PaulG

A little more progress on the Isinglass Gresley Dia 5 semi FO. Part of the underframe has had to be scratch built, as the steel truss with the kit is incorrect for this vehicle. Kadee buckeye couplings have been added, which I fit at buffer beam level, and sprung buffers have also been fitted. Interior is made up on a sub-floor, which can be lifted out for painting. I guess the seats in c1955 were "blue", interior walls varnished wood, and the floor covering would be carpet or linoleum, but what colour? I need to add tables to the "open" end, but not sure if I'm going to fit table lamps! The kit comes with wc and hand basin, which I've fitted, but won't be visible, or at least they shouldn't visible when the carriage is finished! The roof detail has been added, and now just to complete door handles and grab rails, then painting. Paul

Number of locos: never given it any thought. Possible more than some people, but definitely less than a large number of people, given the various comments on forums where this question is asked! I've always had an interest in railways of East Anglia and in particular the period 1948-1959, hence my Colchester 4mm/OO layout, and tried to limit my buying accordingly. As for how many locos you collect, I guess, whatever "floats your boat" and how deep your pockets are! Paul

I've made a start at building an Isinglass Dia 5 Semi FO. The wheels fitted well into bogie well and run true and smooth. Body sides fitted well to chassis and roof just lodged o for photos. 3D printing is very good. Should look good in The Norfolkman.

These two photographs by a SEER's friend show Dia 5 carriages, but still no clear view of them in The Norfolkman train.

The Norfolkman According to the "1958 Carriage Diagrams", The Norfolkman train included an LNER Semi FO and LNER RB. I guess the Semi FO would be to Diagram 5, 173 or 219. According to Hugh Longworth book "British Railways Pre-Nationalisation Coaching Stock", Diagram 5 included GE11037E, and as this is the only one of the 12 Semi FO carriages with a GE prefix, guess was the one used in The Norfolkman. Like many, I have just "one or two" books on East Anglian railways! But all the views I can find of The Norfolkman are "standard front-three quarter" and although the loco is clear, the carriages are indistinct and this excellent photograph by Brian Morrison, taken in June 1954 is typical. Isinglass produce a 4mm scale model of the carriage and a drawing of a Diagram 5 appears on page 43 of Michael Harris "LNER Carriages ", but has anyone a photograph of a Diagram 5 and in The Norfolkman train? Any help much appreciated. Paul

Colchester breakdown train. So far completed GER brake third (D&S kit) used as "Mess & Packing Van", Crane Runner (scratchbuilt) and Guard Truck (much altered D&S kit). Just waiting for Dan Pinnock to supply the LD&ECR 6-wheel brake 3rd and Oxford Rail the Shildon crane, to complete the train. If Oxford Rail fail to deliver, I do have a D&S crane kit in the drawer! Vehicles sitting on the crane Road at Colchester c1955.

The Ely model railway exhibition was very good and seamed very well attended. The O Gauge Great Eastern Orford layout won my vote, but the narrow gauge Shortwaite Hill was "pretty " and of the large layouts, the 2mm Westgate Park, which was up for sale, was good to watch trains run by. Paul

Herewith another copy. There have been a couple of new items since publication, but waiting for another announcement due shortly, after which we will update the document. Paul Modelling_the_railways_of_East_Anglia_in_4mm_Scale_Issue_8_February_2021_final (1).pdf

I've just about finished Colchester Junction signal box, and now on to the point rodding and signal wires. Model based on 1921 photographs and a topographical survey. The locking room windows were bricked up c1950 as part of the Cold War precautions, as at a number of other signal boxes. Paul

I hope I'm not breaking any rules, but Broad Sidlinch appears in the May issue of Hornby magazine. Progress is made each week with the refurbishment of the layout, but still lots to do. Paul

Colchester Junction signal box is just about finished, a few small details to complete on the inertia, but next job is 12 ground discs, point rodding and signal wires. With the roof lifted at one end, signalman can just be seen and the 67 levers. The box had two diagrams suspended from the ceiling timbers, one each end of frame which can just be seen - all just a bit of fun over the winter months!! Paul

This is a Hornby 6-wheel milk tanker which I started to try and improve the detail sometime ago. I must do a bit more, but I didn't attempt to strip the body from chassis. Paul

If interest in East Anglia, the two volumns of Great Eastern Railway Engine Sheds (Hawkins and Reeve) is well illustrated with track plans and photographs

As I understand, the Ken Werret drawings were done from existing vehicles in the 1950s, hence variations from "as built". Paul

That is assuming Oxford Rail are going to produce anything new, otherthan that previously announced, now Scott Rhodes OR Brand Developer, has left the Company and they are now 100% owned by Hornby. Paul

Presumably you mean the Dr Ian Allen photo at Worting Junction (see my note above and Journal scan herewith, best I can do) of two GER banana vans? If so, sorry, I don't have a copy, but in theory it is commercially available. I guess you have seen these photos from Journal 80 Paul

Is this the article of John's, which I published when GERS Journal Editor? I also have the following notes, but to be honest not sure from where: "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 are photos 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." Paul Yes we have no banan vans.pdf

I knew Keith in the 1970s when we were both members of the South East Essex Railway Society, based at Leigh on Sea. Great times and memories, trips to Portugal to travel behind broad and narrow gauge steam specials, BR Merrymaker tours, and watching his 2mm stock run on the Society test track. Paul

Sunday and all locos on shed preparing for a new week. Colchester 1950s.

Thank you all for your help and comments. The GW and SR bogie brakevans we have will go to another good home, and will find something more appropriate. If anyone comes to the North Norfolk Railway, please call in, we are open April to October, usually 10am to 5pm everyday. Paul

Thank you, sounds a plan. I spent the day fixing three-link and screw couplings to the wagons we have had donated. The railway runs from April to October, 10am to 5pm, seven days a week on automatic with over 90% of the time unmanned. We found major problems with tension lock couplings, so resorted to Wagon Works magnetic couplings on coaching stock and three-link/screw couplings on wagons with 100% success (so far!) The wagons coupled to the loco are complete, those in the yard are next weeks project! As you see we don't have any brakevans! Paul Edit What was fun, seeing the train reverse all around the large circuit with no buffer locking, and all the buffers are as manufactured. I had thought we would have to replace with sprung buffers

All I say on the matter is Oxford Rail used in my view all reasonable efforts to get the design correct. Paul

Thank you Phil, now that's a challange. Thursday is currently our "work day" on the model Railway, so I'll see if anyone can source a cement mixer! These are a couple of scratch build wagons for my Colchester c1955 breakdown train, so a plate wagon and a cement mixer should be possible! Paul

Thanks Phil, for a very quick reply. We have started to collect a few books on the line and as you comment, guards vans are "few and far" to be seen in detail. I'm guessing into the BR period, LMS and BR standards would possibly be the "norm", and the SR/MoS brakevan??; I've got Terry Gough's "Guide to Southern wagons and vans", Russell's GW wagons and Essery's MR/LMS wagon books, but unfortunately I can't see reference to workings, hence question here. Paul

A small group are refurbishing Julian Brileys 4mm/OO gauge Somerset and Dorset inspired 1950s/60s layout Broad Sidlinch, which he built in the 1990s, and is located at Holt Station on the North Norfolk Railway. None of us have any knowledge of the S&DR, my interests are Colchester 1950s, which couldn't be much further away from Somerset! The scenery and buildings are relatively easy to sort, but we would like to try and run prototypical trains. We have been donated a number of items of rolling stock, including a SR "Queen Mary" bogie brake van and wonder if such a vehicle would be seen on the line. A couple of photos of the layout attached, which is very much "work in progress". Many thank Paul