dep 1125, arr Derby 1508. 3hrs 43mins. Don't know which depot would work that. The 1988 equivalent stops to change Train crew. I bet they were glad of that!

From May 1989, there were two Saturdays Only InterCity Holidaymaker services between Glasgow Queen Street and Newquay (HST) 0655 Glasgow Queen St - Newquay 1810. 0950 Newquay - Glasgow Queen St 2048. They were routed via the NE-SW route, rather than the WCML - Birmingham, Derby, Doncaster, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Northbound was non-stop between Plymouth and Derby! Southbound non-stop between Derby and Bristol Temple Meads. There were equivalent services in the Summer 1988 timetable (HSTs) both routed via St Andrews Jn also avoiding Birmingham New Street. 1990 services were worked by Laira HST sets. Regards Phil

I am attempting to set my late 1980s based layout in mid-late May, the reasoning being that the Summer timetable had just been introduced, offering plenty of Fridays & Saturdays only long distance loco-hauled services. To me this would mean a lot of greenery, hawthorn blossom (may tree), and the possibility of a warm, blue-sky day or a cold, grey sky day. (Cast not a clout 'til May is out) Clive, you make an interesting point about clothing on figures. Model a beach scene, it's obvious and straightforward what people would wear. An overcast but muggy Thursday morning is a bit more complicated. MarkSG, I'd not considered the lighting beyond daylight/night if I'm honest, as you say it would be a challenge to replicate the changes in daylight convincingly. The fidelity (or not) to the timetable and the compression of time (or not) is also relevant. For example, when you collect that new rake of wagons on a Friday morning, who would leave them in the box over the weekend because the Working timetable shows them working on a Tuesday/Thursdays only service? Cheers Phil

Does anyone alter their layout to represent different days or times? A lot of effort often goes into modelling the correct era or season but what about the difference between times of day and the day itself. For example, morning and evening rush hour, increase in road traffic, buses, traffic jams. Increase in number of passengers on platform. Late evening, increase in parcels/mail activity - barrows, sacks, staff etc. Weekends in summer season/bank holidays, increase in road traffic- caravans, campers, coaches. Increase in leisure travellers, rather than commuters. I'm aware that some of this more relevant to more recent times and some scenarios would be more appropriate to larger towns/stations. It should be fairly easy to replicate by replacing vehicles on a layout, passengers on a platform would be more involved, perhaps using groups on thin clear plastic slides or interchangeable sections of platform. Be interested to hear what others think. Regards Phil

Thanks for clarification Order now placed Phil

Hi Does 156-315 Birmingham - Cambridge carry Sprinter or SuperSprinter branding please? Descriptions say the former, artwork shows the latter. Thanks Phil

Heads up for anyone parking in the station car park off Derby St, around the Travelodge. There are 2 car parks, East Midlands Trains and Derby St (Excel parking) side by side Make sure you buy the right ticket for the right space. Excel are £1 cheaper Cheers Phil

Derby

Visited this morning. Arrived spot on 10, redirected to park on main road (2 min walk away so no problem). Thought it was a very good show. Good selection of traders and layouts, a lot of excellent modelling on display, Kirkmellington and South Town were both new to me and really captured the essence of the areas they were depicting IMHO. Seemed to me to be plenty of space to move about too. Cheers Phil

I enjoyed it, the faux peril par for the course now on documentaries. The continuity gaffes, always fun to spot, seem to have been standard for all programmes with railways in the them for as long as I can remember. Interesting enough programme showing railways in a beautiful part of the world. The only downside being it reminded me of a chilling incident that happened to me in the buffet at Goathland. I had ordered the last generous slice of Victoria sandwich and the girl behind the counter promptly cut it into two pieces!

Believe it's Ropley on Watercress line. Regards Phil

Evening. I think these were repainted around 1993-4. Platform 5 book for 1994 has the following - Mk1 TSO - 4849,4854,4873,4875,4876,4880 Mk2aTSO 5265,5275,5276,5278,5290,5293,5309,5331,5335,5350,5373,5376,5378,5381,5389,5412,5419,5420,5433 Mk1 BSK 35452 Mk2a BSK - 35513,35514,35515,35517,35518 All allocated to Edge Hill, Liverpool Hope this is useful Regards Phil

Class47.co.uk has it disposed of by TJ Thompson of Stockton On Tees in March 2016, having been collected from Wensleydale railway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTims5NDE6I Regards Phil

Morning They were near the village of Sinderby, west of Thirsk. I had a vague memory that they had been collected by would-be entrepreneurs, including a dentist, who were looking at forming a railway company post-privatisation. (Could be talking out the top of my hat) However, another description I have read states it was a preservationist trying to preserve Mk IIs. Lots of photos online including - http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/75424 https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/train-graveyard-north-yorkshire-report.t61136 Regards Phil

In 1988 stock reached places such as Aberystwyth from Euston and York from Taunton. NSE commuter sets were often used at weekends for NE-SW services. Regards Phil

Visited first thing. Great show. The eminently common sense approach of selling of tickets and programmes to the waiting crowds is something other shows should adopt. Good mix of trade and layouts, parking straightforward. Well done to everyone involved. Regards Phil