Jim49

My K1 arrived this morning at 07.30! Only ordered it late Friday night so despite all the problems that the courier services are moaning about, this looks like a result for Royal Mail / Parcel Force. The footplate has a very slight wobble but I wouldn't have noticed it if it hadn't been mentioned on here earlier. One thing I did have to do was to remove the body and reposition it as it had not been properly fitted at the factory. The cab end was correctly attached but the front was high with a 2-3mm gap between the top of the cylinders and the footplate. Two screws was all it took the release the body but it is a tight fit around the motor. A large application of the family motto (Brute force & ignorance will conquer all) was required to separate the body from the chassis and then reassemble by getting the front end in place first and then the cab end. Retighten the screws and all is well. Loco is running in nicely as I type and looks like a winner for Hornby. Now, any word about the D16 I ordered earlier in the year? Jim

Buffalo, you are quite right. It was about 3/4 years ago and I was saying that the 7Fs could not be turned on Templecombe's 'table and you quoted from the S&D Files article I mentioned earlier to say it might have been possible (Where's the embarrassed Smiley when you need it?) My only excuse is that I only got my hands on issues 1&2 a few weeks ago so hadn't read the article until last week. Back into my corner with the big Dunce cap on again! jim

In the opening post 3 years ago, tingleytim made the attached statement which has never been questioned or doubted by any contributor or reader, including me . However, in The Somerset & Dorset Files No. 1, there is an eight page article about the 7Fs which includes the line - "Turning (the 7Fs) at Templecombe was no problem as there had been a 50ft 'table there since the 1880s". In addition, on page 22, there is a 1938 photo of 13801 taking on water "prior to turning at Templecombe". In theory, with a 50' 1" wheelbase, the 7Fs would have been just too long for the 50' turntable but would it have been possible for them to be squeezed on somehow? Jim

Jenny, It's not that kind of inflation we're talking about.......or is it? Jim

If it is on the C&O as Peter suggests then it could be either Connel Ferry of Balquhidder Junction as these both had island platforms. However, the train is on the "wrong" side of the platform to be Balquhidder so more likely to be Connel Ferry (but don't put any money on it - I have been wrong before) Jim

Glad to hear that you're going up in the world, even if it is the result of a fiendish ulterior motive. As an aside, George C O'Hara's latest book "BR Steam in Scotland" has a photo of Yoker shed on Page 35. It is looking towards the shed and is taken from the toe of the point in front of the shed itself, probably next to the water tower. The buffer stop serving the coaling stage can be seen on the left hand side and the mess hut to the right. On shed are a pair of unidentified ex Caley 3F 0-6-0 tanks, both in steam. Jim

Yes it may be the more polite reply but I know which is the more sincere! Jim

OK then, how and why? Jim

If R2420A is D5511, I bought a new (old stock) one a fortnight ago. I checked the chassis carefully and it seems to be sound in all respects. I can't remember the date on the instruction sheets but if it will help, I will check tonight when I get home.

Just "someone" Boris? I thought you had managed to offend just about everyone at some time or other.

Ah yes, P2s over the Mendips.

Is that you offering us a discount Stephen? (Where's the "Aye, that'll be shining bright" smiley face when you need it?)

Aw come on!!!! There must be more than seven of us in the West of Scotland FFS! Who else is lurking out there?

In Neilston, just a few miles south of you Legend

Looks good so far. If you are using a RTR chassis, who's is it?

Following on from Yalding, I offer Gowkthrapple. It sound like a disease in poultry but is a small town near Wishaw.

Neilston - Birthplace of John Robertson who designed the engine for "PS Comet" , the first commercial steamship

I shall ignore your naming suggestion which is more appropriate for the two halves of a Turbostar (which is which - who can remember?). SImon, did you spell Turbostar correctly? If it was to be named after Ant & Dec surely there should be a "d" in there? Jim

Are the sparks coming from the tread part of the driving wheels, in which case you need to clean the tread face, or from behind the wheels which would indicate that the back of the wheel rim and the face of the pick-up need cleaning. If you can clean these areas thoroughly you will get an improvement in the path of electricity to the motor and better running. Il Grifone had me wondering who Edward was until it dawned on me he is one of Thomas' friends. I hadn't thought about that range but don't know if a complete chassis is available as a spare but it is worth a try. Jim

You don't say what the original HO Lima loco was so I'm guessing the 4F or have you used something else? If the large tender offends you, someone on here converted a B12 into a D16 and squeezed the tender drive from a Hornby Patriot into the shell of the B12. It looked very smart so might be something to consider. Jim

Was the weathering done by Hornby or by the owner? If the latter perhaps he has been a bit heavy-handed and got paint on the inside face of the wheel rims, just where the pick-ups bear.

I suspect that the tender weight has been reduced in size to give more space for a speaker. Easily solved as you say.