C126

Thanks so much for that, @eastwestdivide . No idea the term dated that far back, and I can only plead for mercy for my ignorance of the source's lines. [Exits left, grabbing hat and coat, towards his Dictionary ...]

I am so sorry to keep asking questions here, but please could the above be explained when someone has the time. Am I right in thinking "braking the first wagons into a siding" is the shunting loco pushing/pulling the cut of wagons into a sorting siding and applying the brakes on it? But I am afraid the "uncoupling wagons without having to go to three links" has me quite confused. I am eager to learn the jargon! I assume it has nothing to do with "Top link". A thousand thanks.

In the 1970's?!? Neil (available as a frock-coated fop from one hundred years earlier, if the price is right. 😀 ).

Thanks, Andy, for answering my query. I was not sure how the yard was to be operated - Speedlink being something to do with speedy marshalling in sections (cuts of wagons, I assume) compared to tradional wagon-load 'full re-marshalling'(?) - so wondered if practical operation would be different. Sorry about the bad planning, but it will make for more interesting 'playing', I hope. Look forward to the next video. Thanks again.

Sorry, I think I might have missed it, but is there a head-shunt to the fan of Speedlink sidings? Or is that the single track (access) each end? I am being a bit slow, I fear. Lovely results so far, I must add, and am envious of the space available. Thanks.

Mr Upton's tale reminds me of second-hand book-dealers (not necessarily on E-Bay) who arrive at my mother's church book-sale as the doors open, buying up carrier-bags worth of books for a few quid, and profiteering. I suggested the church ladies quadruple the price of each volume for all who buy more than four books, for example...

Very impressed. Is there no limit to your talents? Am I wrong in thinking I saw somewhere the release of TT track would be a book for modellers of 5'6" gauge railways, as this tallies with an R.T.R. scale? Or is it that 16.5mm. track would talley with a 3mm:1' Indian Railway model?

I was pondering the Wimpey R/B crane as well as a homage to the Strood Yard china clay siding, but I think that crane was that little bit newer. The cab was more prominent, etc. No expert on cranes/grabs though. So I saved my money... Incidentally, can anyone recommend a replacement model hook?

Just in case any controbutors here have missed it, the Corgi Coles crane is now available for sale from Hornby, internet only, here: https://uk.Hornby.com/products/coles-crane-railfrieght-dg226003 I bought two, just to be safe. N.b., the representation of the hook is not very good, and I am looking out for replacments.

Many thanks @billbedford for this. The number of chain variations available looks quite wonderful: https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/caldercraft_chains.html I will have a proper read of these options at the weekend. Supplier info. much appreciated; I had just been looking at jewellery craft sites.

T.O.P.S. code ZRW. See Flickr: ... and Paul Bartlett: https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/enginecarrierzrw

I wonder if it was a van or two detached from Shoreham, still with a reasonable fleet? That will be the excuse on my layout, anyway...

Off topic, but was "Network South East" called something like "London & South East" before Mr Green renamed and re-branded it? I have a diagrammatic map of it all somewhere in my 'piles', with a royal blue header title.

As the saying goes, "I saw this and thought of you." I do not remember them myself, but the cans were made by Metal Box, about which the museum had a display. I must dig out the recipe for the 'Twin Peaks cherry pie' my mother made years ago for me... Best wishes to you all.

The idea of 'the gated siding' makes me think of 'sinister traffics', so what about a Cold War building for buffer stocks of foods inside the (larger area of) fencing? A Cold Store, Nissan huts for dry goods on pallets, etc.? Loughborough had a W.W.ii. Cold Store converted to an R.S.G. and was fenced off awaiting the 'balloon going up'. But this would generate rail-borne deliveries only a few days before the apocalypse, mind you.

Sorry to hear that. I loved the kidney in Mum's S. & K. pies, and she would get questioned by the butcher as to why she bought the wrong proportions when doing her shopping, increasing the amount above the usual for me.

There were two in Southampton Down ('Northam') Yard. See R.M. June 1984, pp. 236-237. Sidings 10-12 for the Blue Circle cement terminal, and siding 3 leading, across a level crossing, to an off-yard scrap terminal. The accompanying article in R.M. October 1983 is also very good, both by Gerry Kinsey (does anyone know if he wrote others?), and responsible for inspiring my Southern Region goods interest. Do seek out copies.

Many many thanks, @icn , for bringing this manufacturer to my attention. The info. is most useful.

I can not thank you enough, @Balgrayhill for describing the work involved in a 'respray'. I will not look at the models I see at exhibitions the same way again. I was going to include a quip in my previous about masking - a job I found time-consuming on the few occasions I have done it - but the steps you have described leave me almost lost for words. Now I know how to get a model looking 'good'. Thank you again for taking the time to explain this.

Many thanks @Balgrayhill for that excellent insight into how a pro. works. If it is a 'trade secret' please do not say, but I would be interested to learn how many hours such a re-spray (plain B.R. blue with full yellow ends) as described takes. Thanks again.

Thanks for the preceding replies from @cctransuk and @Kelly . I admit I have no idea about the economics of such work; I hoped with professionals' 'modelling super-powers' they could knock out a kit faster (and better) than a beginner like me, so the price would be approximately the same.

Suddenly occurred to me: what are the economics, for those of us with a kit-making ability of less than we would wish - of buying a kit and getting a professional model-maker to build it? I would rather like a 3D D.E.M.U., and have wondered about this. However, I think the kit for this is discontinued. If the R.T.R. price would be approx. £350, would this be cheaper? How do professionals cost their commissions?

Nice work as always. I had no idea these had been re-released. Better get to the shops a.s.a.p...

Thanks, @Darius43 , for the photos. Do you take commissions? 🙂 It must have been your 455 of which I was thinking.

I fear you will unleash a 'cascade of ordure', to coin a phrase, asking such a question. To offer an oblique comment, as one now in his fifties, I think they are loathed because they are inferior in every way of comfort to what became before. Personally, this is accentuated by making the old mistake of not appreciating the old rolling stock until riding (and in some cases just enduring!) its replacement. Say the words "four CIG" and some of us will have tears in our eyes... But to be serious, I share your disappointment in the uneconomic nature of E.M.U. models. It was explained quite lucidly by others in a thread a while ago, and is very annoying. Even the simple matter of a middle coach for the Bachamnn 2H(?) was described as extremely unlikely to be sold. Having said that, there is an excellent model I saw of an Electrostar being built by a member of this parish which might inspire you; sorry, I forget the details. Was it @Darius43 ?