Downendian

Two years later and still on the to do pile i’m afraid. Plenty of modelling done in the meantime but this is a low priority project.

Inevitable really wasn’t it - final throes of an extensive Lima rebuild in progress here at Downend works. Superb though Accurascale, essential traction for my WR Bristol themed layout, regular performers on the Pompey-Cardiffs back in the mid late 1970s, and Bath road had a healthy allocation. Fond memories of the class with much haulage on the Birmingham-Norwich services, plus Kings cross and Liverpool Street always had one or two rumbling away somewhere. I’m glad to see the 31/0 and early disc headcode 31/1 have been tooled for later release. ER allocated 31s (MR IM SF) were also a common sight in Bristol working to Avonmouth on various chemical trains. I’ve preordered the GFYE example, something Hornby never did, but I’m sure more to follow in due course. nice video of the preproduction samples including the disc headcode versions from Hornby magazine

As this rather excellent 1973 shot of D1015 attests, 1C63. Paul Townsend on Flickr A really evocative reminder to me of my spotting days, but the Tytherington stone trains were even more spectacular departures from Stoke Gifford yard with a 52 on the front.

Yes many times, both on South Wales trains 1C63 being a daily Western turn as late as 1976, plus multiple workings North (e.g. 1E21) normally changing locos at Gloucester but sometimes all the way to BNS. I don’t recall seeing Warships on service trains at Parkway, nor is there photographic proof. However, blue Pullman sets certainly did - I saw it a couple of times, reverse blue grey of course. Neil,

Ah all this reminiscing about the old Bristol Parkway… I spent too many hours there in the 1970s shortly after it was built. Although I’ve posted these here before in this thread (my copyright), photos have since appeared in two publications, with my permission plus elsewhere without! Anyhow for old times sake here they are again, May 1972 I think shortly after opening judging by the BR flag at half mast (death of the Duke of Windsor late that month). The building was very basic but nice and warm, somewhere to thaw out before hearing the dreaded porters “are you train-spotting? Then geddout…” neil

I’m honoured to be included amongst such illustrious colleagues! Roof shots are like hens teeth of course, even more of a challenge for prototypes with panels removed. I’ve had a bit of a rummage through my library and David Clark’s diesels in depth - class 24/25 has a good shot of D5000 minus roof panels - not much help I suspect, and I can’t post due to copyright. However there is a glimpse of what’s going on with a class 25 being built at Derby works - one of the 25s doesn’t yet have a panel fitted - see 1963 in this Derby sulzers page https://www.derbysulzers.com/derbyyearbook60.html admittedly not the clearest shot, but have a further rummage through the library when I have more time. Neil

I found the whole story of the demise of Tirpitz just as enthralling through acts of bravery of the RN and RAF as that of the destruction of Bismarck and equally tragic. First the blocking of the Normandie dock at St Nazaire by HMS Campbeltown -( a complete mystery as to why this has not been a war movie epic), to prevent Tirpitz making Atlantic sorties. Second to the immense efforts of the RAF bombings by 617 and 9 Squadrons amongst others and including the X sub raids mentioned here. All operations that are staggering in the acts of courage committed by our services. We owe them our liberty and the peace it brought.

Being from a railway family, my first exposure to the railway was at Highbridge, Somerset in the late 1960s/ early 1970s. By 1974 though Bristol Parkway/Filton Junction/Patchway/Winterbourne in North East Bristol was my spotting haunts, but those early Highbridge years are very memorable especially as it was deep in the hydraulic era. I was taken by my great aunts and uncle across the former S&D station to the remaining GWR station, and remember green, blue and big and small red diesels. I thought it very imaginative of BR to use such a range of liveries, with no idea of what was going on. I especially remember the Bason bridge milks and Aberthaw fly ash trains for the M5 construction. The milks were almost certainly Hymeks and class 22s and the fly ash EE type 3s. Both my maternal grandparents were from Highbridge, and their sisters and brothers were still in the area, and we spent happy summers there, much of it at Burnham on sea. Two photos, the Fly ash train complete with 6991 and 6957, August 1971 (my copyright) and the approximate view now courtesy of Google earth. All the old S&D station is now covered by a housing estate, and the former works by industrial units. It was here my grandfather and great grandfathers worked, my grandfather started his apprenticeship here, my great grandfathers were both Midland drivers.

Superb conversion of a 2H to 3H by Richard at Everard junction - top drawer modelling. Based around the sacrifice of a Bachmann 2-EPB to make the centre car. Richard’s air brushing tips are on their own worth watching this YouTube video for. Unfortunately I missed out on cheap 2-EPBs, but will keep an eye out, thank goodness though mine will be plain blue. Richard’s model is NSE livery, and his patience in getting those stripes looking right is exemplary. I’m keeping a watchful eye on the forthcoming Bachmann announcement, a main range 3H with possibly providing centre cars separately would be very popular with us that own 2Hs. neil

Re boiler exhaust ports - see a nearly 10 year old post by our learned friend Flood

This is true for patent law, but this is a copyright issue and is covered by the Berne convention of which only a handful of countries are not signatories.

Callum, my account (top right) > orders, I can see previous orders plus the Caprotti pre order Neil

I placed a preorder earlier after seeing the Bath Green park photo on rail photo prints. I had to reset my password and had to place in the basket around three times before I could checkout, but (I think) did so successfully and I had a confirmatory email from Hornby. Neil

Indeed it was, photo by Hugh Ballantyne and it worked the midland lines around Bristol on a Temple Meads to Bournemouth west service into Bath Green park 25/7/59 - fits my criteria for a black 5 purchase. I’ve always been intrigued by the Caprotti black 5s.

So it is - but cannot be seen from the 2022 “full range” list, where I would have expected it to feature.

Interesting, I’ve just perused the Hornby website 2022 releases, and cannot find the “inspired by “ film ranges. A search for “Titfield” returns nothing. I may have missed them, but I checked the 2022 release list twice. Hmmm.

I believe them to be one and the same, the public hall is the HQ of Beaminster town council, 8 Fleet Street. The best place to park in Beaminster is the Yarn Barton car park anyway behind the public (town) hall unless you get lucky and find a place in the square which is (or was) free. However, I’ve not been there post COVID, so parking may not be the issue it was.

And the 21T hoppers - huge potential market there I would have thought with the HTV and rebuilds. Neil

Google is your friend DT8 3EF right in the middle of a lovely little Dorset town.

Hi I’ve checked and the formations were those I previously provided - including the ER 254 set. Neil

I’ve moved away from my loco-centric past. Most recent purchases have been rolling stock, mainly Accurascale products. Hornby produced an excellent 21T hopper in 2015 but have failed to follow it up with vacuum braked (bauxite) HTVs, and the common 1970s rebodied version which were very widespread. I’m gearing up to rejigging my grey liveried 21 tonners, and complete some parkside rebodied HTVs, and for sure this will mean they will appear RTR. As Accurascale have the coil A chassis, correct for HTVs a good chance they will do them, but will Hornby fill this gap in the market before?

Terrific thanks for the screenshots Commoner, will duly file away! it looks as though I have already provided the HST formations in that notebook as the dates suggest, I will however check through and see if any have been missed, like the 254/253 set was. Neil

Hi Commoner, id only just realised that the original thread had gone whilst looking for my posts! A 1977 notebook has emerged which includes many HST formations which most probably I’ve posted before. However I don’t think I posted the ER 254 set loaned to the WR which I saw at Cardiff on 1/10/77 which you referred to earlier in this thread 43061-41059-41071-40505-42108-40029-42109-42110-43060 The notebook is from July-Nov 1977, and I most probably have posted the info before. Neil

Brief peruse of 1977 notes 3A03 1250 Swansea- Paddington 29/10/77 W1046-W1328-W31390-W1325-W1335-W1003-W1011. Neil

Great info. I’ve always paid up front, just preordered 6 for later charging, but more to follow I’m sure. Will have to look up my notebooks for prototypical rakes for its size, normally headed by an OC 31 or a CF 37. I seem to recall ex LMS BGs being included sometimes. Neil