Western Star

To put some background to Stephen's comments... I was introduced to Jack through the first edition of the HMRS Livery Register of the GWR. The pamphlet (word chosen deliberately as this edition was circa 64 pages) was a birthday present from my parents so I suppose that this event must have been mid 1960s. At this time the HMRS had an "age" rule... no one under 18 so I had to wait until 1969 before I could become a member and thus able to attend the HMRS meetings in Keen House, London; it was at the London meetings that I met Jack and found that he was able to comment, with apparent authority, upon each and every question that I asked of him. A couple of years later, say 1970-71 period, Jack asked me to accompany him to Swindon where we were to look through the print albums of the C&W works. Jack had this idea that looking into the background of photos would provide him with an insight into the everyday working of the company beyond the official subjects as chosen by those on high. So we walked into the hallowed ground with a nod to the gatekeepers with Jack leading the way to I know not where other than (a) there were racks, boxes, cupboards and cabinets of photos and glass plates... and (b) thosre present greeted Jack as an old friend (and all dressed in the same appareil of tweed jacket, waistcoat and shirt/tie). After several hours of peering through magnifying glasses the "head" of the section announced that lunch beckoned. Not to the canteen, oh no - our guide (the head of the section) took us to a nearby car park from where we went to the guide's home, in Stratton, for lunch. I cannot recall much about the afternoon, my overidding memory of the day is that all those that I met that day had a respect and a regard for Jack which must have been the result of many meetings over many months. Put another way, the C&W part of Swindon seemed to be an open house to Jack. Although not related to Stephen's comments about research and sources there is another story to be told and this story demonstrates - at least to me - that the Old Boys in the works had a pride in what they had achieved and were willing to share their pride with those who were starting on the long road of preservation. In the mid 1970s the GWS had completed the restoration of Cookham Manor and had asked Swindon to weigh the engine. So early in the morning we set of from Didcot, I was lucky enough to ride on the footplate. After the engine had been taken to the weigh house those of us from Didcot were given carte blanche to explore the works. I talked to many who had worked on steam and some of those men made small gestures about what could be seen (read as found) by visiting specific shops and discrete areas of the stacking grounds. Clearly word had got round about our visit and many men had taken the opportunity to walk past the weigh house to see Cookham. Not only had those men a desire to see a live example of their past work, one or two of them passed "redundant" assets into our care; for "redundant assets" read "steam loco spares". Gudgeon pins were no longer seen as door stops, they were offered for the future... valve rods were no longer make weights in crane tenders, they were passed over as necessary parts for those engines emerging from Barry. Maybe after forty years those acts of kindness with pride appear as such when seen through rose-tinted glasses. To me that day is just the same as the visit with Jack. regards, Graham

Purely in the interest of historical accuracy... Ian Pope and I have spent several hours in trying to trace any Ocean wagon with the number 917 as in the photo herein. The GWR Freighters Registers for the tail end of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century exist and there is no entry to match the details on the Gloucester build boards in the Gloster official photo. Enlargement of a copy of the official photo does not reveal sufficient details on the RCH registration plate to assist in our search for the true identity of the wagon... What might be the case is that Gloster had a large order from Ocean at about the time that the official photo was taken and that the photo shows a wagon from another order which was painted temporarily to confirm details of the livery that was required by Ocean. Getting the wagon registration number from the RCH plate in the photo would help to resolve the conundrum. Of course, maybe we are making an error by assuming that the wagon was registered with the GWR! regards, Graham

Maybe "modern" is not an appropriate adjective for rolling stock from the 1980s... what I am referring to are the VDx and VGA/VKA vans of the late 1970s and 1980s. Have any of these designs become part of the heritage scene and, if so, where? thank you, Graham

So what have models have you made in the past four years? No one is going to believe that you have just stopped given your expertise / skills / dedication. regards, Graham

Good day Dave and thank you for your informative response to my questions. A further question please. The first photo of the three (tilted) wagons suggests that the raft is not flat or at least the edges are wavy, what is the cause of this distortion? Asking Qs because Son has started 3D printing with an Anycubic Photon Mono using resin from 3D Jake, the learning curve is likely to be steep and reading topics such as yours are helpful. regards, Graham

Stephen, @Compound2632, I have edited my previous post, please refer. I shall have a look as requested sometime today / Monday. Just to chuck the proverbial spanner... my interest in the Edwardian era might produce information that is contrary to information that is contemporary with the grouping period... after all, there are body design changes between 1887 and 1907 with further changes between 1907 and 1923 (these are the dates of significant revisions to the RCH specs for 8/10/12T mineral wagons). Let us not forget also that the design features of a Gloster wagon might not be the same as comparable wagons from other builders in the wagon trade - which means, to take note of details in pre-group photos one does have to have some idea of the builder. regards, Graham

At this moment I am firmly in the belief that there are washer plates on the inside of the sheeting where there are bolts to secure the corner plates. As far as I know, the only place where there is no washer plate on the inide of a circa 1900 Gloster wagon is for those bolts which secure the sheeting to the stanchions. Possibly the most profitable source of photos of the inside of wagons, particularly those of the Gloster kind, are the images recorded by L E Copeland at Lydney Docks circa 1946 - these photos can be found in many places in the series of books about the "Severn & Wye Railway", by Ian Pope and others, Wild Swan / Lightmoor Press, volumes 1 to 5. So, Mikkel @Mikkel, keep on hanging on for the moment. regards, Graham

Ian and I have discussed construction features for many years and there are still some aspects of some Gloster wagons that leave us in a puzzlement. An example is that there are some photos where the lowest bolt through the end face of a corner plate appears to be at the centre line of the floor plank... so is this bolt actually a coach screw?

Nope, the torpedo was full of molten steel and a dud in the water... Captain Did-not-Serve is responsible for failing to put the plug back in the bilge hole with the result that the sinking of RMW was a prolonged affair and with no photographic record of events during the last twelve months.

Must have been some train wreck, I have searched U-tube and as yet have not found any video of the event. MIght have to wait for the RAIB report. regards, Graham

What made you think that tilting the print was necessary? Similarly, what prompted the hole in the wagon floor? regards, Graham

Stephen, I am with you on the main roof of the second carriage - I think that this is a single arc roof rather than a three arc roof. To my eye I can see, on the leading carriage, a flattish portion of the main roof adjacent to the clerestory... I do not see the same characteristic on the second vehicle. regards, Graham

I am asking for sight of GWR drawings because the book noted above does not provide sufficient information for printing 7mm chairs where the rigidity of the chair print imposes constraints that are not so relevant when using ABS mouldings. The membership of RMWeb often provides a wide coverage of all aspects of railway construction and a response within a few days so asking here first seems such a reasonable step. regards, Graham

I am looking for Swindon drawings of the 1S and 2S chairs which were used with loose heel switches from circa 1900 onwards - so drawings dated late 1890s to early 1930s. The need is to help with producing 7mm scale 3D printed chairs - rail section is probably not important for the task in hand given that the printed chairs have to work with 7mm bullhead rail. Anyone got anything or know where to look? thank you, Graham

Yes, lots, so please start with explaining the reason for the white X on the curb rail - is this a painted letter? a chalk mark? The curb rail appears as a darker colour than the body side - a repaired timber? The push rods for the brake blocks appear to be "in-line" rather than a shallow Vee which suggests that the rubbing face of the blocks are chamfered to the cone angle of the tyre. Is there an wagon drawing for these wagons in the study centre? what does that drawing show for the brake arrangement? thanks and regards, Graham

I am a S7 modeller and I agree with what Simon has written above. regards, Graham Beare

The prototype is the British Rail VGA from the 1980s. Thought to be extinct in the wild there are some of the breed to be found in safari parks run by the MoD, for example CAD Kineton and Bicester (can be spotted using Google satellite - last time I looked there were about 30 examples to be found at those locations). There is an infrequent traffic flow between Ludgershall and Kineton, one arrived at Ludgershall in late November and was there a few weeks back - unfortunately on MoD land and behind a wire fence, up against a loading bank so underframe not visible). I am advised that there is a traffic flow between East Moors and a secure warehouse a short distance north of Burton-on-Trent. Google satellite shows several of the breed at East Moors, again on easy access. regards, Graham

Creating a 3D model of a 1980s wagon and that wagon has roller bearing axleboxes and parabolic springs. I cannot find information or drawings of either detail on the internet... can anyone point me at possible sources? Same question posted to "7mm modelling". thank you, Graham

Creating a 3D model of a 1980s wagon and that wagon has roller bearing axleboxes and parabolic springs. I cannot find information or drawings of either detail on the internet... can anyone point me at possible sources? Same question posted to "UK Prototype Questions". thank you, Graham

Yet another chance to use what we had and then lost... please accept a "groan" which is made with support and appreciation for what you achieve. best wishes, Graham

Purchase of a smaller, quieter, compressor has made this item surplus to my needs. No longer available.

Apologies if my most recent pots is confusing / ambiguous. Your annotations to the drawing are the parts of the design that I do understand (after seeing your drawing). Referring to your drawing, the operation of the two transverse levers either side of the air-brake cylinder, and the way in which the brake force is appled to the longitudinal pull rods, is the design feature which confuses me. Just where are those levers "pivotted"? thank you and regards, Graham

Agreed in regard to the handbrake. The drawing explains how the brake force is transferred from the inner to outer brake yoke at each end, I now understand how that linkage works. Where I am at loss is the reason for four transverse levers arranged to work in pairs - where are the pivots for those levers? regards, Graham

Nice photographs especially as the first few are of a Pickering build and that is the prototype for the kit. Thank you.

Here is a photo showing progress in constructing a JLTRT 7mm kit of a TTA, prototype wagon appears to have been built by Pickering of Wishaw. My knowledge of the modern wagon is poor and so I hope that other RMWers can fill in some blanks, for example:- a/ how does applying the air-brake cause the brake blocks to be applied to the wheels? (what gets pulled / pushed? what parts of the air-brake gear are not provided in the kit?) b/ the kit provides wire to produce the safety loops for the four brake yokes and castings for the safety loops for the handbrake pull rod, also castings for the paired levers in the centre of the underframe. What other safety loops exist on the prototype? Any photos which show such items? thank you Graham