Blobrick

I wonder if the more enlighten members of RMweb could answer a question for me? I have a 4mm Heljan class 26 No.D5341, (Tablet Catcher fitted) this locomotive was allocated to Haymarket when new, but soon went to Inverness where it spent most of its working life. My question is how far from its home depot would this loco wander? Is it feasible that it could work south to Edinburgh and then be used on the Waverley route for example? Many thanks in advance Bob C

Really clutching at straws here, but does anyone one have a Bachmann (31-427) 4 CEP in Blue/Grey Livery they wish to find a new home for? Fingers crossed Bob C

Good morning Jason Many thanks for the links, even more data to check through, great stuff, can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday ;-)

Good morning Ray Many thanks for taking the time to check through "Ruabon to Barmouth", every little piece of information helps make a bigger picture. Its a shame that the photo of 6404 is dated as 1957 as without doubt it would be plain black at this time. From the digging l ve done via various sites l ve found some picture of these three locos and even 6429 was still black at the at the most recent photo l could find. Cheers Bob C

Hi Ray Thanks for your reply, it has helped to confirm some information l have pieced together from various sources. You have identified the same 3 64xxs that l have, and l ve spent a pleasant evening going through my collection of books trying to find photos of these 3 locos, so far all l ve found is one of 6405 in plain black dated 1954 in a Bradford and Barton . I suspect that none of these three received lined green livery before being withdrawn, unless of course someone can prove me wrong?

Hi Jason That's interesting information regarding the Auto trailers at Oswestry works. I m not to fussed about running numbers at the mo, I m more interested in tracking down the 64xx s involved in the Auto working between Wrexham and Bala, but thanks for the links, l ll take a look through them

Hi Johnster Thanks for your reply, l confess l d not noted the lamp positions, thank you for pointing that out. The more digging l do the more l am convinced that the Auto coach is a Wrexham to Bala service. It seems this was often a two auto coach formation worked by an auto fitted loco. So far l ve found evidence of a 64xx and 54xx working these trains in the very late 40s early 50s. During heavy traffic times additional coached were added, with a larger locomotive, but no details as to what loco. I suspect a 43xx or similar? Bob C

Thanks Dave, I confess the line has been a favourite of mine for a number of years, however if the "prairie" has a full bunker,l d say that's the least of the crews worries as they ve only got 4 drivers and 1 bogie left !!

I wonder if any RMweb members can shed any light on the photo below? Its an undated view of Bala town station. I suspect it dates around mid to late 1950s, as there is a 58xx, in early black livery with two non corridor coaches in unlined crimson. To the right of the 58xx can be seen the front of what appears to be an Auto coach. This is the only photo l ve seen of this type of vehicle on the branch, I m wondering what is it doing at Bala town?. I know there were some Auto working on the main line, so could this be a lay over between services where the stock had to be moved somewhere out of the way or was it the Wrexham to Bala Auto working, and if so what class of loco would have worked that service? Bob C

I started my Railway career in 1979, so I’m in my 5th decade! Although l was born in Glasgow, my family moved to Crewe in 1965,as my father was a Guard . We spent 11 years there, and its these memories of the last Jinties and electric blue AL series locomotives, and green EE type 4s l still hold dear. I seem to remember the whistling of the class 40s could always be hear all round the town at any time of day or night. My father received a promotion and my family moved to London in 1976 where l finished my education. Even in the late 70s it seemed a natural step to follow my father onto the railway. I started on the foot plate at Euston as a traction trainee in 1979, then moved to Waterloo under an 8B move in 1980, and back to Euston three months later as a Second man. Joined the S&T 1981 working in the S&T design office in Carlow street, near Mornington Crescent. I was involved with the testing and commissioning of the then new West Hampstead PSB and various other projects around the country until the Drawing Office moved to Birmingham in 1985 and me along with it. Premotion took me home to Glasgow in 1988 where l worked in the S&T scheme development section before moving into the Control in 1994. 1998 saw me moved to Swindon Control and 2000 to Derby to help set up the new Control in Derby, first as a Senior Controller and then as the Tech Support Engr. The whole control moved to the new EMCC in Derby in 2008 along with the local TOC EMT. The railway has changed out of all recognition, both my parents worked in the industry and certainly would not recognise it today!

Hi Alan Thanks for looking that information up for me, as l said above, it all helps get a clearer picture Bob C

Hi Andy I ve spent the last few months trawling through every source of info l can lay my hands on, but up until now, l ve found no photos, or sightings of early 57xx panniers being seen on the Kingsbridge branch in the late 1950s. I wonder if there would have been a reason why NA allocated 57xx were not favoured to working on the branch or could it have been the more modern 8750xx were better suited with full Collett cab and being newer ? So l d like to cast a wider net and ask if any other RMweb member has any info at all that could confirm early 57xx working on the branch? The reason l ask is that l ve taken the plunge and decided to move up to 0 gauge, after not being able to resist one of Dapol.s new 57xx! Bob C

Thanks to everyone, every little bit of information helps to make the picture clearer Your help is very much appreciated Bob C

Evening Gents I ve been trying to find photos showing former GWR "B" sets working on Cambrian lines. So far l ve turned up nothing. Does anyone here on RMweb know of any such cases? Thanks in advance Bob C

Hi Chris Many thanks for coming to my rescue once again I believe the version l have is a diagram E140 Brake Composite, and as such was not split, so back to the suppliers it has to go! Thanks once again Chris Bob C

Could someone please tell me when the Western Regions "B" sets were split up? I have seen information that suggests some time in the late 1950s but is there an exact date? Also when the sets were split, did the short inside buffers get converted to standard length or left as they were? I assume that lamp irons were fitted at the same time? I suspect that they would have received the later BR maroon livery as that point. I ask as l have acquired a Dapol 0 gauge coach which was ordered as a Brake Third (Dapol 634) and although it arrived in the correctly marked box, it transpired it was a Brake Composite Dapol 630. I suspect some mix up at the factory as the Hatton's web site shows the same situation with Dapol 634 Brake Third description, but the photo of Dapol 630 Brake Composite. The model l have received is a nice model, it would be a shame if l had to send it back! Fingers crossed Bob C

Does anyone know or has heard of an 0 gauge layout called "Blandings Road"? It was a GWR/WR branch line terminus layout that was on the exhibition circuit a few years ago. I am hoping to track down some information with regard to this layout, An internet search has turned up nothing, so all l have re a couple of photos l came across years ago An help wound be much appreciated Bob C

That's very kind of you to consider that Terry, many thanks, I should have left it a few days longer before checking on ebay, but strike whilst the iron hot , l thought! Thanks again Terry Bob C

I don't thing so, but l ll bear it in mind next time l m looking for the impostible. Thanks for your help its much appreciated Cheers Bob C Just got one off Ebay, very happy bunny!

Many thanksIan Interestingly l have tried numerous seaches on Google and never found any hint. I must be doing something wrong!! Also shows how one's memory can play tricks, as l could have sworn it was late 70s not mid Thanks again Bob C

Hi there A bit of a shot in the dark here! I am trying to identify the Railway Modeller edition that contained "Bigbury Bay" as its plan of the month. I believe it was in the late 70s. The plan was built around the premise that a single track branch was built from the Great Western main line and ran south to a coastal terminus, west of Kingsbridge in the South Hams area of Devon. Does anyone remember this plan and if they do which magazine it appeared in? If l can find out was edition this plan appeared in l might be able o find a copy somewhere? Bit of a long shot l know but l though l d ask Many thanks in advance Bob C

Many Thanks for the link, l ll start digging Cheers Bob C

Has anyone else had similar issues? On a whim l purchased a Dapol 0 Gauge 5 plank wagon (7F-053-004) from Tower Models a few weeks ago. I finally got around to unpacking the model and noted that the wagon sides seem to bow inwards. The bow seems to start at the ends as it seems more pronounced there, less so towards the centre of the side. It’s a shame as the overall look of the model is very good to my eyes. Has anyone else found similar issues, and if so can it be rectified? I have thought about attempting to warm up the sides using a hair drier, but l m not sure how much heat the sides can take. I am sure l ve seen something about the early Dapol models being released from the mould a little too early before they have had a chance to cool, which causes the symptoms mentioned above. Bob C

Just my luck your in the London, as someone who enjoys operating more than building, it would have been a dream come true, its a cruel world!

There's a team that's been put together with members from the track laying "Team A" from Channel 4s Biggest Little Railway. The team members have each had to submit a self made video presentation, addressing preset questions from the Production company. The team member come from Scotland down to the south coast.