125_driver

That'll be the one! Mystery solved!!! Thanks so much! If only there was a way of working out the electric, id guess an 86 the most likely option. Thanks again, 47817 can go into the book now!!!

Just had a further thought. I had assumed that writing 1711 onto the ticket was the arrival time, however it is of course possible that 1711 was the departure time? So was there anything leaving Wigan Nw for Banbury at 1711???? Thanks.

Hmmm this isn't quite fitting , I forgot to mention the reservation ticket was from Wigan North Western to Banbury. Very strange! Unless it was a one off ammendment for that day perhaps with it being a Sunday???

Request here, if anyone has access to the summer timetable from 1994 (specifically on a Sunday 28th august) , would you mind having a look what XC train arrived into Banbury at 1711? Only i have found an old reservation ticket from a family trip back then and am trying to piece together the likely service and or traction . If anyone can help or point me in direction of a site with timetables on id be extremely grateful.

Just incase anyone is interested.....a little further research reveals the train was 47 hauled throughout from may 1994. And it passed Banbury 0939! Happy memories....

A couple of rather specific questions on the above service if anyone can help?? I know it was booked to be worked by a 47/8 from at least 1999 until voyagerisation throughout (ie no change to an electric at BNS). I know that it WAS worked by an electric from BNS in 1992 , but at what point did it begin to be worked by a 47 throughout? Secondly, does anyone know what time it called at Banbury? Many thanks if anyone can help???

If anyone has a Hornby class 86 in swallow livery , specifically 86235 "Novelty" and they are willing to part with it, please let me know your asking price. If it has been renamed or remunbered that's fine, just so long as the livery is the correct version of IC swallow of the original Hornby model of Novelty.

Yep

The cross over has been removed between the up and down mainlines between Keyham and the junction to the docks. I've no idea if this is permanent or not. The trains could still reverse at St Budeaux Victoria Rd of course, but the removal of the crossing 6 months or so ago is a little worrying perhaps....

Interesting I had made the assumption that everything on the railway has a home, but that would make sense frankly for wagons not too. Many thanks.

So depot wise, would these sorts of wagons be allocated to say Westbury or Cardiff Canton? Maybe even Old Oak?

Very informative as ever thank you. I am modelling the era where (as I understand it from previous posts you have made) the crossover from Western region fleet control to Intercity western region fleet control was occurring. Which depots would these type of wagons be assigned to on the WR at this time?

Question about the Intercity infrastructure fleet during the early 1990s. I know IC had locomotives (mainly 37 47 and 31s ) allocated to its sector for infrastructure duties. My question is did IC also have wagons owned by the IC sector for this work? Or where the wagons owned by the freight sector? I'm sure I recall once seeing a wagon or possibly a tamper (?) that had intercity italic wording on it though can't find anything on the net.....

Many thanks. So only one western region set there, I don't suppose you recorded what workings they were on, specifically the set comprising 43128 and 43196? Thanks for the detailed reply.

I am interested in the period from about 1991 to 1994 and the HSTs that ran up the WCML (north of Preston up to Scotland). From what I can gather there where 3 sets a day 1 Plymouth to Aberdeen 2 Bournemouth to Glasgow 3 Penzance to Glasgow. Sadly gen for this period for HSTs seems virtually none existent but if anyone has sightings logs , etc of the HSTs working at this time on the northern WCML id be very interested to see them. I'm especially interested in Western allocated power cars on the northern WCML, I believe they worked the Aberdeen train but the other 2 services where Eastern sets? Has anyone got any examples of a western allocated set deputising for an Eastern set in this period?? Would be happy to pay a contribution if anyone has extensive records from this period to be able to view them? Thanks in advance.

Excellent site very useful. It does seem that by 1992 it was all 7 coach sets but there appear to be a couple of 8 coach sets in 1991 I think? Could anyone confirm if 8 would be typical at this time? The bigger 10 car sets which would split at Carstairs seem to finish in 1990 from what I can tell on 1s76.

I know by 1993ish most of the XC sets where formed of 7 mk2s, but in the period just prior to this where there any longer formations? I'm specifically interested in the early 90s period as I know in the 80s there where plenty of longer rakes... So 1990, 1991, 1992 does anyone have any examples of rakes on XC longer than 7 coaches? Not too worried on running numbers just an idea when all rakes became 7 mk2s.... Thanks in advance

Highly unlikely there were any tanks down there, certainly nothing stabled long term up there so sounds dubious to me. The only time road into Plymouth Friary has been used in past 10 years or so is on occasional driver training ECS moves, often with a sprinter unit or the 08 pilot. Was supposed to be a tour to Cattewater in 2013 however it got caped I believe, and since 2012 I don't think anything has reached Laira Bridge on the Cattewater line.

Right just had a bit of a play, tried everything suggested on here, but to no avail . Then, quite by chance I noticed that the loco had good haulage when the bodyshell wasn't fitted. Experimented with a few different things and eventually realised it was the lima cab desk that somehow or other was negatively impacting traction! I removed it and put it back in again making sure it was really snugly fit, and hey presto the loco is working fine again. This also worked on another of the "broken 3" I have with just one loco not responding positively to this course of action, so further investigation needed for that one. But as then saying goes, 2 out of 3 aint bad, so thanks alot for all the advice on here.

The wiring definitely could be a possibility and isn't something I'd considered so soon as I get chance I'll have a play and see if that sorts it! Thanks again for all the suggestions!

It won't even get round a 4th radius curve! I'm sure adding lots of ballast probably would sort the problem, but it is frustrating as I feel that because it was working fine, I'm reluctant to go down that road. Agree the traction tyres aren't great , I'll have a look at them again maybe try swapping them over with another set.

Possibly. However it is also noticeable that one wheelset , closest to the fuel tank , lifts up and is not quite on the track . I also forgot to mention in my original post, this haulage problem only happens on curved track, not straight.....

I am lucky enough to possess several Hornby 47s all the TTS type modelled on the old Lima design. Now lately some have started developing a very specific fault (3 of my fleet of 6), whereby they are suddenly unable to pull a rake of 7 coaches when the motor bogie is trailing . They are fine if there is no load to pull, or if the motor bogie is leading , or even if the motor bogie is trailing but the loco is propelling and not pulling the coaches. The issue is only when pulling and the motor bogie trailing. I've looked at all the obvious stuff like wheels properly spaced etc. They all used to run fine in all directions so I don't feel extra ballasting is needed as they worked fine but over time have developed this problem. Has anyone else experienced similar?

So this loco is turning into a real dog. Decided to have another look with some of the suggestions above, however after running for about 3 minutes the decoder blew. I also noticed the motor was very hot, not sure if that was caused by the decoder or vice versa. So more time in the works for this one I think.....

I shall try all of the above suggestions as soon as I get a spare moment. Many thanks for all the help ! Will report back.