VIA185

Is this crude oil being moved? (CJL)

So, the LMR put forward names connected with the war but they were passed over in favour of mountains. I wonder why? (CJL)

Post-Nationalisation and with the likes of George Dow heading the PR departments there was a policy move away from naming locos after weapons of war. That's why there was a controversy over naming the new A1 Tornado - a name it would not have carried if it had been built by BR in  the 1950s. (CJL)

1 hour ago, Tony Cane said:

Hi Chris

Thanks for the response and the information on spares.

While I can see the attraction of doing the variation of a locomotive without rear sand boxes, this has been poorly implemented on the model. By just not fitting the sand box two holes are present in the frames and the head of a large screw in visible. Ideally a plug in overlay could have corrected this. But being realistic about this particular variant it is, I suspect, the least popular version. I am frankly surprised and delighted that a model in WD livery was produced. This and the superb model of Basra have already involved extra tooling for the much appreciated head lamps and conduit. Further tooling for better renditions of the missing sand boxes does not make economic sense. My intent is to get a more typical appearance by covering the un-prototypical features. I will fabricate a pair of sand boxes and create a more satisfactory model.

 

Regards

 

Tony Cane

I guess the alternative would have been to do it like all the others, with the sandboxes on, and leave it to the modeller to take them off if he wanted to. However, when you look at it from a manufacturer's (or in our case a commissioner's) viewpoint, there's always a desire to provide as many versions, variants and liveries as possible, as simply as possible. That's what makes the total run of models attractive to as many buyers as possible, and helps to ensure that they sell out - which is imperative these days. (CJL)

Just scrapped Athearn GP38-2 Ontario Northland No. 1800 (catalogue number 77147.) Bought 9/12 but not run in recent years. Serious distortion of Mazak chassis frame resulting in seized drive and bogies. Beyond repair. My first North American Mazak rot victim.   (CJL)

22 hours ago, Tony Cane said:

Hi Chris

Thanks for the response.

I believe that I have sufficient evidence to refute that statement.

The RCTS history on these locomotives has pictures of ex70273 running as DSB6 in Denmark, in 1965,and ex70272 as AD601 at Bicester in 1979, both with rear sand boxes. The locomotive Basra was, before renumbering and naming number 70270, and correctly modelled with rear sand boxes. As to 70271, this was an unlucky locomotive. It was involved in a fatal head on collision on the Longmoor Military Railway in 1956. While it should have been renumbered by then no number was actually carried. Photographs of the aftermath of the accident show that rear sand boxes were fitted.

What I would like is for it to be possible to obtain a pair of rear sand boxes, preferably in the correct colour, as spare parts, so this omission can be corrected.

Hi Tony. I'm not personally familiar with these locomotives or their history, but it looks like it did at some point and didn't at some other point and that we've modelled it at the point when it didn't. We research these things pretty thoroughly and though we aren't infallible, we do usually have photographic evidence where detail differences are concerned. I'm afraid we don't carry any spare parts. (CJL)

On 13/02/2024 at 14:25, Tony Cane said:

You may wish to hold off on ordering one in the WD green as I think there is a minor issue with this version. I have made inquires at Model Rail via Kernow but have not had a reply yet. My model, the picture on the Model Rail web site and even the box art do not have any rear sand boxes. The box art even shows  the screw head revealed by the omission.  This will be a simple fix by providing a couple of boxes which just plug in

I have been asked to confirm that the the WD model is correct. The locomotive in question did not have rear sandboxes. (CJL)

I see that the Class 66 hauling the Colnbrook-Grain empties on April 5th, was partially derailed at West Ealing. (CJL)

Swindon 75ton crane in Colnbrook up platform after replacing underline bridge s. of station. (CJL)

I think this may be the bridge in your third/fourth pics. The bridge carrying the footpath was right beside the railway bridge and the footpath crossed under the railway immediately south of the bridges. When I last saw it (from memory) the wooden footpath bridge had gone and the footpath was diverted onto the much more substantial rail bridge. Incidentally the rail bridge had been replaced in the late 1970s (I don't have the date) but the Swindon 75ton breakdown crane came to Colnbrook to lift the girders and I have pics of it standing in the remains of Colnbrook station. I'll post one if I can find a scan. (CJL)

In this shot, the 47 was waiting while the secondman walked back from shutting the level crossing gates. (The gates were eventually demolished)

On 09/04/2024 at 20:18, Engineer said:

A while ago I passed through the Colnbrook area and, with time to spare and favourable weather, chose to make a small diversion.  I found a path, maybe unofficial and in a very poor state of repair, that led from a Poyle estate road to the trackbed of the former Staines branch.  I believe this might have been access for a foot crossing.  There is much accumulated rubbish in the area.  

Roughly at the boundary of the former railway land, there is a post of bridge rail section, presumably a remnant of company fencing/gate post support.  

 

Moving north along the track bed, there is a river bridge, looks like a relatively modern span but with older railway abutments.  

 

 

Even further north the track bed reaches the south extent of the development site across the line.  In the far distance of the image, just visible is the old building at the Colnbrook station site and a last remaining sign/lights on a post for the level crossing.

 

Returning to the previous access path then heading southward the former line becomes less-used and at times more of a jungle path, occasionally ballast underfoot.  It runs out after a few hundred yards.  

 

From OS map evidence, the path leading to Poyle Estate Halt seems to have been built over as the estate evolved so it is hard to locate the former station site precisely.  There has been some building beyond the established edge of the estate and onto the footprint of the old line and there is assorted old and new building material dumped in the general area where the platform may have been

 

This is amateur speculation only.  I wonder if the discarded large, low reinforced concrete portals have a railway past? 

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/p/poyle_estate_halt/poyle(8.1957_harden)estate_halt_old7.jpg

Very recently I stood opposite a structure (below) including some 'family similarity', which encouraged me to post.   

The dumped concrete frames in the first picture certainly look like the remains of the halt platform. The last time I went back that way I photographed a Class 60 on the tanks at Colnbrook but I'm afraid I find the amount of change down there to be depressing - I just prefer to remember how it was. Here's the halt at Poyle Estate - probably 1964/5. 

Ian, I'm glad it's going Ok. It's not exactly pleasant, but of the various things they do to one in hospital it is, perhaps, one of the least unpleasant. Getting the balance of drinking water/waiting time correct was the biggest challenge for me. As one would expect, I finally got it sorted near the end of the treatment! As someone who lives alone and is 'old' I used to enjoy my 20minutes interaction with the (not young but younger than me!) radiographers - all girls. I actually miss that now. I was initially told that any side effects might last for 3 months after treatment but in a more recent consultation that was changed to 18 months. I have suffered quite severely from dry itching skin. Have not discussed with the consultant (I'm not due another consultation until about May) but another guy who had the radiotherapy says that he is similarly affected. Make use of any aftercare facilities they offer (Peterborough has a wonderful walk-in centre in a separate building with free drinks and biscuits and volunteers on hand to help with any side/after effects). (CJL)

Tried sending these to Canadian Railway Observations, as the Editor is clearly a fan of BC Rail's Dash-8-30CMs, but my e-mails to CRO just bounce back. So, since I went to the bother of scanning the original prints, here they are. I was lucky enough to get a conducted tour of 4604 at North Vancouver, brand new in 1990, hence the two cab interior shots. 4601 was entering Lillooet, southbound same year. Sad to think that the BCR is no more - though I preferred the two-tone green PGE/BCR paint scheme. I last saw one of these locos far from home, in Halifax, NS,back in 2012. Still in  (tatty) red, white and blue. (CJL)

Looks like a modern DCC-fitted Athearn SW1500 is available so I could maybe cannibalise one for its chassis. I have a Rapido switcher, bought for a repair job on another model. I may just switch the chassis from that. I'm currently hooked on getting some old models up to date and some really old kits, acquired long ago, actually built! (CJL)

3 hours ago, pH said:

Not really street running - it’s just an ungated street crossing. They’re coming off a right-of-way on the right and crossing into the CN/CP/BNSF/SRY transfer yard on the left.

 

Search for “1300 Quayside Drive, New Westminster” on Google Maps and you’ll see the arrangement more clearly.

Yes, OK. Just thought it was worth posting anyway. Shouldn't have bothered, I guess. (CJL)

In the back of a cupboard, I found an almost-finished Cary Loco Works Fairbanks-Morse H10-44 which will do nicely for my new logging section. However, it's on an old Athearn analogue chassis and I know these don't convert easily to DCC. So, is there a current  Athearn DCC-fitted loco with a chassis that will fit? It looks like a switcher chassis but I haven't bought Athearn for a long time and I've no idea what's available - if anything. (CJL)

3 hours ago, phil gollin said:

.

 

Now that most of the initial fuss over the Class 11 release is over is it the right time to ask whether Model Rail will go ahead with the Southern Class 12s, and if so, when ordering may be opened ?

 

I hope they do go ahead.

 

.

Yes, but there are other projects ahead of it. See

https://www.modelrailoffers.co.uk/pg/167/Project-Class-11-12

(CJL)

10 hours ago, Ian Morgan said:

Another couple of 4 week cycles of the enzalutamide tablets, and another three-monthly hormone injection and my urologist said I was ready for the radio therapy to start (at last).

 

So, yesterday, I went to Windsor to have 'Spacer' gel inserted between the prostate and the rectum. A 1cm thick layer of this gel (a natural product that will eventually be absorbed over some months) is intended to protect the rectum from possible damage by the radiation being applied to the prostate. The procedure is similar to the biopsy, except the needle used to deliver the gel is only inserted once. However, it took about 20 minutes to spread the three packs of gel to where it was needed, guided by the ultrasound 'wand' inserted where the sun don't shine. I hope I don't have to do this again, but the soreness and discomfort is already wearing off.

 

Next Friday is the radiotherapy planning appointment in Southampton, where a CT scan and an MRI scan will be performed to accurately identify the target for the rays.

 

The radiotherapy itself begins on the 18th March for 4 weeks, 5 days per week. The new, more accurate and clever machine does not require the tatoo dots previously required, as it will know the shape of my body, and can automatically track if I move or fidget inadvertently. Side effects of the radiotherapy vary greatly between individuals, so I do not know when life will get back to near-normal after all this.

 

Happily, the timing of the appointments mean I can still help out at the Basingstoke exhibition next weekend, and help with the club's Royal Albert Bridge layout at Alley Palley the following weekend. I am also hoping I will have recovered from the radiotherapy enough to visit the new show at the NEC.

 

Sounds like the 'new more accurate and clever' machine is a Varian Truebeam or a development of. Peterborough has four of these and I found the technology mind-blowing. There's no 'sensation' of any kind, the machine moves round you, directed by the radiographers who are safely ensconced in a bunker nearby and watching everything on their bank of computer screens. Sometimes there was music in the background and always the ceiling became blue sky, fluffy clouds and apple blossom! I could tell which machine I was on by which colour blossom was projected. The whole process took less than 15 minutes, most of which is spent setting you in position and getting dressed (shoes and trousers) afterwards. My treatment was all done by girls - well women a lot younger than me - and one couldn't have hoped for a nicer bunch. I, too, had four weeks worth - every weekday except a bank holiday Monday. I drove myself the 20-30minute drive to and from the hospital after being taken by my son and daughter for the first couple of appointments. The bladder emptying and filling thing is a bit of a pain if the timing is off or they are running late. I'm quite small so I found 3 cups and 30 minutes too much and was able to reduce it to 2.5 cups and 25 minutes. It's worth it! Good luck. (CJL)

On 29/02/2024 at 21:10, Michael Hodgson said:

 

So did these ever get produced? 

https://www.modelrailoffers.co.uk/c/1814/Class-48-Diesels

Two Southern railway of BC switchers return from Annacis Island having delivered a long train of car carriers. Not sure of date - maybe 2007ish. (CJL)

21 hours ago, Mark Saunders said:

The irony of Canada is watching Michael Portillo travelling on the exported Nightstar stock!

I travelled on those a dozen years ago when they were in good order. They rode very well - a lot better than the 1954 Budd cars on the 'Canadian' - but they are cramped by comparison. But the Budd cars are 70 years old and have mostly been rebuilt/modified umpteen times. The 'Renaissance' stock (ex-Nightstar) is reputedly falling apart/leaking - at least in part because the Canadians carved it around and cut extra doors into monocoque bodies etc. (CJL)

2 hours ago, Phatbob said:

The BR green examples are still shown with erroneous green roofs.  They should be black.  I shall not be ordering one until I've seen it in the correct colour scheme.

 

The BR green versions MR511/512 are clearly illustrated on the web site and the magazine ads, with correct grey cab roof. 

On 19/12/2023 at 20:07, Southernman46 said:

The BR blue Class 12 (15212) MR-605 seems to have disappeared from the planned list - is this right or just an error ?

MR-523 BR/SR Class 12 15212 BR Rail blue with wasp stripes (Just the catalogue number has changed). Delivery expected later this year. 

MARC Models produced the CIWL sleeping cars and the SNCF Forgon and the SR CCT with the 'birdcage' lookout for Model Rail at my request when I was Editor. They were complex etched brass kits on which some of the shaping/bending/forming was pre-done. I'd love to see a ready-to-run version but I'm not sure we ever will. (CJL)