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Always time for a chat,Ade.You know that.Besides,Malmsbury was probably a quiet station anyway...... atb Phil

mpd? Motive Power Depot. Loco shed or just shed to others. Phil

How true.Happens everywhere

Hmmm.Think you need some black grease round them fish plates,Ade,and that gap looks suspiciously on the large side....... atb Phil(wearing his PW cap)

Only just read about this.Stunned and saddened,and words fail me. RIP Niel Phil

Have a look at Bude - a harbour branch,with a loop and a couple of sidings,and a narrow gauge(horse drawn) tramway to collect sand from the beach .https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.875862365803428.1073741845.796320380424294&type=3 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okehampton–Bude_line will give you some ideas,photos and references. Good hunting atb Phil

That's an old reference...........

I think this maybe an optical illusion.The righthand wheel is actually on the switch rail,the left hand wheel is in between the stock and switch rail.In a case like this I would first check the back to back on the wheels.Dapol seem to leave a lot to be desired where this is concerned,I have a lot had a lot of issues with derailing Dapol stock,and was advised by Peco's Technical Department to check the B2B before anything else,having had similar problems.Most wheel sets needed adjustment. Phil

Ah,yes.What is known as Sod's(or Murphy's) Law.Or as Parkinson put it,"Work expands to fill all available time."Or was it"Life's a bitch and then you die." Take your pick. Phil

Depends if he's just nipped round the back of the loco for a moment.......? (I'm trying to be polite.)

Perhaps he's coming back for his bag?

Hi,perhaps these photos will give you a better idea of size.Taken at Chasewater Railway,last year. Phil

I used to load Fish Meal from Hull Fish Docks.I used to keep an old coat to wear while handling the bags(and gloves), when not in use,they lived in a locker attatched to the rear of the truck.When damp the meal would stick like glue,and the smell could be,shall we say,intense! Phil

For myself,I made mine about waist hight,was easy to reach over to use 3 link couplings.These are boards that are 2 feet wide. Phil

My copy came this morning.An entertaining read,and if my my work came within shouting distance of yours ,i should be well happy. Bloody well done, Alan. Regards Phil.

Apologies for the lack of posts here,all rather quiet at the moment.However I would like to wish one and all a merry Christmas and a productive New Year. Best wishes Phil

Worked ok for me,yesterday. Phil

Hi Simond,presume you are talking about the wheels? Phil

Hi Ade.I must say,the fireman in Papyrus is looking a little peeved about something,but not sure what................? ATB Phil

Hi Amanda,to my (slightly less than) eagle eye,it does look as if there is a very very slight wobble in the worm gear.I had to watch several times to detect it,though and it could be side to side play(end float) ATB Phil

Hi Ade,trackwork on the first photo seems to be a mix of chairs and spikes,on what looks suspiciously like FB rail.I know there were several cost saving exercises during war time,but not heard of this. ATB Phil

Thats a proper job,Amanda.Brilliant. Phil

Hi,it was 7752,at Shackerstone.I have read somewhere (quite recently,too) that the crew couldn't see out of the front spectacle plate if they stood on the flat part of the floor,so part of it was raised up.This was in a book by a former steam fireman,can't think of the title off the top of my head.Was on the 2 - 8 - 0 T at Paignton once,that had a flat floor.Quite a roomy cab IIRC. Phil

The wooden bits are the cab flooring.On a pannier the boxed area,is over the rear wheels,I think,and the raised pieces are the so you can see out.There is a lowered piece between the wheels.Well on the pannier I had a footplate experience on did. Actually,pinching your photo,the two controls on the outside under your (?) forefinger. Steam heat could be the pipe that runs left over the top of the back head,then down the left hand side.Am searching for a labelled diagram of a GW backhead,got one some where.Bear with me on this one,soon as I track it down,will scan and send to you.Hopefully by tomorrow. Phil

Actually,pinching your photo,the two controls on the outside under your (?) forefinger. Steam heat could be the pipe that runs left over the top of the back head,then down the left hand side.Am searching for a labelled diagram of a GW backhead,got one some where.Bear with me on this one,soon as I track it down,will scan and send to you.Hopefully by tomorrow. Phil