Banger Blue

If you mean the TCD, no they don’t.

Still in use as a FP by DB, there’s quite often a 66 on there seen when i’m catching a train from Didcot. During RHTT season, the set can usually be found on there when it’s not out & about.

What was the difference? (Somebody was bound to ask ) Were they different colours or did one have ‘Parcels’ on it and the other ‘Letters’ in big writing?

‘Thanks for the kind comments Dave. The canopy is a kit from the Metcalfe Models range. In fact the vast majority of the main structures are all Metcalfe; station buildings, platforms, retaining walls canopies etc. All built ‘straight out the packet’ with the exception of the road bridge which as been chopped about a bit, reinforced with Balsa wood and also uses the Wills ‘vari-girder’ kit. On Stowbury, there is also a few of the Metcalfe “mini-kits” - GWR platform benches, the news kiosk, station clocks. I do really enjoy building the Metcalfe Kits.

I was checking which volumes of “On Shed” I have on pre-order from Kelsey Publishing and noted from their website that there are an additional 3 volumes being advertised for pre-order. I haven’t seen these mentioned on here before. They are: Vol#8 - A-Z review of BR Diesel Depots. Vol#9 - BR Locomotive Works Vol#10 - Post Privatisation Depots

Do they not have to honour any purchases made at the “advertised price”? We benefitted from this some years ago, (buying an accessory for a games console as a present IIRC), once at the till and rung through, it came up substantially dearer than displayed on the shelf. ‘When this was pointed out to the manager, the sale was honoured at the displayed price. Needless to say, a sales assistant soon cleared the shelf and they re-appeared later at the correct higher price! Was this more a goodwill gesture than being legally bound??

Ledbury - coaling platform, water tank & turntable but no shed. (page 179 “An Historical Survey of Great Western Engine Sheds 1947”) Also Honeybourne, no actual building but coaling facilities. (page 57 of Bradford Barton’s “Great Western Steam through the Cotswolds”)

Blimey, has the Sqn Ldr swapped his trusty Sopwith Camel for a Stealth Fighter! That will come in handy especially as it’s the 30’s so dark clouds must already be gathering over a certain part of Europe

Yes there is, the “bicycle areas” are also for large luggage. The bicycle spaces must be reserved (enforcing that is another issue ) but if not reserved and empty can be used for luggage. I do believe there are baggage icons on the doors to the ‘cubicle’. What also doesn’t help is the current trend for people to travel with ‘suitcases’ the size of a medium garden shed!

The train wasn’t moved until late on as that’s when BTP / RAIB handed it back and authorised it to move. The ECS then went straight back to North Pole.

In my post on page 1, I mentioned the UKF service to Keith: 6S89 WO 12:26 Ince UKF Sidings - Keith. Looking through the WTT (83 thru to 87) the only working I can see to UKF from Scotland is: 6M60 THO 22.12 Craiginches Yard - Ince UKF Sidings. So presumably that’s 6M60 in the photo

Do you know when that photo was taken? It certainly looks that way but looking at the old maps on the NLS website, it looks like the track just finishes right at the ‘wall’ (Abbey St) https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.64599800082737&lat=53.3878&lon=-3.0151&layers=168&b=1 There doesn’t appear to be any continuation under the houses. Where the tracks go off to Woodside and Monks Ferry you will notice the tunnels are marked with dotted lines of which there don’t appear to be any with this line/siding in question. Great picture btw, good view of Mollington St shed at the bottom left.

There is a photo on the rear cover of ‘The Abingdon Branch’ (Trippet & De Courtais, Wild Swan Publications) with the caption: It shows a Pannier with a solitary coach. The 16xx doesn’t actually get mentioned in the book at all apart from this solitary photo on the rear cover.

FirstGroup rebuffs shareholder push to change CEO, exit rail https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-firstgroup-shareholders/firstgroup-rebuffs-shareholder-push-to-change-ceo-exit-rail-idUKKCN1T50PK?utm_source=applenews

Sorry that’s our fault, was a lovely sunny afternoon, we went to the shops, bought a disposable BBQ, and......well you know what happened next!

I’ve just pre-ordered 45040 from Derails* 45041 is available from Rails of Sheffield* 45022 is available from the Widnes Model Centre* *Other retailers may be available in these regions, it’s just a case of shopping around!

Have seen photos of 800111 in Paddington on the Friday (17th) so presumably the same unit you saw at NP on the Saturday. Not my pic but here’s one from Flickr (photo links to the photographer’s Flickr page, CJ Rich): Another pic (again not mine) of the Azuma in the platform next to a GWR IET, here on a post on RailForumsUK; LNER Azuma (Class 800/801)

‘Platform extensions due to come into use on Monday (20/05).

Thank you Stovepipe for the reply, Is that from the Michael Clemens website? I should have mentioned I had already looked at the WTT on there but the latest is the 1964 issue. The diesels didn’t appear at Witney until 1966 (according to the books)

Thanks to the bargain prices currently being offered on Dapol’s Class 22, I have D6332 on its way. I would like to apply an appropriate headcode to it. Would anybody have access to a Western Region working timetable (between 1966 & 1970) or other documentation and could possibly provide the headcode of any freight workings between Oxford (Hinksey) & Witney please? I think there may have only been one trip working in each direction. Mind you, most of the photos I’ve seen of Class 22s at Witney, the use of the headcodes don’t exactly seem to be strictly adhered to! One displays a headcode of 0A58 (light engine) despite hauling a short rake of coal / mineral wagons & brake van. Another shows a Class 22 with the headcode 1A90 (Class 1 Passenger Train) despite the fact it’s at the head of a lengthy rake of coal wagons (perhaps wishful thinking on behalf of the crew!) Thanks in advance

There is a photo of D6332 at Witney (Goods) on the excellent Fairford Branch Line website. Although it’s not my Era but having seen that and the bargain price they were being offered at, D6332 (albeit in miniature) is making a return to Witney from Sheffield.

http://www.davidheyscollection.com/page23.htm Throughout the page as linked, there are further links for a PDF list of GWR/WR train reporting numbers by year. a quick scroll through for examples there is at least 1939 / 1949 / 1952 hope this is what you are after.

How about 47539 “Rochdale Pioneers” for one of the 47s, Crewe Diesel based and certainly seemed a permanent fixture around the North West. love those pictures above, certainly ticks all my boxes, grimy BR Blue Rats & 40s!

This is the WestCad signalling workstation in the control room at Reading Depot, it interfaces with the Reading Station & Reading West Jn workstations in the Thames Valley Signalling Centre. No hand points here

What an excellent collection of ‘proper’ Thomas and a well presented display too!