roythebus1

I had a set of the Trix BR plastic coaches and they were perfectly happy on hand-made track to BRMSB standards on the original MRC layout. They were also the most free-running coaches I've ever seen, they would do 2 circuits of the MRC's test track given a hard push. I have a Ruston shunter about somewhere so will try to measure the wheels when it surfaces. I may still have 2 of them, one repainted as PWM-something. The AL1 wheels won't run happily on code 75 bullhead as the flanges are slightly too deep. I used to have about 6 of these at one time, now down to 2, one converted to an AL5, and bits of a body that was an attempt at an AL6 conversion when they were £4/19/6d as Locobuilder kits!

I recently got one of these in good condition from the Folkestone Show. It's the Conflat with 3 square containers on it. How accurat is this model? It has the standard Triang 9'w/b chassis but I'm setting to detail it a bit. any pics of the prototype anywhere?

The problem I find with the rail filing jigs for assembling the V is that the rails in the V move and are difficult to get level unless there is something solid to stand the rails on.

the GEM flexi track was scale sleeper spacing and size. their pointwork was pretty good as well with cast metal frogs and wing rails. Formoway had the variety of pointwork though with 3-way, double and single slips etc.

There was a lot of information on the CARTIC 4 units on the "collectable and historic" models group. K's produced a plastic kit for the end wagons as a promotion for British Railways in the mid 1960s. I had a couple of these at the time but no longer have them. We quickly discovered that the prototypes had vacuum brakes by reference to Paul Bartlett's BR wagons pages. Air braking was not the norm on BR until the early 1970s, so later units were built with air brakes. Triang done a reaonable model of the CARTIC, but again only the end wagon. Their bogies were the same as Freightliner bogies and are very accurate models of the bogies.

Back in the late 1990s I had a German branch line layout which had a helix down to hidden loops underneath the main station. I use no,2 radius setrack and no3 setrack for the spiral which went round 3 times to reach the lower level. I didn't have any problem with the German locos and stock of that period starting and stopping on the estimated 1 in 36 gradient. I was using a mictre of the very long DB stock as well as older style Umbauwagen style, long wheelbase goods wagons and a mixture of steam and diesel locos. Admittedly the trains were only 4 or 5 coaches, the most that would fit in the loops. The only steam loco that had problems was a Fleischmann 2-6-4T. I cured that by removing the downward spring form the rear pony truck. Whether modern British outline stock would cope I can't answer. Always use the tighter radius for the going down trains. The gradient is steeper.

I think various LT lines used 3 position semaphores in the early days.

One of the Facebook groups I'm on had an amusing headline: Hornby TO INTRODUCE HS2 train set...leads not included.

Indian Railways had an extensive metre gauge network, now mostly converted to Indian Broad Gauge. Got a footplate ride on a metre gauge YP many years ago, very impressive. but nothing to do with level crossings.

That looks quite presentable.

Don't forget Trix also proposed a Brush Type 4. I don't know how far they got with that development but rememebr the Tris rep showing me the picture in the catalogue, circa 1968.

The IWSR has to re-coal its Terriers and the 02 at lunchtime for a day's work. in the 1920s when the 02s were transferred to the island AB McLeod found their bunkers weren't big enough for a day's work so had them enlarged. I believe at that time the loco and crew stayed together for the day's work. On the K&ESR locos are often re-fuelled during a break whilst taking water at Rolvenden. Water is taken as and when required.

As a former ASLEF member the union not only provided legal assistance for current members but forme members such as myshich found I'elf. I suffer hearing loss; an item on a radio show about 10 ago got me thinking about what may have caused it, having worked on both London Underground but BR as well. I contacted ASLEF, they found my old records and agreed to take up the case via their solicitors. I got sent to Harley street for extensive hearing tests which found I'd lot hearing over about 8kz as well as mid range hearing. A case was prepared citing bot LT and BR but the union barrister reckoned I may not win the claim as I'd been a bus driver after leaving the railway. Driving half-cab buses could be a small contributory factor. But others who had only worked on the railway have had successful claims, especially ECML footplate staff and engineers who worked on Deltics. LT staff in the older trains suffered excessive tunnel noise, BR footplate staff suffered with loud AWS equipment designed to be heard on steam locos.

Whereas top management looks very silly on a daily basis.

Most of the Kitmaster coaches I have seem to have disassembled over the years.

Back in about 1962 I got the "100 years" set for christmas. I spent all of Boxing Day building them (badly) with that horrible plastic cement they used for the kits. I was about 10 at the time and the Africa Queen was on TV again. A few years later when I worked in Patricks toys in Fulham (still going today) the shop manager sold me the BB and 3 coaches set. Needless to say I spent a couple of days making that lot as well. I found an Italian Tank in a toy shop in Bury St.Edmunds in 1967 and made that up but kept the box. Of course that has gone over the years. A chap called Jock (ADK)Young of the MRC motorised one using a Wills P class chassis. all I have left are about a dozen coaches painted crimson and cream (believed to have been owned by Peter Hendy many years ago), a Blue Pullman set with an unbuilt mint condition power car, and a Deltic box. And a motor bogie that won't work because the casting has broken. I may have a diesel shunter box somewhere and a couple of German coaches.

I doubt any 4 wheel brake vans would be fit for 75mph running or fitted with air brakes at that time.

One thing I suggested to Martin on the Templot club pages was a printed K crossing jig that could hold all the rails in position while they're soldered. I saw a milled steel jig at AllyPally many years ago, but getting them mass produced accurately may be prohibitive.

I've not heard of that company, but the build quality looks rather good for that era. No doubt someone will come along with some more information.

There was an old fella at Ashtead who done the morning peak up platform duty He'd always greet the drivers with cheery wave and half a Fisherman's Friend! Ho told me he was a former Stewarts Lane drive and used to drive the Golden Arrow in steam days. He was well over 70 and lasted well into the days of 455s on the South Western.

Have a look on the KESR website, I'm sure there's pages dedicated to the coaching stock. I've shunted that coach often enough and am reasonably certain the bog windows are standard fitting in frames.

According to a life-long friend and acquaintance from the Model Railway club, a former 2nd Lieutenant at Longmoor in the 1960s, some of the Army crews signed the main line from Liss to Guildford, maybe a few other bits as well. He told me that sometimes the WD2-10-0 would go aon a main line trip to Guildford with a freight. Any movements on the main line would require a conductor drier and guard for route knowledge unless the crew concerned signed the road. guard's knowledge was required so that he could apply the handbrake and pin down brakes when descending gradients.

The 455s also had re-used compressors from the pre-war EMU stock. Having learnt the things when they were introduced, I can't remember that much about those details. i just know the brakes were bloody awful and they were very draughty.

One thing springs to mind, it could be difficult finding places to unload these vans in the London markets. the vans were usually long wheelbase, the goods yards and depots in London had a propensity of wagon turntables designed for 10' wheelbase. Herein lies the problem!

Yes I done that as well.