mcbearuk

Well, the entertainment value of that lasted about 15 seconds!

As someone who spent over 25 years 'modelling' tramways at 12ins to the foot scale and was co-editor of the UITP/International Public Transport ''How to design and deliver a tramway'' notebooks maybe I can help; It is claimed that the minimum curve radius for a modern tramway is 25m, that is enshrined in the BOStrassenbahn regulations,,,but that is Germany...elsewhere it is recognised that 17-18m is acceptable for modern articulated cars, with cities like Prague having curves down to 15m. We are talking standard gauge here, metre gauge trams can manage tighter curves - down to 11m on some Swiss systems and in Lisbon. A very rough rule of thumb is Minimum Radius = track gauge x 11. In the pre WW1 days minimum curves tended to be 45ft for standard gauge and 35ft for narrow gauge. In the USA they would get some pretty massive interurban cars round 45ft 'corners'! Scissors x overs are used, we have one in the UK at Wolverhampton, I have seen a nmber in E Europe and there is at least one in N America. The general 'rule' for track layouts is 'If you can imagine it someone. somewhere has built it' Hope this helps

How about cutting the M7 body immediately in front of the tanks; take the front footplate/smokebox unit and then knock up a running plate, rear splashers, boiler and cab out of plastikard? Wouldn't be an excessively difficult job.....

Can I buy a copy of the February edition on-line?

I recall being in the 6th Form at school in the 1960s. A group of my colleagues decided to go on a short 'educational' vacation in France. The cheapest civilised way of making the trip was train-ferry-train. When they got of the ferry in...whichever Channel Port it was for the least expensive fare ...they were delighted to find that the SNCF had provided a train with compartments. One of the group was very good at clearing compartments, pub tables etc. by gurning, gibbering and putting on an act as a moderately terrifying lunatic. He stayed on board the train to 'protect' their compartment whilst the others went off in search of drinks, newspapers etc for the journey to Paris. A few seconds after they left two nuns came along the corridor looking for seats. they looked into my friends compartment, causing our actor friend to start his 'Full Loonie' Act. Unfortunately the nuns must have come from a nursing Order, for with cries of "Ah ce pauvre!" and whimpers of sympathy they bounded into the compartment. By the time the rest of the party returned our 'Faux Loonie' was having his forehead wiped, the slobber removed from his lips and he was being plied with holy medals, rosaries etc. His friends did not intervene and he had to keep the act up all the way to Paris....

Couldn't the CTA find a train with circular wheels? this car has more flats on the wheels than a threepenny bit!

Thank you gentlemen. Rue d etropal you mention that there are 'original Drewry plans'; are these available publicly?

Can I ask a rather idiotic question? Did the passenger motor cars have a driving cab at the balcony end, so that they could be driven 'in reverse'? I notice that there is a window in the end bulkhead on one side of the entry door, early US Elevated and Subway motor cars had a cab in this position and it would be logical to think that the Bermuda cars were laid out in the same way. Anyone have some knowledge of this?

Interesting posts. I have always had an interest in slightly off-beat railcars. A few thoughts for you; First, have a look at photos of the BUT railcars operated by the GNR(I), they had interesting layouts and eye-catching front ends, they may give you some ideas. Second, you can buy a Dapol railcar kit on e-bay for £5-8, the end mouldings give attractive front ends for a large railcar/dmu, you will need to build up the roof dome to achieve an attractive profile. Third you can find resin cab ends for class 442 Wessex Electric units on e-bay for about £10 a pair, they would give a very sleek-looking unit. Hope this helps, have fun!