Steadfast

Sounds tasteful! Many Lima mouldings were actually a lot nicer than people gave them credit for, and once detailed up seem to blend in quite nicely with more recent stuff. Wasn't it the 73 that had fantastic fine moulding in the body side grills that everyone in the 1990s and early 2000s hacked out and replaced with a crude etch that yes, ticked the box of being etched, but looked much less like the fine mesh on a 73 than the lovely Lima moulding? jo

I have a Railfreight Distribution gronk which conveniently has yellow rods and black buffer beams which is tempting me with a similar distraction, especially since the new layout is set Birmingham, ish. As for the triple grey on a test comment the other day, I had a thought, 73107? jo

Nice work Mick, good to see another red tug appearing. Reminds me I should get the yellow panels on my 007 done. I prefer the Humbrol Oxford blue to Railmatch DRS blue, it's darker and a good match for the shade used by Bachmann. jo

You know me and class 60s Alex, any excuse...Depending on the quality of the model when it is released, there may be a Colas livery Ruston engined Brush beast appearing on the layout soon, though I'm 50/50 from the pre production pics I've seen sadly. Not yet I'm afraid, work has focused on my other layout recently, hopefully I'll get an update put together soon on that thread jo

Great work on the bridges and rolling stock Cav, been having a catch up of your posts. With regards to private owner locos, although its a much larger scale than a single private siding, the Corus/Tata shunters from Port Talbot work into Margam Knuckle yard to collect empty rakes of steel carriers, so it's obviously a permissible thing to do. Due to their size, they are only allowed onto certain roads of the yard, no that this would be an issue with a Drewery! jo

Day of rest eh? Off to work in a bit to keep the people of north Wiltshire supplied with food, drink, Halloween supplies and Christmas stuff. Just starting to get used to these early starts despite Sunday trade meaning we don't open until 10! And what lovely weather we have today, too! jo

It always amazes me the number of liveries the 47s have carried, and the variations of each livery too. It seems no two are the same! Here's a few DRS ones to add to the thread so far 47790 climbs Dauntsey bank with 5Z46 Bath Spa - Swindon Cocklebury yard empty Northern Belle stock 20/10/12 47790 passes Crofton with the Northern Belle working 1Z45 Derby to Newbury via Bath (2) 30/8/12 47810 and 47501 power away from Didcot with the Northern Belle from Manchester to Ascot for the races there 16/6/11 47832 approaches Crofton with the Northern Belle ECS move working 5Z45 Newbury to Bristol 30/8/12 47832 leads 47712 and the Northern Belle near Claverton with 1Z48 Bath - Bath via Southampton private dining special. This was the first run of the Northern Belle down this way since DRS took over from DB 14/5/11 47832 passses Sydney Gardens, Bath working 1Z40 Norwich - Bath with the Northern Belle 27/4/12 jo

Here's a couple of 6B33 Theale - Margam/ Robeston diverted in recent weeks due to work to the track around Patchway at weekends, which meant it had to run via Kemble and Gloucester rather than the Severn Tunnel. 60092 echoes through the Avon valley as it leads a diverted 6B33 Theale - Margam past Freshford 21/9/13 60017 leaves the single line from Swindon as it approaches Kemble station with a diverted 6B33 Theale - Robeston empty Murco tanks. On a Saturday this train normally only goes as far as Margam and is routed via Hullavington, Patchway and the Severn Tunnel 28/9/13 jo

Hi Mark, The FEA looks great, certainly a better shape than the Dapol attempt. One thing that jumps out at me, are you're 0.5mm lower buffers actually the correct height? The headstock on the Dapol is massively overheight so I wonder if this affects the buffer height on them? Just a thought that may save you a redesign! jo

Haha I like that Rob, very clever. On Jasper Avenue by any chance? I know what you mean with three word names Grahame, from my experience when the club bought Hedges Hill Cutting from you, Hedges Hill is the bit that stuck in people's minds. jo

Thanks for the input Ben. I'll have a look at local maps and see if anything jumps out at me. I had avoided real places due to people's tendency to go (in that voice!!) "I think you'll find that isn't an accurate representation of XYZ" but I'll have to give it a go, there's no reason why a non railway area couldn't be used for inspiration. It does sound more realistic than some blended together names for sure! As for seeing the name written down - definitely! The first time I saw Embankment Road written in a magazine was weird! At least that one was easy to name, being based on a real location. Thanks again, jo

I knew there was something else I meant to add! Yes, it's episode 5 of The Railway: First Great Western. They did a bogie swap on a power car at Laira and illustrated the side of the depot I have modelled. It's available to watch on demand on the Demand 5 website jo

Thanks Porkie, the atmosphere should improve further with the addition of some FGW 08s. I got a pair of cheap green ones to respray, so the pair photographed at Laira will be shrunk to N scale! jo

Well after a couple of months of inactivity, the arrival of a Farish Desiro (thanks Hattons!) prompted me to get the layout down again. I've been soldering up masts for the overhead wires, I'll try for a proper update with pictures later on as I'm on the iPad at the moment. Discussion with a few people has centred on the name, and I've been thinking whether I should change or not. My thought is at an exhibition would people expect Stuarts Lane to be populated by 73s, CEPs etc, though I wanted to keep the name originally as a link back to the layouts creator and because I usually struggle coming up with names. Anyway, enough waffle, here's what I'm currently thinking. Rename the layout to something that screams out midlands, and the road at the side of the layout will gain a street sign with the road name...Stuarts Lane. I'm coming up with names based on two parts of Birmingham area railway network put together, Bescot, Saltley, Walsall etc It isn't based own any real part of Birmingham so I want it to be suitably generic, at the moment either Besley or Besley Heath are my favourites. Anyone got any other ideas? Most of what I came up with sounded like two places merged together, whereas Besley doesn't. Anyway, that's all for now, I'll try for some pictures later on jo

We had a 56 round this way today, 56312 in a fresh coat of DCR grey 56312 emerges from the mist at Langley Burrell working 0Z56 Westbury - Westbury via Merehead, Frome and Swindon. It is believed to be in preparation for a flow of spoil from Merehead quarry by DCR. Despite the weather, a Grid through Chippenham was a nice birthday treat! 24/9/13 jo

I am surprised no photos of the Taffy Tug railtour from last month have emerged on here yet, though saying that, I've been rather slow in sharing them myself!! 60017 and 60063 were the entertainment providers that day. 60017 The Taffy Tug (01) 60017 exits Hillfield Tunnel, Newport working leg one of 'The Taffy Tug' railtour, 1Z58 Bristol Temple Meads to Machen Quarry with 60063 on the rear 25/8/13 60063 The Taffy Tug (03) 60063 crosses the River Ebbw on the tail of 1Z58 Bristol Temple Meads to Machen Quarry on the branch to the quarry. After visiting the Ebbw Vale line, the train reversed at Park Junction, Newport 25/8/13 60017 The Taffy Tug (05) Due to the low speed of the branch to Machen, the train was easily beaten to the quarry, seen here passing the loader, viewed from the footpath that runs through the quarry site 25/8/13 60063 The Taffy Tug (06) 60063 pauses at Park Junction, Newport as the crew hand back the token for the Machen branch while working 1Z59 Machen - Cwmbargoed 25/8/13 60017 The Taffy Tug (10) 60017 is still climbing as it tackles the final few metres of the second leg of 'The Taffy Tug' railtour working 1Z59 Machen - Cwmbargoed. The colliery buildings are visible behind the train as is tail loco 60063 25/8/13 60063 The Taffy Tug (10) 60063 powers away from a pause at Ystrad Mynach South Junction during which the token for the single line from Cwmbargoed was handed back to the signalman. A top shot to finish a great day 25/8/13 The rest of the photos of the day are here: http://joalder.smugmug.com/Trains/Days-Out-2013/The-Taffy-Tug-railtour-25813/i-4Jm6GK7 It's good to see more 60s on railtours, hopefully we'll get a few more down this way in future jo

Ahhh so that's what they were building, I didn't know if it was an access road for Network Rail etc or what. Here's what you get further up the hill 60079 arrives at Westerleigh with 6B13 from Robeston, today with only 23 tanks in place of the normal 29 13/4/12 60092, fresh from overhaul at Toton but not yet repainted, sits at Westerleigh prior to working 6E41 to Lindsey. Of note are the EWS maroon door and the primer green cooler group 17/11/12 60074 having arrived on 6B13 from Robeston, runs round its train of tanks at Westerleigh 9/6/09 jo

There are some cracking shots on this thread, its amazing to watch the class go from full strength to miserable rusty stored 'ghosts' and then make the recent come back, particularly seeing some locos in store a few years ago and now back at work. I missed the 56s first time around, so it's nice to get a second chance! Earlier in the year 56087 brought a train of engineers wagons down to Westbury from Crewe 56087 passes Claverton working 6Z87 Crewe - Westbury with a mix of DB Schenker Coalfish and Seacows 25/4/13 56087 passes Lacock working 0Z87 Westbury - Hinksey. It had previosuly come down from Crewe with a load of DB Schenker Coalfish and Seacows 25/4/13 56087 trundles across the A350 near Thingley working 0Z87 Westbury - Hinksey after a signal check at Thingley Junction. 25/4/13 jo

Here's a few DRS examples, I've realised I have as many railtour workings as I do on flasks! A few 'mixed doubles' to begin with: 37611 leads 20303 past Coaley with a pair of FNAs in tow on 6M67 Bridgwater - Crewe CLS 11/3/11 20303 leads 37059 on 6M69 Sizewell - Willesden passing Camden Road 25/8/11 Just 'Choppers' from here on: 20304 leads 20301 past Callow Hill on 6M67 Bridgwater - Crewe 9/3/10 20308 leads 20309 away from Bristol Temple Meads on 1Z37 Gloucester - Penzance 25/6/11 20312 leads 20308 past Thingley Junction working 1Z61 from Crewe to Southampton Dock. 37409 was on the back 5/5/12 A final one, taken this morning: 20303 and 20308 pass the site of Malago Vale Carriage Sidings working 1Z18 Crewe - Kingswear, an additional working for the Dartmouth Regatta. The '20s' were working hard as the train powered (loudly!!) away from its Bristol Temple Meads stop 30/8/13 jo

Thanks everyone for explaining red and green cards. Certainly clears things up. Looks to me like the type under sprinters, 455s etc jo

This may be a daft question, but is a red or green card literally a card put into the wagons label clip (is that the right name?)? Interesting thread so far, a topic I've previously wondered about jo

Compare the Arriva blue DVT here against BR blue mk3s. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28121598@N03/7258888394/ I'd say Arriva blue is a touch darker, both are recently repainted in that shot, too jo