ModRXsouth

Hi Stubby47 - After assembling the BB017, did you then seal or paint any parts of it? Thanks

Thanks Gilbert for advocating sealing. My local Toolstation branch stocks Rustins MDF Sealer. Just to clarify, seal only the visible sides (upper baseboard side and backscene panels), or also the underside and rear of backscene panels?

General question about SMS baseboards - once assembled, should the MDF first be sealed or painted? And all surfaces, or just the base and back/side panels?

Karhedron - Many thanks for continuing to unearth gems of information about the Morden South milk trains! The brake Van photos plus the Stove R confirmation are invaluable. Then you add another revelation - the false light blue Express Dairy tank livery. I have long wondered at the lack of photos of real tanks in that design so there must be story behind Dapol’s decision to produce it. Could it have been a special commission that became a retail product? I have come across a website about Nine Elms shed - svsfilm.com. An entry states that the night milk train from Torrington to Morden “was worked by a Western Region crew with a Warship or Western class loco. A Nine Elms driver would conduct them from Clapham Junction to Morden and back via the main line.” It would be really incredible if photos exist of a Warship or Western at Morden South!

Karhedron - Thank you so much for addressing my June query. Your mention of Van Bs and Queen Mary Brakes in the milk trains is a particular revelation so I hope there is also a chance some photos exist. A miracle if such photos show the Morden South trains! The Stanier 50’ BG - central square lookout port - must be the type shown in the photo referred to in my original query. I have also just realised that all of your stated brakes are available in N gauge, as do four types of Express Dairy milk tanks: Dapol six wheeled navy blue, sky blue, silver and Peco four wheel black. Also egg vans from Farish and Peco for extra stock variety.

Back Track magazine, July 2022, Nick - Thank you for that information. I will look out for a copy to read on the train to this Saturday’s GRS Didcot show!,

“Before Guards were allowed to ride in the back cab of the loco they had to be provided with accommodation in the train, and given the higher speeds that milk trains ran at this would, as Sitham Yard says, usually be a "passenger" brake rather than a "goods" brake, at least on the main haul.” Adrian - Thank you for your comments. Taking the above quote further, aside from BG, could the ‘passenger’ brake vans on the Southern milk trains to Vauxhall/Morden in the 60s and 70s (and until their conclusion?) have been a Van C or Stove R?

Hi Adrian - It is great to follow this thread as I have known the Wimbledon to Sutton line since my childhood and have always thought that the Express Dairy sidings would be ideal for modelling. I remember passing Morden South one late 70s afternoon and saw an all blue Class 73 in the sidings, diesel burbling away, with several milk tanks. It was the only time I saw a BR loco actually working there apart from the Express Dairy’s own Ruston shunter. Your post on 16 July 2021 included various photos, and one view has greatly intrigued me. Photos 009 and 0010 show a full brake carriage in the sidings - so raises various questions! What could it have been doing there? What service could have brought it there - and then taken it away, also to where, plus what hauled it? There are models of Express Dairy four wheel vans with logos mentioning eggs. Or what about milk churns - were they handled at this dairy, and moved in and out on a BG? Did Siphon bogie vans therefore ever appear at Morden South? What specific type of BG is it - there seems to be a lookout window midway so would that be an LMS version? It seems to be in a two tone livery so what was the year? The photo appears on a website for the Merton Historical Society which mentions 1956 - but would this be correct? Any information or thoughts appreciated on the Morden South full brake mystery.

Hi LaGrange - Many thanks for posting details of the Dublin show - this may well prompt me into booking a trip from Gatwick to visit Dublin for the very first time. Could you possibly indicate how many layouts and traders are likely to attend, and how to access the venue by public transport? Any related information would be appreciated.

It was also bizarre that the Mk 2 TSO was produced in Network SouthEast livery for the NSE Capital Connection box set but the run was not extended to make the NSE TSO available as a single coach for purchase - it is urgently needed! Also, another gap is a Farish Class 37 in all over DB Schenker red.

Catching up on the thread and great news about the layout appearing at the 2023 Basingstoke show - or possibly at an earlier show. You must surely also be on course for a magazine feature, with perhaps a follow up summary article on modern signalling equipment to link with your book. In the meantime, that is indeed a fine wall, but is the fencing contractor returning to fit a gate to access those commercial wheelie bins?!?!

Ah yes, but I should have added the specific point that these are needed as ready to run in N gauge!!

I would agree that this narrow body creates a development opportunity for Hastings DEMUs - Class 203 would cover 1958-1990. However, not all of us can accommodate a six car unit. While not wishing to take this thread away from the inspection car, I offer the suggestion that a more flexible DEMU would be Class 205 2H/3H: a characterful two/three cars, longer period of use from 1957-2004, wider geographic area of routes, plus the standard body profile that could perhaps also be developed into third rail EPBs - !

Thanks Simon for explaining the type of crossing for Hornby End - I now understand the ‘manual’ element for such a location. I entered ‘MCB- OC level crossing’ into Google and among the entries is a video for New Barnetby crossing. There are posts with explanatory signs, plunger buttons and yellow phone boxes so would these be on your ‘to do’ for adding to Hornby End? And any idea what is on the top of these posts - a solar panel? ModRX

“The Crossing leads to a very small housing estate (could you call 2 houses an estate?)…. Hornby End.” Hi Simon - This has been a really fascinating thread to follow, particularly the signalling details and structures - congratulations. However, is it too late to suggest a review of Hornby End? A barrier crossing leading to just two modern houses seems unrealistic. How about relocating the substation to the end of the cul-de-sac, incorporating its brick side wall into the existing trackside wall, and add some more tall trees behind. The road could then appear to continue beyond the crossing and into a larger housing estate - add some more of the ‘rooftops above trees’ backscene that you have behind the RRV area near the station. Another idea instead of ordinary housing, the road could be serving a more exclusive project such as conversion of an old historic mansion or mill-type building into apartments, hotel, activity park, etc. The building could be glimpsed in low relief behind more trees, with construction vehicles and equipment waiting at the crossing. Anyway, just some observations from the property world to enhance that section of the layout. ModRX

Help! I have received the email with my advance ticket attached. Does the ticket really need to be printed, as it is viewable on my mobile phone. Thanks.

Thank you Colin and Craig for replying on behalf of Model Rail Scotland to provide the link to Ticketmaster. However, just to make others aware that there appears to be no print at home option, only ‘eTicket’ through the Ticketmaster app so a smartphone is required.

It is indeed good news about the easing of restrictions on Scottish indoor events, but I have an urgent question for the Model Rail Scotland organisers - are online, print-at-home tickets available? The website’s ticket link adds a £1 ‘shipping fee’ so presumably this means tickets are sent by post. Surely the organisers are aware of major problems in many areas with postal deliveries due to Covid reducing Royal Mail’s staff? Ordering a ticket by post currently means uncertainty about delivery. Easier advance ticketing will also avoid Covid-risky queues building up at the entrance to buy tickets on the day.

David - I have been browsing the website for wagon works ideas so your post is very timely! Very much looking forward to track plan and photos, plus the prospect of the layout appearing at next month’s Model Rail Scotland is helping to encourage me to book a long weekend in Glasgow! You mention “inspiration from works of Steeles in Hamilton.” Co-incidentally on RMweb under ‘UK Prototype Questions” there is a thread “E G Steele Wagon Services - Earnock Sidings.”

I was browsing this category for wagon works ideas and have been fascinated by this thread. It has been a while since the above was posted regarding Rail Express magazine. If it still helps, a little online digging around indicates Rail Express for February 1998 had, under “Contents Listing - Traction & Rolling Stock - World of Wagons,” the article “EG Steel celebrates 50 years in business.”

I agree with making the upper orange band a constant width along its length. The whiskers look lost; the cabside ‘GBRailfreight’ logos could be repositioned higher up (like the GBRf Class 47s) and then have the whiskers flow from the ends of these logos. Also, why separate large flags, with Union Jack on left and Stars and Stripes on right? Why not have a smaller pair of crossed flags below the Mayflower nameplate - Stars and Stripes on left, Union Jack on right which makes better sense geographically.