PaulG

I purchased a copy of Steam Days and Andrew Wilson in his article on "City of London" states: "Neither the LNER or British Railways repainted the B17/5s in green after the war.......". However, The RCTS in Part 2B of Locomotives of the LNER page 110 states: " Only one of the streamlined engines, No. 61659 received LNER green with "BRITISH RAILWAYS" in full, this being done by Darlington in July 1949 at the time it was also given a smokebox numberplate. The effect of the green livery was spoiled by the black painting of the smokebox sides being carried back to the first cleading band like the style first adopted on those engines of the A4 class painted green before the War. No 61670 was never repainted green whilst still streamlined and continued to run in unlined black, but since August 1948 with "BRITISH RAILWAYS" on the tender and number painted on the bufferbeam etc etc...................." It will be interesting to see the letters page of subsequent issues of Steam Days. Unfortunately, there are no "new" photos of B17/5 that haven't been published before. Paul

The only colour photograph of a streamlined B17 that I recall is of 61659 East Anglian c1948 at London Liverpool Street Station, which "looks" like the LNER green livery. Not sure where photo came from ( I've been collecting photos etc for more years than I wish to disclose!!) or copyright, but it has been published a number of times. The second photo of East Anglian is at Colchester on a down working and taken on 30 July 1949 by George Powell copyright GER Society. Note the vertical line between black smoke-box and green boiler. Paul

As said earlier, 61670 was only black post WW2 until rebuilt, so any reference to green I would suggest is a typo mistake. Paul

From what I've read/photos I think I'm correct in saying: 61659 East Anglian: *War years painted plain black. *April 1948 painted LNER green, which stopped at boiler band of smokebox, very "unusual" compared to A4 detail, BRITISH RAILWAYS in full on tender and BR number. *July 1949 repainted BR plain black, revised/correct BR number style/font. 61670 City if London received plain black livery during war years, and retained plain black in BR days until streamlining removed. Interesting visual difference between the two locos post war, were the valance was removed, can't just change the number. Paul

As I always seam to end up having to either add or fix something to the underside of the baseboard, I opted for a baseboard height where I could comfortably sit on the floor, and work at the problem. The height will vary person to person! Paul

Hope that helps, so anything goes: milk tanks, Gresley stock....... Peter Coster has some interesting photos of 61659 in 1948 and 1949 liveries, in his book "The Book of the B17 4-6-0s". Irwell Press. Paul

For my Colchester model railway, I have collected over the years a few photos. Both of these photos were taken at Colchester in 1948 and 1949, and show both streamlined locos. Copyright marked on pictures Edit 61659: Note the black to smoke-box is a "vertical" join to the LNER green, rather than the green follow the shape of the streamlining as per A4. 61670 is in black.

Don't need carriages, this photo (unsure of photographer) was taken at Witham on up milk.

A few hours of "fun" and both the Bachmann 9F and 4MT 2-6-0 have new identities, crew and a bit of "weathering". Just need some coal in the tenders - plenty of that at Holt Station! The 9F required new double chimney, later crest on tender and new number, 92000, which was allocated to Bath Green Park in 1961 from Ebbw Junction. I haven't "weathered" the loco to the same degree as the prototype photo posted on 22nd! The 4MT 2-6-0 required the tender relined, as the Bachmann model was of Derby built 76084, with the inset lining, none of which we understand got to the S&D. A new tender body with "normal" lining was purchased from Bachmann Spares. 76025 photographed in April 1955 on the S&D was chosen to copy. Paul (photos taken on my Colchester layout)

Dave I guess you have read John Watling's articles on GER carriages? https://www.gersociety.org.uk/index.php/rolling-stock/carriages Paul

Idle moment before continuing with the ground signal building! Every white spot needs a ground signal!

Wet afternoon in Norfolk, so opportunity to start the 9F, as purchased in first photo. A bit of filing and the Hornby double chimney fits ok, T-cut applied with "trimmed" cocktail stick soon removed crest, 9F and "2" on cab side. Fortunatly, I've still got some HMRS pressfix transfers and Fox sheet of smokebox numbers. Fitted Smiths screw couplings and "bag of bits", also made a new draw bar, to reduce tender/loco gap, now just weathering to also seal the new transfers, albeit perhaps not weathered to the same extent as the real thing at Bristol Barrow Road! Paul

Bachmann 9F 2-10-0 92002 The loco ran well on the railway at Holt yesterday, so now a little modelling: change tender crest to the later style, number to 92000 - easier to change 2 to 0, than a 1, as the centering otherwise looks wrong, screw couplings, fit the "bag of bits", crew and weathering. Reading one of the Ivo Peter's S&D books, he comments that all the 9F drafted to the S&D had double chimneys. The Bachmann model has a single chimney and 92000/1 had their single chimneys replaced before moving to the S&D, so the model is correct when built, but I need to replace the chimney. Unfortunately, Wizard (Comet), Bachmann and Phoenix websites, don't show a 9F double chimney, but Peter's Spares stock a Hornby 9F double chimney and at the "princely", some of £1, worth buying albeit I have no idea how accurate it is. Even on the "close-coupling" pin, the loco looks a long way from the tender, so I may see if this can also be adjusted. Any comments? Paul

Thank you Mark, superb and basis for weathering the model. Paul

An opportunity came up to purchase a secondhand Bachmann 9F 2-10-0 from Great Eastern Models in Norwich, which is in excellent condition, including all the add on pieces in the "little plastic bag". The model is of 92002 and initial thoughts are to renumber it to either 92000 or 92001, both of which were initially allocated to Ebbw Junction Newport in 1954 and moved to Bath Green Park in 1961. 92002 also started life at Ebbw Junction in 1954, but moved to Tyseley in 1963, according to www.BRdatabase. By 1961 were they still carrying the early BR emblem and the GW "blue dot"? Photos so far found of the locos it's difficult to know, because they are so dirty! Many thanks for comments. Paul

I used South Eastern Finecast chassis kit and attached are my notes. Class J68 0-6-0T 68638.pdf Paul Edit: Gear-box: Markits 4mm MM1-85382s G-Box/M-Mount Inc 38-1 1 stage gearset & bearings 2.0mm worm 8.5 & 10mm motor fixings.

This link includes photo of 68088 at Stratford https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/68088-lner-985-lner-8088-br-68088/

Time for something for us who model railways of East Anglia hopefully; last new item was the Oxford Rail N7 0-6-2T. How about an E4, F5, J17, J19, J20, or J65- J69 to name a few. Paul

Thank you for your comments, which confirms our guess, that none of the Horwich Works Batch 9 and 10, which appear to be the only members with the "unusual" lining, ran on the S&D. I note your comments about the fall plate and gangway door variation between the BR2 and BR2A tender, which confirms Roger Bradley comments about the only visual difference. I quite like the idea of renumbering the Bachmann loco as 76012, which I read was the first of the class trialed on the S&D in March 1955; but do I have the skill to alter the tender lining!! Paul

More information on the restoration/rebuild of the carriage here, which I understand the M&GN Society acquired from the Llangollen Railway. https://nnrailway.blogspot.com/2022/11/m51188-repainted.html?m=1 Paul

In respect of 76084 tender lining, a bit of "Googling" finds a Paper by Roger Bradley on this class of loco. The Paper includes a photo of 76099 on completion in 1956 with the same tender lining as 76084. Both locos were built at Horwich Works. However, there is a photo of 76000 on completion at Horwich in 1951, and the lining is the more usual pattern, near the edge of the tender body. Roger doesn't mention these variations, but it would "appear" only Horwich built locos 76075-99 in 1956 (Batch 9 and 10), had this "unusual" tender lining. Unless, others find more details! As all the series 76075-99 were allocated "up north", I may have to not only alter the Bachmann model number, but also the tender lining for Broad Sidlinch! Paul

The model railway has received another loco, courtesy of the NNR, a model of the lines 4MT 2-6-0 76084, which Bachmann have just released. From what we have read, none of the class were allocated to S&D sheds, but those from Eastleigh regularly worked Bournemouth to Bath and back. 76012 was the first member of the class to work over the S&D in March 1955, and we have seen photos of 76006/7/10-12/15/9/26/8/65-67 on the line. Some have the larger tender (BR1B 76053-69) and some as modeled by Bachmann. Bachmann have modeled correctly (to our eyes) the unusual tender lining, where the lining is inset from the rear of the tender. Was this form of lining unique to 76084 or did some of those which worked the S&D have similar lining? Any comments much appreciated Paul

You mention Southminster, where I lived for 25 years, again no date/photo credit just collected out of personal interest. Emu's started on 14th April 1986, following a period of trial running. See Branch Lines to Southminster by Dennis Swindale and The GER in South Essex by Charles Phillips. Probably best "read" is Modern Locomotives Illustrated no.183 First Generation Eastern Region (GE) EMUs. As a child Mum took me on the very first emu from Ingatestone to Chelmsford, 11th June 1956, so another photo (credit unknown), of personal interest. Ingatestone with an up train. Paul

If of interest these photos, copyright unknown, taken at Colchester St Botolphs in 1960s. Colchester to Clacton being a test site and when opened not connected to the rest of the ohl network. Sorry don't know unit class. I have got a photo of the first train leaving Colchester North on 13th April 1959, which I'll find if of interest. Paul

My son and I went to the exhibition today and enjoyed show and the food hall! Thank you to all who made such a good show and look forward to next year