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Unknown Warrior

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  1. The sample at Barrow Hill looked OK with the possible exception of the molded hand rail on the cab side. I understand that it could be with us soon.
  2. I like the work of Colin Wright. He has just completed a painting of "The Unknown Warrior" for me. The image is going to be used by the LMS-Patriot Project and will be launched at Warley, where "The Unknown Warrior" will be the center piece in its current build state. We will have both Colin's original paintings of "The Unknown Warrior" on the stand. A rare opportunity to see both paintings and the real "Unknown Warrior" together! Come along and have a look, talk to Colin who is due to be there for the weekend and perhaps buy a print in aid of the project!
  3. Nearly misread this as the latest possible date of arrival but could arrive before, probably wistful thinking! Seriously I will be extremely disappointed if Lode Star is not a premium model with separately fitted hand rails etc. It was never billed as a Railroad model or design clever. In my view it will be a serious miscalculation by Hornby if the Star is built to the same, inferior standards as the 2-8-0/2-8-2 Tanks. While I accept that the Steam Model is at a premium price, the standard models are not much less and, in my view not design clever prices, as DoG and the P2. The Star was one of the seminal designs of the 20th Century and deserves to be replicated to the highest standards, unsullied by questionable cost cutting production methods. This is the model I wanted to be right. I hope I am not going to be too disappointed when the postman arrives!
  4. I have just received the following email from Steam: Lode Star Delivery Update The Museum would like to thank all purchasers of our Hornby GWR 'Lode Star' 4003 for their extended patience regarding delivery of our latest model. The Museum has received information from Hornby predicting a new delivery date of mid to late August. We would like to assure all customers that STEAM will do everything in its power to get your model posted quickly and safely as soon as they arrive at our premises. Alternatively you may wish to consider collecting your model at the Museum’s highly acclaimed Swindon Railway Festival on 14 and 15 September sponsored by Hornby Magazine. Our Apologies once more for the delay and disappointment Geoff Davies, Jacqui Spence STEAM Retail (July 2013)
  5. One other variation for you: 46242 City of Glasgow, as a de-streamlined engine ran with the stepped front footplate and sloping smokebox until involved in the terrible Harrow Accident in 1952. When it re-emerged after virtually total reconstuction it had a curved front footplate and full smokebox!
  6. I wondered how long I would have to plough through this thread before someone mentioned this wonderful book illustrated with paintings so that you get a real feel for how the locos would have looked. Many of the locos mentioned in this thread are illustrated including the 2-6-0 PT. Sadly the book is quite rare. My copy came from Australia, but worth every penny! My favourite is the 4-8-4 Stanier/Coleman design of 1938. It would have comfortably out performed any of the first generation diesels, probably including the Deltics with four 17 1/2 in x 28in cylinders, 5'6" coupled wheels, 300psi boiler and a mechanical stoker. Designed to take 600 tons plus over the northern hills of the west coast mainline unaided. Way beyound anything proposed by Gresley or Bulleid. Would have been a fitting climax to steam design in this country! Still at least we have the Duchesses!
  7. until
    10th Wirksworth Model Railway Exhibition. Town Hall, Memorial Hall and Parish Rooms, Wirksworth. Free Parking at The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Station nearby. EVR Trains connect with the EMT Matlock Branch Trains at Duffield. Admission: Adults £4.50, Concessions/under 15's £3.50. Family (2+2) £11. Open SAT 10am-5.pm, SUN 10am-4.30pm. 20 layouts plus full trade support. www.evra.org.uk Sponsored by the Eclesbourne Valey Railway Association.
  8. Layouts in a variety scales. Trade Support. Refreashments. Wheelchair friendly. Strutt Centre on the A6 opposite Babbington Hospital, Belper, Derbyshire.
  9. I can find no reference to 3'2" wheels fitted to GWR 4-4-0's although of course they were fitted to GWR 4-6-0. Certainly Cities, Dukes, Bulldogs and Atbara 4-4-0s were fitted with 3'8" wheels, confirmed by J.M. Maskelyn in his books "Locomotives I have known." Bearing in mind all the scale drawings he did were of locomotives he knew well andthat his research was meticulous, I have no hesitation in accepting his work as accurate.
  10. until
    9th Wirksworth Model Railway Exhibition Promoted by EVRA Sat 15th & Sunday 16th October 10am to 5pm Saturday - 10am to 4.30pm Sunday ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ENTRY PRICE TO THE SHOW COVERS ALL THREE VENUES: Adults: £4; Seniors/under15: £3; Family (2+2): £10. PLEASE KEEP YOUR TICKETS SAFE. Welcome to the Exhibition On behalf of Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association, welcome to the 9th Model Railway Exhibition held in Wirksworth. The exhibition has grown from one to three venues, all central to Wirksworth Market Place. As usual we have layouts plus demonstrations and other items of interest, as well as full trade support. We hope that you will enjoy the exhibition, but we welcome comments about any aspect of the show. Car Parking at Wirksworth station is free for the weekend. Reduced fares on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway are available during the exhibition on production of your Model Railway Exhibition ticket. This year, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway opened all the way to Duffield, the full length (8 miles) of the branch line. This connects to mainline trains at Duffield and through ticketing to Wirksworth is available through EMT. This is in addition to the 1 in 30 incline which was opened to passengers in 2005. (It was originally used for stone traffic only). You may like to travel on both these sections of lines or come back on another weekend and visit the railway at your leisure. An exhibition in a Gatex baggage van in the Station Yard contains displays of the railway’s history. Next door, a brake van contains a display of railway lamps. Also in the yard is the narrow gauge line, which opened to passengers in April 2009 and the children’s play area. About Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association The Association (a charitable company No.1106810, limited by guarantee), has the main aim of conserving the heritage of the Wirksworth branch line. Opened by the Midland Railway in 1867, passenger services on the line succumbed to road competition in 1947, but traffic from Wirksworth’s limestone quarries continued until 1989, after which the branch slowly returned to nature. It re-awoke in 2000 when volunteers of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association, working closely with WyvernRail plc, started to clear the line with the intention of running passenger services from Wirksworth, both south to Duffield and north, up the incline. Since 2001,nearly £300,000 in grant aid has helped the Association with projects including the refurbishment of Wirksworth platform, building new platforms for the incline, providing an Information Centre, Museum and restoring the water supply for steam engines. Our Train Ride to History project, incorporating leaflets, interpretation panels, displays etc. about the line, the quarries and the town has brought the history of the area alive, linking other attractions by a guided trail. We have also bought rolling stock, which is used on the railway on a regular basis In 2008, an Awards for All grant of over £9,000 paid for uniforms for guards and drivers, a children’s play area, leaflets and training. Derbyshire Aggregate Levy Grants have enabled the completion of the narrow gauge line in the Yard at Wirksworth Station (2009) and the building of an ash pit for steam locos (2010). As well as funding the two incline platforms. In 2007, the Association was awarded a grant of over £48,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore a 0-4-0 steam engine and the engine, Ferrybridge no. 3, is now operational and will be working this weekend. Work is well under way on the second Andrew Barclay steam engine, Henry Ellison, which should be operating next year. Find out more about our work on our website: evra.org.ukFor more details contact Mike Craft, Honeysuckle Cottage, 35 Rise End, Middleton, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, DE4 4LS 01629 825213 or e-mail pat/mike@craftriseendfreeserve.co.uk TOWN HALL FOYER Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association The stall contains a wide range of railway and other books (new and second-hand), railway and modelling magazines, model railway items, DVDs, mugs, jigsaws and other railway related items. Please support the Tombola, which helps to raise funds for our activities. Information about the Association and membership details are also available.. Please note that this year the stock of half price second-hand railway books is on this stall NOT in the shop at Wirksworth Station. However there are a very large number of second-hand railway books in the shop at the full marked price; this is due to the conditions of a legacy whereby proceeds have to be split. Please note that our stock of new Bachmann items is in the shop and that our prices are very competitive. MAIN HALL Catley Roundhouse (TH 1) O Gauge Alex Pleuvry This imaginary steam loco depot has a half-moon style roundhouse, which was very common in continental Europe and the Americas but rare in the U.K. This model demonstrates the operational issues of a steam loco shed, with fire/ash disposal, coaling, turntable movements, collection of fresh water and dried sand. Structures include the shed, boiler house, water tower, sand furnace, coaling stage and repair shed. Colin Wright – Railway Artist (TH2) 01332 883188 Trade Member of the Guild of Railway Artists, exhibiting at national level. Colin’s paintings have been used on calendars, cards and Royal Doulton collectors plates. Prints and original paintings of railways especially 1950’s London Midland Region Steam. Prints of Colin’s latest paintings will be available. Coton Sidings (TH3) E.M. Gauge Linton M.R.C. Coton Sidings is the club’s fourth layout, the previous one being Ashbourne Midland. It is based on an Ian Rice plan and is still under construction but is operational. The upper layout is D.C.C. with the lower being ‘cab control’. Total N Gauge (TH4) 01623 758968 Trade A dedicated N gauge supplier, of locos, wagons and carriages. Selling Farish, Dapol, Peco, Gaugemaster, Bachmann – American, Faller, Ratio, Oxford Diecast, Woodland Scenics, DPM, controllers, track, and all accessories. Shop is now at 105, Lowmoor Road Kirkby-in-Ashfield NG17 7BH Fontbeau (TH5) HO Gauge Allan Parker Based on an area in Central France and depicted around the turn of the century, when freight had been reduced and passengers trains were old DMU’s. The dominant grain silo is the reason for the survival of the station; the line used to continue. The old coach (shelter for the shunter crews), the water tower and the goods shed are all becoming derelict. It was built to shunt the collection of cereal wagons in a realistic setting. The Railway Bookshop (TH6) 01332 384248 Trade Derby’s largest selection of railway and transport magazines, new books and DVDs. Please visit our shop to see the full range. Shop at 91, Macklin Street, Derby DE1 1LG Trackside Video Sales (TH7) 01773 862963 Trade A wide range of DVDs on a variety of subjects. Summat Colliery (TH10) OO gauge Ian Mellors This is a fictitious East Midlands colliery layout, set in 1958, towards the last years of BR steam. The site has evolved over the years and features different styles of buildings. Daily shunting duties are performed by Harry and #49 – “austerity” tank engines and a variety of freight locos visit the colliery from mighty 9F’s to more humble workhorses. Watch out for the occasional surprise visitor too and look for the bike, rabbits, badger and hedgehog! Tuscarora Mine (TH9) ‘On30’ 7mm scale narrow gauge John Green & Kevin Rayworth The idea for a compact ‘O’ gauge American mining layout came from an article in an early 60’s Railway Modeller The availability of a range of items from Bachmann of prototypes from the Colorado area saw the idea resurrected in the early 2000’s, with the layout completed to exhibition standard by 2007. Hopefully the layout shows what can be achieved in a larger scale, but within a reasonable area, without sacrificing viewers and operators interest. Zorba’s Mine (TH8) ‘On 30’ gauge Baz Ward & friends At the turn of the 20th Century a small lignite mine was opened in southern Crete, although its disastrous ending is chronicled in Zorba the Greek. This freelance layout contains both British and Continental practice and later Greek influence. Steam and diesel locos are an eclectic mix of kit and adapted bodies on various chassis. Rolling stock is adapted Bachmann, Magic Train and “kit-bashed” Port Wynnstay Castings. ANTE ROOM Hope Junction (TH11) N gauge B. Grubey (Now in The Parish Rooms) Modern image Robert Day Images (TH 12) 01676 540469 Trade Photographic display and sales of prints. TH13 is omitted CLUB ROOM - BAR The Staffordshire Ginny (TH14) 01782 411104 Trade New and second-hand model railway items, books and accessories. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PARISH ROOMS Museum of Transport (PR1) 4mm Robin Brogden This is a fictional Museum of Transport where railway exhibits are housed in a Gallery, with historic and unusual locos, carriages etc. Railcars or tank locos run from the Engine Sheds along the dockside over two bridges. Electric tramcars operate on a double track within which there is an extensive collection of classic motor vehicles. There is also a miniature railway, a dry dock and an area for displays, rallies etc. The visiting brass band plays a selection of melodies throughout. Coton-on-Dove (PR2) EM Clive Baker This is a fictitious interchange between a 2’3” gauge tramway, conveying alabaster from the mine of J.C.Staton & Son, a short branch off the North Staffordshire Railway’s line between Crewe and Derby and a spur of the Uttoxeter Canal. Set during the 1920’s, the layout was built to utilise some recently constructed N.S.R. rolling stock and to re-vitalise some much earlier narrow gauge models. Church Lane Sidings (PR3) OO gauge Alan Cheadle The Sidings were the main distribution yard for the local area. Seed, fertiliser and coal were tripped in on a regular basis. By the early to mid-1970’s, the seed warehouse has been taken over by BR engineers and diesel power is now classes 03, 08, 20, 24 and 25’s, Coal is carried in 16T mineral wagons and agricultural supplies in 12T vent vans. Access is from a kick back siding, making shunting interesting, especially if a train of vans has arrived! Derby Free-Mo (PR4) HO American Mark Fowler & Peter Blount The layout has been designed using a modular concept providing the scope to display several different scenes even while some modules are still under construction. The desert scenes are inspired by the UP and BNSF trans-continental routes in Utah, Nevada and Arizona. Free-mo was developed in Europe but has become popular as Freemo in the USA. Edgedale Sidings (PR5) 7mm gauge Sheffield O Gauge Society Situated in a semi-industrial area in England, the sidings are on a single track branch-line and serve factories and a canal basin. Set in early BR days, both LMS and GWR locos can be seen as both companies had running powers in the area. The layout reflects members’ skills in modelling buildings and scenery.. The branch-line at the back has a halt and the canal basin at the front has a lock-keeper’s cottage, cottages and factory offices. Idleway (PR6) OO gauge Derek Gelsthorpe This is an end to end layout with a simple shunting sequence, with five trucks and a brake van on show for the operation. The mechanics of the operation are of interest and the creation of the layout has involved many techniques. The only switch fitted isolates the end of the sidings. Zell (PR7) HO gauge John Huddlestone The layout shows the centre of Zell in Switzerland. The tram station in the centre consists of three platforms with an interchange facility to the trolleybus system. The town centre contains a working fountain, bandstand with music, market, shops and a tram depot. The rolling stock dates from 1905 to 1980 and includes small two-axle trams. The layout operates semi-automatically and contains working signals and traffic crossing lights. Malc’s Models (PR8) 01159 082101 Trade Stockists of Hornby, Bachmann, Dapol and Peco in 00 and N Gauges. Woodland scenics, plastic construction kits, diecast cars, lorries, etc stocked. Also deal in second-hand locos and rolling stock and repair locos etc. Also stock American and continental models. Larger scale items can be supplied. John Kelsey Model Railways (PR9) 01332 512580 Trade Local second-hand specialist and in addition to collectors items, also has extensive stocks of ‘nearly new’ ready-to-run items in all popular scales, together with kits and buildings. Items also bought. Roanoke Roundhouse (PR10) HO gauge Bob Gellatly The Norfolk and Western Railway was the last Class A Railroad in America to operate steam locomotives. Dieselisation was not complete until 1959. Roanoke Roundhouse is loosely based on Schaffer’s Crossing loco servicing facility in Roanoke, Virginia in the late 1950’s. There are 12 steam locomotives but four early diesels make their appearance. The landmark Miller’s Star is visible on the hillside beyond the roundhouse. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEMORIAL HALL Derby Trees and Scenics (MH1) 01332 239570 Trade Some hand-made trees are for sale plus a wide range of scenic items, scatters, foliage, walling, mats, flowers, figures and many other items. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please ask. Come and browse or just watch the demonstration of how to make trees in a range of sizes from copper wire. Learner tree making kits also available. Sherwood Models (MH2) 01159 266290 Trade Located at 831, Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG5 3GF (main A60) near Daybrook. Layouts constructed and designed for digital or analogue use (all gauges and sizes). Also baseboard construction, schematic control panels, layout wiring and track laying services. Stockists of both new and second-hand models. After the show visit us on-line at www.sherwoodmodels.co.uk or contact us by telephone. Mount Tabor Models (Continental Model Railways) (MH3) 01629 822294Trade New continental model railways and supplier of digital control systems from Marklin, Trix, Roco, Fleischmann, Lenz, Uhlenbrock and ESU. Z, N, Hoe, HO, Gauge 1 and garden railway gauges. Viscopano Z gauge Ian Pidcock Demonstration layout for Tabor Models above. Valley Hill Top Station (MH4) OO gauge James Newell This is a fictitious double track bi-directional main line station, with maintenance siding, sited on a viaduct, with tunnels at either end. On entering either tunnel, trains descend on a lift to a hidden five road storage/sorting yard. The exhibit features both steam and diesel traction with no specific era. 20% of the rolling stock will have sound fitted. Bygone Model Railways Trix Twin (MH5) HO gauge Malcolm Hughes This layout demonstrates the British Trix Twin 14 volt AC railway system introduced into Great Britain from Germany in 1936. The novel feature of the system and where Trix Twin was so named was the fact that you could operate independently two trains on the same piece of track. Other railway systems were using 12 volt DC and were more controllable so, as the market demanded, Trix introduced a DC system in 1956. Road and Rail Collectables (MH6) 07977 054281 Trade Model railways and die cast models
  11. The good news is that modern cars have large fuel tanks. These days I try to fill up when I get down to half full so I also have some in hand. It also helps to prevent £70 bills to fill the whole tank. At least it spreads the agony!
  12. This is indeed an interesting debate! I wonder how many modellers visit Heritage Railways as a source of information for their layouts. What does balast look like after steam locos have been standing over it? Where do the weeds grow? Details of buildings that have been restored to their original form. Certainly being a regular volunteer working on the track and overhauling and firing steam locos has done a lot to inform my modeling! Modelling a ficticious preserved railway is involving me in considerable research to try and create a believable "History" and to put together a collection of rolling stock which could run on it. At least as much as most peole do before creating their layouts based on a particular location/ period. Fortunately Bachmann in particular are very good at producing models of preserved locos and Hornby seem to be catching on! Quite a few recent models from, Bachmann, Dapol and Hornby have been produced using preserved locs and stock in presevation to inform research and to produce better models. Volunteers on Heritiage Lines are often accused of "playing trains." Maybe, but try going into prepare a steam engine at 6.00am on a wet, cold dark morning or relaying track in the rain or snow. Running a heritage line is a buisiness and the customer expects it to be right! Turning up because you are rostered is not always a bundle of laughs but it does show considerable commitment by those of us "playing trains" on Heritage Railways. ... and yes at the end of the day we do enjoy it! To finish on a high, for those people who don't already know, The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway just north of Derby will be opening the whole of the Duffield to Wirksworth Branch with a special reopening weekend: 8th-10th April. Only the second complete standard gauge branch line in presevation. The timetable is designed to connect with Matlock Branch Trains at Duffield. Full details at: http://www.e-v-r.com
  13. has not set their status

  14. I knew that when I suggested reviewing the future of some of the ex Barry locos there would be cries of anguish! I picked on two specific classes, both well represented in preservation: Merchant Navy (11) and 28XX/2884 (16. Lets have a look how they are doing in preservation: Merchant Navy: 2 opperational, 1 overhaul, 1 should steam this year for the first time in preservation, 3 some work done, 3 in scrap yard condition and 1 sectioned in the NRM. 28XX/2884: 4 opperational, 1 overhaul, 1 should steam this year for the first time in preservation, 5 some work done, 4 in scrap yard condition and 1 in the NRM. I would guess that at least £10 million is needed to restore those locos that have not steamed in preservation plus the volunteer labour to do the work. Comments?! What I find more worrying is that the following locos, which would be very useful on Heritage Lines, still have not steamed in preservation: 3 Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0's; 2 Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T's (now on the IOW and being worked on); 1 Fowler 4F 0-6-0; 1 Fowler Jinty and 1 Hughes/Fowler Crab! I hope that 34073 will be restored before too long. Considering how many Bullied light pacifics have survived in to preservation (20) most have steamed in preservation and are usefully employed on Heritage lines. So there are two hurdles to saving these locos and making them at least presentable: Money and labour! We can all get involved even if it is only to put a few coins in donation jars/boxes. There is plenty of scope for active involvement either with restoration itself or in money raising: eg. helping on stands at galas etc.. Anyone in the Derby Area interested in locomotive restoration (steam and diesel), carriage restoration, permanent way work or any other of the many jobs involved in running a railway can be assured of a warm welcome at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway based at Wirksworth, Derbyshire. We have a DMU Gala this weekend 20-21 March. I am rostered to drive on the narrow gauge on Sunday and the steam restoration team will also be on site. One final thought: if anyone would like to take on an unrestored 28XX, there is one round the back of the shed at Llangollen, where it has been for a number of years and I believe that it up for sale! NB. The information I have set out is correct to the best of my knowledge but does rely to a certain extent on published sources which may not be 100% accurate!
  15. Yes I think the public are bothered about the way a Railway looks. The Heritage Railway Movement is competing with many other "attractions" for Joe Public's money. Lines of scrap and poor facilities do the movement no good whatsoever. Those of us involved with Heritage Railways need to work hard to make sure that visitors have a good experience so they come back again. The stock the public see should at least look reasonable. Everything else should be out of sight. I do think the time has come to "get real" about some of the ex Barry Locos particularly the unrestored Merchant Navy and GWR 28XX locos: large locos which are of limited use on all but the longest Heritage Lines and now cost eye watering sums of money to restore. Many of them require extensive boiler work and a lot of new parts. To be honest it would be better to build a batch of Standard Class 3 Tanks which would then give at least 20 years service before needing major work. The first 10 year overhaul shoud be fairly straight forward. One area of presrvation that really does concern me is the number of priceless wooden bodied coaches rotting away in sidings, rapidly decaying beyound restoration. There is a real need to tackle this now before we lose them for ever.
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