PaulG

Steve, the main issue for me is the kit and the structure at Colchester are significantly different as noted above. It has proved easier to use plastic sections, using the kit drawing as the basis of the design and photos as reference. I'm pleased that the coaler "works", ie I can push the tubs up the structure and they tip, albeit from photos I can't see how the motor on the top of the structure lifted the tubs. I'm certainly not going to attempt to make the model work!

The more I looked at photos it became clear that the Walsworth model is significantly different in detail to that at Colchester. Folding up flat sheet into U and I beams I found very difficult and resorted to plastic sections, so I have actually used very little of the kit! The attached photos show progress to date and now to add detail and sort the narrow gauge track and tubs.

Clearly it's an ex-GE loco, J17,J19 or J20

After much searching for suitable photos I've been unable to find any additional clear photos of the coaler; albeit plenty of distance fuzzy shots! However, I've made some progress matched against the best photo of the coaler I've found. (photo from GE Sheds Part 2), showing: (1) Top section. Some photos appear to show the control cabinet with a pitched roof others with a pent roof. There appears to be some form of motor on the deck, which I found in my spares box. The kit cabinet is also different from that at Colchester, so another rummage in the spares box! The kit designer expects you to fold the four edge "I" beams to the deck from a flat sheet! I broke these off and used plastic "I" beams of the same size. (2) L shaped lifting deck (with skip). I've just got to fabricate the "funnel" section which is fixed to the L shaped deck, which presumably is also to stop the skip falling off the deck when tipped. (3) Discharge shoot, as per kit. In the original a flap is fitted, which I'll add. In the kit the shoot is supported on a flat deck, whereas at Colchester it was supported by various bits of steel section. The second (from British Railways Engine Sheds) and third (from Lens of Sutton) photos show the only other reasonable photos I have of the coaler at Colchester and although identical coalers existed at Parkeston, Lynn and Yarmouth Beach I haven't found any clearer photos. The fourth photo (from British Railways Engine Sheds) is of Frodingham shed and of the same design as the 4mm kit. This photo clearly illustrates the main difference between the kit/Frodingham and Colchester in how the tubs are lifted. Sorry photos at 90deg, but can't see how to correct - they appear ok in my PC file! Paul

Yarmouth Beach, King's Lynn, Parkeston Quay and Colchester all appear to be the same, with a deck which is lifted up on which the tub sits. Hitchen, King's Cross appear to be as per the kit, where the tub is latched onto a bracket which lifts the tub. I haven't yet found enough photos to convert the Walsworth model to the type at Colchester. There is a good side view in GE Sheds and a couple of photos I have sort of show a front view, but not enough to build the model, so still scanning for photos! Paul

I've made a start with the kit and it's obviously going to be a little more involved than hoped. The kit is designed for the skips to be effectively winched up the tower,the Hatfield model being similar to that at Lowestoft. However at Colchester and Parkeston, the skips were pushed onto a "deck" which was lifted up the tower. So basically two L brackets have to be made to support the deck and tower altered.

In 2006 I purchased the Walsworth 4mm scale Stothert and Pitt electric coaling hoist, which is very similar to the structure erected at Colchester. Has anyone built the 4mm kit and any hints or tips, as after 10 years I'm about to build the kit? I have just completed the covered shelter under which coal was transferred from open wagons to the coaler skips. Unfortunately, although I have a very large collection of photographs of Colchester, for some reason all the photos of the shelter have a loco blocking a clear view! The structure was of steel and corrugated iron sheeting; the sheeting I understand was painted with tar paint, but would the steelwork have originally been painted green? Presumably, by the 1950s little paint would be visible, hence as can be seen in the photo I've painted a base colour of black. Any help much appreciated Paul

Hi Peter I've Working Time Tables for Section M (1952) and Section J (1958) and whislt I can see Peterborough East to Colchester and Peterborough East to Witham workings, I can't see anything specifically to Ipswich. You need to find someone with a WTT for Section K and Section L. Paul

For the East Anglia model we need freight locos, such as J17,J19 and J20 to compliment the D16 and B12. Hornby have suitable tenders. Paul Goldsmith

Unfortunately both illustrations appear to show a Belpaire firebox, whereas an earlier illustration appeared also to show roundtop firebox version . Paul

The North Norfolk Railway package costs £425, but you can bring along up to six guests; it's a full day starting at 7.30 in the morning! see: http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/page.php?pid=100 Paul

If you go onto the Oxford Rail web site and search: Oxford Rail BR (Early BR) N7 0-6-2 No 9621 Product Code: OR76N7003 and click on the drawing, not photo, it illustrates a round-top boiler. If you click on the drawing for: Oxford Rail GER K85 (N7) 0-6-2 No 1002 Product Code: OR76N7001, again click on the drawing, it appears to me to show a Belpaire firebox. From what I can see from the very small drawings Oxford Rail are producing both boiler variations, what is not clear is what of the other variations have been chosen, left and right hand drive, bunker variations and so on? Paul

Has anyone else had problems registering to having you say,with repeated so called error in confirmation code, even got my daughter to check?

Passenger services were withdrawn on the W&U 2 January 1928 and the carriages moved to the Kelvedon & Tollesbury branch. The first J70s went to Ipswich and Yarmouth Vauxall to work the dock lines. Wisbech lost its allocation when diesels took over in 1953. Colchester had a single allocation to work Hythe Quay, which was the last of the class (68226) and interestingly, some photos taken at Colchester in BR days show members of the class with side skirts and in other photos, without. However, for the majority of the class and working life of the class, they pulled wagons, not carriages. Paul

Pleased see Class 21 mentioned as D6110 to D6137 were delivered new between May and December 1959 to Stratford and Ipswich. This means with one exception all the original diesel designs to East Anglia available rtr.

From Yeadon it would appear when rebuilt they then got their BR number. So I don't think any N7/GE Belpaire firebox locos got BR livery. Paul

Sorry, Peter that's probably not going to happen, unfortunately. Paul

Classes N7/GE, N7/1 and N7/2 were built with a Belpaire firebox (/GE RH drive, /1 and /2 LH Drive) and whilst two of the class didn't get rebuilt, many, including 69602/9/18/23/4/5/6/7/8/9/30/1/7/8/9/40/1 etc etc didn't get rebuilt until British Railway days and in some cases not until as late as 1956.From Oxford info I'm not sure if it is only the N7/GE they are proposing.

......................and without the ohl warning stickers, which are a "pain" to remove

I resolved the problem of overlong brake rodding by very carefully bending the front brake hangers - only needs a very slight twist with a small pair of flat nose pliers - easy! Paul

Stewart No not an N7. A J17,J19 or J20 would be much more welcome ! Paul

..........the Tri-ang/Hornby B12 doesn't count, it is and always was just a "toy train" like Tri-angs "Nellie" I take the point about D16/3 not a pure GER loco, but......... Paul

.......I've waited 50 years for a GER loco type to be made available RTR, what's another week or so and we will then have received two GER types in a year ! Paul

spackz The fact the Class 21 will be first produced is good news for East Anglian modellers; when new D6110-9 went to Stratford (30A) and D6120-37 went to Ipswich (32B). Paul

C6T Regarding you query above (can't seem to get the "reply quoting post" to work), I've a photo of 65431 at Colchester, no Westinghouse but has D tender-frame, so for my Colchester layout plan to re-number 65356 accordingly. Paul