forest2807

Here we go. This photo was taken by S.Owens (on hiveminer.com). The thing I'm referring to is the wedge shaped piece above the coupling hook. Bachmann have modelled it on their version of 47035, so that will be my donor to produce something like the above, c.1978. Other locos have two separate smaller wedge shaped pieces with a gap in between directly above the coupling.

Mainline 16 Ton mineral wagons. They have an incorrect wheelbase but they just look (to my eye) quite pleasing. They probably remind me of my childhood when Mainline were IMHO the pick of the bunch of model producers. All Mainline wagons have a certain quality look and feel to them I think, especially the private owner wagons.

I’m not sure about draught-proofing. They seem to have been fitted from new judging by photos from the ‘60s. Usually such measures are taken after months/years of complaining by train crews. And why weren’t all locos fitted with it? Surely they would all have the same problems with draughts if indeed this is the reason?

This loco has what seems to be a strip of metal on the bufferbeam, fitted horizontally directly above the coupling hook, whereas classmates have two separate pieces of what I assume are strengthening or reinforcing pieces. I won't post a link to photos on Flickr that aren't mine but have a look if this is of interest. The loco before 47550/D1731 in the production line, 47138/47607/D1730 also has this feature so I assume it was done to a particular run of locos when built. Anyone know why they are different and how many were built this way?

A bit unfair, they were the only RTR version available until the Lima release in the late 80’s, and were as rare as hen’s teeth when D200 was resurrected and every other enthusiast became a Class 40 devotee. If they were that bad they wouldn’t have fetched the extraordinary 3-figure prices that some went for during the pre-Lima period. I remember an article in a magazine when 3 versions of a Class 40 were compared; a Q Kits version, and a Modern Outlines Kit, and I think the third was a Jouef model. They weren’t too bad despite the issues with the dimensions around the nose.

Just returned home from my annual pilgrimage to the city of my birth. I thought the standard of exhibits this year was superb and I had a great day wandering around, watching trains, daydreaming and allowing too many people to relieve me of my cash. Well done to the organisers, first class job.

Hasn't someone just done an etch for an EE exhaust? Did I dream that or just misread a thread?

Do you mean the bufferbeams themselves are missing Tom?

Congratulations Neil, enjoy! I have to admit to being a teensy bit jealous, but I don’t want to wish away whatever time I have left....back to work tomorrow for me then.

Think the BR blue ones have gone - just checked the website and couldn’t find any.

Just because the ‘procedure’ you cite is so clearly unfit for purpose in these circumstances, that does not make the passenger (yes, passenger, not customer) a ‘’. Blame the procedure, not the poor people who suffer because of it.

I’ve just availed myself if this offer, thank you Kevin. All four of the 80’s Ashes series (on offer) plus two other titles for a smidge over £50. Great deal!

Push/Pull rakes sometimes found their way to Inverness when I lived there in the 80’s, and sometimes DBSOs appeared in ‘normal’ rakes from Edinburgh or Glasgow. They were usually 47 hauled. Never saw a 37 on a push/pull rake or a rake including a DBSO but that doesn’t mean it never happened.

All of this information about power output and weight and electric motors is genuinely fascinating, but I just wish I understood more of it! Physics A level will only take you so far before you start to regret the humanities degree.

It confirms that she still had her radiator grilles in ‘79 though, so useful nonetheless! Thank you.

That is incredibly useful, thank you. On the basis of that info, my big Heljan beast may become 227, circa 1970, with proper plates. I may even use modellers licence to give her red bufferbeams just because I think they look great, even though she only appeared to receive the red paint towards the end of her career, certainly not as early as 1970. The other option would be to do 40025 ‘Lusitania’ but my Dad was radio officer on the Parthia so that is more suitable I think.

Thanks Mike. I don't suppose you know what repairs being done were do you? Nose job? I suspect the nose end repair dates from earlier than 1979 but I'm hoping somebody can offer a specific date to confirm my suspicions.

Does anyone know the date of the incident which resulted in Parthia having her no.2 end nose (I think it’s that end) rebuilt without connecting doors, or at least having them welded up? I’m trying to ascertain if I can run a model with ‘as built’ noses, in BR blue with FYE, and proper nameplates, as opposed to painted names on the body sides.

I am developing a fondness for Emma Barnett. Excellent interviewer on the radio and now I know what she looks like I have a feeling I will be admiring her talent on TV too.

Looks really good to me - like something that might be produced by a much more experienced modeller. I think you have got an excellent eye for weathering, keep up the good work, you could be writing books on it in 20 years time!

Many of the wonderful layouts featured in these pages are joint efforts, constructed by club members, and similarly many of the layouts featured at exhibitions up and down the country are built by a club and housed in club premises. This got me wondering how clubs go about finding suitable accommodation, is there a 'typical' club premises, are they in commercial properties, schools, annexes of larger buildings, warehouses, etc? I'd also be fascinated to learn more about the costs involved, and how clubs can finance rent on club rooms, but I appreciate that people may be unwilling to divulge such details on a public forum. So go on, how did your club find somewhere to call home?

Anyone have one of these available? I have a fully valanced, mint example I can swap, or cash available if you prefer. Just to be clear, it is the version with the valances removed from the centre of the underframe that I'm after. Thanks!

Signed. Please share on social media folks, in order to maximise exposure. I would, but I don't use it!

Slightly off topic but 47s were mentioned. Here's a Lima frame, Heljan bogies/towers and underframe tanks. It has liquid lead in the tanks and I will shoehorn more weight in around a Heljan motor. Simple DC, no lights, but quite an effective use of spare parts I think! Body is Hornby ex 47401.

Having stated that I definitely boarded at Nottingham, come to think of it it could have been Beeston, Long Eaton or Derby as well.