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I saw that the Templecombe operators were having issues when I stopped to look at the layout. I'm new to DCC. Why can't the move you describe be done with a DCC consist? Thanks, Simon

Thanks for this suggestion. I parked up in the free long stay before the show started, had a nice breakfast in Thornbury and ambled down to the show later. A great day to take in the view looking back towards Wales on the way too. Thanks to the organisers and exhibitors for an enjoyable show. Great to finally see Grantham and Chapel en le Frith Central amongst others. Simon

Lovely work as ever Nick. At least no one will be able to tell you it hasn't been a Colossal effort getting it finished! Simon

As ever with these sort of questions, the devil is in the detail. What do you mean by Western Region? If you want to include the GW & GC Joint line through High Wycombe and Princes Risborough then A3s were routine during the period that Leicester, Neasden (and prior to Woodhead electrification Gorton) had A3s on the Great Central. See for example: https://www.rail-online.co.uk/p709159667/hc9fbfdbb Oxford and Banbury give scope for LNER classes but others would have to comment on whether more than B1s, D16s etc would have made it there in the '50s. If you wish to model the WR on the Paddington to the West Country/S Wales section then you are largely limited to Mol_PMB's suggestion of railtours and exchanges. Simon

It looks like a Ministry of War Transport/MoT one judging by the lettering. Independent brakes, no top/London flap, bottom doors and pressed steel side and end doors. Possibly what became BR diagram 1/102? @hmrspaul will no doubt be able to correct me if I've plumped for the wrong diagram whilst away from my reference books! Regards, Simon

I think it really only has 3 as the top one is just the electric light fitting (otherwise it's 8 lamps!) So it has express lamps plus the now required headlight in a lamp in the centre. Simon

I think the signalling diagram is a bit of a composite representing the later situation once the Hartley Mains trackbed was just used as sidings, but still indicating the previous layout when the Mains were in place. Sassaby image from Flickr showing the situation in 1973, and with some explanation in the text. Edit to add the four track situation: and the Mains being lifted in 1961: (Both copyright Alan Brooks, North Tyneside Steam Flickr images). Regards, Simon

Hammond air pre-heater apparently. See note for 189 at bottom of page here: https://sremg.org.uk/steam/b1(lbsc)-mob.shtml Simon

47100 is named Merlin in that photo. Thus it's Stratford style with a touch of Tinsley as the loco was a Tinsley Speedlink/Railfreight Distribution loco when photographed. The name places it between 20 September 1989 and withdrawal in July 1991. Simon

I think we've had views of No.7 in this thread before. It was certainly well photographed on its trips between Wheldale and the washer at Fryston. For instance this Steve Banks image on Flickr: Simon

It's all really coming on. Which Duchesses will you be sawing in half to pose on the rear shortened tracks Graham? Simon

Thank you Mike for making your etches available in 2mm scale. Here's one of your GC tenders attached to a 3D printed J11 body with etched chassis: Regards, Simon

Not sure if this has been highlighted elsewhere , but I thought I'd bring this to the attention of anyone who had missed it: https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/04/welsh-steel-works-to-introduce-replacement-for-class-08-locomotives.html 3 Zephir LOK 16.300s have been purchased by Porterbrook to replace the 08s. It looks like the days of scenes such as this: , so familiar to Cardiff residents, are numbered. Simon

Here's a private owner wagon one from another thread: Simon

It was the suggested arrival of Vol 6 of the Larkin series, and assembling a ca.1950 coal train, that got me thinking about these ex-PO wagons that made it to BR days - still numerous, but largely unphotographed and certainly underrepresented in model form. Volume 6 is advertised as out in May. Simon

Thanks to all those who responded to my query. I'm slightly confused by what looks to be an M prefix to the number. It's quite different to the Wirksworth Quarry absorbed PO shown here: in the M36XXX series. Should I assume the ex-PO in my first photo is 9ft wb and 15ft 6in-ish given the very different relationship between axleguard and headstock to the wagon above? Simon

A bit late for much of the discussion on this thread, but can anyone help with identifying what this grease axleboxed 5 plank wagon pictured at Barnsley Jct. in October 1950 might be please? It's a crop from the edge of an image so the quality isn't great I'm afraid. Many thanks, Simon

3 Class 20s, including 20142, and the barrier wagons currently sat in Pengam Sidings this morning after one of these workings. Regards, Simon

110mph, I understand, when the coupling bar was in use, although the practical limit was usually the max speed of the assisting loco. So it's 110mph regardless of which way round the assisting 91 was orientated:

Yes, covered previously in this thread (post at the bottom of this page): Simon

Operational flexibility. See post 5 here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/the-hsts-with-buffers.36134/#post-489260 Simon

Yes, I was looking for a typical image of these drags because I have fond memories of seeing 47402, 47413, 47417 and 47418 (and for a while 47517/500) on these after introduction of the Mk4s and DVTs. However, I stumbled across this image taken near where the Class 31 image was at Shipley. As others have noted, this view is a little earlier and shows one of the Mk3 sets initially used with a buffer fitted HST power car at the rear. Simon

Better with a Generator: John Whiteley Flickr image 19 June 1989 The phrase 'Bradford Drag' needs careful use in a search engine now! Simon

I'd completely missed the raised section of running plate on a J20! Simon

Looks like 8269. It's a J19/2 rather than a J20 because of the gap between the smokebox bottom and the valve cover. See this Flickr image: Simon