Ollie K

On 07/04/2024 at 13:53, No Decorum said:

An e-mail from Rails announced a “Heljan Takeover Day” at Rails HQ on Saturday, 13th. Amongst the latest samples the O2 figures. That’s good news and I hope to see pictures posted. I also hope to see a darker grey on the GNR version but no matter; whatever the shade, my pre-order stands.

Did anyone get a chance to go for a poke around RoS today and see the samples / chat with Ben from Heljan? Haven’t seen much on social media as yet. 

This just popped up in my YouTube recommendations feed. Clearly intended as an advert for Hornby's new smoke-equipped P2, but for me the star of the show was a good look around PN on video!

Wot 20mph permanent speed restriction?

3 minutes ago, K Hatton said:

 

They were coaches from one of the coronation sets - see pictures in the following link showing the 'coronation' lettering on both sides:

 

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8052664/hoather-collection-photographs

Indeed - though it makes apparent sense that high speed test trains would’ve used the spare set, the Hoather pictures show ‘CORONATION’ lettering on the carriage sides (and no roof destination board mounts, which were present only on the unlettered spare set).

According to ‘LNER Carriages’ by Michael Harris, the record run stock was set 103, the first of the streamlined trains to be fitted with the quick acting Westinghouse brake valve, which was subsequently rolled out across the fleet.

Source:

I did reach out to Hornby via the Engine Shed email address they encourage us to contact them on asking if this information had any bearing on which Coronation set they intended to produce, but never received a reply. 

Here’s the full film previewing the Coronation stock. I think it’s commendable of Hornby to produce something like this for a long-awaited product. 
 

27 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

I came across the attached some years ago and keep a careful hold of it. A reminder of how far we've come ... and to question by return the all too common 'elf n safety gorn mad' accusation.

In the research for Grantham (trying to maintain some relevance!), I came across interesting snippet that, back in the day, the ground floor of the water tower opposite Grantham main station was designated as the local railway morgue ...

Railway Safety Report 1972.pdf 163.27 kB · 5 downloads

In the context of this discussion, this caption from the excellent Keith Pirt Grantham album has always stood out to me as being perhaps a little too nostalgic:

Hopefully the brake / kitchen third pair with destination board mounts moulded into the roof is a symptom of LNER and BR period model bits being mixed up for the undecorated prototype. As far as I can tell there were no roof board mounts during LNER days. 

6 hours ago, zr2498 said:

Some more shots of the weathering. The application of 'Klear' made all the difference.

 

 

 

Great finish on what was at source a rather flat interpretation of LNER apple green. Is that the ‘original’ Klear, or the new white bottle stuff? And do you recall how many coats?

I’ve dabbled before but not achieved such a strong lustre as your fine efforts here.

Cheers.

On 15/03/2024 at 17:29, PaulG said:

 

The Sheldon Mk2 swan neck 15-ton crane 961604, which went to Colchester in November 1947, was originally GNR.

 

At Colchester it was coupled to four vehicles:

 

Tool Van 961515, ex LD&ECR (GCR) 51842 6-wheel 34’ brake third. 

Mess and Packing Van 961520 ex GER 6-wheel 945 brake third 62332.

Crane Runner 961658 a converted ex GER double bolster and

Guard Truck 961657 a converted ex GER Diagram 17 high sided wagon. 

 

My model is mix of D&S kits, modified as necessary and the crane runner is scratch built. 

 

 

Paul

Thanks Paul. Has your layout appeared in any exhibitions or magazines? Looks terrific. 

12 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

Probably because the different railway companies had different types of match truck.

Can anyone point me towards a suitable match truck for an LNER example? (Ex-GN section, 1930s).

Cheers.

16 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

I think a lot of people would find that interesting.

Seconded, I’d be fascinated to copy those formations see the roster.

On the poignant subject of recording memories while one still has the chance, late last year I finally got round to sitting down with my grandfather and 'interviewing' him about life as a New England fireman in the early 1950s. The conversation was recorded into a dictaphone and filmed on a GoPro for posterity. 

I found it immensely rewarding, though I kick myself for missing my chance with other grandparents to record their experiences of the war and serving in the armed forces. I'd heartily encourage anyone who's also thought about recording a memoir to give it a go.

I'll pop a link to the write-up here as it may be of interest to ECML folk. To think Grandad was bowling through the 1:1 Little Bytham all those years ago!

https://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/railway-life-at-grantham/loco-department-staff/patrick-kew-a-peterborough-fireman/

4 hours ago, Flying Fox 34F said:

I was informed of snippets of the story of 73050’s journey by several members of the NVR who were in the know.  Curiously, no-one would explain the entire trip, instead, parts were elaborated on.  I recall a comment that a Parcel train was involved at some point, but I have no way of knowing if it was true or what the exact route taken from Newton Heath to Peterborough was?

 

I can imagine a few surprised Signalman and other staff watching the passing of a ‘Ghost’ train!

 

Paul

According to Wikipedia [ducks]:

”Although BR demanded that it be moved by road because a steam ban was in place, it relented and allowed the engine to make a single run from Manchester via the ex L and Y Calder Valley line to Wakefield and on to New England shed (Peterborough) in steam on the night of 20 September 1968 (one full month after the end of steam on BR).”

Though short on information, there are some interesting pictures of 73050 in the very early stages of preservation and the embryonic days of the NVR here (via the ‘History’ tab.)

http://73050.co.uk/page21.html

I’ve always found them very prompt and helpful on email:

info@niumodels.co.uk

Thoughts with all Hattons' staff - only this weekend I rang up to change a delivery address on a pre-order and it was so refreshing to quickly get through to a real human being - and a really friendly, efficient one at that! 

Also, credit to them for taking such a painful decision if the sums weren't adding up, rather than carrying on and risking running up debts.

Really puts into perspective the 'disappointment' that'll echo about tomorrow if Hornby's 2024 announcements aren't what people were hoping for.

With lots of the usual 'Sale Now On!' emails landing from the big retailers and Hornby itself it's interesting to note that a plentiful supply of the Hornby four- and six-wheel coaches are being heavily discounted, while Hattons Genesis rolling stock is much more scarce and seems to be commanding a chunky premium on eBay. 

5 hours ago, jwealleans said:

Jamie's on the nose there - all A4s had an extra access panel added below the nameplatein 1938 and yours doesn't have it, so if it is correct it can only be for a fairly short window in 1938.   I'd lose the bell.   Most models of the loco have it, one without will be more individual.

Thanks Jonathan, and Jamie. I don't own a DoC - either in the new Dublo guise or one of the previous releases. Tempting though it is to indulge in a new Coronation A4 to haul the forthcoming stock, budget-wise I think renumbering an eBay basket case might be the way forward for now.

A question for A4 aficionados:

Are there any significant differences between how 4489 Dominion of Canada was restored for the Great Gathering - and was depicted by Hornby - and how it would’ve looked in 1937? 
 

Same tender style / access hatches in casing etc?

Wondering if there are any giveaways that the model is ‘as preserved’ rather than ‘as built’. 
 

Cheers!

55 minutes ago, MikeParkin65 said:

Again it’s such a shame Hornby have picked this model to test the innovation on - would have been better on the P2, any of the Dublo Scotsman’s, a Dublo ‘Mallard’, - anything that appeals to collectors and for which a fixed express headcode is relatively feasible. 

As an LNER modeller I feel we've had a lucky escape not to have the P2s sullied by this, and that the W1 didn't either - my hunch is the W1 was supposed to debut the new lamps (hence the fixed overscale, unlit lamps fitted to the unrebuilt Hush-Hush, some in royal train formation) but production delays / teething issues parked it until the next big ticket steam locos, ie the Turbomotive and Black 5.

Ooh, what’s that I spy on Hornby’s Warley stand? First time we’ve seen a full Coronation set formed up?

As seen in Hornby’s latest Instagram story. Can’t get to Warley this weekend so if anyone can get some better pictures and details on the couplings, ping them on here! Looks like there’s an ideal 2nd radius test track local 😂

The drip feed of info continues here:

https://uk.Hornby.com/community/blog-and-news/engine-shed/coronation-coached-intricate-parts

9 hours ago, daltonparva said:

Just ordered an LMS red one from Hattons Black Friday sale, £144 + £3.75 postage. Next job is get a decoder reblown, any votes for the best sound?

I’m staggered the Turbomotive was so heavily discounted by Hattons. When they slashed prices of models like the Hornby A2/2, A2/3, Heljan O2 and their own O Gauge A3s and A4s it wasn’t a huge shock: large ranges of slow selling models with umpteen build quality woes. But the Turbomotive only exists in two variants, has only recently been released, and to rave reviews all round. 
 

Fair play to anyone who was quick enough to grab one!

There’s a brief mention of the Coronation stock in Hornby’s latest livestream.

Currently at the factory feedback stage. Next will be ‘running’ samples, then decorated samples. 

Interesting to hear about the chrome effect they’re going for and how much work has been going into the articulation mechanisms, inter-carriage screening and running characteristics. Sounded like it’s been trickier than was portrayed in the ‘Model World’ TV show. 

In shops by summer seems optimistic given no proper samples yet. Either way, if Hornby is taking its time to make sure these are done ‘right’ (correct pre-war doors, no visible capacitors, innovative couplings) it’s a positive. 

Wonder if the decorates samples will show printed or raised lettering? My money’s on the former, but we live in hope…