PaulG

Not an answer, but these notes on the M&GN Society website may be of interest: "The last Quad Sets were finally withdrawn from GN services on 1st April 1966 having been retained to cover as spares for BR Mk1 sets. These sets 67, 79 and 90 were transferred to Sheffield and worked local summer specials until their final withdrawal in September 1966. Our set, no. 74, withdrawn early in 1966, was sent to A. King and Sons at Wymondham in Norfolk for scrapping. " Paul

The "train" looks a lot better with screw couplings. Removing the kinematic coupler arm on the carriages and NEM pockets was "fun", to enable fitting screw couplings. I know now how the flaps/walkway are fitted! The "goody bag" includes a number of pipe fitting options, but looking at a few GER period photos of the carriage c1920, I think a single brake pipe is correct, as this photo shows. Paul

Just a quick thank you to Rapido for the replacement cowcatcher. But when the package arrived I thought it was the complete engine, but alas no! Paul

A bit of time today to get out into the model railway shed and make a start on the easier GE (M&H) signal, the parts are from Wizard models - some former Dan Pinnock (D&S Models) kits. The signal posts are cast white metal, everything else is etched brass. The bracket is in two parts, and a fiddle to make, and I had a source a very, (very) thin shim of copper to enable the bracket to connect to the two tie beams, each of which have to be folded to create thickness. I have drilled and used track pin to secure the posts to the deck, and when all the handrails are in place will superglue the white metal parts. In the photos the elements are only a "force fit", until I make up the railings etc., hence not 100% level/right angle etc. The signal is fixed to a brass tube for wires to pass through baseboard and connect to servos for operation. Paul

Does this help, on left flap up, on right flap down? Paul

Like others, very pleased with the set, totally out of my Colchester c1955 model era, but.... The two tram carriages need a brake, so borrowed a GER 6-wheel brake 3rd off the c1950s Colchester breakdown train seen in the background! (You can't read the BR lettering!) Paul

Hi Steve Thank you for your comment. I have "a few (!)" railway books and scanned 100s of photos, and as you say, it looks like the bracket had flanges to support the two beams. Although not the same as Colchester, this is the best I could find and appears to show a "flange" fixing to beams. The kit. The two beams are brass, so I'm minded to solder a very thin shim of copper joining the pair of beams, and then solder the bracket to the shim. That should make the construction strong enough if my shaky hands knock the post! Kind regards Paul

Hi Steve Sorry to trouble you, but a little advice please. I'm making the GER S&F gantry first. I have the Wizard two doll bracket, consisting of timber walkway, two side timbers and single metal bracket. It looks to me from photos the: The single metal bracket sits central to post. The two side timbers fix onto the side of the post, supporting the timber walkway. See photo (view from underneath). But looking at the Colchester photos the metal bracket appears wrong, as more of the bracket is visible, ie set lower. Should there be an additional long timber member between the metal bracket and walkway slats? There is nothing else in the kit or reference material. Structurally, I would have thought the metal bracket should tie in with the two members bolted to the post, not just the walkway slats. Any thoughts much appreciated. Paul

Hi Steve Thank you for your comments which are most helpful. For the LNE signal top landing, Wizard Models etch "SO43/5 6’6″ pitch landing for three-doll bracket signals" looked about the correct dimensions, but is currently out of stock. However, this etch only provides for the deck, not the support structure and I couldn't find any suitable (62mm/15') 3-doll cantilever lattice work. I did have a look at S008/3: 19′ 4-doll Cantilever Lattice Signal Bracket for the top landing as an alternative as you suggest, but was not sure if it would be possible to cut it back from a four-to three doll. However, from your comments it's probably my best option - but probably something to start after Christmas! Again, many thanks for your help. Paul

On a wet, windy and cold Sunday afternoon in North Norfolk, time to try and sort the two Colchester down signals, which were located at the Ipswich end of the Up platform (see post and photos above). The more simple gantry is GER, so timber posts, arms etc, whilst the other is LNER. The following books give some guidance of signal arm spacing, both horizontal and vertical, and as I have a topographical survey of the station, I know the overal widths of both structures. So this is the sketch I've made, and from which I've ordered parts from Wizard Models. Unfortunately, they don't have the wider LNER platform (on left), or an etching for support metalwork. Has anyone ideas of an alternative supplier? I know most of Dan Pinnock's (D & S Models) signalling items went to Wizard. As usual, any help and advise much appreciated. Paul

Thank you for your comment. I assumed "Modelling Questions, help & tips" was the best place, but never sure. Paul

Whilst researching the signals, another project is a McGowan J20 0-6-0, which I acquired part built, and a non runner. The model has been built as a J20 with Belpaire firebox, and compares well to John Gardner's (GERS) drawing. Various details to add, including sprung buffers, snifter valves, pipework, etc but chassis and wiring seam fine. Having read Yeadon's Vol 41, RCTS "green bible" Part 5, Locomotives Illustrated No 142 and GERS website, I think my plan will be to model J20 E4687 ex Stratford Works 18th February 1948, and the only member of the class to receive an E prefix with BRITISH RAILWAYS in full on the tender. It has the "piano" style front end of the frames, as per the kit, and it wasn't altered for working on the Southern; so fairly "standard". Allocated to Cambridge shed February 1944, (so good chance it worked to Colchester) renumbered 64687 February 1951, reallocated to March shed in May 1951, rebuilt to Part 1 March 1953, and withdrawn September 1962. The photo is copied from Yeadon's and is the only one I've found of the loco as E4687, and you can just make out the tender and loco lettering. Does anyone know of a better photo of the loco in this livery? Any help much appreciated Paul

The following photographs are extracts showing the two down signal gantries (LNE lattice and GER timber post) that were located at the Ipswich end of the Up platform of Colchester (North) Station. The signals are my next project for my 4mm scale Colchester c1955 model railway. Can anyone advise approximate heights for the landings and signal arms, please. I'm assuming the signal arms are spaced 6ft 6in apart horizontally. So far I've completed the Up Colchester Junction signal gantry, which was fun! Many thanks Paul

The Crane Runner, 961658, for the Colchester Shildon crane was a converted ex GER double bolster and Guard Truck 961657 a converted ex GER Diagram 17 high sided wagon. Paul

May be of interest - most of these I sent to Rapido at design stage Paul

Looking for something completely different I found this photo in one of John Mann's booklets. Any help? Paul

By BR days, I believe both bogie vehicles were effectively identical, with the first class compartment removed from the compo. I don't think passenger numbers - except the last day - warrantied two bogie tram cars and a brake 3rd! Paul

This appeared on GERS Forum in 2012: "I always understood the story to be that the coaches in question were on the scrap line temporarily pending storage at Preston Park. They were clearly marked on one side 'Preserved - do not scrap'. Unfortunately, employees were instructed to fire the coaches on the scrap line, but approached them from the wrong side and never saw the sign on the coaches, and they, with others were torched." Paul Paul

Moving on from the breakdown crane, this part of Colchester c1955 is all but "finished", having made the telegraph poles and 19 ground signals from a mix of Wizard MSE parts and brass insulators. Just need to sort the scenery, including piles of ash, coal, and general "toot". Paul

I also thought the Spalding exhibition was very good and well attended. The 009 Tarrant Valley Railway, P4 Mostyn, OO Spilsby, ON30 Purgatory Peak and N Millsbridge all excellent models. Congratulations to all concerned. Paul

This from Chris Hawkins and George Reeve W&U book

Looking for something completely different, I turned up this photograph and caption from the book on the LTSR. The photograph was taken by my late friend Peter Paton, for many years Hon Secretary of the South East Essex Railway Society.

For my Colchester layout, I did a little research to see if a W&U carriage could have been seen at Colchester off the Tollesbury line before it closed in 1951. Certainly Colchester was responsible for the locos and apparently minor carriage works. But I could not find any photographs or records of the carriages at Colchester, search as I may..................but..................... Attached are my notes, which were a bit of fun compiling which may be of interest. I was told many many years ago, the restored tram carriage, along with the restored LTSR carriage, was scrapped, by accident at Stratford, but Peter Paye in his book says Bounds Green were the culprits. GER tram coaches.pdf Paul

For my Colchester c1955 layout I've used a South Eastern Finecast kit. http://www.sefinecast.co.uk/Turntables/Turntables.htm

It's always a bit of fun trying to replicate the past. Colchester c1955.