K Hatton

Very true. I wonder if the station at Ruddington was planned as a project before the 2 groups decided to 'bridge the gap'? Either way it works for me (can make a 'what if' of Ruddington using the Bachmann kits and a bit of artistic licence for track plan)

I believe long term there is/was a plan to build a museum similar to Ruddington at the Leicester end(?) although it would make sense to have Ruddington as the main storage/repair centre in my mind.

True point. Plus it also reduces the chances of the area being "redeveloped" as housing. It just seems odd that if the GCR(N) had put the effort in to build the arches with a plan to reopen the station then why have they let the site get to the state it is in now. Not knocking them by any means, purely wondering if the station will ever see trains again.

Possibly true r.e widening of the road. B.R mothballed the lines until 2000 and would have had no need to operate any further north than the gypsum works at rushcliffe halt as the GCR(N) heritage centre have owned the ordinance depot site since some point in the 1990s.

The cycle path has been built (see image of bridges taken from said path). Sadly I think this will have put an end to the chances of the GCR(N) reopening Ruddington as a station.

Hi all, I have recently purchased the Bachmann GCR station buildings and tunnels with the intention of modelling a GCR station similar to Ruddington (Nottingham). According to photos on the disused stations website the square bridges were present in November 1984 however the next image from 2008 shows a pair of (relatively new looking) brick arches? My question is why would the original road bridges have been replaced with the brick arches present today almost 40 odd years after the station was closed (final closure on 1/5/1967)? November 1984: June 2008:

Yes please! I did see that narrow planet had similarly shaped plates (I think they were for LNWR engines) and was thinking about fitting one of those and seeing if anyone actually paid close enough attention to call me out on it.

Have you been able to get the square tender number plate for yours? I did ask narrow planet when I ordered the cab plates but they said they couldn't do it at the time.

Just to say I've had one of the Hornby J15 backdated to GER Y14 livery. Paint and lining was by Warren Haywood. Chimney and safety valve are Alan Gibson parts. Number plates were from Narrow planet. And yes, I know the side rails on the tender should be removed however I'm not skilled enough to remove these without butchering an otherwise very nice model!

I can understand the reasoning. I've recently started trying to combine the body of a dublo crane and the later Hornby railroad crane internals and have been contemplating how to gut the insides of the dublo without causing too much collateral damage...

Did you get any further with this crane? Also are the detailing etches still available?

Hi all, long time no post. I have finally taken the plunge and renumbered one of my Hornby a1 locomotives. I am looking for advice/opinions on how to improve from this first attempt (I have yet to varnish the decals in, would I be ok to use an aerosol for this?) Also is there an easy way to remove the front buffer beam numbers? I have tried brasso on a cotton bud on another body but it has left the edges of the outer numbers and I don't think I'd dare take a blade to such a tight space. All advice/help gratefully accepted.

I am happy to agree the lettering is an effect of the light, thanks for the explanation (and picture) Gordon S. Also an F.Y.I for anyone who was suggesting the date was after May 1948 (extract taken from the blood and custard coach website's history page): This would then indicate that the picture could be dated between 1st January 1948 and 12th May 1948 (the date Humorist entered doncaster works for renumbering and general overhaul) as the LNER were already using Gill Sans font before it became mandatory. P.S. if anyone would like me to send links/post sources of information or dates I have given feel free to ask. I won't claim to know the exact date but from the information I have collected I'm confident it is within the first few months of 1948.

Thanks for that Gordon, I'm now down to a period between April 1947 and May 1948 (entered works 12/05/1948 - left works 24/06/1948). Back to the main question the lettering on the tender is deffinitely varied, my question is would the 'N' have been left in wartime yellow or (as Bucoops suggested) have just been repainted without shading?

According to the BRdatabase website Humorist entered into doncaster works on 12/05/1948 and was renumbered to 60097 so unless the picture was taken at doncaster works (I think unlikely due to the van attached to the tender) or the date on BRdatabase is incorrect (?) then it has to be before 12th May. Unfortunately I can't find many colour images from that era (I am aware technology wasn't as easily available/common around the time) but have found a few different b+w images of Humorist all showing the same effect.

Here is a link to the gallery of images (admin please advise if not allowed) https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/LNERSteam/Gresley-Locomotives/Gresley-A1A3/4470-4471-60102-Built-GMR-1922/Double-figure-LNER-numbering/i-2CLvnHP If you look at locomotives No. 82 Neil Gow and No. 94 Colorado they both appear to have the same effect on the tender (image of Colorado is captioned 1946-1948) I know of other oddities during the post-war era (see attached image of A3 Firdaussi with BR numbers on cab side and LNER on tender) but looking at the other locomotives in the gallery it seems to be a reasonable explanation.

I have put this in the 'questions' section as I would like to know other people's thoughts. Attached is an image (found on the national preservation website) of the LNER A3 class locomotive Humorist in 1947. This was immediately post-war when locomotives were being repainted into their constituent companies colours with the temporary BR numbering. The image in question has been sharpened and appers (to me) to show the usual LNER shaded numbers/letters except for the 'N' on the tender. This appears unshaded compared to the rest of the letters. If this is correct then this would mean the 'N' is actually still wartime yellow? I would like to know others opinions on this before I convert a Hornby model to Humourist. I know for ease of conversion I could just leave the tender lettering as-is however if I am correct it would be a unique feature to model (Admittedly Humorist always was something a little different to the other A3s due to the smoke deflector trials)

Managed to get one of my Hornby 61'6" brake coaches back for a comparison picture. Yes the buffers sit slightly higher but won't really be noticeable while running. Also massive thanks to Simon (rapidorepairsuk) for the advice, I was slightly concerned about taking glue to a £125 coach but have managed to refit the buffer (and it still springs - result!) Also just a couple of show-off pics behind the Nigel gresley collection Firdaussi. Say what you like about glossy trains but I think it looks awesome. Also question for everyone who has fitted the front window/ducket guards - do these just slot in place and stay put or do they need fixing? If so how have you done this?

Mine is going back to rails for repairs/replacement (spoke to them today regarding damaged buffer - slightly concerned at the suggestion of glueing it back on...)

Mine has arrived today. Well packaged but somehow has a buffer disconnected (falls out when put back in place) Otherwise very very smart model. Have taken comparison picture vs Hornby suburban coach (don't have any 61'6" to hand as they are at my dad's.)

Mine is on route (v1, deposit paid 07/10 last year), if anyone is interested I'll get some comparison pictures with some of the super detail Hornby teaks when it arrives?

Not sure what that has to do with the Rapido dyno car tbh. The GWR had their own dynamometer carriage (built in 1901) - if they wanted to claim the record they had their chance and let it go... Also c.o.t was only a year old when it 'did' the 100mph, scotsman was 11 years old when it took the record (B.t.w I do believe city of truro did it first, however it wasn't verified so isn't accepted.

Obviously too busy with bow pens or looking for black dots through magnifying glasses (Only being sarcastic because mine hasn't turned up yet )

Separate to all the bickering over lining/colours of roof/dotty effect is there any update as to when these are likely to be delivered?

Who really cares if rails have paid for the video? If you watch the video and decide to buy one, that's your own decision (unless there is some kind of hypnotic thing that I missed?) I have ordered one based on the information from the manufacturer and the fact I want one (and can afford it) - as long as I am happy with it when I get it then I don't care who has reviewed it or in what format or even who's paid for it!