Tallpaul69

Hi There, I would appreciate you elaborating on your comment, please:- What you consider impossible, others might think difficult, but not impossible! Many thanks Paul

That sounds good Nick, Better take your trusty tape as well as the camera with you for good measure! Hope your wife will be up to holding end of tape duties? I am thinking about a field trip (no station!) to Bradenham while the schools are out. Cheers, Paul

Hi Nick, You mean you have been on a trip to the Dark Side? Glad you made it back in one piece, still better than trying to get to France!! Did you find an excuse to travel via Cholsey? Cheers Paul

Good Afternoon one and all, I have a Hornby Saint class loco bought new in the 1980s but never used. I want to update it to use on my DCC layout, so can anyone advise on the following:- 1) Can a Hall TTS chip and speaker be fitted into the tender (the loco is tender drive) ? Or:- 2) Can the Saint body be fitted to a Hornby 2013 loco drive Hall chassis? Or:- 3) Any truth on the various rumours of a new Saint being produced by one of the leading manufacturers? Many thanks Paul

Good Afternoon one and all I have a Bachmann 32-165DC N Class loco. This has a non sound chip in a 6 pin socket. Can a Hornby TTS Chip (or any other sound chop) be fitted into this loco without changing the socket? Obviously a speaker and associated wiring would be needed! Many thanks Paul

Hi All, I am waiting for the delivery of two new steam locos for Bradenham:- Firstly, a Hornby Star class 4021 British Monarch in early BR green livery that is DCC fitted. While this loco was scrapped in the early 1950s it was an Oxford loco, so is appropriate for Oxford to London via High Wycombe trains, particularly as having already a number of early emblem BR locos, I am thinking to run Bradenham in both early 1950s version as well as my 1960-2 version. The second loco is a bit more tenuous in its Bradenham link! It is an A3, 60035 Windsor Lad, again in the early BR livery. While not DCC or Sound fitted, it is DCC ready and I have an A3 TTS chip in stock. Now this loco has an intriguing connection to the GW&GC, as while it was throughout its life a Scotland allocated loco, there are stories of it visiting the GC line in 1949 and again in 1959/60. The first story relies on a poor quality photo, the second on an observer's notes. So it is an interesting talking point. Following on from the Star, I am also investigating a Saint. This is a more difficult project as Hornby did make a model in the 1980s based on the original Triang Hall. The downside of this is that the loco was tender drive, never DCC ready and only one BR version was made Cleveland Court in BR Black. When the Saint and A3 arrive I will post photos, and keep you updated on my "Saint" hunt! Cheers for now, Paul

Now there's a thought! Off the top of my head, and acknowledging Nicks thought of a knot, maybe a pond?, or a croak?, or a yard?, or .......??? There's no price for the best answer, but there has to be a good answer out there both for the amphibians and the brake vans! So don't be shy, I am wondering how all your minds work?? Cheers for now, Paul

Will do John, once I have made my mind up! Cheers Paul

Good afternoon All, I have finally got round to a couple of extra photos so that I can complete my review of my fleet of toads running through Bradenham. So, firstly, here is my newly delivered Oxford RU van. This newly arrived Bachmann version, will run on the Hinksey to Taplow (and return) freights. Like all my Toads it has yet to receive lamps and Kadee couplings. Next we have the first of my Oxford Rail Toads. This six wheel version could run on Birmingtam to Acton freights, where it probably should be a bauxite van, as these were not slow freights. Alternatively, I suggest that the 1935 WTT overnight Bordersley to Morris Cowley (arr 6.52.am) freight continued to run until the 1960s and was extended to Bradenham. It would have left Bradenham in the early evening to get back to Morris Cowley for a 10.10 pm departure back to Bordersley! Then we have the second of my Oxford Rail Toads. This Basingstoke based van, probably never ran north of Reading, and is an unlikely candidate for the GW & GC, but provides variation in my Toads. I could suggest a Basingstoke to Birmingham run, but again if such a freight existed, I think it would have been a bauxite van? Finally we have a Shrewsbury based toad. This van I suggest worked the 1950WTT 12.40 am Park Royal to Worcester freight which arrived at Princes Risborough at 1.50am and its return which left Worcester at 3.30pm and reached Princes Risborough at 11.55pm. It is quite reasonable for this train to be extended to Shrewsbury! From a long ago planned but never built Cornish layout, I have a number of Cornish based toads which I may have rebranded for other Bradenham uses! Meanwhile, modelling progress is slow, our having to do more dog sitting than planned due to our brother in law's continued poor health. Having recovered from Covid successfully, he has been taken to Hospital during each of the last three weekends with chest pains which have resulted in minor ops to clear clogged arteries. It seems unsatisfactory that they have not been able to treat this once and for all, but perhaps the ops prevent the application of blood thining drugs, that I would bhave thought were the answer? Anyway, the start of the school holidays gets us out of this situation for the next six weeks as our teacher daughter in law will be at home to take care of the dog should our son need to go out to meetings. Best regards to you All, Take care, Paul

Glad you enjoyed the MK Show Nick, and managed to pick up the fishplates you needed. Thankfully my leg is not painful, although I am treating it frequently with the antihistamine cream, but it does look bad! Have investigated your suggestion of Lambourne. The building would fit, but I need the High Wycombe style canopies along the length of the up platform and bay platform. So further investigation to follow, with updates on Lower Thames Yard. Let's hope we can all keep cool over the next few days? Best regards Paul

Hi Nick, My current thinking for the buildings at Bradenham is that the up side station will be a scaled down version of High Wycombe down, while the down side will just be a small shelter something along the lines of Saunderton up shelter, so as not to obscure the view of passing trains. The two road inward goods will be a version of High Wycombe (ex passenger) goods, although simplified because it could never have been a brod gauge passenger station! The outward goods will be along the lines of High Wycombe outward goods, using the Peco goods platform. This will be removed for later era running versions, but the inward goods will remain. The engine shed will be a variation on Aylesbury, I need to look at what engineering etc. staff will be based at Bradenham to work out huts etc. If I had been going to the MK show I would have gone by bus as I can do it with one change rather than two changes if I use bus and train. (see my note on Lower Thames Yard as to why I am not going!). Glad your wife is on the mend. Cheers Paul

Good Afternoon everyone, I had hoped to go to the Milton Keynes Show tomorrow, but events have conspired against me! The main preventative factor is that yesterday afternoon I got a bite in my leg from something. At the time it just felt like I had brushed against a stinging nettle, but we don't have any in the garden. I didn't think any more of it until I felt an itch in my leg during this morning. When I looked down at my leg, I saw an area of red blotches covering some 5cms x 10cms. I treated it with TCP, and decided that as I was going to the post office after lunch, I would go to our local pharmacy and get their advice. The pharmacist has confirmed that it is a bite and that keeping it exposed to the air would be good, and that it should start to clear in a couple of days. He agreed that wearing long trousers or being in a crowded location for several hours might not be helpful! He said that I should apply anti histamine cream if it got itchy. So tomorrow will be a modelling day, as far as possible sitting at the table on the patio, with some visits to the Railway Room. Thus its not all bad, but it would have been nice interacting with fellow modellers - but there are other shows and other years. Best regards Paul

Hi Nick, As usual the level of detail that you manage to achieve is an inspiration! I Have decided that Bradenham is going to have a first generation and a second generation set of buildings. At present there are a few "temporary" buildings which will be replaced by the first generation buildings. Originally the first generation were going to just be cardboard mock ups to get the sizes and shapes right, but I now think these will have to be made better bearing in mind the need to enhance them to generic GWR patterns, so as to look the part while I take as long as is necessary to build the second generation. These latter I hope will be accurate to the GW &GC, while approaching the standard that you KNP and others have achieved. Lastly, and by no means least I hope your wife is recovering well from her operation. Cheers, Paul PS:- I have found out that the Milton Keynes Show is at a new location, so tomorrow I will work out how to get there!

Not sure, Nick, I would like to go, I have supported it over a good few years, and it is usually a good show, but, two factors are against it:- Firstly, with such high temperatures expected, it might not be prudent healthwise. Secondly, the time might be better spent on my models, and I really need to conserve funds for the new models coming later in the year, with the Dapol Manors imminent. I may not make my mind up until Friday, but if you and any other RMers are going that would be an incentive. Cheers Paul

Good Afternoon ,one and all, I am pleased to report that in the week since my last posting I have finally been able to carry out some modelling. I don't have any results yet to show photos of, so I thought i would put up some of the Bradenham area Toads. Firstly, we have the Acton allocated XP labelled Bauxite example:- This would have been used on the Acton through express freights to the Birmingham Area Next we have a local van, allocated to the Princes Risborough to Chinnor coal traffic, which in my Bradenham World, starts from Bradenham! This second hand example was weathered by TMC. Next, we have the fictional Bradenham to Wycombe End van, bearing a suitable restriction board. This board, it is said, was knocked up by the two C&W lads allocated to Bradenham to keep the overnight stabled coach sets running! Finally, in this first selection, we have the van off the Stoke Gifford to Banbury return working. In my Bradenham world, this train which in reality was routed via Oxford, runs via Maidenhead and High Wycombe or via the Greenford loop (to save reversing at Maidenhead). In my next selection of Toads, I will cover my Oxford Rail examples based at Basingstoke and Bordesley Junction, and my Oxford based Hornby example (which only arrived in the post today!). Meanwhile, enjoy your modelling, Best regards, Paul

Hi Tony, Well done in your efforts with Easton, and I do hope some of it can be saved if only for component reuse on another layout. Unfortunately, there is a real but but perhaps unpalatable lesson for us all here:- I realise that none of us likes to think about what might happen when we are no longer here, but it really is incumbent on us to plan our layouts in such a way that they are not a burden on our loved ones in the future. In the case of Easton, might someone be interested in that superb fiddle yard? Could it be taken out as a unit and perhaps reused in another situation, even if a section had to be cut out of the middle to suit a shorter layout? I think sadly, that the "scenic" sections are going to have to be scrapped, but hopefully all the point motors on this area can be saved? Best regards Paul.

Hi All, It is some ten days since my last posting and yet again, events have transpired to delay my modelling progress. However, I mustn't grumble as it has resulted in a job on our property being done a month earlier than I expected:- Having enjoyed the 3rd cricket test, I was all set to get modelling when I took a call. It was a guy who had us planned into his work schedule for late July to do maintenance and painting on our fences paths and driveway. He wondered if we would be interested in him starting his six days work for us last Thursday, as another job due to start then had been delayed! We didn't need asking twice, as this would ease a problem we had with our youngest granddaughter's birthday involving our youngest son and family staying with us during his planned July work period. Anyway, the work has proceeded to plan and he will be with us for the final day tomorrow which will just involve a few minor items missed or delayed during the first five days work. I wasn't able to do too much on modelling while the work was in progress, as I always find it difficult to concentrate on such matters when a query on a job in progress might come up at any time. So tomorrow, the works should be finished, and its also the last day of the 5th test match against India, delayed from last Autumn. My fingers are crossed that England can perform another of their last innings victories similar to those against New Zealand. Take care all, and hopefully, in a few days, I will be able to resume updates on developments at Bradenham. Cheers Paul

My thanks to everyone who responded to my query about shipping from the UK to Australia. My potential buyer has now asked me should he win, to ship to his sister in UK. So problem solved! Best regards Paul PS John, I may have missed the answer to this in your earlier posts, in which case, my apologies, but how do you access the reserve locos at the back on your storage tray?

Hi Everyone, Nearly two weeks have flown by since my last posting! In that I was, unfortunately too quick in stating the end of a non modelling period, because soon after Covid struck. Fortunately myself and my wife remained ok, but my brother and sister in law were not so fortunate. We think the infection came from an activity group in Caddington, the village they live in, which my sister in law attends. We were affected because Chris, my brother in law had been scheduled to help our son Geoff with the one major job he is undertaking in the house he moved into at the end of May. This was to have been done by Nick who does a lot of building type jobs for us, but he has strained his knee and is off work for at least 4 weeks. The job was to remove the existing built in wardrobes in the master bedroom and the similar units backing onto them in our grandson's bedroom, move the stud wall to be at the original front of the wardrobes in grandson Lewis's bedroom, and turn the space created in the master bedroom into a walk in wardrobe area. We all agreed that as Chris had greater skills in such work than I, that he would help Geoff while Dorothy and I would provide support in the areas of dog sitting, meals etc. When Covid struck, and Geoff had a couple of days off booked for the work and the delivery of the new wardrobes was booked, the only workable solution was for me to step into Chris's shoes. The majority of the work is now completed, with only a number of cosmetic jobs still outstanding, plus Chris and his wife, Ruth are on the mend. So provided we have a bit of luck, I may(?) get to do some modelling next week. Meanwhile, I hope to rest and recuperate by watching the third Test Match against New Zealand starting tomorrow. Hopefully you all are making progress with your modelling, Take care, Cheers Paul

Hi John, Can I be cheeky and hi jack your thread for a minute on the subject of shipping things from UK to Melbourne? Normally I only ship things I sell on the Bay to UK. A guy from Melbourne has asked me if I would ship a loco (if he wins it!) to Melbourne. I have no problem with doing this now and again, but wondered about you(and others) experience of shipping times and good or bad couriers from the uk? Also anything else I should consider? Many thanks Paul

Following on from the comments about the Three Locks, I sampled another great Pub in the Soulbury area last week. This is called "The Boot" and unlike many pubs renamed over the years has stayed this name for many years as it appears so on my 1980s 21/2 inch OS! Anyway a party of 9 of us enjoyed a Birthday Lunch for my wife, organised by our son Geoff who has just moved to the village. Otherwise, we have now completed two weeks of Birthday, family visits, Jubilees and dog sitting, so I hope next week to get back to some modelling! I intend (finally!) to post some pics of my local to Bradenham Toads which arrived last week. I think the first task will be to start installing magnets for the Kadee couplings, but I anticipate several days of testing before I fix these down. Above mentioned Toads will also need Kadees fitting. This will be followed by a first fix of the Bradenham engine yard and coach siding, which will also need magnets. I also get the feeling that there might be some Manors hurtling down the delivery track in the next couple of months? Happy Modelling All, Cheers Paul

Good afternoon folks, Apologies for sending this thread off in a new direction, but as it is not moving too fast, I thought I would pose a question here, rather than potentially causing confusion by starting another thread with a similar title! So my question is, where can I find details of the allocation and "RU" labelling of toads based in the Banbury-Didcot- London triangle c 1960? Many thanks Paul

I don't think its altered much, externally at any rate, likewise my earliest memories of the Three Locks is some 60 years ago! My parents used to take me on United Counties evening mystery tours, and this stop was a favourite with the drivers.

Hi All, I am always on the lookout for 00 rolling stock relevant to my model of the GW&GC north of High Wycombe, particularly anything with relevant labelling. So recently I have found two Toads, one labelled for the Princes Risborough to Chinnor coal trains for the Cement works and one labelled for a Stoke Gifford to Banbury freight which I have used Rule 1 to run via Maidenhead and High Wycombe rather than via Oxford. Another caught my eye labelled "Theale, For Engineer's Use". So I am wondering where this was used in 1960-2 and whether it would be stretching credibility too far to put this on an engineer's train on my bit of the GW&GC? Thoughts and information would be appreciated. Many thanks Paul

I am always on the lookout for 00 rolling stock relevant to my model of the GW&GC north of High Wycombe, particularly anything with relevant labelling. So recently I have found two Toads, one labelled for the Princes Risborough to Chinnor coal trains for the Cement works and one labelled for a Stoke Gifford to Banbury freight which I have used Rule 1 to run via Maidenhead and High Wycombe rather than via Oxford. Another caught my eye labelled "Theale For Engineer's Use". So I am wondering where this was used in 1960-2 and whether it would be stretching credibility too far to put this on an engineer's train on my bit of the GW&GC? Thoughts and information would be appreciated. Many thanks Paul