Kirby Uncoupler

Hi Everyone, When the new Peco Bullhead points first appeared a few years ago, I liked the overall look of the points, but not the triangle of metal forming the "Unifrog", it looked alien. So I experimented on these two large left-hand points shown here, well I would wouldn't I. On the point top and right of the pictures, I removed the moulded plastic rail spacers and soldered the rails together, making the frog a solid all-metal type, with two new cuts in the switch rails, to isolate the frog, like on a regular live or dead frog point. There was a fair amount of work involved, and it crossed my mind that it would just as easy to carry on building points from scratch, so this exercise was not repeated. Looking for a quicker and easier fix, on the other point seen left and below, I filed down each of the four plastic gaps very slightly, then applied gold paint from a pen to the plastic only, the filed recess should stop the paint wearing off too quickly (fingers crossed). I was quite pleased with the second method, and have now applied it to many more of these new points, including three of the just-released double-slips, at a glance the plastic gaps have disappeared. Cheers, Brian.

Thanks Fireline and Cbrooks, I haven't got access to viewing a R3866 in the flesh, i've only been looking at various website images. I had spotted the rear bogie flanged wheels, which would suggest the original style rotating bogie, if the chassis had been re-vamped with a new motor and gearbox assembly, they'd probably also add a fixed bogie, with flangeless wheelset, in other words, a whole new chassis. Thanks for confirming the fixed loco-tender drawbar, and other alterations, love them, or loathe them, they do make a more reliable loco. 34051 Winston Churchill is a fine looking model, now with added updates, but that doesn't rule out a whole new chassis in the future, following the unrebuilt Merchant Navy arrangement, but that could be years away, even if it ever happens? The price has gone up, reflecting the improvements, so it boils down to whether to upgrade and re-name/re-number an older model, or just pay the money? I'm feeling lazy! Cheers, Brian.

Hi Everyone, Does anybody know whether this R3866 2021 release, still runs with the earlier motor/gearbox arrangement, or has it received a chassis upgrade, similar to the more recently produced original/"un-rebuilt" Merchant Navy models? The latter appear to have a motor/cardan shaft/gearbox arrangement, which will no doubt give nice quiet running. Anyone taken a R3866 "Winston Churchill" apart yet? I found the Hornby service sheet for the un-rebuilt MNs, but not one covering R3866 yet? Cheers, Brian.

Thanks for the replies so far, two more bits of info to add, one is that the open ground near Worship Street. that was being used as a sports ground, now appears to have been built on. All that's left of the approach formation towards Broad Street station now, are the two short sections of original viaduct, either side of Great Eastern Street. North of there is the modern curved concrete viaduct link to the East London Line, and then back to the original viaduct going north beyond that. The only recognizable lineside building from the old days, adjacent to the station throat, is the large electricity switching/sub station on the west side north of Worship Street, all else has been wiped away, such is the value of land in this area. The other snippet of info, is that the 1980s film "Mona Lisa", starring my old neighbour Bob Hoskins (when I lived in Holloway), was filmed in Pindar Street, across the girder bridges, and under the NLR arches, doubling as the sticky pavements of the King's Cross red light district, which was viewed as "too lively" for filming. I haven't seen the film for years, i'll try and watch it soon, you never know, it might show those doors under the arches, or even some inlaid track, amongst the "ladies of the night" actors and extras? Did I say extras darlin'? Cheers, Brian.

Many Thanks to Michael and Paul, The link to the signalling site was very useful, as were the on-the-spot late-60s reminiscences. I have found a pic on Flickr, showing an EMU on the exterior Platform 9, and the upper-deck of the LNWR goods yard to the right, with a selection of wagons in the mid-to-late 1960s. The inclusion of the container wagon, might suggest it was latterly used as an overflow for the container terminal? The container traffic presumably died off, when superseded by the Freightliner yards at York Way/Maiden Lane (1965-70), and Wembley (late 60s onwards)? I would imagine all traditional container traffic at Broad Street was to/from the LMR, any traffic from the ER is doubtful. Would I be right in assuming freight traction in BR days would be Jinty and 4F steam locos, followed by Classes 15, 20, 24 and 25 in the diesel period, with a 350hp shunter (Class 08) based in the yard? The running rails on the above photo of Platform 9 look shiny enough, suggesting frequent use, however less so for the slightly rusty conductor rails, which suggests less frequent use by EMUs. Until the 60s, this platform was usually host to the peak-hour loco-hauled trains to/from Tring LMR. Written evidence has suggested that Platform 9 was of all-timber construction, yet they look like paving slabs here? Having checked the maps, Skinner Street was at some stage, renamed Pindar Street, presumably to avoid confusing with another Skinner Street a mile away in the borough of Finsbury, now Islington. However, to add to the confusion, the Skinner Street signal box, outside Broad Street, was never renamed. The same map (Disused Stations and NLS sites) doesn't show any tracks across Pindar, Primrose or Worship Streets on the level, could they have been added later to increase flexibility, or were there any rail crossings under the main railway viaduct? (Things are getting even more complicated) What I have never seen, and which would be most useful, is a plan of the hidden lower level tracks, the curved loop by Appold Street, with a hoist at the north-east end, seems to be pointing south, as if to cross Primrose Street under the arches, or is it just the return wagon loop from a shunting neck? Perhaps a low-level plan was produced at the time of construction (1865)? Cheers, Brian.

Hi Everyone, We've all seen the sad photos and film footage of the decaying Broad Street passenger station, but far less is known about the three sections of split-level goods yard, the goods warehouses, and the tracks under the platforms. At the southernmost end was the general goods yard on two levels, with rail access to perimeter warehoues via hoists and wagon turntables. I found out recently, that this area was devastated by fire in 1952, and presumably ceased to operate, does anyone know of a precise date of closure? Platforms 1 to 8 in the passenger station were covered by the two overall roofs, but a ninth platform was added outside of the train shed, on the west side adjacent to the goods yard upper level, this seems to have been used until the end of the 60s, it was also electrified at some stage, again does anyone have exact dates? Moving slightly north, again on the west side adjacent to the station throat, was a second section of split level yard, separated by Primrose Street and Worship Street, does anyone know what was handled here originally? In later years it became a LMS container terminal, complete with gantry crane, judging by photos, this stayed in use until the late 60s, before being cleared away, again exact dates? Remarkably, the low-level inset tracks here survived the demolition of the main station in 1986, and could be viewed from Apollo Street, through a wire mesh fence c.1987-90, but were eventually cleared and built upon, as a later stage of development. On the north side of Worship Street, was a third section of split-level yard with hoists, maps have it marked as a LNWR coal yard, I have no idea when this was closed, and the tracks removed? In recent years this area has been used as ground-level sports centre, with tennis courts and even a small golf range! Again judging by photos, big changes seem to have been made around 1970, including track and signal rationalization, until then Broad Street had a peculiar arrangement of combined Home and Starter arms for each platform, perhaps because of the loco stabling sidings, this was simplified to the conventional Starter only, and a few platforms were by now out of use, including the exterior Platform 9. This platform was now bricked-off and removed, along with the upper-deck of the adjacent goods yard, the resulting open ground became a NCP car park. Can anybody add further details please? Cheers, Brian.

Hi Tony and Everyone, Thanks for the early view of your photographs, the new Heljan GW railcars are impressive beasts, and no doubt are exquisite runners, but i'm rather put off by the "fish-tank" effect windows, did you identify this problem in your review? The way around the problem, could be for manufacturers to make thicker slab moulded windows, thus eliminating the inside rim to the glazing, or would thicker glazing be less transparent? We keep seeing this recurring problem on various other models. As an example, Shawplan/Extreme Etchings sell thick-moulded window replacements for BR Mk2 and Mk3 air-con vehicles, when inserted, the thickness of two or three millimetres disappears to the human eye, and the aperture appears as a thin flush-glazed window. Thanks Heljan, but i'll stick to re-glazing my old Lima units. Cheers, Brian. (That wasn't too strong was it?)

I'm in shock, and deeply saddened by this news, Dick was a good friend and confidant, during the short time I was a member of The Model Railway Club from 1977 to 1982. I learnt a lot from him, especially on full-size building construction/restoration, and Land-Rover mechanics, I was always impressed by his 1966 Series 2 hardtop (or was it a station-wagon with windows?), in cream and RAF blue, which obviously planted a seed, i've been a proud Landy owner for thirty-five years now, so thanks for that Dick. I remember being "recruited" by him, as a club volunteer, to assist him in installing the first half of the club's first ever central heating system, we used to joke with others as to which of the two of us laid the straightest pipes and who made the neatest soldered junctions. As a qualified council, and later, freelance building surveyor, Dick took it upon himself to oversee the general upkeep of Keen House, the club headquarters, ably assisted by the then caretaker Vince. Never saw as much of him after I had dropped out of the club, which in hindsight was a shame, but we still bumped into each other at various model shows, Landy spares suppliers, and of course the Ally Pally shows, the last time we met was the last pre-Covid Ally Pally show in March 2019. Besides his MRC commitments, Dick was also heavily involved in the St.John's Ambulance, so medical knowledge was another skill he acquired, I don't know what rank he attained, but he must have been a senior officer, he had the keys to their offices and garages, and was often seen trundling around in a 1950s ambulance from their stable, and which was "borrowed" for shifting MRC layouts to exhibitions. His other "secret hobby", was an interest in bus, tram and local services, plus canals, and of course railways, so he had a very extensive knowledge in all things transport. There will never be another Dick Reidy, rest in peace old son. Brian Kirby.

Good Morning Tony and Everyone, I'm mightily impressed by Tim's new backscene, very Turneresque, or is it the school of Bob Ross, has someone been staying up late watching "The Joy Of Painting"? Incidentally, Billy Turner was a local lad, born and raised a mile or two from this location, from memory he died around 1851, so he probably would have witnessed the very early days of the GN. However, i'm slightly concerned that the distant Camden Town and Holloway are engulfed in low cloud, at a height of 50 to 100ft above sea level, shouldn't there be a strip of pale grey above the rooftops, to give the illusion of distance and dirty air (or pale dirty yellow for rain?). Before anyone asks, i've painted a few in my time, although nowhere as good as this, once I even repainted someone's entire railway room walls and ceiling in "Sky Blue", although that one never gained any clouds, but then it was on the Great Western. I'm old enough to remember the tail end of the London smogs in the early 60s, getting lost going to primary school, and later being led home in a group, by the teachers. With all the factory chimneys, the power station off Caledonian Road, and loco sheds in this vicinity, there was always plenty of muck floating around, plus you'd get a "pea-souper" drifting in from the river, where all the muck was trapped under any cloud. It was no laughing matter, thousands died from breathing difficulties. Even the Ebonite Tower seen modelled, was another factory chimney, the square design held water tanks, used for pressure testing equipment, the central chimney stopped the water from freezing. Ebonite was a later takeover, making early plastic, similar to bakelite, but i'm stealing Tim's thunder here, i'm sure he can tell us more. Lastly, as kids we used to ride our bikes along Vale Royal (off York Way), to access the tunnel mouth tops, through a fence, bits of track were still up there in the mid-60s. The dog-leg in the road viaduct, was a favourite place for traffic cops to park, looking out for cars speeding northbound up York Way, hidden by the recess in the road. Cheers, Brian.

Adding the small section of magnetic material to the dropper, is a good idea, although rather tricky to mount, i'd imagine? You can wrap tiny offcuts of tissue paper (loo roll/kitchen roll) around the joints, then soak in superglue to reinforce. When dry, paint matt black to be less conspicuous. I preferred using Bachmann coupling hooks, being non-ferrous, they could never be magnetized. Hornby hooks are steel, so I always thought there could be the danger, of the Hornby hooks becoming magnetic, then the two hooks might stick together? Other people haven't reported this as a problem, so perhaps my concerns, have been proved wrong? It must be over ten years now, since I first described this uncoupling system, maybe it's time I wrote an updated account, in the light of experience? I'd have to do new photos too, the originals got lost, when photobucket withdrew their free hosting! I moved house nearly three years ago, all my railway equipment ended up in removal boxes. Nothing was lost, the removal firm were excellent, but even now I have trouble locating things. I'm building a new layout, which will incorporate the under-track magnets, permanent type in sidings, maybe electro-magnetic on running lines, to eliminate any mishaps, I could do a write-up as I progress? I used to use my own name on RMweb, but a few years back RMweb re-invented itself, I found it impossible to log back on, so I re-registered with the new name/avatar "Kirby Uncoupler" Cheers, Brian Kirby.

Yes, well spotted 37 114 and Porcy Mane, It does look rather odd, the grilles on the other side are all correct, maybe the tampax-printing thingey missed a few out? Strange that out of the row of nine grilles, it missed out alternate positions, does that suggest two applications? As Ghost Of IKB suggests, maybe in 30 years time it would be a collector's item, I wonder if there are any more out there? I'd prefer to correct it to normal appearance ASAP. Everyone had better double-check their's! BK

Hi Everyone, This morning I took delivery of Heljan 25 number six in my fleet, another 5230 Gsyp, it runs beautifully, everything is correctly attached, however Houston we have a problem, can you spot the factory mistake children? (it's not the curved handrail) I will correct the cock-up myself, and have ordered some Hardy Kruger nameplates. Cheers, Brian.

I wonder, can this mystery vertical cylinder (air-brake or horns?) behind the buffer-beam be removed, then be re-attached to the NEM coupling shank, so it's still there, but rotates with the coupling and bogie? BK

I wouldn't worry too much about shades of cab front yellow, the spec did change to a more orangey shade ex-works in the mid-80s, I doubt it affected Class 25s, save perhaps "Tamworth Castle", weren't they all withdrawn by 1987? Yellow is a very weak colour, it fades in no time, even the later orangey shade would fade back to the original, but take longer, which is probably why they beefed it up in 1985. Thanks to ADB for the comparison photo images. BK

Apologies for the "cherry-picked" suggestion, but other firms do it, and why not(?), they'd want their product to be presented at it's best, they pick the best loco to pull the Royal Train. Just to provide more feedback, my guinea pig 2532 in GFY, was fine in all respects, joined now by two more, a 2530 Gsy and a 2533 Bsy, both are fine, apart from one of those little middle steps had dropped off one of the bogies. I found the miscreant rattling around inside the acetate packing shell, it must have fallen off in transit, these things happen. Cheers, Brian.

I don't know of anyone on this thread sending a Heljan 25 back yet, they've only been out a week or less? We've all been busy making-do and mending, whilst calmly discussing the various pros and cons, and reserving our right to change our minds. Would you buy a new car with a badly fitted windscreen? (It's okay Mr. New Car Dealer, i'll refit the windscreen myself, when I get home ) Cheers, Brian. P.S. Can we buy new cars weathered yet?

To give some balance to my earlier post, where I criticised the fit of the cab windows, I have to say the rest of the model, or should I say the overall model, is very good. After chewing my knuckles over the glazing, and going into denial, I needed a Type 2 junkie fix, so I bit my tongue, and ordered a Heljan 2532 GFY version, putting my wad where my gob is. Now that I can see it in the flesh, it is a very impressive creation, a much better shape than the various Bachmann issues (the Bachmann shape looks like the shape in the IA loco drawing book by R.S.Carter), it runs well, lights and working headcodes look good, and are correctly fitted, the livery is well executed, and there are bags containing accessory goodies, clearly a lot of thought has gone into this product, BUT I still say the cab glazing could have been a tad flusher (we know the front windows had inset rims), and the top corners at one end of mine, weren't fully in position (as spotted in some photos). Maybe i'm just an old fussy-drawers, i'll have a go at re-fitting my windscreens, on a wet afternoon, maybe it needs splitting up, like on earlier Heljan models, like the Class 33? I haven't weighed it exactly, but it's slighter lighter than the Bachmann, perhaps managing 11 coaches for the Bachmann's nominal 12, but no big deal, just double-head! The studio images suggest a very light grey roof on the GFY, but the colour has been bleached by the fierce lighting, in the flesh the roof is a milder medium-grey. I can answer W124's recent question, yes the buffer beam unit is attached with two screws, it's a very neat arrangement. It goes without saying, that models submitted for review are probably cherry-picked, rather than the first that comes to hand, so there maybe others around, with less than perfectly fitted windows? If you want me to give an overall personal score for this model, i'd say 95/100, five points off for the not totally flush glazing, but i'm happy to buy more Heljans now. I won't need to rely totally on the forthcoming SLW late 25, I will have a mix of Heljan and SLW, after all, these are cheaper! Cheers, Brian.

Oh, I get it. So the Class 25 is alive and dead at the same time? But how many RMwebbers have studied Quantum Mechanics? BK

The poor weathering issue is unfortunate, but can eventually be rectified on future releases. However, a more serious issue affecting all versions, is the very poor fit and look of the cab glazing, the top of the front windscreens appear pushed back, and not flush with the frame, plus the side windows are suffering from the "fish-tank" effect. There should not be yellow on the window frame sides, where the glazing should also be a closer fit, this spoils the whole face of the yellow-front locos. Looking closely at Kernow's studio layout scene image of D7647, the far left window frame edge looks very rough, perhaps gouged out in the factory, to push the windows in, and is that a glue mark top right by the wipers? And why-oh-why does the blue "Tamworth Castle" have yellow inside of the black window edging??? It will be interesting to read what the professional magazine journalists write in their reviews, will they point out the glazing and headcode discrepencies? I was seriously interested in buying several examples of Heljan Class 25, but i'm sorry Ben and Heljan, at that price this just isn't good enough, roll on the SLW. Cheers, Brian.

Hi Everyone, The Hornby RB interior is a good effort, but what we've been given, is a buffet bar stuck in time, somewhere between the original build, and the later refurbished arrangement, the moulding is closer to the latter, but not quite right (but then it's not that obvious with the body on). A few pages back, I altered the bar inside my blue-grey example, to make it more accurate, as seen here: I had also bought one each of the green and maroon cars, they required the buffet counter to be backdated to the original layout. Here below is the green RB as dismantled, and below that, the corrected arrangement, the black door was actually for passenger use, providing access to and from, the outside passenger door. The black door would be removed during refurbishment in the 1970s, and replaced with storage space and a new location for the till, leaving the outside door for staff use only. Cheers, Brian.

Hi Phil, Just to back up Mark's comments, here are two basic Replica bodyshells, with Southern Pride RKB sides grafted on. Work on both stopped when I noticed the bar area window error (corridor side, bottom left), but I managed to stretch the two erroneous 3ft windows, into the 4ft equivalent, which involved using various needle files, and lots of cursing. No sooner had I corrected that problem, when I noticed the two right-hand end 3ft windows (correct size and distance apart), were actually too far to the left, and the pair should be central, between the door and body end, as revealed by drawings and photos in Parkin's Mk1 book. More work! The kitchen side etch seems in order, but having paid good money for a "finescale" product, why do I have to do all this correction work? Most of the SP range are fairly decent, but another problem etch, is/was the FO Diag.72 (the one with the combined centre window/door), some years back old chum Mark 54 had spotted that the spacing of the seating bays/main windows was incorrect (gnashes teeth), it should be the same spacing as a RFO or FO Diag.71. The worst offender that I ever found in Southern Pride's etched Mk1 range (unless now corrected by the manufacturer) is/was the SLC/SLF/SLS sleeping car, where the ones I bought had the wrong shape windows and a very abstract spacing apart. I scrapped all twelve kits and converted the bodies to DMUs! I stopped buying Southern Pride, and switched to using Comet sides, but i'll still finish and correct what I have, at least you can put sticky window frames on these. Cheers, Brian.

Just to update from half-an-hour ago, I have now received the parcel despatch email, 26 hours after the order confirmation email(!), but I have no complaints, I know they are struggling to keep up, we're all in the same boat. My stuff is going DPD 24hr Expresspack, due tomorrow, they'll say precisely when, in the morning by text and email (yes, both!). BK

Chillax Johnster, Your baby is coming, but the big mail order firms like Hatton's and Rails have been overloaded with orders, thanks to people stuck at home during lockdown, plus they are suffering staff shortages through illness or isolation. I ordered other stuff from Hatton's yesterday morning, and i'm still waiting for the second "packing email", which advises of despatch, in normal times this would be 2 to 3 hours after receiving the order confirmation email. So that would account for your delay in despatch, even if Royal Mail collected it last Saturday, I doubt it went far over the weekend, so even in normal times on RM 48 hour service, I wouldn't expect it until Wednesday morning, cos I don't fink weekends count? Even their premium overnight SD1 service has been a bit patchy, but they seem to be clawing things back, although even SD1 won't tell you what time they'll deliver, just "next day before lunchtime". Some of the couriers are very good, noteably DPD, who give you a one hour delivery window on the day, so you don't get caught sitting on the bog, when the doorbell rings, but they charge more. RM will probably move to this system eventually, they did a "one hour window trial" in my area, a year or two ago. Just sit tight, tomorrow morning is best bet, then you've still got Thurs/Fri/Sat, but don't dwell on the loo, in case a van pops around, instead of the regular time postie. Cheers, Brian.

He's off again! Why so stroppy? You are putting words in Johnster's mouth, he never said they were banned from The Central Wales Line, he was right to say they were banned from the then lightly built Cambrian, and The Mid-Wales Line, which was virtually a light railway. The Mid-Wales Line was on a NW/SE axis, between Moat Lane on the Cambrian, and Three Cocks Junction, near Brecon. The Central Wales Line by contrast, was a heavy-duty main line running NE/SW, albeit mostly single track, Pontadulais and Pantyfynnon to Llandovery was joint GW/LMS, Llandeilo to Carmarthan was LMS only. The GW would regard the main line to Llandovery as a Red Route. This all changed after Nationalization, the WR took over control of the whole line to Craven Arms, although through trains were still supplied by the LMS, possibly because of platform clearances for GW outside cylinder types, north of Llandovery? WR trains would now operate most local services, there would be nothing to stop a 94xx running as far as Llandovery. For the record, the Mid-Wales line remained heavily restricted, no panniers allowed, although as Johnster states, they were subsequently allowed access to Brecon from South Wales, plus later they were allowed to run to Hereford, noteably running double-headed on the Dowlais ammonia trains, but no 94xxs, they were still too heavy. BK

Thanks, I'm glad someone has done the sums, I just did a bit of quick mental arithmatic. This is very sad and unfortunate, it's ended up nearer HO, reminding me of British Trix on 3.8mm scale/ft. BK