GWJ

Part B can now be answered!! I have found a photo of a Manor on the CCE with a reporting number!!! 7827 'Lydham Manor' on the CCE heading west on 8 August 1964 at Llanbrynmair. No headboard by then but it is carrying the reporting number 1M12. Photo is by Martin Smith and can be found on page 32 of 'Steam in the Welsh Landscape' by Michael Welch (Capitol Transport).

Can't answer part B I'm afraid, but I can confirm that the Coast section of the CCE did carry headboards after the train divided at MCH. There are a couple of nice pictures of 2285 taken a few months apart in 1958 on Page 155 of 'Cambrian Railways Gallery' by David Maidment and Paul Carpenter (Pen & Sword Publishing) clearly showing both types of headboards in use. Looks like the changeover in headboards was in 1958. There is a further picture on Page 161 in the same book of 2236 hauling the CCE near Towyn on 30 June 1964 without the headboard. I have seen photos of the headboard in use in 1963 so (speculating wildly!) I suspect that the headboards went after the Midland Region took over the Cambrian routes in 1963. Hope this helps.

Just received 7802 today. The first time I have ever pre-ordered a model and also my first Accurascale loco. I'm delighted with everything - looks wonderful, especially the front end, nothing broken or damaged etc. I agree with other comments that it is super-heavy to hold (feels like diecast metal) so it should have no problem taking 7 BR(WR) chocolate & cream Mk1's over Talerddig!! Can't bring myself to add white paint to the buffers, smokebox etc just yet but looking forward to a running session soon! Well done Accurascale - it's been worth the wait. Looking forward to seeing what your next steam loco will be!!

I received an email from Key Publishing last Thursday (27th July). Paid up and ordered confirmed immediately. I'd keep trying. Their email address is shop@keypublishing.com if you haven't already tried this.

2999 Lady of Legend was at the West Somerset Railway Spring Gala last weekend and will be staying there until 8 May. She will be running on 6,7 and 8 May, details on the WSR website.

Saw 37800 today at Bristol Parkway dragging Greater Anglia's 317344 off to the scrap yard.

No, although it is very close. The photo I was referring to has the Siphon further back on the centre road (possibly up against the buffers) and the Class 120 is towing an all-blue GUV. However, the photos are close so could have been taken around the same time.

Found another Siphon photo! Page 64 of Laurence Waters' 'The Changing Scene Western Region' shows a Siphon in the centre road at Barnstaple (Junction) in Sept 1975. Fabulous photo by Charles Gordon-Stuart/Great Western Trust showing it next to a 3 car Swindon Class 120 unit in blue/grey livery (come on Accurascale, you know want to!) towing a blue GUV. I am guessing that the Siphon is in all-blue livery although it looks darker to me but probably just in a filthy condition.

David, I think I have found another 3 photos of a Siphon G in use on the Cardigan branch - the first is on page 84 in Martin Connop Price's excellent 'The Whitland & Cardigan Railway' book (Oakwood). The picture is taken at Boncath on a southbound train hauled by 1613, probably the 5.45pm service from Cardigan. The second and third photos are on page 317 and 318 respectively of the GWR Journal No.30 Spring 1999 (both taken by G H Tilt) from a northbound service hauled by an unknown 45xx. As to what the Siphon G would have been used for, it is probably carrying either milk churns or more likely rabbits. MRCP quotes another author who said that 'at every station the platform is covered with crates upon crates of stiffened rabbits ready to be dispatched to large towns ...'. The Journal notes on page 311 that culled rabbits were usually sent out on the last passenger train. The Journal also notes that day old chicks and ... puppies ... were transported from Cardigan. Could these have gone in a Siphon? There was quite a trade in puppy breeding in the area as a way of making ends meet (to my shame, some of my family were involved) and some of them may have left on the train. Quickly moving on, also on page 311 the Journal also mentions the transfer of moss which was collected from the hedges around Cardigan and sent to Swansea for use in flower displays. Finally, on page 356 The Journal notes that 'In the latter days, nearly all passenger trains were formed of just one vehicle, though siphons or goods stock were often attached ...', so the use of Siphons on the branch, particularly towards the end of the line's existence might not have been uncommon. Regards, GWJ

According to the information provided by Accurascale when the model was launched, 7812 is being modelled in BR lined green with late crest and redraughted chimney, flush tender body and narrow hornplates. The real thing went to Shrewsbury in February 1963 and was withdrawn from there in November 1965. My understanding is that it had a 6D (Shrewsbury) shed code at the time of withdrawal in 1965. Shrewsbury shed transferred to the London Midland region in September 1963 so if the model has an 89A shed code, then I would say that it must be modelled between February 1963 and September 1963 (or just after and before the new shed code number could be applied). Can't help re. your renumbering/renaming query I'm afraid. I am happy to wait for Accurascale to do some reruns and hopefully the locos I want will appear in the right livery for me!

Ordered 'Nesta' from Rails on the afternoon of 22 December and it arrived on 23 December (strike day) via Royal Mail. Excellent service from both Rails and RM.🙂 Unfortunately I wasn't expecting such prompt service and was out at the time the parcel was being delivered so will have to wait until 28 December for it to be redelivered.😥

Same thing happened with my Mogul which was bought brand new from one of the larger box shifters. Loco carefully removed from the packaging but the buffers had come off and were loose in the box. A small point to some perhaps (and easy to fix) but to me it highlights poor quality control by Dapol and a lack of care in the shop as this should have been spotted when the loco was being tested. A nice model nontheless and I am sure it will look at home in the engine shed!

Very sorry to learn of Frank's passing. I met him a couple of times at shows (Wolverhampton and the Bonded Warehouse in Stourbridge) and I was a big admirer of Penybont in particular. He was a superb modeller and freely gave me some advice about how to paint water scenes. I hope his layouts survive for others to enjoy. Condolences to his family.

This is an interesting debate. My father was at Aberystwyth at the time the Manor's were being painted and knew Danny Rowlands well. He said that two Manors (7802 and 7803) would receive their white paint each day - one would haul the CCE and the other would be the spare loco just in case the CCE loco was failed. If not required, the spare loco then took the first stopping train after the CCE had left. This loco was usually not quite as clean as the CCE loco although still in excellent condition. Looking at my father's own photos, the paint definately looked white and that was certainly his recollection. However ... !! The photo of 7802 provided by Miss Prism does suggest that silver paint was used. I have also seen a colour version of the same photo and I would say with much more certainty that silver paint was used in that photo. So it looks like both white and silver paint were used. The photo was taken in 1959, which was a couple of years before my father's time. So did they start off using silver paint before switching to white paint in the early '60's or did they just use whatever paint was available? Someone may be able to answer that one. Whilst I like the painted version in real life, I won't be embellishing my DCC sound fitted version of 7802 when it arrives. It will remain in pristine condition without any additional painting!

Yes, I think you would be safe to assume that. Just had a look in Laurence Waters 'Manor Class' book and on page 20, there is a picture of a very grimy 7817 at Barmouth in June 1946. It states in the caption that the engine was allocated at this time to Croes Newydd, so almost certainly it would have come down the Llangollen line. There is another picture on page 72 of the same book with 7817 arriving at Barmouth on 4 September 1959 with a Ruabon to Pwllheli service - again the caption states that 7817 was Croes Newydd based at that time.

No, not yet. My father has one on order and he has just rung to say that the postie was coming, then that the postie carried on walking past his house without calling!! Now trying to tell my Dad that it will come when it comes!!! Reminds me of when he used to tell me Christmas wasn't for another week and to go back to sleep!! Bit of a role reversal!

I would have thought that reopening the line to Caernarfon would be relatively straight-forward and popular with the public. Moving the railhead to Caernarfon would bring many benefits to the area and improve communication links. However, as much as I'd like the line south to Afon Wen to reopen, it would be problematic in my opinion. There are many unanswered questions such as where a new mainline station in Caernarfon would be given that much of the former track bed has been built upon (i.e. the old station is now the Morrison's Supermarket and a road now runs through the tunnel to where the WHR station is). I don't think there is enough space to build an interchange station with the WHR (as with the FR at Blaenau). I doubt that the WHR would be happy if they had to move and the local population would probably also not be happy with all the disruption in the town with the construction works. The track bed south to Dinas is obviously now part of the WHR and the old line after Dinas runs through very sparsely populated areas, so would be unlikely to generate much traffic. So yes, to the line reopening to Caernarfon but I can't see it going any further unless the Welsh Assembly Government decides to fully commit to supporting this proposal.

I understand that many sites are sponsored and come with adverts, but I have to agree that adverts are ruining You Tube and many other sites. It's reminds me of 'cold-calling' and the constant interruptions spoil whatever video is being watched. I am not interested in these adverts, nor have I requested them and most just keep on being repeated over and over again - a certain smart phone advert comes to mind! I spent ages trying to block adverts the other day, only to find them all reappearing later in the day! There has to be a way of blocking them once and for all - if anyone can suggest how, I am sure it would be much appreciated!

I was just about to mention that as well. From looking at the photo on Facebook, it does look as if they are still there on the decorated sample.

Great photos everyone! I stayed in Wengen for a couple of nights this time last year and these photos are bringing back some great memories. Hopefully we will be able to go back ... eventually!!!

First time customer of Derails and I just wanted to echo what so many have said above. Great service - order placed on Thursday, confirmation email and then phone call from Dan that afternoon advising that order had been processed and was on its way. Received this morning. Service couldn't be bettered ... now need a little loco to haul the goodies that have arrived so will definitely use Derails again in future.

Excellent news! Well done Dapol! Competitively priced and top of the 'wish list' for a while now so providing the level of detail is there and it runs well, this should be a winner for Dapol! I'll definately be in for Lydham Manor to go with my 3 Bachmann versions!

Hornby have just provided an update of the 78xx and other models here. Looks like a nice little model although I don't think the photo caption is correct - doesn't look like Barmouth Junction to me and it had already been renamed Morfa Mawddach by 1960 (when the photo claims to have been taken in 1961). https://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/news/the-engine-shed/british-railways-standard-2mt-2-6-0-update-on-new-liveries?utm_campaign=2610846_Hornby - The Engine Shed - Week 48 2019%2F2020&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Hornby PLC&_%24ja=tsid%3A71284&dm_i=2DJZ,1JYJI,GUV76,594EX,1

Thanks David C, I have seen the link before but still not managed a visit to Login Station. Most of my visits are to the top end of the line. Hopefully that will change in 2020 and I can enjoy an afternoon tea whilst taking in all the Cardi-Bach memorabilia!

Hi Tim, Have you tried the Welsh Railways Research Circle? They may well have photos of the signal box in their archives which you could access. If you haven't already done so, you might want to try contacting the WRRC on the following link - http://wrrc.org.uk/enquiries.php. Regards G