Blobrick

I am wondering if l could ask the more well informed RMweb members for some advice re the BR class 71 locomotive liveries? My current DC 3rd Rail layout is set in the 1969-1970 ish period. I am quite taken with the class 71 electric locos, but was wondering what livery would be more common for my chosen period? I have read somewhere that the southern region was more slower that the other regions in adopting Rail Blue in the late 60s, resulting in a lot of stock still being in Green livery around 1970. I ve tried searching the web, for suitable photos, but was surprised by the lack of evidence that my search revealed. Any help or pointers would be very much appreciated. Bob C

Hi Andrew I vejust found your pages, and they are most interesting, as l am interested in the Southern region around the same time, do you have any up dates on your projects? Bob C

It seems to have gone a bit quiet on the 2HAP front? I tried looking for an update on Kernow's web site, as l m sure they were at one time expected towards the end of this year. Does anyone know the status of this model, l bet Covid 19 has a baring on the expected delivery dates? Cheers Bob C

Thanks gentlemen, l appreciate your advice, looks like l ll have to get the glue and paints out after all Cheers Bob C

Quick question I ve just bought a Hornby R4606 Stanier 50ft full brake off a well known auction web site. I ve now come to unboxed the model after leaving it for a few weeks since delivery to find a couple of the roof top vents missing. Does anyone know if these vents are available as spares? Or does anyone have some spare? I suspect there are after market versions of these fittings, but to use those would involved renewing all the vents and most likely a repaint of the roof as well, which l d like to avoid if possible. Thanks in advance Bob C

Hi Melmerby Thank you for sharing your memories, its always nice to hear recollections from people who were there and saw first hand. Cheers Bob C

Thank you Zunnan I appreciate your input on this subject. The photos l have found so far support your comments. I am only to well aware that its nice to see uniform rakes of coaches, which as this and numerous other threads have proven was the exception rather that the rule. Many thanks Bob C

Station Master Further to our discussion earlier today l came across this photo on a well know auction site. It appears to show the station building in WR colours as the difference in the cream panels compared to the darker frames are quite marked. However it appears that its only the station house that's had its door painted, as the remainder further along seem to still have darker paneling. Having seen this l am now pretty sure that the original photo does indeed show the station building in the original GWR colours. This has been an interesting little project and l d like to thank everyone who contributed

Thanks for finding that Andy, l was not aware this image was on Flickr. Just goes to show the lads were spot on in their estimate!! Bob C

Thanks Tim, good point Bob C

Thank you both, gentlemen for taking the time to reply. Station master, A very in depth analysis. The S&T and the Civils having different panting programmes would certainly explain the possible difference in colour/shade between the Signal Box and the Station Building doors. However l ve looked again at the original photo which is a little bigger, and believe the Signal Box Locking room door to be the same colour as the dark panels on the Station Building doors. Could this be just a trick of the light or the film itself?. The Platform canopy does still appear to be in stone and not cream as you say and l suspect this photo was not taken half way through a repaint so l tend to side with GWR colour still being prevalent. Having said all that. if that is the case, and you gentlemen are right (which l tend to agree with) we are talking 10 years after nationalisation which has quite surprised me! Thanks again Gents for your input Bob C

I was trawling through the internet a couple of days ago and came across the attached photo from the 53a collection of James S Doubleday As can be seen its a photo of Highley station taken from the original footbridge looking towards Bridgenorth. The interesting thing about this photo is that both the station building and signal box are still in Great Western colours, but the rolling stock standing in front of the Signal box appears to be BR 16t steel mineral wagons, My understanding was upon Nationalisation the Western region were quick off the mark to repaint infrastructure into the new colours, yet clearly there are BR wagons built in the early 1950s present. Alternatively theses could possibly be MOD designed vehicles which were absorbed into stock by BR upon Nationalisation. The road vehicles in the photo might help with dating this photo but l m not an expert in that field and reserve comment. Would anyone be able to shed some light on the possible date this photo was taken? Bob C

I see Rails are selling theses coaches at £39.99 at the moment, l must admit l am tempted, however does anyone know if they worked as 4 car sets on the Severn Valley line between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury in the 1930s?

Quick heads up folks, Theres a chap on Ebay selling Oxford Dean Goods with with snow plough for low £50s. I ve just made an offer of £50 dead and he accepted, so grab yourselves a bargain

Absolutely Paul The banger blue period was the longest stretch of consistent liveries on our railways, but even so we can get catch out. For example Hornby's Bogie B in BR Blue as mention above, l believe, the model depicts an NFV in early 1980s condition, but when were they classed as NFVs? Bob C

Hi Tony Thank you for digging this out for me, its always great to see some where you know well. You mentioned that you used to visit Ayr shed, when was that? Bob C

Thanks for the links Ph, a couple of them were taken are only 100yds from me, always nice to see local history! Bob C

Cracking video, makes me wish l had a bigger railway room. Thanks for posting Bob C

Thank you for your input Wickham Green, its always good to get the back ground gen on the subject in question. l was not aware of the geographical split when the units were first in service. Of coarse that does not really apply to me as l m attempting creating the Banger Blue period l remember from my footplate days at Waterloo. Bob C

Thanks SRman, interesting seeing the "Tin" HAL in the lead there, nice conversion Bob C

Thank you SRman, l ve got my eye on a Hornby 2-BIL and 2-Hal at the moment, both in BR blue so really only suitable for the last few years of their lives, however should make a nice 4 car rake Cheers Bob C

Typical, spend all afternoon trawling through books and interweb, post a cry for help and then find 10 mins later this comment on the "Blood and Custard" web site, "The 2 BIL and 2 HAL units had no operational distinction (except for a small batch of 2 HAL units used between Victoria and Gatwick Airport) and were freely mixed from about 1960 onwards" So question answered!! Bob C

A quick question for the Southern EMU experts The 2-BIL (401) and 2-HAL (402) EMU units built between 1935 and 1939, I ve just heard someone talking on youtube saying that these two classes were often run together in sets. Can anyone confirm this at all please and if so whats would that have been dates involved? Thanks in advance Bob C

Absolutely, just dying to see the latest progress on Frankland!! Bob C

Yes l have to agree with you there Paul, it was bought blind and was not all l had hoped for lol