pharrc20

Standard height for L2 D suspension towers are 41.605m L6 D 50.590m *though at least 4 L6 designs so will vary L12 D 46.500m HTH Paul

Construction 60 that will do nicely indeed thanks Hornby. Paul

Another long overdue update and to be honest not a great deal has happened with the layout itself it remains in store at home. I did get round to removing the legs and intended to rework these to make them longer by adding extention pieces to raise the overall height of the layout nearer to the 40 inch mark. Just need to make that trip to the local wood shop... I have been fortunate to have inherited an old kitchen table to use as a workbench that my partner wants me to use. This has allowed me to do more work on the existing buildings and newly acquired Walthers kits to expand the quarry structures as needed and bash the kit parts around. So progress has been made on that front.. photos to follow. On the rolling stock front I made a decision to standardise on Bachmann 37s and to this end have acquired some additional models to enable me to model all of the Buxton allocated 37/5 fleet with some visiting classmates. I still need to source a sector grey Hornby 60 to enable 60011 to be modelled in Construction livery. Sadly some of my Hornby 31s have perished due to that damm mazak rot $#!+ grrr!! I've said it on the thread surely some 3d whizz could knock up a replacement chassis so you could swop them over?? Although freight stock dominates the layout I have managed to acquire a Bachmann BR blue grey class 101 to run with my class 108 on a proposed railtour rambler... oh and a Dapol 122 bubblecar for route learning. A short railtour rake of Mk1s and 2s will follow.. As for the wagons.. still no progress on doing my PGAs need to get going on the Portrait cutter for those to make the bodies. The Hatton's/Oxford Rail I.C.I. Hoppers have been well received and I have a happy quantity of these for use on the layout. I am tinkering with these to add in missing detail on them to make them suitable for my 1989-1991 time period. They seem to have had a lot of stick over the weathered versions and yes it wasn't what had been shown but me being me I have put my money where my mouth is and brought a good quantity of them. I don't know what will happen next given that the last 2 models of the planned 20 were cancelled/not produced and no proper explanation from Hatton's on that which is a shame. I have a hunch that OR will release them again at a higher price soon. Having waited a long time since the old solid resin models for a decent model to be produced there was no way I was going to let these pass. I have a liking for oddball wagons so have some MEAs to backdate to the trio of SJAs.. yes I know they never made it to the real Buxton area but it is my layout so rule one and all that. I am mulling over getting a pair of Kernow PRA models again for a what if scenario once they had finished in clay traffic a pair were trialled in lime traffic.. Likewise the Accurascale PCAs are very tempting as well.. especially the STS grey ones they would look rather nice under the powdered cement silo loader I have built.. So lots to do. Yes my modelling mojo isn't quite on full throttle so I will just have to do what I can. If anyone knows of a secure rent free well lit dust free workshop in Hazel Grove or Northwich let me know min 20 ft long lol. No planned outings for the layout it needs a lot more scenic work doing on it to get it anywhere exhibition standards. Cheers for now Paul

These were the similar looking PSA opens that ended up in CAIB ownership and were later stored at Peak for a while and can be seen in Railfreight Today Vol.1Cheers Paul

In thr Oakwood Press book The Cheshire Lines Railway by R. Prys Griffiths originally published in 1947 gives the following figures for goods stock in 1938: Coaching vehicles- Luggage, Parcels, Milk, Fruit and brake vans = 8 Carriage trucks = 10 Horse boxes = 17 then Merchandise and Mineral Vehicles- Brake vans = 43 HTH Paul

The Manchester Locomotive Society holds the CLC collection from Bob Miller that includes his notes and photo collection. You could try contacting them. Cheers Paul

Stafford show end of February?? Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd Feb according to their website. Paul

I mentioned this to the chap on the stand at Warley but he seemed most insistant that the whole wagon inside was painted red from new.. hmmm errr no... I've got identical photos to you Mick may even be same pair of wagons where you can clearly see it is just overspray onto bare maybe primed metal.Cheers Paul

I asked my brother and he said it was August/September this year. Makes you wonder why they didn't put the local in one platform at WsM then run the HST in other platform and let that go first? Best thing they could do at WsM is to put the bay back in and put a direct connection in from Bristol end to free up main through platforms. Cheers Paul

My brother was travelling home to Weston-super-Mare on a GWR service from Taunton not so long ago. For some unknown reason the train was not routed via the Weston loop hence did not call at Weston or Weston Milton as booked. In the event passengers for those were asked to alight at Worle and catch the next service back to WsM. Suffice to say he emailed GWR about this and although had not asked for compensation he was sent a £10 travel voucher. As for excursions I once went on one that missed out its booked call on the return journey. I forget which excursion tour it was now but I remember thinking as left Preston we would need to cross over onto Up Slow I think it is to be able to call at Euxton Balshaw Lane. Nope didn't cross over ok next option is Farrington Junc. Nope batted through there. Ooops driver realised and managed to stop train at Leyland to at least allow passengers to alight there. Fortunately there was a local passenger service formed of a 156 heading to Liverpool so a quick word with the conductor of that train allowed the 15-20 passengers to get back home. Cheers Paul

There is a Christmas Polar Express being advertised in Birmingham at present could this be it? Cheers Paul

Good choice I have been saying to my friends about someone producing these as a rtr model... well done Revolution.

Looking good Andy. I haven't done any more on my hoppers since the exhibition not had time been away/busy with other project. But loads on my to do list. Maybe try spray one of the loads with a light grey primer then overspray with white? I was going to use crushed cat litter for my Appleby ones had I got to finish fettling them up. Cheers Paul

At Peak Forest the former Down line towards Manchester Central is now the Up Goods and hence the former Up line to Derby is now the Down Goods. This dates from the closure of the through route and the singling of the lines from Great Rocks to Buxton. Cheers Paul

I have an EWS 66 with one empty MEA box wagon in July 2006; a pair of EWS 66s with a new MMA bogie box wagon. Both seen at Peak Forest on the Warrington Arpley to Peak trip working. Cheers Paul

There exists on paper a proposal between the LMS and I.C.I. to consider the use of Garratts for the Tunstead to Northwich services and I have a copy at home but the plan was not progressed due to the introduction of the 8Fs. I will look for it when I'm next home.Cheers Paul

Ah but it would have been banked all the way from Tunstead Sidings to Peak Forest. Single locos even 47s would have been banked to Peak usually by the pilot loco based at Peak whatever was on duty that day often a 37.Pairs of 37s did not need a banker and this is how they operated until the end of 1997 when the PGAs took over. Cheers Paul

Quite a few designs some already mentioned of course. Peakstone PGAs with Tarmac PGAs Dove Holes quarry to Salford Hope Street. Same rake used on Topley Pike to Widnes Carterhouse Lane but later just the Tarmac on their own. Replaced by RMC PHAs to Hope St. MSVs used to Ashburys but also seen on Leeds Balm Road and Bletchley flows before being replaced by hired in PSAs to Leeds then RMCs own PHAs to Bletchley HTVs used on Watford flow. Ditto PHAs Not sure what was used on flow to Pendleton Amasco terminal? I would guess HTVs. ICI Roadstone pooled PHVs used on flows to Stockport Portwood later Bredbury; Collyhurst Street/Miles Platting and Dean Lane. I don't know if any of the Procor 'Baby Salt' PGAs saw any use to Hope Street or the converted Railease ex British Steel PGAs either but they both worked out of Dove Holes in late 80s/early 90s until stored. Cheers Paul

Thanks Martin much appreciated. I will send your feedback and others to the review meeting that is a week on Friday.Cheers Paul

Thanks to all of the vistors, exhibitors, traders who made the exhibition possible this year. Our catering substitute worked quite well in the circumstances and thanks must go to our members and The Salvation Army for helping out with their catering van. Cheers Paul

Good journey home tonight Martin. Thanks on behalf of HGDMRS for bringing Kinmundy to exhibit for your final show.Cheers Paul

Thanks glad you enjoyed it. The weekend went very well from what I saw and heard.Cheers Paul

Yep just like grey there are 50 shades of brown maybe a lot more. I'm very happy with mine and will continue to add or remove detail as needed.Cheers Paul

Ah you should have said hello I was operating on HV most of the day trying to keep the hoppers running. I saw Fordbank Andy on Saturday and was behind MartinWales with Kinmundy for weekend. For a Sunday the attendance was about usual for us maybe a bit more than last year. Will find out figures at our review meeting soon.Cheers Paul

Hi Barry, sorry to hear Andy not so good at present thanks for letting me know.Cheers Paul