009 micro modeller

I doubt there will be 009 or 016.5 Fairbourne locos as it was 15" gauge and is now 12.25" (yes I know it started out as a 2ft horse tramway). As for the others I think there might be some Talyllyn wagons already and Peco have definitely done the Glyn Valley coaches subsequently used on the Talyllyn. I had to choose between 009 and 016.5 when I started, before the RTR feast of recent years. For me 009 was best because of the smaller space taken up and given the circumstances you describe you might be able to build a micro layout in this scale much sooner than you think. On the other hand, some people have suggested that 016.5 is initially cheaper and with things like Hornby 0-4-0s readily available to convert I can see how it could be. In the end it is up to you and it probably depends if you have any other 7mm stock besides the locos. I have a feeling the connection to a Big Four company and the fact there are three locos virtually the same will make the VoR locos attractive to an RTR manufacturer in future in the same way the L&B locos were. A third option is obviously to model Fairbourne in 09 although the RTR prospects for this are probably much worse. I haven't kept up with developments in 7mm NG recently so I couldn't tell you if there are any plans for RTR 016.5.

This sounds intriguing, do you know if there are any prototype photos or where the quarry example was?

I had been under the impression they were suitable for either 00 or finescale but I'd also forgotten about the Smallbrook ones. One way would be to use EM gauge but I think I'll probably stick with 00. If I did add some narrow gauge it would be 009 (my usual scale) whereas most Victorian lines were 3ft, although there were a few times when standard and NG were used on the same contract.

But based on the TOC's current network? This is an interesting analysis of the use of the old GWR's name - though I think the Mediterranean version of Godwin's law may need to be invoked: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/03/firstgroup-great-western-railway-advertising-standards-poster

Is the C2 going to have a smaller cab fitted and run on the Ffestiniog or will it be restricted to the WHR?

Aren't the books supposed to be set in Dorset anyway? (i.e served mostly by South West trains not GWR). For a more obvious character from children's literature they could have looked at their London terminal's name.

Does anyone know what happened to the Wolverton loco and what it was used for? It looks very light to do any shunting at Wolverton.

Have you decided what to use for the rope yet? When I built a small 009 incline a few years ago I used a sort of silky cotton thread - not the black thread sometimes used but lighter and thicker section - which I then stained darker.

Why does Timmy in the advert appear to jump out of the window that doesn't open?

I might not get round to it for a bit but it's a definite possibility. I do need to get more of an idea of what kind of workings would take place. One idea I quite like is to model a well known location as it would have been when under construction but I expect space constraints and research will make it easier to do a generic setting.

If there are floods again - Five Go Mad in Dawlish? Joking apart I quite like the adverts and they seem to have thought about the image they want to create as well as the history of the line.

Has anyone ever done a layout representing a contractor's railway as used to build the main lines during the 19th century? I am vaguely looking at doing something along these lines but I'm wondering what form operations would take e.g. is it a case of operating like a quarry railway only with spoil going out instead of aggregate and with ballast and track materials etc coming in? Also from the point of view of having a scenic break could I get away with having a completed bridge or tunnel with trains entering the scene through it and running to the next section of railway that is still being excavated? I think for stock I would just use some RT models wooden side tippers and some industrial or small ex-main line locos with the odd main line wagon making an appearance.

I like this a lot. Having been walking on Clee Hill I was interested to learn more about the old buildings. I wonder if the top scenic break could be formed by mist?

You say you've sold most of your stock but have you got any 009 locos left that could have a big cab etc added to convert to 09? It could be an idea. I haven't built any Minimum Gauge Models kits but I have seen them and they looked very good.

The class 506 units remained DC until withdrawal. The Great Eastern variant (306) started out very similar before conversion to AC.

I meant the current owner in preservation (identifiable by the number for those that know the loco). Alternatively I wonder if there are reasons to do with the picture quality - i.e. the numbers and markings didn't come out well (blurred) when the photo was taken so were removed to maintain the overall quality of the photo.

I wonder if it's because the loco's owner or operator didn't want it to be identifiable. Not sure why this would be though.

OK, I understand better now. The layout I described obviously doesn't work if you actually want to see the wagons unloading but I like your idea more. I haven't yet managed to get reliably unloading 009 wagons working on a layout but I might try again soon, probably tippers with loose gravel.

Back to the NG15s, wasn't there one at Brecon some years ago?

Be interesting to know what the coach is based on.

Could somebody build a replica class 13 from a couple of withdrawn 08s? I would have thought the ability to haul heavy loads at low speed would be about right for some preserved lines.

Could the reindeer have a working LED nose? Or am I being a bit too silly? Perhaps you could have another one with a green nose as well and use them together as a signal... Looking good. I like the detailed planking on the walls and the crane is a good idea.

The guy who posted the video on YouTube has another one from 2016, now I think just a coal washery so simplified operations and trackwork but the same site. I was surprised to find how many South Wales freight lines are still open and how some seem to run almost parallel to passenger lines.

After reading about Onllwyn in the other thread (didn't realise it was still open) I found this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMPiIRbpOHQ So much character, including the old signalboxes etc.

I interpreted it to mean that retailers with existing stock are still selling it but there won't be any new production, but I could be wrong.