Garethp8873

The LMS Coaches that came in the Thames Clyde set looked really promising when I first saw them. A shame really now I have seen them. I hate to say but I've just been doing a comparison between the box art and the actual product. They do look identical to me with no differences between each other. Again a shame really as they could have done a good job with these carriages if they had put abit time and attention to them...

I think I will pass on them. The £59.50 can go to the Hornby LNER P2 instead...!!

Rails of Sheffield has got a special offer on the set at the moment. Loco, carriages and accessories have been split into three seperate lots. Loco is £89.50, carriages £59.50 and accessories are £24.50. https://railsofsheffield.com/Bachmann-thames-clyde-express-set-JJJGP614.aspx Garethp8873.

Just had an email reply from Olivia's Trains and they said they'd split the carriages from the set when they arrive. Don't know price though at the moment...

I think with rolling stock, there's more opportunity to get away with it. As you said the MR Style was around til about 1934 and with the Second World War looming around the corner, I doubt much modification would have been done to rolling stock. I am looking forward to seeing them as Bachmann haven't got them in the mainstream at the moment. I've already spoke to Olivia's Trains to see if I can get the carriages seperate from the set. Hopefully I can get them for a good price fingers crossed.

Thanks John, with that in mind, I will just look to getting the coaches then...

1000 does interest me as well but would any of the Compounds have kept that livery on them until 1948?

Thanks for putting this information up John!! I have been pondering over whether I should get these carriages or not since I saw the announcement. Once the set does come out, I will see if I can get them split up from the rest of the set. Should be easy as I have had some good luck so far with the Western Wanderer set. Got the Pannier, Shunter Truck and Toad for £75. Shame the same could not be said for the Midland Marvel set though. I was looking for the LMS Brake Van and an ebayer offered me one for £24. I politely declined it and 24 hours later, I went to Olivia's Trains and picked one up for for £15 inc P&P. http://www.ebay.co.u...=item51c393eaa2 On an offnote, the individual who offered me the brakevan has also got the two opens that come in the set on ebay for £28.50 each!! The LMS 3F is offered for £85.50. Ridiculous pricing for a set whose retail price is £124.95 and even then the individual is offering the train set for £128.00!! On his website the set is being offered for £110.00!!

Now I have calmed down and had my "Must pre-order these now!!" moment, I can now say what I want without freaking out. Firstly, well done to DJ Models and Kernow Model Rail Centre on deciding to bring this very interesting prototype to the RTR market. I am sure that this wagon will be another success for you alongside the other announcements you have done so far. I am certainly looking forward to getting them when they come out. Now that you have announced one of the first wagons for DJ Models and possibly the first RTR LSWR wagon, do you think you may follow this up with a LSWR vans or open wagon at all? Garethp8873.

Pre-ordered two Southern versions already! Cannot wait to see this wagon. Gareth.

Hello Peter! Thought I would give you an update on the Cadbury Van 346 at the SVR. It is currently outside at Bewdley having received a new lick of paint from the wagon department!! Looks absolutely stunning and hopefully will take a position in the goods at the Gala next month fingers crossed!! I am looking to go down to Bewdley soon and do a photoshoot with the wagon and get some detail shots. ATB, Gareth.

Hello Dave, Great news on seeing the collaboration with Didcot Railway Centre in bringing GWR 1363 and her sisters to the RTR market!! I have pre-ordered both GWR examples and I look forward to seeing them alongside several other items of yours... With the Didcot collaboration in mind, might this possibly lead to you working with other preserved railways such the Severn Valley Railway or Bluebell? It would great to see someone take up the more unusual engines such as Kitson 1338 or Port Talbot 813 to name a few. Garethp8873.

The photo dates from 1947.

Just wondering if you could help me. I'm looking to get one of the Hornby GWR Star 'GLASTONBURY ABBEY' in BR livery with the 4000 Gallon tenders and having it re-done as GWR Star 4051 Princess Helena. This all because I have seen 4051 in the book The Railway at Kidderminster in the 1940s on p29 and thought 'How lovely it would be to have a Star like that'!! With it being in BR livery and of the BR era, would it require much time and effort to turn it back to when it was in the GWR? Sorry if this does sound confusing to you all. If you need a pic, I will do ASAP.

Hello Peter, That is no problem at all. I think the four Caledonian Vans that came from Cadburys were the first wagons to arrive on the Severn Valley Railway. Their numbers were 268 (CR 682, LMS 300682), 278 (CR 2080, 302080) and 266 (CR 4543, LMS 304543). There was a fourth Caledonian Van as well which was Cadbury 269. This van and 268's bodies were considered beyond economic repair at the time and converted to flat wagons for engineers use on the railway. When they were no longer needed, they too got cut up. I do not know if there were other Caledonian Vans at the Cadbury site bar these four vans. Your photo of 266 was probably took just as it was being painted up into it's LMS livery. As for 302080, this van is awaiting it's turn for restoration. Unfortunately it is rather derelict now. For some reason as well, it has two grates on the one side. May I guess that this originates from it's use at Cadbury perhaps? As for 346, this was purchased by the SVR from their Moreten site in Cheshire. This is a rather unique piece of Cadbury rolling stock at the end of the day as it is only example left of it's type and I have only seen photos of the these vans at Bourneville site. Gareth

The steel underframe and chassis of the Cadbury Van 346 on SVR is of a tank wagon from around the pre 1927 specification. This is the last of it's type as well and is currently being restored on the SVR. As for the Caledonian Vans, only two of the original four now exist as well. The one in the photo has now been restored to the livery of LMS 304543 and the other van (278) is at the Kidderminster Railway Museum in a derelict state and awaiting it's turn at being restored. If you want anymore photos of Cadbury 346, I have alot more on my Flickr page. Same goes for the Caledonian Vans.

I reckon 39860 is going in for overhaul shortly. This is usually the case with any wagons parked up in Bewdley Goods Yard. From what I have gathered the buffers are also replaced with the appropriate ones.

Since I posted up a photo of GWR Conflat 39860 a few months ago, the wagon's container was the unfortunate victim of arson. About a month ago, 39860 was brought down to Bewdley and has had the container removed along with the rotten wood underneath it. This has given me the opportunity to photograph the framework of the Conflat for anyone who may need it. Hopefully they may prove useful to someone, you never know when you take the photos. Enjoy and hope they help someone...

For 1 year, 4 months and 8 days I have awaited the release of this loco and I can certainly say that the wait was well worth it!! Very impressed with the loco in general. Only slight problems were having to bend one of the sandpipes back into place and the other being the back pony wheel derailing now and again. Bar that I am very pleased with it!! For Heljan's first attempt at recreating a British steam engine in OO scale, they have certainly achieved what they set out to accomplish!! Think I will be ordering their Tango and GWR 1366 at somepoint...

Had to update my card details in regard to the order of my LMS 4970 today and I was told that they would be here by the end of week. Looking forward to getting this loco now after such a long, long wait...

The GWR MICA looks good Jules! You can also make the GWR X8 MICA from the PD kit. Only real differences is the brakes were upgraded to Morton Brakes and that a fourth middle step was put in. Cannot remember what other differences X7 and X8's had but in general they are virtually identical vans.

As of 14.23 this afternoon, 14 left. Got mine in the post today and I have yet to do any photographs of 1008. At the moment I will just show the initial photo I took for FB. Will do some more photos later when I am doing some ballasting.... Garethp8873