coachmann

I would have thought the model would have carried its August 1950 livery when it was named 'Swindon'. Hornby evidently think more modellers model the post 1956 scene, hence the later totem.

Beddgelert looks to have the same stance as Blaenau Ffestiniog. The latters civic fathers demanded this and that when the standard and narrow gauge lines were brought together into the newly constructed Ffestiniog Central Sation, yet the shop keepers have never put themselves out for tousists. Half the time the place is a ghost town because it is so unwelcoming. The footbridge leading passengers into town was such a waste of space that common sence prevailed in the end and a level crossing was installed enabling cross-platform rail connection, leaving the townfolk to live their lives in splendid isolation! Beddgellert, on the other hand, is always busy.

The Tender looks much better after removal of the valance. It's time someone of substance at Hornby realized the 1970s LMS Stanier tender is a cop-out and is not worthy of hanging behind its latest locos like the Royal Scot and Rebuilt Patriot, not to mention the trusty 8F and Black Five.

Not for nothing were the branchlines in heavily populised areas such as industrial towns and cities the first to face closure when forced to compete with tram and bus stops at 'every lamp post'. Country branchlines lasted a bit longer because it was not profitable for a small bus operator to compete with the railway. Beeching offered these lines on a plate to bus operators, but many greedy operators wanted rid of their newly acquired services when they discovered there was no profit in it for them either! The one thing that would make a preserved branchline of limited public service today is if it is in an area where difficult car parking and traffic chaos is making people consider alternative means of getting into town. Even so such an advantage would be cancelled out if bus operators had bus lanes and other favourable facilites to avoid traffic snarl-ups. Another advatage for a preserved line is if it it rail connected to the main system. If the Llangollen line had pushed eastwards towards Ruabon, it might have benefited from passengers travelling to and from Chester. In model form, this is perfectly feasable! I've wandered of course a bit here but i thought it might be a useful bit of food for thought.....

Hello.... Wot are layout subjets?

Quantity isnt everything. We were living in a museum where time had stood still and pre-Beeching trains were indeed few and far between on many lines in steam days. Modernisation came in the form of newer coaches and BR built engines, followed by DMUs, but these were still real trains doing the jobs they'de done for almost 90 years, taking people to work, shopping and on holiday. Small wonder we went home fully inspired even by the quiet branchlines of the time. If a preserved brachline does it for you, then go for it!

That Black Five is looking really neat now, and proves the Hornby model isnt that far out, but needs attention to detail. I discovered that the single biggest improvement to the look of the 'Fives' is the fitting of Brassmaster cylinder drain cocks.

Every entry on here is a personal viewpoint, and mine is no exception. It looks to me like many layout owners cram far too much onto the baseboards so that one is looking at wall-to-wall products from Peco, Hornby, Bachmann, Corgi and Pocketbond. Owners have no problems running HSTs alongside steam and diesel trains in BR and other liveries, and to a certain extent they resemble preserved railways!

Someone mentioned that the minute we lose something we feel the need to recreate it in model form. Okay, but I suspect I'm not the person that modelled the railways I knew at the time they were still running! In fact it never stops. Many people model todays railways with bang up to date stock changes and liveries. The problem with a preserved line is it has about as much history and character as a fairground. You go back 10 years later and nothing has really changed much. Yes, its a good excuse to run whatever model takes your fancy, and maybe some people like this idea. Personally I wouldnt find much satisfaction without restraints, check and balances and historical research.....It's too easy. Larry

Why would anyone wish to model a Preserved lines when the lines themselves are now't but a 12inch to the foot trainsets. When preservationinsts first started touting for money to preserve this and that, they sold a vision to punters like me of trains continuing to run instead of dissapearing. Sure the trains continued to run , but they didn't look like anything that BR had been operating prior to closure and they certainly didn't fit the vision. First thing the older members did was got the locos repainted in pre-grouping liveries! Small wonder many people drifted into industrial railways and bus preservation in the 1960s.

Correct. Prior to the revisions it did used to leave the Junction around 2.30pm. I think you have chosen an interesting period. You must have studied this as things look as they should be on your model.

I must say the Comet bogie does look the bees knees and adds immensely to the appearance of the front end.

Ryan said : A link is given below..... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/310/entry-2079-loco-detail-weathering-coachmann/ Cheers, Larry

Speedlinks were the province of the Class 25s for many years. Economies were effected from 6th July 1987 in order to save a loco and crew, when the gunpowder working was combined with the morning Speedlink from Valley. Class 47s then became the usual motive power. On arrival at Llandudno Junction from Valley, the loco would leave its wagons in the yard before working the Conwy Valley Trip to Maentwrog Road siding during the afternoon. The whole train would join up at the Junction late afternoon and go forward to Warrington.

It was very easy to put Blanche back as a tank loco, as was shown at the Festiniog Railway 'Penrhyn Gala' of the early 1990s. It looked very neat too. Another favourite of mine was the USA tank. I was filming it on one of many occasions in the mountains around Tanygrisiau when the driver used the chime whistle instead of the FR hooter. It echoed around the place and made the heart beat faster! I think chime whistles are what's needed in the mountains on the Welsh Highland....

One of the special steam runs in 1968 involved two trains (one from Liverpool) arriving at Manchester Victoria, to be joined for the run to Yorkshire. One set was BR Mk.I's and the other LMS Staniers. No one thought to bring a gangway adaptor and so the Liverpool lads had no access to the refreshment facilites. Luckily this was sorted before the return trip and the refreshement car did a roaring trade!

This Hornby Stanier tender is actually an old moulding left over from toy days, and it features a footplate 'angle' that was never there on real Stanier tenders. Quite why Hornby has never updated this tender is a mystery, although cynics have their point of view! It is difficult to remove this unwanted moulding without damaging the axlebox springs, but while it's there, any drastic re-detailing as you have carried out seems a bit of a waste.......I once referred to it as like gold-plating a plastic spoon.

I would say symplicity was the rule. Coaches with 'standard' (LNWR) corridor connections would couple together, and coaches with 'Pullman' corridor connections likewise. Mixing the two demanded an adaptor. In BR days it was easy to incorporate BR Mk. I coaches into LNER trains formed of Gresley and Thompson stock. Likewise Southern trains formed of Maunsell (well most anyway) and Bullied stock, because all this stock had Pullman type corridor connections. Adaptors were required on Western Region and London Midland Region stock. The GWR did experiment with Pullman corridor connections and built coaches in the 1920s with the required bow ends. In fact, some oddball 70' coaches had a Pullman type at one end and a flat end and LNWR corridor connection at 'tother. I have referred to it as the LNWR type because this in fact what what it was......A rare case of the GWR adopting someone elses fittings in order to standardise. Unfortunately, Maunsell on the SR decided quite late in the day to go down the Pullman road after building the 'Ironclad' coaches with LNWR type.

I think the new Welsh Highland Railway is going to be one of the big little railway of Wales. Combine superb scenery with well known places like Caernarvon, Porthmadog, Beddgelert, then add new rolling stock and big steam engines that are unique to this country let alone Wales, and it's a winner. I think a shuttle from Porthmadog to Beddgellert is going to be the money spinner. Wait while the big Tender locos are restored and running too....Wow !

Without wishing to prolong this, that remark would make many firemen of old glad you weren't their driver. But I do take your point completely about the rest of your entry and in such circumstances it must be severely frustrating.....No wonder you hates 'em to peices! Now take it easy and get well soon.

Hot air? You must be getting better Phil! Amongst those who do contribute something to preservation are the people who portray themselves driving a Pacific loco in their clean boiler suit, but who in reality would be totally fecked (I can't think of another word) out on a mainline hauling a real train over a real railway, balancing boiler level with the need to keep steam pressure up, and coaxing a bad steamer along in attempts to keep time. I think people who have a habit of critisising other enthusiasts need to come down a peg or two.

Blaenau was steeped in nostalgia when we walked along the old Festiniog tracks circa 1960, while Tan-Y-Bwlch was a grassy terminus shared by sheep and the old lady in a Welsh hat. It was an idylic location, and I could have sat there all day watching the locos bumping and banging their way over the old bullhead track. Trouble was, the trainride was dreadfully uncomfortable and this was one thing I'm glad was NOT preserved!

My old pal the late Bill Rear, well known author of many books on the railways of North Wales, knew a little of the original Welsh Highland and couldn't keep away from the developing new Welsh Highland. Now doesn't that tell anyone anything? He knew well why it had faded away before the war and worried the new line might go the same way unless some sound business decisions were taken. There is nothing at all wrong with being hard-headed in business, although some people would have us believe it is a sin! The steam locos are real enough and the newly built coaches look traditional even if they are comfortable and have toilets, so nostalgia has not been overlooked. The Festiniog Railway is the same....A line with a future, with an eye on the past.

The only let-down (for me at any rate) are the Beyer-Garratts. They shuffle efficiently through the pass up hill and down dale with barely a sound. Perhaps things will get more chuffier when some conventional tender lcos are restored to service.

Nostalgia don't pay the bills, nor does crummy bug boxes bow't toilets on a jouney that takes above an hour. Wait while you're all old!