Tallpaul69

Good Evening all, Writing this is as near to modelling as I have got this weekend as have been on Family duty! Its our eldest sons birthday today and younger son is down from the wilds of Flintshire with his family. So yesterday was 10 pin bowling, lunch at Frankies and Bennys, then chilling out watching the France/Wales rugby at eldest son's. The least said about the match the better, especially as Welsh daughter in law was not amused by it, even less so when her 5 year old daughter said she wanted France to win!! Today we hosted lunch for 9, and just managed to get cleared up for the England Ireland match, a much better affair (and not just because England won!). We have just finished loading the second wash into the dish washer and packing away the clean first load. Just enough energy left to complete these notes and answer a few emails before bed. Will post something on modelling during the week. Keep smiling Paul

Good Morning all, Writing this is as near to modelling as I shall get this weekend as am on Family duty! Its our eldest sons birthday today and younger son is down from the wilds of Flintshire with his family. So yesterday was 10 pin bowling, lunch at Frankies and Bennies, then chilling out watching the France/Wales rugby at eldest son's. The least said about the match the better, especially as Welsh daughter in law was not amused by it, even less so when her 5 year old daughter said she wanted France to win!! Today we are hosting lunch for 9, the joint is in, and I just have time for these notes before the next job on the lunch list! Will post something on modelling during the week. Keep smiling Paul

Hi Kevin, The wagons look fine to me. What is it about the roofs that you are unsure of? Colour maybe, perhaps too light? should the roofs be weathered darker? The rain strips look the right shape, and the curve of the roofs look right. Perhaps if you leave them a week or so and then look again, they will look ok? I think there is a fine line between fidelity to reality and over fussing, but who am I to critique your fine results - I've got nothing so good to show!! Cheers Paul

Yes, Thanks, That's a possibility, not sure how couplings would work, but its a possibility! Cheers Paul

I am looking for a Black Hornby Stanier tender from a 8F or a Black 5. It needs to be the non motored version as used with Loco drive versions of the above locomotives. I want to couple it to a non motor drive 8F to make a non motored loco to tow dead in a train. Would prefer the Hornby version but would consider the Bachmann versions from Rebuilt Scot, Rebuilt Patriot or Jubilee, provided they were black! Many thanks Paul

Answering your question about mixed trains first:- Not knowing the operating history of the Harbourne branch, I cannot we absolutely certain, but in general, mixed trains were limited to a few rural branches, so are not too likely in the Birmingham area. It was often practice however to add the odd goods van or two or a cattle wagon to a passenger train on a branch line. The idea behind this was to get urgent, or high value, or prerishable items on their way as quickly as possible. There are a number off reasons for your problems with derailments etc. in the tunnels under the M&B sidings:- 1) Highly likely bearing in mind that you have 4 tracks going round 180 degrees in an overall width of 4 foot, is that either your inner track is just too tight in radius or that there is a kink in the track particularly likely where the track sections join. 2) Also it is best not to have points in tunnels where you cannot easily get at them. 3) it might be that trains going in opposite directions on adjacent tracks are hitting each other because the clearance between the tracks is too small. 4) You may be sending trains round those tight curves too fast? Looking at the plan and your photos, I am concerned that your incline from Harbourne up to the M&B sidings may be too steep. Steep inclines on curves are generally a bad idea. How many coaches or wagons can your branch loco laul up the incline from Harbourne to the M&B sidings? Looking at the your photos the incline from New Street to Harbourne is quite steep and would be better if the incline round the curve were less and some of it were along the back straight track. You may get away with it as it is as the curve is around the outside of the layout so is reasonably large. The other incline however seems to me to be shorter and on smaller radii so it needs careful testing if you have not yet done so before track is fixed down. Moving on to another of your questions in your original posting about platforms being used in both directions:- In large through stations platforms were often used in both directions. This meant for instance that in a cramped site like New Street, they could move more trains in rush hours in the direction of the main flow than they could if they maintained single direction flow. So for example in the mornings they could use 6 platforms for in coming trains and 4 for outgoing trains and in the evening 6 platforms for outgoing trains and 4 for incoming trains. You need the expertise of someone who knows New Street well to give a definitive answer. You could try posting a question on this in the Prototype section of this forum? I hope the above is useful? Best regards Paul

Hi Grouse101, Just picking up a couple of points:- 1) The M&B siding:- Ignoring that in reality there was a triangle junction, siding such as this would be worked only by trains coming out of Harbourne. So wagons for M&B would be worked into Harbourne via the branch, run round and left in the M&B siding on the way back to Birmingham. If there were wagons to be taken from M&B the train would leave its brake van on the branch, move forward past the M&B point, back into the M&B siding, pick up the outward wagons, go back to the branch, attach the outward wagons to the brake van, uncouple from them, move forward, then back into the siding to leave the inward wagons. it would then return to the branch and couple up to the train and move off towards Birmingham. 2) Access to the turntable:- I would move the turntable to come off of the main line to represent Monument Lane Shed. It is ok to have the shed on the wrong side of the main line (sorry not familiar with the exact layout in the area!). Then the un prototypical connection direct from Harbourne to the mainline can be removed (the point on the main line could be left in place to be the access to the turntable placed beside the main line). If the above makes sense and is helpful, I will tackle some other questions in a future post, although I will admit I am not a specialist in LMS signals being a GWR man! Best regards Paul

Didn't know Bachmann were doing Decodes under the Graham Farish name? Or maybe this is a subtle reference to GWR wagons (fish kind names??) I don't think I'll give up the day job to be a comedian, except of course I don't have a day job any more! Al right, I'll get back to the model making!! Cheers all Paul

Glad you are feeling well enough to do some testing Rich, Was amused by the pic of a King sandwiched between two tenders, or am I being thick and there was a second loco double heading the King? Take care Regards Paul

You raise sensible concerns. But I don't think there is much difference between two periods twenty years apart (1982-2002) and my three, the first two 30 years apart and the second and third which are 24 years apart. Alternatively, if you are going to have two periods just a few years apart, I think you might as well have one period with an elastic time slot. As soon as you decide to have multiple time eras then you are committed to a certain amount of work in doing a change over. So while I will have some 30 trains to change over, but I only plan to do a changeover say once in three months. Yes, there will be other items to change, as you say, but if you choose your area carefully, most buildings, for instance, can remain the same, although things like shop fronts will change. It is sensible to avoid the larger chains which over the years, amalgamate, go broke, or move premises. Posters and street lights I am avoiding as far as possible, and vehicles IMHO are quicker to change than rolling stock. So in my interpretation of Maidenhead there will only be one row of buildings that need to change drastically. As these are low relief they can be quickly picked up and moved! Luckily, from 1962-2016 the majority of signals were colour lights although I am stretching things a little as in fact the first version of colour lights only came in in 1963! The branch is more difficult as this retained semaphores until the early 70s. So I am having two sets of removable signals made for the branch area which is at the front of the layout. Then the semaphores in place for 1962 will be removed and replaced by colour lights. In a later post I will go into the details of how the two sets of signals are changed and operated. I will post more on changing periods later. Best regards Paul

Hi all, I went to the Milton Keynes Club Exhibition on Saturday. Lots of tempting goodies on offer such as the Locomotive Portfolios books on various GW Classes at £10 off all and even £15 off some! I managed to keep my card in my wallet considering pending expenditure on the layout front. I did however surrender to half price S&T wagons and the recent Hornby sound wagon from a certain Gloucestershire retailer. Otherwise I bought two books:- Goods and Freight by John Vaughan with lots of colour photos from the 60s through to the early 2000s at 90% off the £30 list price and a secondhand Freightmaster for 2012 which cost me £2.50 (list price £15.95) from the RCTS stall. Show was I thought up to their usual standard, and I welcomed additional seating in the halls (getting old I'm afraid!!). I particularly enjoyed Much Murkle, so below are a few pics I took. Best regards Paul

Hi Nick, I was tempted on Saturday by those books as well, but managed to keep my card in my wallet considering pending expenditure on the layout front. I did surrender to half price S&T wagons and the recent Hornby sound wagon from a certain Gloucestershire retailer. Otherwise I bought two books:- Goods and Freight by John Vaughan at 90% off the £30 list price and a secondhand Freightmaster for 2012 cost me £2.50 (list price £15.95) from the RCTS stall. Show was I thought up to their usual standard, and I welcomed additional seating in the halls (getting old I'm afraid!!). Like you I enjoyed Much Murkle, below are a few pics I took. Best regards Paul

I don't know, a couple of days in MK, even operating a GWR Layout and your eyes are playing you up! Sorry I didn't get to chat on Saturday, but you did seem busy "MurKling"!! (apologies for hijacking your thread Kevin) Cheers to all GWRers Paul

Hi all, In this posting I am taking a look at the most modern version of the layout, which will portray the 2015/16 period. This is the least developed version of the layout for the simple reason that it is the most recent one to be developed. Up to last year the "modern" version of the layout was destined to be portraying 2007/8. However this was a decision taken around 2009, when the chosen period was "modern". Since then, things have moved on and the advent of the current GwR "green" livery together with the advent of the class 800s which I really like the sleek lines of! The only disadvantage of portraying a really modern version of the line was that it coincided with the arrival of the dreaded overheads. While I was prepared to make some changes between the running sessions of the different eras such as changing buildings, motor vehicles, railway rolling stock and a few infrastructure items; installing and removing the overhead gantries , wires etc. was something I could not contemplate. So I chose a time when a few early 800s were around running on diesel. This time had the benefit that it was during the changeover from the First "Neon" livery to the GwR "green", so that my neon liveried items bought for 2007 could be kept. For both this era and my 1992 version of the layout I will run a couple of steam or Heritage diesel hauled Mk1/Mk2 carriage trains, one in each direction. Initially, with the low number of GwR green available, I will put up with running some trains that are not used in the Thames Valley such as the class 158s. Later, I may trade such items in depending on what the trade decides to offer. More specialized trains will include Pullmans in both modern and traditional liveries. On the freight side the Class 66, of which I have a number, reign supreme, although some will have to have a livery change! Classes 59,60, 68, and 70 make appearances although I have yet to get any 68s or 70s. I have quite a few of the modern boxes and hoppers, although once I do a timetable I will probably need more. Other older types will appear on infrastructure train, and measurement trains will make an appearance. I mentioned earlier the need to change some items between the different eras of the layout. One problem of multiple eras is the changes in the infrastructure to provide and support the services that the railway provides. A particular difficulty is the reduction of sidings needed. S, so this discussion will have to wait o I have come up with scenarios for the continued use of the 1960s sidings in the other two eras. However, there is sufficient "meat" to look at in this area to fill a posting of its own at a later date. So, as I develop this version of the layout further I will post updates on what is happening. Enjoy your modelling Best regards Paul

Hi Nick, I enjoyed watching Much Murckle and our conversation yesterday. You were elsewhere when I came back later, but before disappearing home to deal with a leak problem (which turned out not to be huge!) but rightly my wife alerted me to, I took the attached pictures:- Best regards Not so tall Paul

Hi there, Do persevere with AGR. I've had a couple of DCC fittings they did for me not work, but they have sorted them out for me. Admittedly I have the advantage of them only being 20 mins walk away! Hope your "Rails" loco turns up soon, should be ok now they have spotted the problem. Best regards Paul

Why not have both? That way you cover one set of the real life differences between individual sets (117s) or cars (121s)? I am of course ignoring the issue of cost! Joking apart, I don't think we can judge properly until we (or others who keep us informed) have a production sample of Bachmann standing next door to a Dapol. So once I get my Bachmann 121 I will try to remember to report back. Regards Paul

I may have missed the details, but I don't recall you telling us about the "Rails" retail eBay item? My experience of "Rails" (although admittedly not recent!) is that they are very good at promptly dispatching orders. More likely to be the GPO, after all, the weather has been a bit rough this week? Cheers Paul

Which Layout will you be with Liam? Cheers Paul

Hi all, On a serious note, any of you jokers likely to be seen at the Milton Keynes Show on Saturday? Just wondered if it was safe for us ordinary modellers to taker a look?? Cheers Paul

I will just make myself known to one of you! I may have a quick look in the morning and then come back after lunch when the crowds have gone. Just hoping the predicted rain stays away, still its not too far to the bus stop (I don't drive!) See you on Saturday Cheers Paul

I like that Rob, Pictures like that help to win the ongoing battle my model loving self has with my prudent self on the purchase of a Class 3! Cheers Paul

I guess the water is better than the fire, says he who has never experienced the extremes of either? And our household in the UK gets upset when we have the occasional lack of water or power! We must start counting our blessings. Anyway, good that you could get on with a little bit of modelling. Cheers Paul

Just needs a load of water around the rails and it would be very topical! Cheers Paul

Hi Nick and Mick, I will be attending the MK Show on Saturday, so though only a recent follower of Much Murkle, I will drop by for a chat. Although my Western modelling is much later, ( early 60s onward) I always find something to think about for "Lower Thames Yard" by looking at earlier GWR times in models! Best regards Paul