Norton Wood

I visited the East Anglian Railway Museum today and saw this lovely loco... I asked about what the plans are for 69621 and the plan is to restore their Bagnal which has been sitting in the shed having some major boiler work, once the loco has been completed the N7 will go in for an overhaul. So that hopefully will be in the next 5-6 years time.

That looks fantastic good work This is the current Progress of my P2 kit 2003 Lord President

Having spoken to a driver who worked out of both Norwich City station (M&GNJt) and Norwich Thorpe, he used to be a fireman on the United Dairy runs which now make the Mid Norfolk Railway. He jokes about the fact that this particular run on this N7 was so worn out that they would work the engine off the pressure, because the engine would run at lets 150psi..but it would quickly drop so he would have to build the fire again and the driver and firemen would work the train off the pressure. Quite funny really. Similar trains to this image of a J15 on the Milk trains

Model Rail have received a decorated sample of the J70. The Facebook post also suggests to look out on Model Rail's YouTube page. Photo from Model Rail's Facebook Page.

I had a look through the Yeadon's book and found that there were some N7's, fitted with Whistles on the Firemans side, this is while with Belpaire boilers. Maybe Oxford is looking to do N7s with whistles on different sides of the loco. We shall see, besides we know they have to iron out a few issues before we know 100% that the model will look like this.

So following GER Practise, I thought as much it seems very odd to have a whistle either side of the safety valves...I do hope Oxford are aware of this issue...

Further photos have appeared on Rails of Sheffield this time showing the other side of the locomotive showing the Westinghouse air pump and the cab, interestingly I didn't know the N7 had two whistles either side of the Safety Valves (GER & LNER Only) But I would like to know if this is incorrect or correct. As for the BR version, the whistle is not present... But as explained this is pre-production. (Photo's credited to Rails of Sheffield)

Wow, they look even better in the dynamic view rather than just showing the 2D side view, very very impressed with this. I was just informed by a friend, I've been so busy today this has come somewhat as a reward for today's efforts.

Certainly does, I have to say it's taken a while to build but I have a plan to build a bigger layout using this idea. In addition, every update on this page is great news...Now it's just waiting for the models to go into production and then getting them here to the UK...

I'm not a Great Western Fan myself but I hope it serves well... As for myself and I look forward to getting it onto my layout:

Oooh Yes please, Chris, that would be fantastic. Thank you

Was looking through the Yeadons N7 Book and found another GER Livery that Oxford could do which as the caption reads, ' The first of the 1921 batch was given the same painting as the two built-in 1915, and only these three carried GER. All were painted unlined grey and had a large brass numberplate'. Funny enough this is 1002 the loco being modeled by Oxford Rail.

Ah, I did not know, that...Very interesting thank you

Well actually yes, I am working on one, and have a blog here on RM Web about my build...In addition, I am building a Streamlined P2 2003 and am writing a blog about that as well. As per the question, I have only 1 A4 Pacific now, being the Limited Edition Great Goodbye A4 4489 Dominion of Canada... I used to have two but 1 had to be used for creating a P2 & W1 Here is 4489 Dominion of Canada next to 4494 Osprey, visiting on my layout Mile End Park

A little off topic, but LNER related all the same, What are peoples thoughts if interested in the Oxford Rail RTR N7?

I should think so, I can understand the initial confusion, I should think that this is the intended samples which will come out 2 Belpaire type N7's and a Round Topped N7. Thinking about it perhaps due to the previous comments on the thread in the early posts, Oxford may have changed which type of N7 they went for in terms of the BR liveried N7. In addition, there have been a few mistakes on their website which after a few weeks had been rectified, an example of which is the number that the BR N7 was going to get from E9621 to 69612. Just a few things I have noticed over the past few months. :-)

Funny really I know an eX-Fireman (BR) now where I now volunteer. He loved the N7's, he said they were so simple to work on, he said when you got a good driver, the fireman would drive and the driver would check on the fire regularly. As they used to get to let's say Enfiled town, he would go to the coal stage fill the bunker with coal, the driver would fill the fire to the door, at this point the next loco either an N7 or L1 would take over...I know the N7's were smaller than the L1's but it seems to me that the L1 just couldn't replace the N7, I'd like to say because it was a good loco.

69621 is round-topped.. She was the Last N7 built and the last loco to come out of Stratford works...Very sad times but we are lucky to have even at least 1 left.

Ah, my mistake...TOO MANY Variations why couldn't the GER/LNER make things simple haha

I was interested to see which types of N7 they are due to bring out, looking into it, Oxford announced that they are bringing out: K85 - I would assume this the current GER Grey prototype 1002 N7/GE - Again I'd assume this is the 8011 N7/4 - N7/3 - N7/5 - This is definitely the 69612 as the preserved N7 69621 is an N7/5 So according to what has been said we could see 2 more versions of the N7 in addition to different liveries, as noted a GER Ultramarine Blue N7 would go down well.

I don't think so, to be honest, it's providing more holes into a manufacturer than needed, granted the Dean Goods had a lot of issues, perhaps a lesson for them as they enter a very small market and we as modelers tend to know a lot more about the locomotive. To some modelers (Like myself) if you get something new which related to the theme of your layout, then isn't that a good thing? This is the first time an N7 is being made for the first time in the RTR range... Oxford could easily have designed and upgraded a model which had already been made by another manufacturer. Again I do agree with the NEM coupling problem, as I said earlier in interest if they will be removable, the whole idea of modeling in the first place is to take a model and edit it to suit a particular locomotive that you like the look of, or saw as a child back in the steam era. A bit of optimism would go a long way, I have to say they look very impressive and having looked at the previous engineering samples I cannot see any major issues with this. On the upside here is what I intend to do with 8011 when it arrives changing it to 8993, please note the black & white image is not my own.

Talking about the NEM couplings, if someone has the Adams Radial Tank, if they do, are the NEM Couplings and Pockets removable? The reason I ask is simply that I am sure a modeler would be able to convert those couplings. Even using 3 links or screw links, which I certainly plan to do.

The Photos have turned up on Hatton's website; Obviously the GER 1002 in Wartime Grey LNER 8011 Finally 69612 with the rebuilt Gresley round top boiler

Hi Very Nice, Would you be at all interested in running it again? I am, a secretary of a 7 1/4 inch railway in Norfolk, called the Top Field Light Railway, controlled by the Whitwell & Reepham Model Engineers Club (A total mouth full I know) if you are on Facebook you can find us there. In addition, we are on the 7 1/4 inch gauge society website. Thank you. Tom