30368

Wow! what truly lovely items and seemingly very accurate to prototype. Chin up, I'm sure you will overcome the boiler/firebox diameter mismatch. Kind regards, 30368

Good news today, The Yorkshire Building Society tells me they have some money of mine that I have completely forgotten about. It has been on deposit for about 30 years! I am aware of scams and this is not one. More importantly I have fitted 2 point motors to the baseboard of 70D and whilst still a good number to do, it is progress on the most hated of model railway tasks. As an electrical engineer (and mechanical engineer) I am proud of my very poor wiring quality very scruffy. In an attempt to improve matters I have now cleaned up the act and each point motor assembly will look like this before fitting it to the underside of the baseboard, if you think this is rough you should see the ones already fitted: I have read that SEEP point motors are poor and not reliable - too late now I have bought about 60 or so. Kind regards, Richard B

A subject I know nothing about WRT Liverpool OHR but this video may help a little: or this: Kind regards, 30368

Nice work Clive and in particular, I admire the way you have batted to the boundry the hurtful comments.... It is pleasing to see that the level of completion for little steam engines is very similar to the standard applied to rolling stock and DMU's. Long may this approach continue. KInd regards, 30368

Is this Darlington Scrap line at North Road Station? A number of V1/3s in the picture. Kind regards, 30368

What an amusing football/railway interlude! Wonderful! 30368

I am now working on my 70D layout so not much to happen here for a while. Kind regards, Richard B

Today, and at last, I re-started work on my 70D layout. I will focus on the shed yard beyond the turntable. This part of the layout will be terminated, as it were, with a road overbridge the otherside of which will form the end of the country station based on Oakley. Nothing to see here.... yet. Kind regards, 30368 PS Listening to Railway Mania Episode 5 "Edward Thompson - Hero or Villain ?" With Simon Martin. A well argued revision to Thompson's reputation as a "Gresley Hater"

Some pictures of the Drummond S11 4-4-0 with its new tender and its new identification as 30397. Kind regards, Richard B

30335 now running very well with its new tender - a couple of pictures outside 70D, facing the wrong way on the UP slow. Some pictures of 30397 with its new tender later. Kind regards, Richard B

Turns out I can't make it, off the Ribble Steam Railway with grandchildren. Hope you improve soon Phil. Kind regards, Richard B

I have now finished the two tenders (apart from weathering and coal) and re-numbered the S11 4-4-0. So a few final snapshots of the completed work. I think the S11 looks quite good, battered a bit but unbowed. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi John, As you know I model Southern Region steam but given my work in the 1960's on 08, 33, 73 classes and EMUs/DEMU's I have a very catholic view of railway modelling. Whatever era is your thing then that is fine. I even have a model of a Crompton and an 07 and look forward to Michael Edge completing the development of the Maunsell DE shunter so that I can build one. Clive is, apart from being a very amusing observer and commentator of all things pompous in the model railway fraturnity and a musical powerhouse is also leading expert on all matters DMU (and 25kv EMU) and I'm sure inspired many modellers of the post steam railway. Long may an open minded approach to our hobby continue. Kind regards, 30368 PS Sorry Clive I am sure you know much more about many other things too, not least armoured vehicles.

I enjoy your F1 comments Andrew but can't agree with your view of the Alonso/Russell incident. NO contact as far as I could see and we all know how tricky Alonso can be defending his position. After all it is motor racing. Perhaps young Russell will learn from this incident? He needs to since he has lost a good position twice now on the last few laps of a race by placing the car in the wall etc.... For me it was the perfect race with Ferrari 1 nd 2 who could ask for anything more? I am though a very long time Ferrari supporter so very partial to a red car win. Kind regards, 30368

Phil, You need a Doctor.... I will await developments on the York front. Kind regards, Richard B

I do hope Clive that your statement is not political? Else action may be taken...😁

I have to differ with that conclusion, Manchester's finest wins I'm afraid, however I do accept that there are no railway references in Blue Monday. Kind regards, 30368

I always thought that the BRB designed Mk3 coaches were some of the finest, and certainly the strongest, coaches to run in the UK. The space provided per passenger on later rolling stock (ignoring high density stock) is very much less than that provided in the past. Comfort is made much worse than that when most TOCs run 2 coach MU when 4 would have been approriate etc... True the mandatory provision of multi use toilets has made matters a little worse but the real issue is "cram them in" design and a significant reduction in the number of vehicle per train. All part of Britains wonderful private sector railways. KInd regards, 30368

Hi DLT, Never trust one of my snapshots! The tender is level and having re-checked the loco, it is level and the cab roof hight is accurate to JH Russell's drawing of the beast on page 241 of Southern Locomotives.. Yes you are right 335 as originally built was one of his 4 cylinder 4-6-0 locomotives that almost ruined his reputation. The tender fitted to 30335 was his prototype 8 wheeler originally fitted to one of his "Double Singles" - yet another Drummond masterpiece. Fortunately he also was able to design some masterful 4-4-0's (T9, D15 etc..) but to be fair to him many early 20th Century locomotive engineers found it really difficult to make the step from 4-4-0 to 4-6-0. For example, John Robinson on the Great Central found it hard to better his "Directors" with a wide range of 4-6-0 types none of which were really successful. The plus side of all this was that we modeller's have a wide range of prototype 4-6-0s to inspire us. I have built a B9 4-6-0 and my next job will probably be a B7 4 cylinder M/T design. Kind regards, Richard B

A few snaps showing 30335 with its new tender - which only requires lamp brackets and handrails and will then be ready for painting and lining. Opening water filler shows up well. I have always thought that my 30335 was a washer thickness too low at the cab end(?) When I was building 30335 back in 2018 I had just finished painting and lining it when I managed to drop it on the floor of my then workshop. It landed on the edge of the smokebox and needed a smokebox repair so back in the works before it had turned a wheel! Kind regards, Richard B

Wonderfully evocative of so many engine sheds on a Sunday, reminding me of a couple of Sunday visits to York shed followed by a trip accross the road to the staff canteen for a very hearty breakfast! Many thanks, 30368

Tender things have moved on a bit, almost finished... A fair bit of solder cleaning up to do but the new tender compares well with my original version. I have fitted on of Markits opening tender tank fillers which will should be useful when 30335 stops for refreshments.... Kind regards, Richard B PS - Phil, when and hw would you like your U1 to be delivered? I may be able to get to the York show if that is useful?

My first trip to the NE was back in December 1963 on my first railway staff free pass. I had already written to the appropriate authorities for access to Darlington North Road Works but also Darlington shed, Gateshead, Tyne Dock, North/South Blyth and Sunderland. I was able to see those exNER Q6 and J27s in abundance as well as a few Q7s (9Fs all over the place) as well as the odd J72. On a later visit I toured York shed on a Sunday and it had over 100 locomotives present. Found memories of the NE and its locos. Kind regards, 30368

Thanks Mick, a great help. My NUCAST - Partners price list must be out of date. This is a fast moving hobby...... Kind rergards, 30368

Or telephone: Brian at 01373 822231 sales@branchlines.com Kind regards, 30368