APOLLO

Ordered Drake from Hattons Wed PM & arrived this morning. Good news - Ran nicely on my Gaugemaster Q but did not like the ECM controllers on my goods lines. So - out with the chip. Bad news - Loco body screw damn tight, but eventually removed the body. Took out the decoder & fitted the blank - no joy, Turned the blank around - no joy. Tried the motor with "jump leads" to the track - movement. I seemed to have disturbed one of the small coil thingys. Anyway I decided to a "Springs Branch" overhaul and removed the DCC socket, soldering the wires from the pickups to the motor - success. Insulate the joints, body back on, adjust the sanding wires and commence to run in. Good news - runs smoothly, for 10 mins Bad news - stalls with a bang at the most unreachable part of layout - fish it out and the connecting rod etc is hanging off - luckilly the retaining screw, etc was still there. Good news - 1 minute fix, check the other side screw for tightness and she is running very well at the moment. Not Bachmann or Hattons fault - my ham fistidness, Modern model locos are like modern cars - the electronics are too damm complicated for me !! Brit15

To make ammends for my lack of area knowledge, I bought the June 2012 issue of " Steam Days" mag yesterday. There is an excellent 14 page article entitled "Passing the time at Bradley Lane", an interesting, well written and illustrated article on the ex GWR line at Bradley Lane between Wednesbury & Bilston, written (in english !!) by a local lad. Definitely Black Country. Brit15

Apologies to all - I honestly thought Birmingham was in the Black Country. I stand corrected. Brit15

Wigan to London Euston in a Mk3 coach set hauled by a class 87. Real train. (last of). Brit15.

Birmingham - In the early 70's my mate was at Aston University and on occasional Fridays a gang of us Wiganers would head south on the M6 in my trusty Morris Marina, park up and get kalied for the weekend. I allways thought Birmingham (citycentre) a bit bland & boring - but the local folks were friendly and pubs 'n clubs were great, though the chip shops didn't sell Babies Yed's (Steak puddings - not sold south of Warrington I'm told). Brit15

Here's one, an empty ascending the steep bit from Ince Moss to Fir Tree House. Signal is off for the Whelley line http://www.wiganworl...ways&offset=540 And a loaded westbound taking water at Fir Tree House. . http://www.wiganworl...ways&offset=540 Big photo's so I'll just post links. Just as I rememember. Great days. Brit15

Definitely many went via the Whelley line, crossing the WCML at Fir Tree House Jcn then to St Helens via Ince Moss. I saw this train many times there in 1966/7, usually a short stop for water at Fir Tree House Jcn (westbound) & usually a 9F hauled. Empties returned same way. Though this pix shows a southbound (loaded) train passing thru' Wigan NW, so I supposed it used several routes.(scroll down a bit) http://www.penmorfa.com/steaming60's/seven.html Brit15

I remember some North Eastern steam locos had NE Tangerine front numberplates, white figures. Black 5's and 2-6-4 tanks mainly, from Leeds / Wakefieds area sheds in 66 /67. This one is on Lostock Hall shed, also has shed no painted on.

Thanks for the info / photos. I should have known this, probably saw them together dozens of times - but time erases memories, and my own photos didn't help. Brit15

I'm still searching (no luck) for a pix of a Green FYE Brush 4 alongside a steam loco (pre Aug 68). Best I've found so far is this shot of D1665 Titan at Newport on 2 Feb 68. She's a bit mucky so probably recieved her FYE in late / mid 1967. That'll do for me. http://www.flickr.com/photos/barkingbill/2366914638/ The pix Michael posted towing Flying Scotsman to Liverpool for her USA trip was in 1969 (According to Wikipedia). Now, big question, when did / what was the first Green Brush 4 to receive FYE ?. The first all blue Brush 4's (after D1733) are listed here, (1967 observations, along with other loco's). Scroll down a bit. A good site to go with this thread. http://www.railblue.com/rail_blue_history.htm Brit15

Thanks, both to Michael for posting & Porco Rosso for observation, Some of my locos can therfore stay !!. Brit15

Legend, your probably right. It was a long, long time ago, and I can't remember. A pix of a FYE two tone green Brush 4 alongside a steam loco would prove it - but I've not seen one - yet. Great photos Michael. As I had a dozen blue / grey coaches to hand I now have 3 mixed blue / grey & maroon rakes running. Will remove all the Blood & Custards and the early crest steam tomorrow. Pity alot of my steam fleet has to go (temporarily, of course). All my Lima blue diesels are Tops numbered, so I will renumber a couple (someday !!). Interesting this era, Another thing about this era was most 50's track & infrastructure was still existing, but many yards & sidings were empty / scarcely occupied. More stock to the cupboards, no layout changes needed, a whole new scene & it's cost me nowt either !!! Here's a photo I took in Oct 67 at Leeds City. Brit15 (which will be staying on the layout !!)

Couple of quick pix of Blue / Grey on my layout. These coaches have not seen the light of day for over 17 years !!. The Mk 2's date from around 1973. Unlined Black 5 is a Hornby LMS Railroad renumbered. Hmmm - Time to dig out my Blue Lima diesels. Brit15

Just a quick question - When did the first Brush 4's receive their full yellow ends whilst in two tone green ?. Was it possible to see such a loco alongside steam in 1968 ?. I've dug out my old Blue / Grey Lima Mk1's & Hornby Mk2's (a couple have hideous silver window surrounds), will stick em on the layout & take a couple of pix for old times sake !! Brit15

Michael, that Crab at Denbigh with the B/Grey Mk2 coach is a superb shot, I've just spent an hour on George of Duftons site and his photos have answered many questions about this era that I should have known (as I was spotting back then), but time has erased from my memory. A photo is worth a thousand words. This whole thread has given me ideas. I model the 1962 scene. I just need to remove the early stock & introduce a few Blue Grey Mk1's & 2's. etc to represent this era. Shouldn't cost alot either, already have a few Black 5's, 9F, and, of course, the Brits (not Oliver, so I will have to set the scene at 1966/7). Incidentally I remember Bunking Edge Hill around 1967, Steam Diesel & Electric (well near to !!) back then - Saw D1733 still in XP64 Blue on shed, We got chucked out grand style, then travelled across the sea to sunny Birkenhead for the 9F's. No-one bothered us there. What was it with some sheds ?, Gateshead, Bristol Bath Road, Edge Hill, guarded like fortresses, most others though where dead easy at this time. Happy Days, Brit 15

Beast, thanks for the reply. Chord is also usefull for docks to northbound WCML & towards Manchester & Trans-Pennine routes, both not requiring reversals. Makes sense. Brit15

That 60 above coming off the new chord at Olive Mount - how does it get to Fiddlers Ferry, is it via Earlestown & Warrington ?. If so it still needs a reversal at Warrington after crossing over the WCML. Why not via the direct route from Edge Hill to Fiddlers Ferry via Widnes, staying off the WCML ?. Brit15

Interesting article here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-flap_display Also this Brit15

There was a huge solari board at the old Bangkok Don Muang airport. The new one at the swank Suvarnabhumi airport is a computer driven large TV screen array, Took this photo last year !! Bring back the old Solari !!!! Brit15

Yes I'll put the Western at No 2 after Kestrel. Now that streamlined NYC hudson above is a real cutie, but here is America's Britannia, the NYC Niagara 4-8-4. !! Nicest looking Yank steam loco ever built. Brit15

BlackHat, heres a couple of photo's of 62005 I took in Holbeck in 1967. I'll never forget that number, as my mate (departing footplate) and I were seeking 6'ers. The only 3 we saw was 62005 at Holbeck and 2 B1's at Wakefield, 61123 & 61189. Brit15

Steam - Brittania Diesel - Kestrel Electric - AL6 (in early electric blue) Brit15

Yes, well aware, and an excellent job seems to being done on all fronts, bar a few recent hiccups. Though the Falls Road area had a reputation, and years ago I would have been a lot more wary. I posted the cheque in good faith, and in good faith the guy delivered the article promplly, and better than described. I posted this tale to let people know how things have improved, even though the "image" remains, though time, hopefully will sort this. No disrespect in any way meant. Brit15

I rarely buy on ebay these days, and usually only cheap end items like Hornby Dublo signals, accesories etc. However a while ago I saw a nice Tri-ang green 2.6.2 tank loco, one I'd been looking for a while for my collection. I bid £25 & won - great, the address was seen as the Falls Road area of Belfast - uh-oh !!. Anyway sent the cheque (eBay madness !!!!!!!!!), and a few days later a worried looking postman was at the door "Parcel from Belfast", carefully handing it to me. I needn't have worried as this loco was almost new, in original box with paperwork etc. Quick service and it ran superb. Gave the sender top feedback. Brit15

I visited Liverpool Wednesday, took the kids to the new museum on the Pier Head - must say that is one fantastic new building - a must see for anyone visiting Liverpool. The Overhead railway coach (on a replica section of overhead bridge) is there, as is the old L&M steam loco "Lion". Went by train from Wigan, and happy to see preliminary works are in progress for electrification, noticed a few over bridges being raised / rebuilt. Some station platforms have been recently lengthened also, though St Helens had a brand new station a couple of years ago. I presume the old manual boxes at St Helens, Prescott & Huyton will go, along with the semaphores. Most of the line has fairly new CWR rail also. Wonder what new trains / services we will have ? Lime St has not changed much over the years, still has it's old character, though full of DMU's & Pendolinos, the Network Rail yellow HST New Measurments Train was visiting also. It's still a very busy station. Walked to the end of the platform & took a few photo's, no hassle. Brit15