PaulG

Stewert, I made the following notes for the East Anglian 4mm Modelling document: "Three of the class were cut down to fit GE loading gauge. Ten of the class in 1951 temp allocated to Southend-Liverpool St workings when turntable OOU: 69835 Ilford 21/4/51. 69835/7/40 at Ipswich 5/1950. 69824/5 to Norwich May/June 1952 and 69829 to Norwich Sept 1955. All three to Lowestoft winter 1955/6 and back to GC Section in March 1957. 69815, 69824, 69826: 69829 at Lowestoft 4/1956; 69826 Reedham Jun c1955 no date; 69815 Whitlingham Jun no date; 69824 Norwich 7/08/1954. 69835 West Runton 21/06/1951. 69839 Stratford 17/04/1951. 69830 on Southend shed." Also attached extract from RCTS "green bible"

The Ipswich Transport Society magazine goes back to the period you are interested in and reported on train movements. The GER Society website has various WTT for sale. John Mann's series of photograph booklets will cover the early part of the period of interest. These often come up for sale on the M&GN Society ebay site. Paul

Very speedy service for some transfers for my breakdown train, ordered on Thurs 8th July, received on Tue 13th July. Paul

Mess and Packing Van completed, just needs "aging "! Work now started on "scratch build " GER double bolster wagon used as the crane runner. I've used C section for the frame, and the floor and sides are copperclad. First wagon I've scratch built! Paul

Bruan Vote for all six I've listed, with comments as requested. Your 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 plus a 13. Paul

Hi Brian Following up from your email today, my vote - for my Colchester layout - would be: 0-6-0T 1 GER J67/J68/J69 albeit there are very strong indications a r-t-r J69 model will be out in the not too distant future; maybe even be two! Also happy with my CDC J68. 0-6-0 2 GER J17 (65500-65589) - the BEC kit is OK given its age, but I'd buy a couple if available r-t-r and probably the best GER 0-6-0 option for the r-t-r manufacturer, albeit with Hornby's J15, not a strong possibility. 3 GER/LNER J19 (64640-64674) Colchester had a number allocated to the shed, and no doubt like others, I have a PDK kit in the drawer to make one of these days. 4 GER/LNER J20 (64675-64699) A nice to have, but with its very long wheelbase, not sure its for the r-t-r market. 5 LNER J39 (64700-64988) Bachmann model is ok, so I'd prefer not to repeat an existing model, albeit that seams to be the way of manufacturers these days! 4-6-0 6 LNER Thompson B2- I can't believe they didn't get to Peterborough. Colchester had an allocation of eight and although I've a DMR kit to build, I'd buy a r-t-r model or two. Just a shame that both Hornby and Bachmann decided to compete with a B1. Paul

Hi Matti The layout appeared in Model Rail magazine Summer issue 2019. I'm hoping to build a quarter of a mile of railway at Colchester Essex c1955 from British Railways topographical survey, produced for the Colchester Station redevelopment. The layout is also included in the Great Eastern Railway Society Model Railway Showcase, under "Layouts" https://www.gersociety.org.uk/index.php/home/modelling/showcase

Glazing done, number done all single pressfix digits (!!), just waiting for "Mess & Tool Van" lettering, then a touch of weathering. Next is a cut down GER Dia 17 5-plank wagon. Just to clarify my note above, there were two bk3rd carriages and two GER wagons, plus crane.

Although I've been unable to locate any good quality clear photographs of the GE 6-wheel bk3rd used in the breakdown train, I've concluded it probably was painted Stratford "brown", and here is progress to date. The roof detail again is unclear, in particular the roof detail over the guards area, but the vehicle appears to have been gas lit and had vacuum brakes only. The roof is not fixed yet , as glazing yet to complete.

We are pleased to advise the model railway at Holt Station on the NNR reopened on Tuesday, after Covid restrictions meant closure for the past 18 months. The model operates via a ceiling sensor, so is open from 10am until 4pm seven days a week, albeit we are usually only in attendance on Tuesdays. Paul

Colchester. Cambridge B1 on a return excursion to Clacton. Plus a quick change number exercise to a Hornby D16, photo taken at Colchester with part of breakdown train just visible.

My son run the ex LD &ECR (GCR) photo above through a computer program. I was hoping for LNE blue, but guess its paint it "Stratford brown"!

The model railway Showcase is a new addition to the Great Eastern Railway Society Website and contains many examples of models of, or inspired by, the diverse railways of East Anglia and East London. Most of the modelling is by GERS Members but we have some “Guest contributions”. It is the first of what we hope will be an occasional series of Showcase. There are nearly 60 exhibits including 25 layouts, a host of individual models depicting the railways of East Anglia and East London and some Digital Modelling. There are also links to films of GER based layouts on Youtube. The Showcase is divided into four Topic areas:· Welcome and Guide· Layouts· Mixed Bag· Virtual Modelling. The Showcase can be found at : www.gersociety.org.uk/index.php/home/modelling/showcase Modelling Showcase - GERS Forum (gersociety.org.uk) Paul

We now get our scenic materials from https://www.modelscenerysupplies.co.uk/scatter-flock-ground-cover-trees-and-bushes in particular their leaf foliage for tree making is very good. Paul

I'm planning to build the early BR period breakdown train allocated to Colchester and looking for any help on a 4mm kit/information for the ex GCR 51842 6-wheel 34’ brake third, 961515 Tool Van, The proposed Oxford Rail crane is of the same type as at Colchester, which saves me building the D&S kit I have had in the drawer for years!. The vehicles used with the Colchester breakdown train were as follows, which may be of interest and the note’s are courtesy of John Watling, GERS: LNER Period • Tool Van 961515 ex GE 264 Diagram 219 formerly EX16, built 2/1886, converted 12/1928, withdrawn 11/1942 • Mess and Tool Van 961520 ex GE 718, LNER 6460, Diagram 518, built 9/1896, converted 2/1940, withdrawn c. 1945. Early BR Period • 961515 Tool Van ex GCR 51842 6-wheel 34’ brake third, built Ashbury 1896, converted 10/1945, withdrawn 8/11/1958 • 961520 GER 6-wheel Mess and Packing Van ex GE 945 brake third 62332, Diagram 533, converted 3/1947, no withdrawal date. • 961604 Sheldon 15ton crane. Apparently the GNR crane was rarely used from the mid 1940's onwards and given the impression it was in poor condition and reluctant to steam. It went during 1955, or perhaps a little earlier and to find it at Stratford four or five years later was most surprising but it disappeared soon after. There are photos of the crane at Stratford dated 20 December 1959. • 961568 GER ex double bolster (However, Brian Stevens Colchester book has a photo which shows the vehicle as 961657 which in theory was a GER Diagram 17 high sided wagon!) Post c1955 After the steam crane had gone two carriages appeared: • 320380, a former GER 10 compartment suburban 3rd, LNER 60396 • 320147 an ex GCR 50ft clerestory, LNER 583 built in 1904. I've only included phots of the vehicles I propose to build

Adrian I'm pleased you enjoyed your trip and sorry the model railway at Holt was not open, but its very much "work in progress" and currently we are waiting for Train Stop auto sensors from USA. A couple of photos of the layout and hopefully on your next visit we will be open. Paul

James, when the Showcase goes live on the GERS website at the end of June, you together with the rest of the world can view. Looks a great Showcase of East Anglian railway modelling in all scales. Paul

Paul the GERS modelling Co-ordinator is not on RMweb, but I've passed on your comments above. Paul

Brian, Have you a copy of Yeadon's and RCTS "Green" bible for the class, as the class was very complex? Paul

It was very easy to put a few photos and text regarding my Colchester c1955 layout and a couple of loco projects on the GERS Showcase. Layouts in my 50 years experience are never "finished" (!!); If this goes well, which I'm sure it will, we can have a refresh/new contributions/layout updates etc etc sometime in the future. To my knowledge there was never any intension to have a real life model railway exhibition. The M&GN Society was hoping for a model railway exhibition last year as in 2019; not sure if it wall happen this year. Paul

Dave of Buoys Toys & Models of Cromer, has posted the following on his Facebook page. The signal's turned amber! It'll turn green next Tuesday 13th April. The hours remain as 10.00 til 4.00 and the two customer limit will also continue. Hope you're all well and I look forward to catching up soon. Paul

Is this what you refer to, photos from Peter Paye's The Tollesbury Branch book. Paul

Interesting that the Bluebell Railway is not reopening until the 20th May, the North Norfolk Railway is reopening on 12th April. Paul

Is the attached of any help? John Watling is the President of the Great Eastern Railway Society and President-elect of the M&GN Circle , where the attached was published. I contacted Nigel Scarlett of the M&GN Society, involved with the Society's rolling stock restoration and he supplied me with the copy. Paul Colmans van history J Watling 2-5-2018.pdf