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Construction of the body starts with this piece of thick grey board which is secured to the chassis with captive nuts trapped in side multiple layers of card. The circles show the position of the bolts. The side tanks and cab are in place. They are cut from print outs of a scale drawing of the BR86 using thin card glued to grey board to give sufficient rigidity. The motor has no gained a flywheel which improves running so that the loco can run at walking speed and couple up to stock without moving the vehicles. The boiler is a length of central heating plastic pipe covered with several layers of thin card wrapped around it - the underside is coated with two part epoxy resin which gives a very firm structure. The steps, headlamp and short length of footplate by the smoke box were fabricated from various pieces of brass strip, wire and tube. The wonky buffer casing will be sorted out before proceeding! German locos tend to have a lot of boiler fittings. The strange contraption across the smokebox top is a pre-heater and is simply a length of plastic tube fastened into a slot filed in the boiler. The stove pipe chimney is a length of brass tube which had four slots cut in the end at right angles to each other. The four quadrants were eased apart at the top and the holes filled with solder and filed smooth. The various domes and sandboxes are from the barrel of a Staedtler overhead projector pen cut to the correct length and filled with epoxy resin. After filing to the correct profile a pin was insert in the underside and locates the dome into the boiler top. A slight flat is filed in the top of the boiler for each dome and then some more epoxy fills any gaps between the domes and the boiler. The two photos below show all the pipework to be found on the boiler - all made from plastic rod or brass wire and secured in holes drilled in the boiler or domes. And below the finished model with a temporary number plate in place To see the model in action click on this link for a short film clip. https://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/VID_20220617_152150.3gp

Whilst TRACTION has many regular contributors the editor is always interested in receiving articles from readers who would like to give writing "a go" but haven't yet done so. If you have a topic that you think might interest readers do get in touch with the editor at our editorial email address ; steverabone@hotmail.com We are interested in articles about almost any topic to do with the diesel and electric railway, including locomotives, rolling stock and railway operation from the beginnings of the "modern" railway until the early years of the privatised railway. Don't worry if you haven't written before as we don't need great pieces of literature and we can always help you improve! If you don't have any photographs to illustrate what you are writing about that probably won't be a problem as we have access to thousands of photographs about almost any subject. If you would like to see you name in print in TRACTION first of all get in touch with the editor with your ideas to see if it is a suitable topic. Stephen Rabone

In this edition of TRACTION we begin with a visit to Mossend Yard, the major rail freight centre in Scotland. John Dedman spent a day in June 1989 photographing freight train operations there. We start with the morning trains in this issue and will return in TRACTION 270 to view afternoon and early evening workings. David Hayes conclude his article ‘Remembering the MoD Trains’ by looking at the post privatisation years of military traffic. David Ratcliffe’s ‘Warwells and Warflats’ complimentary feature shows us some of the specialised wagons used by the MOD. The ‘Deltics’ are an ever popular and much missed locomotive class so Ben Wyvis’ article ‘My 22 Old Friends’ will bring back many happy memories. With each locomotive needing its own photograph we have decided to split the article into two parts with the first part covering 55001 to 55011 and the remainder following in TRACTION 270. Liverpool Lime Street can be a photographer’s delight with many dramatic views possible so when we asked Gavin Morrison to provide images for a feature about the station we were not disappointed with his choice. In our European section we conclude Colin Boocock’s look at some of the early Belgian electric locomotives, this time looking at those built in the 1960s and early 1970s. Between 1968 and 1972 one third of BR’s diesel classes became extinct, an incredible waste of resources one could argue, but in ‘The great diesel traction extinction event’ David Clough explains why this happened. In TRACTION MODELLING our featured layout, Annesley Woodhouse, is a superb modern era layout inspired by the real life Mansfield Woodhouse but developed to give greater operational interest.

And this one is for those who need convincing that it is possible to build a working chassis using just a pair of very sharp scissors, a mini-drill and broaches, some files and a soldering iron and all built on a card table! It is the chassis for a DB BR86 2-8-2T which uses Markits wheels on S Scale axles and has valve gear assembled from modified parts from Alan Gibson etches. The loco has to get around 36" radius curves so there is a lot of side play on the 2nd and 4th axle and I have also had to devise an unusual system for the pony trucks. The frames are from .016" brass sheet cut with scissors to the required shape and filed as necessary. The two frames are tack soldered together and drilled for the axle holes. This needs to be done accurately with all holes absolutely in line. Once separated the holes are opened up with broaches and top hat bearings inserted. The frames are aligned with frame spacing jigs and Alan Gibson frame spacers soldered in place. To strengthen the side frames I also solder double sided sleeper strip to the frames which ensures that the frames sides are absolutely straight. The crossheads are strip of nickel silver folded at the top around the slidebar (German locos usually only have one slidebar). The cylinders are made as one unit from brass and nickel silver sheet and soldered to the frames. There are still a few cosmetic parts to be added to the cylinder before I start work on the body. The rods and valve gear are all from Alan Gibson etchings adapted as necessary. To get the wheels of the pony trucks to go around those tight curves I've made the pony trucks from a narrow strip of brass with 1/16" top hat bearings soldered in place. The holes in the bearings are opened out slightly with broaches to allow the axles to move from side to side easily. There are also two pieces of copper clad sleeper strip soldered to the underside of the chassis spacer. This limits sideways movement of the brass strip. The result of all this is that the wheels stay on the track and at right angles to the rails so absolutely no derailments. Extensive testing has now taken place and the chassis now runs smoothly and slowly as well as pulling a substantial load. Now it just needs a few detail non-functional parts adding and then it will be onto the body which will be largely from card.

This is another loco built from a pdf card kit using an Airfix tender drive unit (re-gauged for S Scale) for power. The loco still needs a lot of detailing but is essentially complete. The real locos were used on both passenger and freight trains on the branch between Murnau and Oberammergau until the 1980s!! The sight of one of these small locos hauling two 26.4m long Silberlinge coaches was somewhat bizarre. The pantograph is none working but set at a suitable height for when (or if) I build some overhead catenary. The locos were painted a reddish brown colour. There is still quite a bit of detailing to be done before painting.

Another German loco is under way. This is a BRE44 Bo-Bo electric which uses re-gauged Airfix tender drive units for the powered bogies. Everything else is card using a resized pdf "kit" from a German card modellers' forum. The pantograph (a second one is needed) is non working and is made from nickel silver wire and brass strips. Lots more to do but the model is basically complete.

Absolutely superb models and excellent and believable weathering.

In the March/ April issue of TRACTION we start with two articles about military traffic, the first being about the movement of MOD stores after the ending of the Speedlink network in 1991. Accompanying this is a portrait of the Gosport branch in the late 1980s when naval stores were carried by rail. Moving to a line that has in recent years seen a great improvement in its fortunes we look at the former Great Western & Great Central Joint Line and the ‘Bicester Cut-Off’ during the 1980s when the line carried only minimal traffic. Despite that there was interesting locomotive haulage of passenger trains. For Network SouthEast fans we take a look at the end of the EPB era on the lines around Horsham and Dorking. In our European section we start a two part series about the electric locomotives of Belgium beginning with the locomotives constructed in the 1950s. Continuing our photographic coverage of the West Coast Main Line over Shap in this issue the line south from Shap Summit to Lancaster features a variety of diesel motive power. Sometimes change is so dramatic that it is hard to believe that something once even existed. An example of this is Brookhouse Colliery by the Sheffield to Lincoln line. Once a busy rail freight centre it is now just a wooded area so we are left with just the memories and photographs. We continue our occasional series of articles about industrial locomotives with a look at the products of the Stafford based company of Bagnalls. In TRACTION MODELLING we present the marvellous 4mm scale terminal layout Alderford which features overhead 25Kv AC electrification as well an impressive station building and overall roof. In the review section Heljan’s latest O Scale Class 47 is truly a model to drool over!

Fascinating modelling. What are you using for the two power units of the Garratt? Are both going to be powered? I presume that the superstructure is from plastic sheet and tubing. It looks as though it will be a monster of a loco when completed.

Are these wheels the plastic centred Gibson wheels? I found (in the days when I used these wheels on rolling stock) that sometimes the plastic centres were not pressed properly into the metal tyres. Pushing them out and the pressing them back in again with a drop of superglue often cured the problem. The same has happened with some of the loco wheels that I continue to use. I can vouch for the usefulness of the L shaped back to back gauges.

Are you going to produce these for members to buy? I could do with a GNR open for Halifax Midland. Even "scrap" bodies could find a home rather than going in the bin!

I can't help but feel that we S Scale modellers are a lucky bunch as we all have to plough our own field and recognise that there are many ways to achieve our goals ranging from my low-tech card modelling and even lower-tech chassis building up to the hi-tec 3D printing pioneers. It's a wonderful time to model in S Scale and one where (I hope) we recognise each others achievements. I doubt I will ever get into 3D printing but who knows.....

I don't think that Rosedale was suggesting that this is THE way (your emphasis not Rosedale's). What I took it to mean was that this was the way to go for those who wish to pursue 3D printing. Perhaps you should un-embrace your inner pendantry!!!!!!

I can see no reason for files like this not to be stored on the S Scale List website. It is a closed forum so secure enough Contact me direct for the link. Stephen Rabone

TRACTION 267 the January/ February 2022 issue will be on sale from November 26th. In this issue we look in some detail at four very varied freight operations in different parts of Britain. The first is an example of the now virtually extinct ‘trip’ freight train. David Ratcliffe takes us on a journey from the former Speedlink hub at Warrington to Horwich to visit a variety of locations in Lancashire. Moving south, Nick Gerrard looks at coal train operations on the branch to Norton Colliery near Stoke-on-Trent. On the south coast John Dedman guides us through the surprising number of cement train operations that could be found around Southampton. Finally, Steve Stubbs describes the specialised wagons used on trains to Lavant quarry near Chichester. In the last issue of TRACTION we looked in detail at rail operations in the Republic of Ireland in the 1990s. We now move to Northern Ireland back in the 1970s, a time of great difficulty for both the population and, inevitably, its railways. Jonathan Allen guides us through those years and reveals what an interesting system it was even in those dark days. J. Crosse takes us on an enthusiast’s coach tour to Crewe and the surrounding depots in 1967; what a fascinating variety of locomotives were seen! Alan Greest concludes his trilogy of articles about his railway trips, this time to Scotland. In our photo feature Gavin Morrison takes us back to the days before electrification of the West Coast Main Line on the section between Carlisle and Shap when English Electric and Brush Type 4s graced the head of expresses and Freightliner trains. Former railwayman S. G. Allsopp describes the difficulties that staff faced in the winter at Derby diesel depot and the precautions that were taken to avoid frost damage to locomotives. In TRACTION MODELLING we have a ‘follow on’ modelling article to our series of prototype articles in TRACTION 255 and 256 about the UKF fertiliser trains. James Smith shows us how he modified the rather basic ready to run models to produce better UKF PWA wagons for his layout.

Like flubrush I used to use the dilute PVA and washing up liquid method. However for all my S Scale layouts I have ballasted using undiluted PVA applied with a small paint brush around the sleepers and then sprinkle the ballast - usually Woodlands Scenics stone - onto that. I do a few inches at a time and then leave a gap of a couple of inches before repeating the process several times. Before dropping the ballast onto the PVA I wipe any stray glue off the surface of the sleepers with my fingers. Once the PVA under first batch of ballasted track has dried I remove the ballast with a handle held vacuum cleaner and reuse the surplus ballast. Then I fill in the gaps between the previous applications. So far all the ballast has stayed in place and by careful application of the PVA the point tiebars have never glued solid as can easily happen with the diluted PVA method. Whilst I don't enjoy ballasting doing a little at a time this way soon sees the layout ballasted.

Yes I like a challenge but the real reason is that by modelling in a scale that very few use and in a material that is often looked down on I end up with models that are unique, even if they are nowhere near the standard of some modeller's work or ready to run models.

I thought some of you might like to see my latest S Scale models which are DB Silberling passenger coaches. These were the standard regional/ suburban coach found every where in Germany. The had a distinctive fish-scale like pattern on the special no rusting steel used for the bodyside. This is difficult to reproduce in model form but as you will see there is a way! They are once again built almost completely from card - just the bogie inner frames and wheels are metal. The sides are print outs of photographs of the sides of the latest Piko HO models which have been re-scaled from images found on a review of the models on a German website. The roof is card with a little epoxy resin used as a filler on the roof end domes. The models are run as a two coach push-pull train with my BR212 diesel - this makes an ideal 1970s/80s branch train. Full details of construction are on my model blog on my website: https://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/building_a_silberlinge.html

I'm afraid that my layouts are not portable and the baseboards are actually supported by the walls on brackets. In any case my exhibiting days are over as I ceased to enjoy it. This link will take you to a short video of the layout in action. http://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/German video with sound.mp4

The latest digital issue of TRACTION is now available on Pocket Mags and the print issue will be on sale on October 1st. We start this issue with a detailed look at Irish Rail in the 1990s when the railways of the Republic of Ireland were a Mecca for railway enthusiasts wanting to experience the locomotive haulage of almost all trains outside the Dublin suburban area. David Clough and Steve Turner take us back to those years when orange and black diesels ruled the rails. David Hayes concludes his study of the UKF fertiliser trains whilst David Ratcliffe provides details of the distinctive wagons used on these trains. Dave Allen remembers how difficult it was to find information about railway operations in the 1980s; fortunately he recorded some of the workings of Class 25s in the Aylesbury area. Jason Hickling, a driver from Saltley depot, describes his experiences of driving freight trains from the Birmingham area to Crewe and how he used his break there to photograph locomotives in the diesel depot. Our two photo features show the contrasting scene in the Peak District and at Finsbury Park depot. John Baker concludes his series of articles about the paint schemes applied at Eastfield depot in the final years before it closed. In TRACTION MODELLING…. we feature the marvellous 4mm scale layout Perry Barr set in the Birmingham area which is complete with scratchbuilt overhead catenary. In the review section there is a look at the superb Irish Railway Models A Class/001 locomotive

Since I'm mentioned above I thought I should chip in. I model in S Scale (a brilliant scale by the way and I can't imagine going back to 2mm or 4mm again). I think it's important to remember that there are basically two approaches to modelling in most scales. The first is one where you use what are termed finescale standards - these usually need sprung or compensated chassis. The second one, which I've adopted because I don't want to go down that route is a pragmatic one which I know I can achieve given my skill level/ lack of anything approaching a workshop. Everything on my layout has been built on a slightly strengthened card table. Using wheels with slightly more forgiving profiles - e.g. Alan Gibson EM gauge flanges or Markits - I do not need to compensate my loco chassis. If you look at my website "blog" you'll see that there are a 2-4-0, a 0-4-4Ts, an outside framed 0-6-0, a 0-8-0 and a 2-6-2T all built using the simplest of chassis - in many cases I have even cut the metal for the frames using heavy duty scissors rather than using a piercing saw. They run well and didn't take that long to build. Obviously they won't be able to run on a layout where the track is constructed for finescale wheels but I doubt I will ever want to do that. http://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/indexpage.htm There is a mention in a previous post of using tender drive units based on the old Airfix Fowler 4Fs and Royal Scot models - these are still available quite cheaply on Ebay. I've now started using these for more modern locos. The ones in the photo are intended for two German outline electrics - an E44 Bo-Bo and the one on the right is for a small 4 wheel loco used on the Oberamergau branch. They use Alan Gibson wheels on S Scale 1/16th axles but could also use Markits disc wheels. Now all I'm really saying is try a simple approach to make a start in S Scale and if you want to upgrade to a more demanding type of modelling do that later.

Yes it is a fascinating story and one which the author, David Hayes, had to do and enormous amount of research to discover how complex these flows were. I'm sure you will enjoy part 2 and the collection of images with it. There is also a feature about the wagons used in the next issue.

Anybody who is interested in writing about this subject please contact me.

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed this issue. I really enjoyed researching for the Cambrian Class 25 articles as I missed out on travelling on the Cambrian between 1965 and the 1990s. Traction 266 preparation is well underway and I can confirm that both UKF articles will be in that issue.

We start this issue of TRACTION with a look at the neighbouring stations of Manchester Victoria and Manchester Exchange. Whilst Exchange has long been closed, Victoria remains a major station albeit totally different in appearance compared to the 1980s. David Clough’s images take us back to this once fascinating location with its varied traffic. Former railwayman John Baker returns with his account of the development of loco liveries at his home depot at Glasgow Eastfield, this time concentrating on the ‘large logo’ period. David Hayes starts a new series about the UKF fertiliser trains and reveals that UKF did not mean United Kingdom Fertilisers! Bill Jamieson describes his impressions of his visits to the Woodhead Line concentrating on the last day of operations. If you have ever wondered why rail travel is so safe Colin Boocock’s article ‘Cracks, documents and standards’ will go some way to explaining this. The days of locomotive haulage on the Cambrian are long gone but we can relive them through photographs. Gavin Morrison’s photo feature recalls the last few summer Saturday’s when pairs of Class 25s brought long trains of Mark 1 coaches to Aberystwyth. TRACTION MODELLING features a superb N gauge layout, Bluebell Summit; it’s based on the West of England main line in the blue period complete with ‘Westerns’, Class 50s and HSTs. It features stunning scenery, including a large viaduct, and full length trains. Our review section looks at the marvellous new Bachmann Class 24/0.