PaulG

Thank you to the Editor of BRM for publishing the obituary in the April issue of the magazine. Paul Goldsmith

The Bachmann BR standard 2-6-4T comes with a detailing packet, but no instructions as to what goes where. I've looked on the Bachmann web site, but can't see any information, not that it is the easiest site to search! All but two of the items are obvious as to where they go, but can anyone help as to where the items shown in the photo go, please. I have search through a few photo albums I have and looked at a few photos of preserved members of the class, but still non the wiser! Thank you Paul

It depends on what other van Oxford could be planning?

My farther-in-law Fred Blackman died on 22 January 2020 at a hospice near his home in Norfolk, with his daughters Angela and Judeth by his side. Fred had been involved with the design, development and manufacture of printed circuit boards in the 1950s, working with people who had developed the techniques during the Second World War. When the chemical milling process subsequently became available and the ability to double side etch, this gave Fred, a keen railway modeller, the idea to apply the techniques to model railways. In the late 1960s, Fred came to a weekly South East Essex Railway Society meeting In Leigh-on-Sea with the basic parts for an etched brass 4mm scale LNER Class N7 0-6-2T and some Gresley coach sides, however these ideas did not progress very far, until a move from Essex to Surrey in 1971. Moving to Surrey resulted a meeting with Pendon Museum including Guy Williams, Tony Reynolds and Paul Karau who saw the potential and numerous kits subsequently became available under the Mallard Models brand in both 4mm and 7mm scale, such as SECR birdcage stock, Gresley stock, LMS panelled stock, GWR carriages, Siphon H and Monster. At that time finding accurate historic information to produce accurate drawings was the main problem and the high number of GWR items reflected the involvement of the Pendon Museum. Mallard Models was very much a “cottage” industry. Fred’s youngest daughter’s bedroom doubled up as his design studio with drawing board, the tiny spare room was the packing room, where his late first wife Stella and daughters packed the kits and the loft space was the dark room. Later, he opened a model shop in Camberley where he also moved kit production. After a period in hospital in the 1980s, Fred decided to close the business, which was sold to his friend Dave Smith and the kits subsequently became available under the Blacksmith Models brand (Black(man) Smith!) which, was subsequently sold to Martin & Annette Breakspear, trading as Cooper-Craft and unfortunately the kits apparently are now no longer available. Fred was born in Bow, East London in 1935, but the family soon moved to Romford where he spent many hours at Romford Station. Therefore, he was most proud of his GER/ LNER Class D16/3 4-4-0 model, the very first 4mm scale etched brass locomotive kit, which he produced in the early 1970s. The design included a new concept of a separate chassis to the mainframes which pivots within them, with the aim to keep the driving wheels in constant contact with the track. The funeral service will take place on 24th February 2020.Details of the funeral and subsequent gathering of friends can be found at www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/22-01-2020-frederick-blackman/ where there is also a link if you wish to make a donation. No flowers please. To help with catering please advise paulatgoldsmith@gmail.com if you plan to attend. Paul Goldsmith

..............it's a shame Hornby are proposing to produce the exact same wagon and with same number! Paul

Very good news about the GER van and the 15t crane; Colchester shed had a Cowans Shelden 15T crane up until the mid-1950s. Colchester bd train c1954.pdf

For someone with c1950s East Anglia interests, let's hope for something-anything to brighten the winter months, following the lack of new items from Hornby 2020! Paul

We had a very enjoyable day at the exhibition on Sunday. Parking easy, at £2 all day very good value and next to the exhibition venue, which is very good, even carpet under foot! The layouts were all of an overall good standard, some excellent and our party managed to find a few things to buy. Lunch was at Wetherspoon's, a very short walk from the venue as catering wasn't as good as at some exhibitions. We'll done for a very good show and hope to attend next year. Paul

I'd be pleased if they produced some GER carriages to go with the locos they have produced. My hands are getting a bit shaky these days to solder kits! Paul

I like one of the comments circulating that they couldn't retain the existing stock for the Sheringham line because they didn't have DDA compliant toilets. So at Sheringham we are going to be without trains for weeks or months because of DDA non compliances! Earlier in the year the GA £1m plus replacement single platform project overrun for weeks, so perhaps we should not be surprised at the latest mess up by GA/NR. Paul.

An LNER B2 4-6-0 would be nice, Hornby have the components in a B1 and B17 and they love producing named locomotives. Paul

On the GERS website you will find scale drawings of both Walton-on-Naze and Southminster goods shed. You can download the Walton shed for £1 and Southminster which includes other buildings for £5. Go to the Sales tab and then Sales List. Paul

As I said above, it would appear that some/all (??) of the vans had NE replaced by SR

Thank you for the comments. I note there is a discrepancy between Yeadon's and the RCTS Green book. Depending which reference you use, 69555 may have retained the subsequently fitted condensing gear. I have a photo of 69550 and 69558 and they clearly do not have condensing gear. However, there is a poor quality photo of an unidentified N2 in BR days at Colchester St Botolph's clearly with condensing gear. So far I have unable to find a photo of 69555, which perhaps did retain the gear. Paul

The GER Dia 72 van formed the basis of 100 8-ton AVB fitted, steam heated, and insulated banana vans delivered to the LNER in 1923. The vans were loaned to the Southern and there is a photo of them at Worting Junction with the “NE” being replaced by “SR”. In 1958, out of the 100 vehicles built, 85 were still in stock. See GERS Journal 61 article. Further banana vans were required for the Jamaican banana imports through London Docks and built by the LNER in 1929/30. See LNER wagons. On 1st March 1962 Geest opened a factory at Easton Lodge on the Braintree branch, for the import of green bananas, and amounted to 300tons of unripe fruit weekly. see Branch Lines to Braintree CP Lombardelli Paul

Colchester had an allocation of three N2/2 0-6-2T in the 1950s: 69550 (9/52-3/53), 69555 (9/52-10/56) and 69558 (9/52-8/56). All three were from the batch built by Beyer, Peacock & Co. without condensing gear. Has Hornby produced such a model or are they all N2/1 or N2/4 version with condensing pipes and trip cocks? If so, is it just a "simple" matter of removing the pipes and are there any other "visual" aspects to address? Any help much appreciated. Paul

GER would stock pile coal when the price was low and of course access to coal supplies was a problem, hence various joint lines. Paul

I'm sure a "Buckjumper" would sell well, but for a model manufacturer it would be very difficult, with numerous variations over the J66/J67/J68/J69 class range. Lyn Brooks has published a number of articles with photos and detailed drawings in the GERS Journal over the last 40 years, and even within say "Class J67" there are numerous variations. Paul

Having looked at Yeadons, RCTS "green" book and a number of photographs I have, the front spectacle plate does appear to very across the class of rebuild engines. I haven't yet found a photo of 69612 in the early 1950s livery to be that fussed to alter the loco. The arch above the access to the footplate doesn't seam as pronounced on the model as photos of rebuilt N7/GE, but again not anything I propose to alter. Another pernickety point is, I think in early 1950s the rear cab spectacle plate guard rails should only extend up 50% of the glass area. As for the chimney and dome, again there were so many variations, an early 1950s photo of the loco is required. So far all I have changed is removal of the rod to the smokebox on the left hand side of the loco. Overall as with the GER version, very pleased with the model and can we please have some more GER/East Anglian items (e.g. J19, F5 and a B2) Paul

Hi Bucoops, my interest is the period 1948-1958 and I haven't anything that early. Have you had a look at the GERS website? Paul

Correct, in 1958 the Carriage Working Diagram shows Liverpool Street to Clacton/Walton typically 8 carriages, last three being detached for Walton, front five continuing to Clacton. BSK (4), SK (8)*, SK (8)*, FK (6)*, RB, TSO*, CK (4-3)*, BCK (2-3)*. * =MK1. Note even as late as 1958 on such workings, still with pre-nationlisation stock. Paul

The Colchester to Clacton services had a variety of stock including non-vestibuled stock. The 1951 Carriage Working Diagram shows Clacton to Colchester as Set 67 which was a CL (2-5) and a BT (3). The 1958 Diagram shows a similar working as SL (8), CL (3-4) and BS (4) Paul

I don't think the BR MK1 non-corridor stock as manufactured by Bachmann ran on the GE in 1950s. Certainly in the 1950s anything GER, some NER and Gresley teak (and as we learnt at the GERS meeting yesterday) Gresley steel non-vestibuled stock. Paul

Very pleased with the model and as I'm modeling Colchester c1955 it appears Oxford have fitted a Colchester shed plate, although it was a Parkston engine at the time, not going to Colchester until later in its life when by then it carried the later crest. I've removed the bits not required mentioned above and being very picky the cab roof is wrong, but don't propose to alter it and as mentioned elsewhere, the chimney may not be correct for this loco in the period modelled. As with the GE livered version I have, it runs very well and is very powerful. Paul

It will be very interesting how he pitches the shop, which was mainly for model boats in later days. With Bure Valley Models at Aylsham, Model Scenic Supplies and Buoys Toys and Models in Cromer all of which are very good model railway shops each targeting different aspects of model railways, he has a hard task with his new shop. Paul