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Hi, Thanks Andrew, I hadn't thought to look on the site, I do hope the medical issues mentioned are something that will be easily resolved, having had problems myself leading to 9 weeks in hospital and then extensive Physio to learn to walk again, I can only offer genuine sympathy.🤞for a good outcome. Kind regards David.

Hi, Placed an order with Pheonix on 03/03/24. Having used them previously I am concerned that I have heard nothing from them. usually the response is immediate. Is anyone aware of problems? As we have had sporadic postal deliveries recently I emailed to confirm if the order had been processed and again received no response, not the usual! Just concerned, any information please? Kind regards David.

Hi, Sadly my soldering skills leave a lot to be desired! When I was doing my apprentice training, one of the tasks we had to perform was to solder a nipple to a Bowden wire. It was tested in a simple jig on a hydraulic press. The idea was that the cable should break before the nipple pulled off! Never managed it even once! I used Araldite to assemble the few cast kits I attempted! I've seen some of the exquisite brass models that are on offer, I don't think it would please my "Accountant" (Wife!) if I handed over a fist full of cash to end up with a shambles! Ill stick to Plastic, resin etc. Better the devil etc.! Kind Regards David.

Again I add this is no a wish list item! I have recently (Last night) been reminded of another oddity. In addition to the Mansell Three diesel shunters, to which BR added a further Twenty six were added, in 1949 Mr Oliver Bulleid produced a single 0-6-0 shunter/short haul loco No 11001 an intriguing design (As so many of Mr Bulleids designs not a 100%. success!). My thought is perhaps the re-establishment of what used to be described as "Kitchen Table" manufacturing with the establishment of 3D printing businesses we could hope to see such oddities as the 11001 and the LMS shunters produced. Im old enough to remember many "Body line" kits which were great at the time but sadly not stood the test of time. With modern techniques the quality of these 3D prints would be far above the standard of the old white metal kits of yore! A quick look on a "well known auction site" reveals that there are some excellent narrow gauge kits already coming on stream. Again the issues of running gear will need to be addressed! Regards David.

Hi, As I've said elsewhere I am not and will not join a club for the reasons I have given. I do appreciate the work that some members of clubs do and wish them many hours of enjoyment in their chosen activity. Regards David.

QUOTE! Sorry mate! your the 10th bloke I've told today! There's No Demand!😡

Hello, While thinking back I dug out one of my old books, I have always been enthusiastic about Diesel vehicles (Ok I know about the emissions!🫣) and have several on the subject of shunters. A greatly underestimated bunch. I discovered a picture of Mr Bulleid's 11001, from the description (Brief) it was a diesel mechanical with the jackshaft driving six of Mr Bulleid cast wheels. Top speed over 4omph. I think this must have been the engine you described. Regards David

Hi, that's very interesting. If I remember correctly the BR class 73 was a electric and diesel loco. Very useful locos. I believe the Hasting line multipul units were also. Its funny how things go round. The local trains in my area are combined units, they can run from the overhead or on the diesel generator as required. I always found the SR mainline locos 10201, 10202 and 10203 were great locos, I remember them from their time at Camden shed, Never heard of the "Road Switcher", was it along the same lines as the Bulled shunters? Thanks again, David.

Hi, many thanks for the information provided in answer to what must be obvious to you. Again it's what must really show my ignorance of things "Southern"! I appreciate that the SR were at the forefront of electrification. Were there ever any "Diesel multipul units" on rural lines that were not suitable for electrification? Or were these steam powered into BR days? I remember reading somewhere that Armstrong Whitworth tried to interest the LMS and LNER in their prototypes. Did they try the SR? The GWR had the AEC "Railcars" including parcel carriers, the LNER had some Petrol railcars (and a couple of diesel electrics) they inherited. Kind Regards David.

Hi, So the "Utility van" was the equivalent of the GWR syphon, based on a SECR design. On the LNER it ended up with various Gresley designs (The CCT etc.) based on GNER and NE vehicles. The fact that some SR vehicles continued into production by BR says a lot about the quality of the design. Kind Regards David.

Hello, Once again my ignorance is showing🫣. The GWR had various 'Syphons' for the carnage of milk, the Great Eastern mostly used four or six wheeled vans as did many other companies that made up the LNER. Did the Southern Railway have anything similar to the Syphons? did any of the constituent companies have anything that was carried over to the SR? I do appreciate that four and six wheel tank wagons eventually took over from churns on trains, As I understand it milk in churns were delivered to Dairies at Halesworth and Bungay in the 1950s, in standard vans, having been picked up at local stations along the way. The GWR seems to have specialist equipment for most goods. Kind regards David.

Hi, On the subject of coach liveries. I guess the change from the separate companies to the "Southern Railway" paint schemes would not have happened immediately on the grouping. When did the change to green begin? As I understand it the original SR green was an Olive Green introduced by Mr Maunsell . Then came Malachite. Was that also at the behest of Maunsell? Did Oliver Bulleid introduce a new shade when he took over? I'm sure you will appreciate that after a lifetime of "Varnished Teak" and muddy brown the variety of liveries that have been mentioned with reference to Hornby SR coaches has been intriguing to say the least. I have seen that Heljan and Bachmann have produced SR coaching stock, but to be truthful I've not researched very deeply into their products, I gather that the most recent Hornby SR coaches are actually modelled on the real thing rather than the generic coach painted green that followed on from Triang. One final question at this point, how quickly did the various company paint schemes last into SR days? As most of the English constituents of the LNER were already various shades of brown there was no great rush to take on a "Corporate" style, indeed for much of time simple rebranding and numbering was sufficient. Kind Regards David.

Hi, Yes that was one of the photos. Looking at it on the laptop its clearer but to my old eyes still not that clear. Off to Specsavers I guess!🤓. The information from Hornby was very interesting, quite in depth. The Hornby train pack is available but a little beyond my pocket! I've seen the Hornby Maunsell coaches in Two different shades of green, the SR olive and BR green. Also the EFE "Gate stock" once again a little rich for my blood! Kind regards David.

Hi, Just found some photos of the Lyme Regis branch, The Adams Radial locomotive and what look to be corridor coaches (It looks like a corridor connection on the end of the coach nearest the loco. As usual the picture is 3/4 front so sadly no detail is very clear. The Loco is No 3125 so I'm assuming in Southern days. Not BR. Did corridor stock get used on branch lines? Kind Regards David.

Hi, You mention "Loco-hauled non-corridor coaches", does that suggest that "Main line Corridor coaches" were produced? If that is the case, would the coaches displaced be be used as branch line stock or would they be scrapped, As the Southern were into recycling would the chassis be used during the new construction? Regards David.