DWSHARPE1

I don't know whether you are still interested in coaching stock but you have chosen a period of coaching stock change. At this date BR Standard Mk1 coaches were rare except on the Pines Express. At this stage, one set was Mk 1 while the other was still ex LMS in Maroon although in both cases there would still have been the odd crimson and cream coach in the rake. If you are modelling in 00 Hornby make the Stanier coaches as do Dapol and both Hornby and Bachmann make Mark 1 coaches. The coaching stock at this date used Maunsell small window coaches still available from Hornby sets 390-399 in green while 1 set was still in crimson/cream. In early 1960s these were replaced by Bulleid 57' sets in green. These consisted of 2 brakes 2/3rds and a composite. There were Stanier sets of Brake 3rds and composite in maroon (I remember travelling in one of these). There was one set of Stanier coaches which originally started from Gloucester but later ran from Bristol and consisted of Stanier or Porthole or mixed. It consisted of 2 brake 3rds 1 second and one composite. From 1958 one set also alternated with this and used ex GW stock. This was a mixture of Collett and Hawksworth stock also a 4 coach at that time. You can also add full brakes (originally LMS but LNE were also seen and occasionally Collett ex GW) were added. Vans could also be added carrying parcels or post as well as perishables and were attached. You haven't said what part of the line you are considering. In any case, the first train up from Templecombe often consisted of 3 southern coaches and had 2 non-corridor coaches at the end. These were always ex LMS until 1958. They would sit in BGP until 6 pm when they would go to Binegar and back. These would be attached to a later train and return to Templecombe. These coaches available from Hornby. This was the composition of coaches on the branch. These would go between Highbridge and Templecombe and back also to Bailey Gate and these collected 6 wheel milk tanks in the afternoon. From 1958 ex GW coaches started to replace the older ex LMS coaches. The first of these were the GW B sets. Other non-corridor GW coaches followed. Eventually corridor coaches were included. I find it interesting the variation of stock used as well as the locomotives. Enjoy!

Thank you. It was important because with two children and a wife it was more important to have a roof over our heads than a layout. One of the engines returned to me later. It did crystallise about when I wanted to date the layout. Sadly, when we made our final move 7 years ago, the attic was so low I couldn't build a layout on it and would have to walk on my knees. It was only when I moved here that I realised I can't kneel easily because I have no sensation in one of my knees. I will have started making a small diorama instead.

I think that there is a demand for some of these older models originally produced by Tri-ang. Sadly, there will be very few old models produced. During the time Hornby went into a peculiar stage and removed experienced people like Simon Kohler and moved the offices away from Margate, some bright spark gave the order to scrap a lot of older tools. This means that they will not be able to be produced.

In 1970s I started collecting stock for my imagined S & D remained open. I had a Hymech (Hornby) with Mark 1 passenger stock, I had a class 124 trans pennine (Trix) for through trains. I had a pair of Hornby Dublo class 20s for frieght and 08 for shunting. I Intended to use a Park Royal rail car for the branch and would have run Class 20 with 2 coach trains also on the branch. I did have the Hornby rail car set , which I intended to be used for Bath to Templecombe. I also had the Hornby Pullman set I sold all of them in the mid 1970s along with all but 2 steam engines when trying to raise as much money as I could for a deposit on a house. If it had continued, I would have had a Class 33 and mark 2 coaches running from Bournemouth and would have had Class 201-7 DEMU and would definitely had class 47.

GE work on promises not actualities. They are a business, which work on the quality of their name in the USA, which may work in the USA but should be challenged everywhere else. They buy companies then de-man them and make people unit costs and not valued people. As a result experienced and valued people leave resulting in less experienced people doing the work. They also supply the money for leasing through their finance making things look advantageous. You don't talk about a GE job you talk about a Rolls Royce job.