Dan Hill

2 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

I'm not sure if it was catalogued or not, but a few years back, I bought a Hornby Battle of Britain, "Tangmere", not the usual one but late crest with a cut-down tender.

 

I eventually identified its origin was as part of a preservation era Train Pack, R2308M, "The Excalkbur Express" which also contained three Mk2 coaches in chocolate and cream livery.

 

I know of at least one other acquired on its own in similar circumstances. A bit more digging revealed that, unlike many other train packs, there was no add-on coach pack produced for this one and neither were the coaches available separately. I'm told that some who wanted more coaches bought a second train pack and sold off the loco.

 

Does anyone know if this pack did appear in a catalogue, and if so, which year? My collection of them is very hit-and-miss. If not catalogued, for whom was it made?

 

John

I think I might be able to help there as my parents bought me this train pack and they got it brand new from a mail order catalogue (possibly the old Parks Catalogues I think it was?) and it might well have been a limited run exclusive, as I never saw it available anywhere else and it came with a certificate.

I think I got mine sometime around 2004, as Tangmere was hauling Excalibur Express charters after returning to steam from restoration in 2003. An Excalibur Express headboard  (which I sadly misplaced) was also in the accessories bag along with the usual accessories and lamps and headcode discs).

I only ordered one from Gaugemaster I think on Friday, as part of an order for the 2021 Rocket Train pack as Hattons were unable to fulfill my order (at some point I need to order 2007 Prince of Wales as that too was unable to be fulfilled).

The model was due to turn up tomorrow but was pleasantly surprised to receive it today and looks rather lovely, albeit a shame my BR Blue 35005 in rebuilt condition is not in great condition to go alongside 35024 and my 21C1 and 34067.

11 hours ago, Hilux5972 said:

The B17 streamlining was only for show wasnt it? None of the internal streamlining happened as on the A4’s did it?

As understand it you are correct, it was just for show and made no difference to the performance of both locomotives (there is an old LNER publicity poster which showed one on the East Anglian I think along with the main streamlined services such as the Coronation, Silver Jubilee and West Riding Limited). I think they did remain in this condition until just after nationalisation so would have a couple of livery options if they did make one.

I've pre-ordered a 2007 and it'll be interesting to see comparisons with 2002 given how many differences between them (and indeed with all 6 P2's as I don't think any of the 6 P2's were the same). I already have the fully decorated Design Clever 2001 so will be interesting to see the upgrade with 2002 and 2007. 

With Hornby now boasting the A4, both versions of both the P2 and W1 I wonder, could we eventually see the 2 B17's East Anglian and City of London complete the LNER Streamlined range in 00 scale?

Am I right in thinking that Fulton Mackay is the narrator at the start of the programme? It is a really good programme and I occasionally go back and watch it from time to time.

My model of 323 in Bluebell Blue has been dispatched as well. Looking forward to it arriving.

178 came from Bowaters Paper Mill in 1969 IIRC, where it ran as 'Pioneer II' in a quasi SECR lined green livery (lighter green and not quite so complicated lining). It ran as 'Pioneer II' for a short while (albeit with the correct SECR green and lining) when it returned to steam in 2010, 27 and 323 I think came direct from B.R.

323 and 27 did come direct from BR and 753 and 178 both were sold by BR  to Mills (178 to Bowaters and 753 to Hudsons Mill Robertsbridge) before ending up at the Bluebell and KESR. I think 178 still has a hooter whistle (last time I saw it in steam it did) similar to that on Stanier locos but not sure if this an addition from its time at Bowaters or applied after the locos restoration.

I love 323 in its current livery and that was the P I decided to order from Hattons.

Not sure what's happening with my subscription as I had the Small Prairie turn up yesterday on its own but no sign of my Princess or T9 yet.

I may have to be careful with my P2 then as I recently changed my card with Hattons and haven't had an email about my P2 since August 23rd.

Not heard anything about my P2 from Hattons as of yet since the last email about when they expected them in.

If I'm not mistaken doesn't 45231 have polished wheels so would be a good choice for adjusting..

Just bought today in Dorchester. Checked for chimney was the correct way round, but did not notice the dodgy paint work and smokebox door at 90 degrees!

 

Part of the motion is broken on one side, but registration of paint on left hand smoke deflector plus numerous scratches and missed paint on corners of tender means a repaint. I was only going to use it under the Ratio Loco Hoist so not too bothered.

 

I have only bought the Mallard previously.

 

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My one has the same issue. Smokebox door 90 degrees the wrong way. I saw some in my local Smiths which all had the same problem.

A question already answered:

Ah right thanks. Quite a lot of issues then. Still there's many models I'm looking forward too such as Rocket and Locomotion which aren't currently available in RTR.

Can I just check, did other subscribers get one or two DVDs! I only got one for the SR and was expecting two. Will give their customer help line tomorrow if I'm missing one

I got the LMS and Southern ones along with the first 3 issues.

Sadly I can't display mine well without taking them out the packaging they were sent in. I thought the case was like those on the Corgi Rail Legends but I suspect that may have put the price up.

Mine must have been slightly damaged in transit as one of the handrails on my 6220 is split, there's a rattle in my 4472 but not sure whats come off yet and Mallard seems to have had a wheel come off.But still a great set of models and the magazines and Southern DVD are good as well but not watched the LMS one yet.

Can't wait to see some peoples What ifs and ficitious livieries (BR Blue Streamlined Coronations and BR Lined Black and Blue West Countries would be good). But one question.

How many issues are there? You get a binder every 16 issues so its at least 32 and the list posted a few pages back only goes as far as 20. Space for me could become an issue but sure I'll work around that.

List of the first 20 taken from another forum so hopefully correct

1. Mallard

2. Coronation

3. Flying Scotsman

4. 28xx

5. Stowe 'Schools’ Class

 6. ‘Deltics’ 

7. Evening Star

 8. No. 44781 ‘Black Five'

 9. City of Truro

 10. Gresley ‘K3’

 11. Bulleid ‘West Country’ unrebuilt

12. Fowler 3F ‘Jinty’

13. Collett ‘Castle’

14. No. 1000 ‘Compound'

15. BR standard ‘4MT’ tank

16. Locomotion

17. Sulzer ‘Peaks’

 18. Butler Henderson

19. 45xx

20. 'T9’

 

Locomotion stands out as the only one not obviously a copy.

I saw the advert and I think the LNER Y7 tank and a B1 appear in it so not whether they are possible models or not.

I decided to subscribe as this looks an interesting series. If the Duchess does turn out to be Coronation in red then how easy would it be for an ameteur like myself to rename and number it 6229. I wouldn't mind getrting a second and painting it blue.

92028 received a light casual overhaul at Eastleigh in Sept/Oct 1964, and hauled a running-in freight turn to Wimborne on completion.

92028 also ran to Brighton Worksfor inspection in September 1955.

I had the chance, courtesy of Simon Kohler and Mike Wild, to take a couple of snaps of the first fully complete, decorated and running sample of the full version of the P2 this weekend. Although I am not an LNER modeller she does look very nice.

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Lovely model. Glad I ordered one now and as the A1 Trust are due to release more details about the P2 at the Covenators Convention this weekend maybe Hornby can start preparing a 2007 model for 2014/2015 if it has a name ready.

There's a nice picture of the running sample of 2001 on Hornby's Facebook and Twitter accounts and will be on show at the Swindon Railway Festival and are posting a video of it in action next week. Looks stunning.

I was as pleased as anyone when Hornby announced Cock O' The North and Duke Of Gloucester. Some people latched on to the fact that the Duke was being produced as preserved especially regarding the tender. Subsequently the versions with the alternative original tenders were available to vote for in the last RMweb/MREmag poll.<br />With Hornby's P2 representing the new build 2007, I wonder how much demand might arise for any other P2 variants as these were not on the poll listings. Although some have expressed some preferences; thus far, a trend is not really apparent from posts in this thread. Hopefully we'll have a P2 in our hands in good time to start lobbying for more in next years poll. This assumes of course that Hornby aren't already onto this and wish to make best use of the chassis. Here's hoping for a "P2 great gathering" eventually.<br />RP

I think with the P2's there's the potential for 10 models.

1. 2001Cock O' The North (as built)

2. 2001 Cock O' The North (streamlined rebuild)

3. 2002 Earl Marischal (as built)

4. 2002 Earl Marischal (as built with additional smoke deflectors)

5. 2002 Earl Marischal (streamlined rebuild)

6. 2003 Lord President (as built)

7. 2004 Mons Meg (as built)

8. 2005 Thane of Fife (as built)

9. 2006 Wolf of Badenoch(as built)

10. 2007 (as built

But depends on whether Hornby go ahead with the streamlined versions form 2003-2006 and later 2001 and 2002 and whether the A1 Trust P2 project is successful.

Got an email from Hattons yesterday and its saying that P2 is now expected to arrive with them on or after 14th October 2013 which is good because my last email from them at the start of March was saying December.

Silver lettering is a lot harder to fit than decals. IMHO

 

History of the P2

 

http://www.lner.info/locos/P/p2.shtml

Will just stick to buying the Higher Detail version then and leaving it as it is then.

A part of me would be tempted to buy a Railroad version, paint it Garter Blue, apply LNER Stainless Steel 501 numbers (Cock O' The North's Thompson number) and letters. Not authentic to a P2 but was for Post War A4's and it might look good on a P2

The main reason for this though is because as someone with no modelling experience it seems like an easier option to paint it Garter Blue as its a fairly basic liviery with little lining and using the Stainless Steel lettering would probably be easier than me trying to use Gold Leaf transfers. Although painting the wheels red would be a bit tricky.

Interesting, "fire under a train" in Weymouth this morning.   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21175993

Yeah fires do seem to cropping up quite a bit at the moment. A Gatwick Express Class 442 caught fire at London Victoria last week (the day after the Helicopter crash in Central London).

I don't have much interest in Diesels but I think 47500 was the one of the last diesels I saw last month (twice I think once at Haywards Heath on the rear of a RTC tour with 34067 Tangmere and then again in York just before Christmas) along with another Class 47(In BR Blue) and a WCRC Class 37.

I must say I prefer the design Hornby (and the A1 Trust) have gone for which is 2001 and 2002 as built. Its for me one of the most beautiful locos built. I'm a big fan of Gresley and his locos but I'm not keen on the rebuilt P2's, the 2 streamlined B17's and the hand full of A4's in Apple Green as for me it doesn't seem to suit them.

If anyone can find a suitable 4-6-2 chassis to fit a Railroad P2 body and paint the body and tender Garter Blue then add stainless steel letters and numbers (or silver painted letters and numbers) then you have the cover picture loco on the front of Robin Barnes book 'Locomotives That Never Were'. I quite like the ideas that other posters have come up with about different livieries.

I'm quite excited by the P2 and have the full spec version on pre order also coming from Liverpool along with 6 Preserved A4's, 60163 in BR Blue and 71000. Despite coming from deep Southern territory (and only about 15 miles from the old Brighton Works) I have a great fondness of the locos of the GNR and LNER especially Sir Nigel Gresley's.