Flying Pig

The locos listed by Bachmann are: MR 1273 - '1532' Class (assuming it is the post 1907 number) LMS 1303 - '1532' Class BR 58072 - '1833' Class As far as I can find, these were externally the same when built, condensing gear apart. Bachmann have avoided the later '2228's which had higher side tanks and a distinctly more chunky appearance. Good decision IMO as the earlier engines are certainly prettier. Replying to Compound2632: yes, but those brass numerals do look good and the loco appears to retain its attractive Johnson chimney. As this is a pure collectors item from Bachmann's point of view, issues of applicable dates are likely of secondary importance. Info from "Midland Engines (No. 1)", Wild Swan.

Nice to see the 1P, even better to see that Bachmann can now essay a round-topped Midland boiler with Johnson fittings. Far from being an esoteric oddity, this loco sits well in their range and fits a number of interesting themes even if the appropriate driving trailers are missing. Looks like we'll have to do what the LMS did and hack a brake third. One small plea. If anyone at Bachmann has read this far down the thread and is still conscious, can you please consider 1928 lined black livery for the LMS version, preferably with pre-1936 gold lettering? My Lanky radial has received counselling for its dowdy LMS attire and is just about ok with it now, but I'd rather not go through that again.

Nobody has yet mentioned the most significant fact about the Budgie Jinty, which is that it was an extra in every episode of Bagpuss:

I believe that the Peak and 37 (as well as the 108) pre-date the 47 and both are well tooled and accurate. As I recall, the 37 was the first with a DCC-ready chassis, so strictly the game-changer.

Actually a Period 1 corridor, but none the worse for that as the LM were great mixers of different carriage styles. Check out the trains on this video of former GC and (I think) Midland lines in Nottingham. BTW has http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/index.htm been linked on this thread yet?

Surely in a station this compact there would just be a berth track circuit in rear of the home and the one box, especially by the 1960s? If it's very short there could be a distant arm on the advanced starter, or even on the platform starters too if it's very very short. Which is argubly more decorative than the shunt ahead arms

Not too keen on the bi-directional (or is that strictly reversible?) centre road for your stated 1900-1985ish period. I'd have thought that (reading from the bottom) Down Main, Up Main, Up and Down Relief might be more likely?

It does - Appendix 2, p88.

I agree with David C's comments above. Light engine movements were a pain for the operating authorities but are a gift for modellers but they might in this case need more fiddle yard/staging than you have. Also, please lose the Peco symmetric three way. I know it's convenient and you're struggling to fit in a double junction, but it just looks wrong on a running line. OTOH sixty years ago you'd probably have been receiving applause for the spaciousness of your design, so tighten the curves and crack on, what do we moderns know?

I prefer to see this as Hornby breaking new ground with 6256/7 and the upgrade of the rest as a fortunate side effect.

The photo from the platform ends really hits the spot. Looks like you'll have fun with this.

Good start, but why stop there? With a mechanical stoker you'll want a gpcs firebox to curb throwing of the small coal amongst its other benefits, which will naturally also require a well tuned exhaust system, say a double Kylpor. After you've stopped laughing over J.T. van Riemsdijk's comments on the class, you'll no doubt agree that Something Must Be Done about the valve events; perhaps British Caprotti gear would serve and also allow the excessive cylinder clearance volume to be reduced. Then there's A.J. Powell's wishlist, so we'll add arch tubes to support the brick arch, roller bearings throughout, a regulator on the superheated side of the header for better control, higher superheat while we're at it and a power operated water scoop for your tender (which should of course be on bogies).

Absolutely - a much underrated livery that suited the pacifics very well. 6233_panorama by Jon Martin, on Flickr

You'll still need compromise on the model because the fixed slab rear frames of 6256 sit very close behind the trailing wheels and the hopper ashpan projects between them. The best illustration I can find is this profile, but the Hornby CAD also shows the tight clearances involved and it wouldn't surprise me if they have had to narrow the frames to fit even a fixed 00 wheelset. The truck on the real thing was pivoted but the range of movement was very limited and nowhere near enough to accommodate model railway radii.

I believe the UM wagons were used to haul spent nuclear treacle to Sellafield until quite late in the 1980s and would have passed through Hellifield. As my interests lie in the East of England I've ordered a pack † to represent the flow from the cafe at Sizewell (unofficially Sizewell Tea*) which was mostly the dregs of sugary cuppas but still regarded as low level waste. * this bit is true † so is this

I can't see a problem with the plate on a stick. It's easy to make from a bit of wire, a scrap of plastic or card for the paddle and some adhesive, just as easy to use, not particularly obtrusive and will work on the couplings you already have.

You're not fooling me with the head and tail: that's a strandbeest. https://youtu.be/azy-c6QXUCw

The video linked at the end of that animation is even more instructive and shows just how well the models in Londontram's linked video represent the walking gait (though perhaps they're reaching trotting speeds in the video?). If the movement of head and body could be incorporated they'd be even better. I can't help feeling it would be easier in a larger scale though.

Sadly, it appears not - see http://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-107/description.

Perhaps some LMS vans and opens, which are also wanted in 4mm. Particularly welcome if they tooled the 8-shoe fitted u/f as this is currently only available from the 2mm Association as an etched kit (same goes for the BR equivalent I think).

I like that, but it does look a bit cramped at the front to me. How do the positions of the pony axle and cylinder compare with the original locos?

Yes, at one time, probably as tail traffic on passenger trains. Many stations had dedicated roads for the fish dock (I have my eye on CJF's loco spur), but you could use an empty platform road just as well and shunt the vans up to the buffers. I'm not sure when this sort of traffic ended, but a couple of contemporary references I found suggest you may just have scraped in: http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/8th-may-1964/23/reorganization-plans-for-fish-traffic http://www.railuk.info/timeline/gettimelinearticle.php?id=116&item=

I'd suggest the Class 24 would sit better with the LMS carriages, but would also be fine with the BR suburbans if you wanted to play at Widened Lines. A blue DMU would be a little after 1965 - there's likely to be info in the Transition Diesel Liveries forum or among Dave Ford's pictures about exactly when they appeared. Look at Clive Mortimore's Sheffield Exchange threads to see how DMUs can take over. You can have far more fun with parcels stock than just BR standards, BTW. There were still lots of older designs around at this time - check out this thread. The same goes for general goods stock.

Another one on the same Ontracks 0-6-0t chassis here. It does make a very attractive industrial, with plenty of customising options for the hard of heart.

Edit: ok try again I emailed Hornby querying this livery and they responded with a scan of the photo of B448673 in Working Wagons, but no additional information on how they have interpreted it. It seems that they are correct to represent this design with a piped wagon in bauxite, but they may have inferred details of a new wagon from a picture of a well weathered vehicle. There does seem to be a dark patch behind the number in Dave Larkin's photo, which could indicate a repainted number, or just a weathering effect.