ianathompson

Never did me any harm (wibble, wibble) on a rugby pitch. Cannot understand these new fangled rules. Every time I see a big hit and say "Good tackle, mate" the TMO immediate flags it up and the player gets a red card. And as for modern scrummaging....! Ian T

I'm impressed that the local church has a mattins. I grew up singing it every Sunday. It is so rare now that I can remember the last time that I sung it: five years ago in Rochester Cathedral. Even then it was a prelude to Eucharist and we were informed that (insert name of long cathedral anthem) could not be sung because it would over run the service schedule. Ian T

Barry Sorry to hear this. It shows okay on the editing preview and I have visited the site as a guest and it shows okay as well. Does anyone else have this problem? If it becomes an issue I will contact "Support". Ian T

Not quite with you on this Barry? They seem to be the correct photos and captions on the preview (and I have checked!) Unless you are referring to the sleights of hand necessary to keep things running! Looks like there might be another on the cards as the railcar remotoring is proving more awkward than anticipated. Ian T

Another update is now available. It surprised me as to how large it was but I do not post regularly. As usual the file takes a little while to load. 145. The fireless makes its way through the traffic of the Karushnastrato as it enters the Kapra Pordego (Goat Pen). This siding in the middle of the street leads to the paper mill and the industrial area. From the look of the exhaust the loco must have replenished the pressure cylinder, as opposed to boiler, before leaving the factory. As per usual on the model clearances have been tightened up and I will have to watch the upper story of the building at the right when I come to fixing it permanently. 159. The loco pushed the wagons back into the loop, having had a contretemps with the snowdrift in the left foreground. This takes great delight in grabbing well wagons and loco ploughs and derailing them. It is made from the mesh used for car repairs covered with paper and plaster and hides the point microswitches. Despite being repeatedly bent back it creeps forward unless an eye is kept on it. A big piece of BluTac now hides underneath as well, supposedly to keep it in check. Further problems have become apparent in this scene…… 167. The KTT goods is finally let out, very late, and when it arrives at Breĉo de Glissent it immediately encounters problems. The train is restricted to a load of 160 tons, although it is currently loaded to 140 tons. The two vans in the siding would put the train on 190 tons because the van containing fish is one of the problematic 30 tonners (i.e. 3 axles). These are the bane of train crews’ lives and are normally left sulking in the sidings at Relforka. The staciaĉefino also advises that the hopper wagon delivered to the glassworks this morning needs picking up (putting the train on 220 tons) and that the two spare vans in the siding could do with taking round to the glassworks. The maths is not wrong because although the hopper is a bogie vehicle (nominally 40 tons) it is rated at 30 tons because it is short. There is no way that this particular loco, La Besto, the Creature (from the Black Lagoon) will take more than the mandated load over the next section. In truth it will struggle with the permitted maximum. What to do? Answer; ask Control. They created this mess. Ian T

Another update is now available. It surprised me as to how large it was but I do not post regularly. As usual the file takes a little while to load. . 145. The fireless makes its way through the traffic of the Karushnastrato as it enters the Kapra Pordego (Goat Pen). This siding in the middle of the street leads to the paper mill and the industrial area. From the look of the exhaust the loco must have replenished the pressure cylinder, as opposed to boiler, before leaving the factory. As per usual on the model clearances have been tightened up and I will have to watch the upper story of the building at the right when I come to fixing it permanently. 159. The loco pushed the wagons back into the loop, having had a contretemps with the snowdrift in the left foreground. This takes great delight in grabbing well wagons and loco ploughs and derailing them. It is made from the mesh used for car repairs covered with paper and plaster and hides the point microswitches. Despite being repeatedly bent back it creeps forward unless an eye is kept on it. A big piece of BluTac now hides underneath as well, supposedly to keep it in check. Further problems have become apparent in this scene…… 167. The KTT goods is finally let out, very late, and when it arrives at Breĉo de Glissent it immediately encounters problems. The train is restricted to a load of 160 tons, although it is currently loaded to 140 tons. The two vans in the siding would put the train on 190 tons because the van containing fish is one of the problematic 30 tonners (i.e. 3 axles). These are the bane of train crews’ lives and are normally left sulking in the sidings at Relforka. The staciaĉefino also advises that the hopper wagon delivered to the glassworks this morning needs picking up (putting the train on 220 tons) and that the two spare vans in the siding could do with taking round to the glassworks. The maths is not wrong because although the hopper is a bogie vehicle (nominally 40 tons) it is rated at 30 tons because it is short. There is no way that this particular loco, La Besto, the Creature (from the Black Lagoon) will take more than the mandated load over the next section. In truth it will struggle with the permitted maximum. What to do? Answer; ask Control. They created this mess. Ian T

Upon rereading the statement and looking at earlier posts you are correct. My mistake! Ian T

The way I read it I thought it was just photos posted in 2020. The photos come up as blue squares which then reduce to a URL address. When I open this I get an extremely small, almost invisible photo. Never mind! At least the text is still there. Ian T

Just testing the new site to see what happens! The website has a couple of new posts for those interested. At least the website, where I have posted most iof my photos, is not affected by the problems here, thankfully. Edit: It is a big file so it takes a little while to upload. Currently don't seem able to see any photos on this website. Is this normal? I suppose that I need to press more buttons. B****y technology! IanT

Just testing the new site to see what happens! The website has a couple of new posts for those interested. At least the website, where I have posted most iof my photos, is not affected by the problems here, thankfully. Edit: It is a big file and takes a little while to upload. Currently don't seem able to see any photos on this website. Is this normal? I suppose that I need to press more buttons. B****y technology! IanT

Just had to ask. Is the girl with the pink thing in her hair so fired up (groan) by this that she is trying to emulate a steam loco?! Ian T

Late on parade yet again! I claim rights on this derelict example for my fenland 009 layout, whenever it gets resurrected. This remote chapel was on the Downham circuit. Needless to say it has been significantly altered since I took this photo a few years ago. If you use Google Earth you will find a good example in Chapel Lane at Wimbotsham. Apparently Primitive chapels were built to a standard design and dimensions according to what I read. I think that this was stated on the Hills of the North thread on here. Ian T

There is a rather thin slection of photos available with this post. I am currently undergoing a course of raiography to deal with a cancer problem. Hopefully all should be well. During the interim, as one friend put ir, "Your time and your body are not your own!" Please be patient: they now take some time to load up. 82. The URT-RFK train is completely dismantled at Lacono. The pilot has taken the last four vans, full of carpets, from the rear of the train into the northern holding sidings and attached them to the tinned goods. The train engine meanwhile has pulled in alongside it to deposit the KTT bound loads on the adjacent loop. Once the express has cleared the mainline the train engine will couple onto the wagons in the south loop to go forward. The pilot will leave the yard to look after the tail traffic on the express and the local behind it. The bogie wagon of cars, on the goods loop, would be turned on the turntable to face the loading dock set at a 45º angle to the loop for unloading. The old yard would have been overwhelmed by such traffic levels. It could be a little while before there are sufficient photos to make it worthwhile posting again. Ian T

There is a rather thin slection of photos available with this post. I am currently undergoing a course of raiography to deal with a cancer problem. Hopefully all should be well. During the interim, as one friend put ir, "Your time and your body are not your own!" Please be patient: they now take some time to load up . 82. The URT-RFK train is completely dismantled at Lacono. The pilot has taken the last four vans, full of carpets, from the rear of the train into the northern holding sidings and attached them to the tinned goods. The train engine meanwhile has pulled in alongside it to deposit the KTT bound loads on the adjacent loop. Once the express has cleared the mainline the train engine will couple onto the wagons in the south loop to go forward. The pilot will leave the yard to look after the tail traffic on the express and the local behind it. The bogie wagon of cars, on the goods loop, would be turned on the turntable to face the loading dock set at a 45º angle to the loop for unloading. The old yard would have been overwhelmed by such traffic levels. It could be a little while before there are sufficient photos to make it worthwhile posting again. Ian T

That is a nice looking train ferry. Where did you get it from? It looks quite similar to Fehrmarsund which was used on the Rugensch Kleinbahn, if I remember rightly. I must do something about my own bare plank! Ian T

Another set of pictures from the operating session is now available. The file is now sufficiently large that it will take a little while to load up. 43. This picture has obviously been doctored to cut out the wires dangling from level above. In all honesty I do not notice them when I operate. I spent a pleasant half hour sitting on a high buffet watching proceedings at Urteno, almost at eye level, as an enthusiast would. There was nothing dramatic, just the “crocodile” shunting wagons around the station. As has been noted, the scenery and the station could do with completion, but this doesn’t detract from my enjoyment. 51. One of the drovers accompanies the emigrating cattle to the station at Breĉo de Glissent. There is a little less fuss than yesterday. The drovers will also not be coming back to a nice warm bed tonight as they are taking up residence in the high country shielings as part of the transhumance system.. Emmalia will have a little less on her plate today as she only needs to shepherd the drovers in one direction. 56. The road crossing beside the Hole in the Wall, the café (still awaiting development) in Fenditavalat square, is what I quaintly saw described, in one of my French books, as “une affaire des saints”. Despite repeated requests from the authorities the shunter emerges unannounced, except for its horn, from behind the blind corner with a wagon or two in tow. This is a source of much amusement to the regular patrons of the café. The authorities might consider erecting a warning sign but they refuse stating that it is the railway’s problem. In any case they will soon be able to harass the railway once the bonnet is removed from the shunter as summer approaches. Ian T

Another set of pictures from the operating session is now available. The file is now sufficiently large that it will take a little while to load up. 43. This picture has obviously been doctored to cut out the wires dangling from level above. In all honesty I do not notice them when I operate. I spent a pleasant half hour sitting on a high buffet watching proceedings at Urteno, almost at eye level, as an enthusiast would. There was nothing dramatic, just the “crocodile” shunting wagons around the station. As has been noted, the scenery and the station could do with completion, but this doesn’t detract from my enjoyment. 51. One of the drovers accompanies the emigrating cattle to the station at Breĉo de Glissent. There is a little less fuss than yesterday. The drovers will also not be coming back to a nice warm bed tonight as they are taking up residence in the high country shielings as part of the transhumance system.. Emmalia will have a little less on her plate today as she only needs to shepherd the drovers in one direction. 56. The road crossing beside the Hole in the Wall, the café (still awaiting development) in Fenditavalat square, is what I quaintly saw described, in one of my French books, as “une affaire des saints”. Despite repeated requests from the authorities the shunter emerges unannounced, except for its horn, from behind the blind corner with a wagon or two in tow. This is a source of much amusement to the regular patrons of the café. The authorities might consider erecting a warning sign but they refuse stating that it is the railway’s problem. In any case they will soon be able to harass the railway once the bonnet is removed from the shunter as summer approaches. Ian T

A further set of photos has now been posted on the website. 30. “Isuri” receives it 05.00 alarm call. The mountain communities usually rise early so this is not too much of an inconvenience, except to the students sleeping off their hangovers! The pilot has pulled two vans of blankets from the factory at the bottom of Steep Street. There might or might not be more buildings here since last time. I honestly cannot remember. 34. Elsewhere the schools’ railcar climbs the vulpafaŭkangulo trailing two vans. This is the maximum load that can be taken by railcar over this demanding stretch of line. The model’s mechanism, a Fleischmann Magic Train shunter, is really at the limit of its performance coping with the tail load and its own, new body. Hope that you find them of interest. Ian T

A further set of photos has now been posted on the website . 30. “Isuri” receives it 05.00 alarm call. The mountain communities usually rise early so this is not too much of an inconvenience, except to the students sleeping off their hangovers! The pilot has pulled two vans of blankets from the factory at the bottom of Steep Street. There might or might not be more buildings here since last time. I honestly cannot remember. 34. Elsewhere the schools’ railcar climbs the vulpafaŭkangulo trailing two vans. This is the maximum load that can be taken by railcar over this demanding stretch of line. The model’s mechanism, a Fleischmann Magic Train shunter, is really at the limit of its performance coping with the tail load and its own, new body. Hope that you find them of interest. Ian T

Pages 520 to 525 show the Manchester Leeds line via Dewsbury. All the trains listed for the New Line, as shown, seem to be stopping trains. Ian T

It is an amusing reference to the terminus of my own European NG system, the AFK. It can be found here, although you will have to press the town name on the index. Ian T

From a personal point of view, best of luck if you try to read it!! I have tried but I gave it up as a bad job. I haven't been paying attention, as usual, but perhaps a simpler option would be David & Charles Locomotive Studies, The Steam Locomotives of Eastern Europe, A.E. Durrant 1966, with a re-run in 1972.. This gives a potted version but allows comparison with neighbouring countries, many of which were constituents of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Ian T

The ND as described in the magazine (in French). The engine was a diesel UNIC M28 model which gave 120 hp. This had 6 cylinders (115 x 165mm). Additional info from MC Shaw in a PM on another forum indicates that the UNIC engines were made under licence from Mercedes. Some of these railcars were laterre-engined with 150hp Berliet engines. He also notes that MTVS no 13 and Arrivetz & Bejui state that the original motors gave 100hp. Both publications cover the Vivarais. I have both of these in my library but was initially too lazy to cross check. Thus prodded I checked MTVS issue 12 (CFD Lozere) where the other two NDs went. This also states the hp was 100. The most recent Vivarais book (Claude Wagner 2016) manages to say almost nothing about the ND railcars. Other details are that the chassis length was 9.50 metres and the driving wheels were 71 cms. The bogie wheels wee 55cm in diameter. Weight was 9.5 tonnes and they seated 31 (I could only count 30 spaces on the drawing!) Works Nos 119-120 went to CFD Lozere and 121-125 went to CFD Vivarais. They were styled after contemporary road bus practice but had a lower capacity than the MT model, from which they were derived. From observation Studying the diagram there is a small parcels section at the rear. They were obviously 6 wheel machines with a bogie at the front and a driving axle at the back. They were turned using a verin, which is shown on the drawing. This was a retractable turntable that could be wound down wherever needed to reverse the vehicle, avoiding the need for fixed turntables. It is possible to create a working verin and my model of a de Dion Bouton KG model incorporated one. Unfortunately it fell apart years ago, rather like many French railcars. The bits were salvaged with a view to re-incarnation but they currently lay dormant in a box as the AFK uses larger (mainly French based) railcars. The photo was taken years ago. Ian T

I cannot say that it is the best source but this topic was covered in Magazine des Tramways a Vapeur et des Secondaires (MTVS). MTVS No 21 looked at Tartary and de Dion Bouiton railcars . Unfortunately it was published in 1982 so I hardly imagne that it is very accessible. De Dion Bouton produced 195 vehicles in total between 1923 and 1952, although another 30 or so units were included in a Special Number series. A quick glance at the text suggests that they were a sideline to their bicycle, and later car, business. As far as I can tell they used their own engines. Which model of railcar are you referring to? They ran from primitive four wheel types, such as the JA model, through to some quite sophisticated bogie types such as model OC1 and OC2.. Whilst they mainly built narrow gauge types they also ventured into the stndard gauge market as well. If you let me know the model, or the operating company,I will look it up for you although only thumbnail sketches are included for each type. Ian T

I used to have this problem when modelling opens. I now chop the sides into smaller pieces so that they can bow outwards, as on decrepit wagons. I hide the joints behind the strapping, although they will show on the inside, The photo above shows a relatively well looked after open at Fenditavalat. Some of the older more decrepit ones bow much further from a straight side. Ian T Ian T