Covkid

I think you are generalising. There have been a reasonable number of wagon types available to the UK modeller should they avail themselves of them. This has dramatically increased in the last five years, particularly from the likes of Accurascale and Rapido. I probably have around 150 RTR wagons, another 30odd kitbuilds and well over a hundred kits yet to build. Admittedly I have over 50 locos, so my ratio is not great, but I do have enough stock to run a 50 wagon mineral train and several 10 coach passenger trains.

Here's a question. If you were standing on a platform and a rake of "coffins" were in that platform, there would be little to differentiate between a Mk2E and a Mk2F ? You wouldn't see the below-solebar air con equipment, and you wouldn't see the roof vents. So in my mind it would be the layout of the toilets at each end of the vehicles. I am definitely not criticising anyone who wants 100% accuracy, and yes, viewing the exterior of model trains running round a layout is totally different to observing them from a platform, but it wouldnt bother me having Mk2E and Mk2F in the same rake.

To be honest Dave, your modifications are very impressive in my eyes, but they debeautify the very elegant Peckett, and there is surely only a limited market for them. Much as I like the work of James Hilton at Pi and the colleague in the business. It would be something I would inflict on my black Peckett !!

I think it is still a market which is not yet known. and I believe there are several collectors of class 50s who have most if not all of the fleet. These will be few and far between but worth consideration as the people who may buy all the known releases. So consider the variations. A number of "D400s" didn't have the MU cables fitted from new, then some had black rather than orange boxes on the front. Not sure how many were built wih the "D" prefix, then there were none. Fast forward a few years to plated headcodes, then high intensity headlight, then refurb. Large logo then Sir Edward Elgar in various detail differences. After that there are all the oddities like 50117 and 50149 in RfD, 50008 50015 and 50019 in DCE liveries, 50017 in faux LMS streamliner livery. Then the privatisation era with D444 in two tone green, 50035 in Loadhaul livery and 50031 in Intercity livery, then 50007 and 50049 in GBRf livery. Imagine a selection of these in a glass case on the wall. Plenty to choose from

Funny. I immediately thought of the old Airfix kit too, but no bay windows. I do need something similar myself to represent the rear of a row of houses backing onto an NCB minerla railway. I assume something could be made ofd the Dapol nee Airfix kits

Whatever is offered can we please not have the ridiculous faux oil lamps on the steam locos. Steam locos were traditionally supplied with lamp brackets at both ends. ,It was a job of the footplate crew to put oil lamps or discs on the appropriate lamp irons to indicate it's presence. The lamps were mostly painted black, red or white to stand out from the darkness of the smokebox. The obsession of adding electronic gizmos to model trains needs curbing in my opinion, particularly touching your models to switch lights on and off, whilst leaving the actual lump of plastic in place. I suppose Margate will be looking to miniaturing the lamps and making them removable.

I watched Sam's video of the blue and yellow version yesterday, with a predictable outcome from him.

Yes. Apologies. It was a clumsily written post. Nevertheless, it is a reminder of how many D and E subjects Hornby have involuntarily let go to competition.

Thinking about it you are right - in terms of D&E releases. In fact, by compiliing this list, it is only the abysmal Bagnall, the Sentinels and the class 67 which Hornby still "have to themselves" Ex Lima 20 recently revamped by Bachmann "Early" class 25 announced by Bachmann and SLW Ex Lima 26 and 27 done by Heljan Class 29 covered by Dapol Class 31 (Hornby and ex Lima) announced by Accurascale Class 35 covered by Heljan Class 37 recently revamped by Bachmann and released by Accurascale Class 40 recentlly revamped by Bachmann but also announced by KR models Class 47 covered by Heljan, Bachmann, VI trains and Rail Exclusives Class 50 announced by Accurascale Class 56 announced by Cavalex Class 58 covered by Heljan and EFE Class 59 covered by Dapol Class 60 announced by Cavalex Ex Lima 66 covered by Bachmann, Hattons and announced by Accurascale Class 73 covered by Dapol Class 86 covered by Heljan Class 92 covered by Accurascale

If anyone is seeking a BFYE TOPS split class 37 there is one in Topp Trains of Stafford. Can't remember which one it was.

I am pretty sure that James would happily build you an RTR version. After all he did it for me, and now he has done it once he knows where all the bits go !!! Drop him an email and ask him for a price, but you will need to supply the Bachmann 03 mechanism - probably the newer Next18 version.

Perhaps I should mention that three examples of the Bagnall locomotive exist in preservation here in the UK - at Chasewater, at the Foxfield Railway and at the Lincolnshire Wolds railway. The latter two have the twin windscreens whereas the version James has produced as the triple screen arrangement as found on the locomotive at Chasewater Here is a link to WB3119 preserved at Chasewater railway, but with a poorly engine www.flickr.com/photos/124516405@N02/14516097028/in/photolist-Tj9grC-2fnH9eo-op6aei-opfaup-o7U1ut-o859ie-o7KGZW-myDGPx-opnEmZ-opmrjf-26vqKTj-o7K84F-Mr3C8W-opoaFa-o7UuFi-o7U9Ue-o7KZSp-opnxrr-ooX8fK-2p9vdiv-opaZKm-o7Lbba-o83WNq-opesXT-o7TwiE-2oJDrUC-2huqUPq-o7Tcfw-2mWW8mw-2p9qWkx-2oZ4WQf-opwf2W-oriBcg-or1NKF-o7JWL5-o7JMUY-opxLT6-2huqTNx-opw4AL-o854Xv-2nTfHAA-onvHn5-2nTd7Hj-ooXByt-2hurNid-2hurNsm-2hurPs7-o83WiM-2oZ93kH-2oZ8z2p Here is a link to Wolstanton No 3 preserved and active on the Foxfield railway www.flickr.com/photos/3741831270/40758329293/ Here is a link to "Debbie" at the Lincolnshire Wolds railway www.flickr.com/photos/lestiverton/47967325678/in/photolist-2oXpTBp-ZqHBMA-2o1k3N8-2jogrHj-TLViss-2g5H5Lw

Having collected my model from James Hilton last Friday I can contain myself no more and want to twll you all about it. I desired (useful word) a model of the Bagnall 0-6-0 diesel shunting loco as delivered to a small handful of companies in the late 1950s. The principal purchaser was the National Coal Board Western area which although small in number, dieselised some colliery operations, notably the Hollybank colliery operation which I am interested in. The Bagnall design would probably be described these days as a "Drewry knock off" using the same nine foot wheelbase 0-6-0 chassis with jackshaft drive from the gearbox under the cab floor. Power originally was from a 5 cylinder National diesel engine rated at 208hp. A slightly longer design using a ten foot wheelbase chassis enabled a 7 cylinder National power unit to be incorporated but only a pair were bought by the NCB Western Area. So comparing information I had gathered I figured that Bachmann "Drewry" chassis would be a good starting point, and I also gathered a couple of Airfix "Drewry" body kits with a view to kitbashing a new body. After mulling the project over, I contacted James and asked if he might consider taking a commission of the Bagnall loco, incorporating the Bachmann chassis, and thankfully James agreed. We agreed a price based on the fact that the subsequent development of my model would form a one-off run of kits for Planet Industrials. I supplied James with as much information as I could, and I am indebted to Allan C Baker for his help, through his books and the Industrial Railways Society "County" books. James used the data in the drawing of the longer Baganall Locomotive superimposed on the Bachmann "Drewry" chassis to produce the model. James then developed the printed resin core of the bodyshell and an etched of doors, window frames, cab front, cab rear, footsteps, buffer beams etc. On completion James has used his loco builder and number plates to adorn the cabsides. The development James has made for me produces a body kit designed to go on the new design Bachmann 03 chassis, and this covers most of the NCB Western area locos, which were triple windscreen cabs on the 9 foot chassis. A handful of "newer" locos had a two piece windscreen arrangement and worked at places like Grain, Coryton, Tring and Sharpness. I believe James is intending to market this kit through Planet Industrials strictly as a one-off batch run, but I am sure he will be along with further details. All I can say is thanks very much James Hilton for completing my Hollybank roster of 16" and 18" Hunslets and the YEC Janus design. I am planning further business with James and he is a very enthusiastic and skilled chap who is very much about the appearance of the model. You might want to check out James' weekly blog titled Paxton Road where you will see all manner of delights apart from the Bagnall diesel - which incidentally is not a "DL2" - that apparently was only applied to the Bagnall diesel which worked at Sharpness docks.

Small shunters are also extremely cute and easily fit into a collection. Some of those Andrew Barclay diesels are nice but I also rather fancy one of the Hudswell Clark jackshaft, notwithstanding the LMS Jackshafts which lasted well into the BR period as 12003 onwards.

That is how I understand it too. Of note, the gravity trains have to be "driven" by a qualified "driver" of which there are around half a dozen. I work with one of the FR Controllers and found out some interesting stuff about them.

A somewhat crazy idea, which proves DfT have learnt diddly squat from recent fleet acquisitions. Northern was transferred to OLR partly because of the huge difficulty of getting enough trained drivers onto the variety of fleets (142 144 150 153 155 156 158 170 321 331 332 333 etc now simplified slightly). TPE has gone the same way. Avanti was near to it, and they are about to embark on traction training two new Hitachi classes which don't coupe to their current 390s. So on the ECML when an LNER train sits down, what are the chances a CAF is the next train along to rescue ? Erm sorry - technical problems means everybody tipped off while the emergency coupling is deployed to move the stranded train at 10 miles a fortnight !!! I bet David Horne privately wishes it had been 10 more Hitachis, even though he couldn't publicly say it. And that is not even mentioning the abysmal ride qualities of CAF rolling stock and their proneness to aluminium cracking and it is a brand new design straight out the computer, which will need to be fitted with ETCS for Stoke-Kings Cross !!!!

Quite an impressive way of stitching up rookie operators Dave !!! Be watching this one

Very much so Mike. Our "targets" at Bescot were all arranged to go to work on Sunday night with "radiator north" or"radiator south" depending on what they were working. The Down hump loco target 1 was a radio fitted loco and was always nose first shunting trains over the hump - simply because the driver wasn't at risk from stuff hitting the rear of the cab. Usefully explained

Just leafed through Mike Hollick's book "Changing engines" and he has a photo of D8043 at Crane Street junction Wolverhampton, on a train of bogie bolsters on 14th April 1966 working T33. Also D8137 in the up yard at Bescot displaying 8T34. On this date (23rd August 1968) it was a local trip to Aston Goods.

I moved to Bescot in 1980 and remember our target 16 and target 17 being diagrammed single class 20s. These were engineers trips for moving traffic around the Birmingham area. I may be wrong but I think T16 was an S&T departmental trip based around Wolverhampton Crane St. Another job which was occasionally a single class 20 was the sandite car, this being a converted DMU trailer fitted with hopper, pump and water tank. This job was fully crewed with the guard working the sandite equipment in the trailer whilst driver and secondman crewed the loco. In certain circumstances the loco propelled the sandite car. This was in the days before high intensity headlights, and twin tail lights.

Just as a word of warning the 97/3 which Accurascale are producing is also an unrefurb version. The four 97/3s were renumbered from 37100, 37170, 37178 and 37217 and didn't receive the modifications which were built into the refurb series at Crewe Works in the 1980s.

Great work with the silver windows Jack but your 221 is not too prototypical. Why you ask. Well whe nwa the last time your saw Virgin red on the roof of a voyager. They are always matt black !!!

I would really love some of Jonny's creations, but another one without a 3D printer. Is it time for 3rd part part printing houses to rise to the challenge, or is the printing such an awkward "product" to retail ?

Some 009 is bound to be involved in the announcement I imagine, but how does the quarterly Bachmann announcement system work in relation to the annual catalogue ? Or are Bachamnn releasing catalogue upgrades ? Never bought a model railway catalogue so not an issue to me, but I have speculated this year whether Bachmann might offer more than just one green and one blue version of their new tool 25/1.

Not so much of an expert on bogie frames on 37s - cast or fabricated, but technically I imagine those 37s you mentioned would be a refurb body (37/4) on a refurb chassis (37/6) however I have no idea how the /6 lighting relates in the nose ends of your 37409. AFAIK 37409 is a centre headcode loco with the headlight in the "atandard" refurb position under the headcode box. I sense you have a problem.