Ray Flintoft

Just to wish Tony , Mo , & everyone else on wright writes a Happy New Year , good health & lots of modelling ( railways , that is ) . This thread is full of inspirational modelling & information . Keep it coming ! Cheers , Ray .

Great photographs of York ,Tony , take me straight back to my childhood spotting days in the late 1950s ,especially no 60501 which seemed to turn up every time I went spotting , to the extent of taking my family to Newcastle for dad's World Ship Society trip down the Tyne . ( & arriving early !) in1958 . I see " Coronach" went to Nunthorpe GS ; So did I but earlier 1963 - 1970 . We had a school trip to Crewe works & Crewe South shed in April 1966 with masses of steam . My O -levels coincided with the end of steam in 1968 , which probably accounts for my relatively poor showing! As a youngster I once tried to climb the ( shaky ) ladder on the water tower shown but quickly realised my mistake . Ray .

The V.3 has probably just arrived from Gateshead light engine to take up banking duties on heavy southbound expresses & the light changed when it has backed into the siding used by the bankers . Cheers , Ray .

I posted an order for number plates to Ian Wilson of Pacific Models on Tuesday afternoon & received the full order this morning . I think service of this quality deserves recognition . The number plates are first class as well ! Ray .

The latest pacific to join the stud on Sowerby Road M.P.D . DJH no 60147 North Eastern . Valve gear as per kit , I'm no Roy Jackson . Ray .

Hello David , Thankyou for pointing me to your thread when we were on "Wright writes ". Your model is instantly recognisable as Haymarket , even though I only know it through photographs . When I have time I will start at page 1 & go through the whole thread & will continue to follow your progress with interest . With best wishes , Ray .

This layout looks superb , David . I would love to see more photos of loco's & progress on it . Also take Tony's advice & have a go at a loco kit , with his help if necessary as it opens a whole new range of loco classes . There are many experienced modellers on this thread who would be happy to help with any problems . I too , as Tony well knows , am a supporter of the Thompson pacifics , you are not alone ! You will of course need no 60519 HONEYWAY for Haymarket , if you haven't already got it . Keep us all up to date with progress . Ray .

Simple , because it satisfies the creative urge and it's just more fun , as you are already well aware , Tony . Ray .

Can I just say thankyou to t-b-g , Jon4470 , Tony & DaveF , for responding to my query about No. 62000 . Thanks to you all I am now confident that the wheels were indeed green as I suspected . When I finally get round to building it I'll put a photo of it up for you all to see . Cheers , Ray .

A question for all the knowledgeable modellers on this thread . Could anyone confirm that " Thompson's pet " , D.3 4-4-0 No. 62000 retained green painted wheels with white lining right up to withdrawal ? I have a London Roads model to build & the photo's I have found are inconclusive so any help would be gratefully received . Can I also say that we are all interested in railways & modelling & we all have different favourite motive power . eras & railways . None is intrinsically better than any other & we should all enjoy our own modelling & the quality of others' modelling , even if it is not our own preferred period . Thanks , Ray .

What a superb model . Like 60831 , 60886 ended its career at York . It was something of a favourite with shedmaster Geoff Bird & was kept in very clean condition right up to withdrawal in May 1966 following damage to it's middle cylinder & valve gear .Mr Bird kept it's middle con-rod in his office & it is now fitted to "GREEN ARROW " so at least some of it still exists . Ray .

Probably Gresley's finest class , able to do anything on the main line . My first model was from Nu-Cast & yes it still has the original chassis & an X04 motor & is still a fair performer even though it is about 35 years old . 209 pacific's ! a bit beyond us all ,I think . Ray .

Great days indeed Tony , although I usually saw the pacific's ( all classes ) & the V.2's slipping wildly as they left York for the North or storming past Landing Lane bridge as they got into their stride , again northbound . I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that I too am building another DJH A.1 ; this will be no. 60147 NORTH EASTERN . You can't have too many LNER Pacific's ! Cheers , Ray .

Tony , The new DGH gearboxes look very smooth in the video . I like the prototypical slipping from the A.1 . The Nucast K.1 has very fine valve gear which I found easy to damage but with care it can be made to run in a prototypical manner . Regarding the speeds of trains through LB I would have thought most up trains would be travelling at 80 to 90 m.p.h , even the much maligned 60113 has been timed at 92 m.p.h. through LB on it's way to reaching a max of 98.5 mph . Down trains climbing Stoke would be slower but probably 60mph plus . Ray

Good day Tony , As I promised some time ago , a couple of shots of my DJH Caprotti Std class 5 .The first shows the chassis nearing completion . It is powered by a Mashima 1624 through a Markits gearbox giving a very smooth & quiet ride . The second shows the completed model in typical Patricroft condition . Regards , Ray .

Thanks for your comments on the Proscale B.1 , Tony . It seems , like all their kits , to be a mix of good , bad , & sometimes appalling . No. 61212 looks fine now & with the new chassis & motor will run better & last longer than the original . Money well spent in my opinion . Here are 2 more of my B.1s from other sources . 61021 a Replica model with DMR smokebox door & chimney ; 61319 detailed Nu-Cast .

To return to class B.1 if I may . Here is one of mine built from the Proscale kit . The over fat boiler has been reduced to the correct diameter . Ray .

Hello Tony , If you look very closely at the photo of no. 61033 you can see the coping plate just above the lining . It was certainly more obvious from some angles than others . Regarding the two B.1's at Wakefield , nos. 61123 & 61189 ; they were both withdrawn in May from York shed . The last working B.1's were no . 61030 NYALA , 61306 & 61337 , all withdrawn from Low Moor shed on 30/09/67 . Ray .

I've built a couple of Proscale B.1s but you do have to narrow the boiler which isn't the easiest of jobs . Also they have a sprung chassis which I found easier to solder up rigid to get good running ! The tender is very good though , although if I needed any more B.1s I would go down the modified Hornby route . Hope this helps . Ray .

Hello Tony I can confirm that Garratts worked into York right up to their demise . One of my earliest memories is of seeing one running down from Skelton yard to the shed when about four (1956) & my father stating " that's what they call a Beyer Garratt , son ". I believe they worked iron stone trains headed for Teesside which were re- engine at York Skelton yard . Cheers , Ray .