Flood

It looks like it's got a departmental number (ADB....., etc) so a trawl through a departmentals book is needed.

Having checked every Railway Observer from January 1970 to January 1973 there were no reallocations to the Southern EMU fleet (one DEMU from Eastleigh to St Leonards) only new build and withdrawals. The allocations stated in the January 1973 edition coincide with depot stickers being added to the front of the units: Brighton 5601-36, 6001/2, Ramsgate 6012-99, 6100-73 Wimbledon 6003-11 So from May 1972 the SR design HAPs were used on the Coastway services until they were converted to SAPs in 1976 (again, they were SAPs from 1969 to 1970). So @Nearholmer to you use notation the services went BIL>COR>SR HAP>VEP> BR HAP>up to 1984.

From 1974 to 1980 all the "1951" BR HAPs became SAPs as well, along with a few Batch 1 "1957" HAPs in 1977. My 1977 Station Summaries book has VEPs on the Coastway services during the day with VEP-HAP combinations during peak. I say "all" as two "1951" sets were left as HAPs and kept at Wimbledon to test automatic couplers (as per Railway Observer). Don't forget folks that the OP said early to mid 1970s. As already mentioned, from 1980 to 1984 the HAPs (CAPs) were in near total control on Coastway services.

From reading Blood and Custard the three 4 GRI units were converted from 4 RES units which all had trailer firsts. The trailer firsts had compartments at one end and the open saloon for meals at the other.

All the Blood and Custard site says is: "In terms of yellow warning panels on Southern Region multiple unit stock, these commenced at Lancing on 9th October 1963 (2 BIL unit no.2128) thence at Eastleigh on 1st November 1963 (4 LAV unit no.2929). Full-yellow ends started appearing from Eastleigh during February 1967 although some units in for varnish or repair still only acquired yellow warning panels. Eastleigh started applying Blue-livery in July 1967 (4 CIG unit no.7035) with Selhurst following on 12th December 1968 (2 HAP unit no.6009)." https://www.bloodandcustard.com/SR-4COR.html Edit: there is then a list of unit numbers and dates on the second table below that statement.

Thanks again for everyone's responses. With all the information I now have I should be able to make a reasonable job of a 1957 (phase 1) HAP from a 2 EPB and Thumper DTCL body.

Thank you to everyone for their replies, I've got three thumpers already so I can work out any underfloor toilet fittings from those. Just an additional query. In 1977 all the 1951 HAPswere at Wimbledon and had been reclassified as SAPs (except one set) , whereas all the Brighton HAPs (6053 to 6067), which I am looking to model, were 1957 (phase 1) build. I thought they might have had the one piece toilet lights and different blind window (with subtley different cab windows) but looking at Blood and Custard these didn't appear until the third and fourth batches respectively. So apart from no lighting conduit on the roof is their any other difference between a 1951 and 1957 (phase 1) build I need to know about? Edit: I've found one more difference, full length running boards on the DTCL for the 1951 batch but none below the toilet area for the 1957 onwards batches.

I'm interested in making a 2-HAP in all blue livery so my question is are the two chassis' of the Bachmann 2-EPB exactly the same as a Bachmann 2-HAP? If so I can buy a cheap all blue 2-EPB and use the driving brake as it is and just replace the body on the driving trailer. If there are differences could someone please point out what they are, preferably with photos. Many thanks in anticipation.

First things first. A TRUK had 4 passenger windows, a TRUB had 3. A TRB is a TRSB but with first class seats (only 3 a-side instead of 4 a-side). TRBs were renumbered as 402xx when they were converted so 40401 and 40402 are still TRSB and they were not converted to TRB in the 1980s. Also note that all the rakes you have chosen have one TF and a TRSB, this means they are North East/South West sets to run between Plymouth/ Penzance/Paignton to Newcastle/Leeds. The Western Region sets to Paddington had two TF and either TRUB, TRSB or TRB. The TRUB stock was reclassified to TRFB from 1985, first with the Eastern Region sets then a year or so later the Western Region sets.

This is the photos used in Harris to show the refurbished InterCity interior schemes. For the first class seat colour I've actually used Railmatch GW Dark Stone as it has a pink hue to it.

That's easy, both. For the next loco and for the sandwich.

"White" roof? From looking at Accurascale's site the model of 50021 has an orange cantrail stripe, with its grey roof, which it gained after overhaul at Doncaster in early 1986. 50014 gained the black roof and orange stripe from May 1986 so the two are compatible from May 1986 until 50014's last workings in October 1987.

Sorry, that's not an RMB it's an RBR.

Had a play on Kirkhill tonight. A totally unrealistic scenario but is was still good fun to run...

Just one question. The Western Region train description board frames will obviously be a separate item. Are they only going to be included in with the blue and grey stock or will they be in a "non specific" detail pack with all liveries? Just asking because I'd like to have some extra ones for use with Mk2a and Mk2e stock (although the stock I currently have may well be replaced by alternatives in the future; hint, hint).

Did I not say "An "average" air-con rake had approximately 10 coaches"?

Ah yes batch runs, I forgot about adding my thoughts on those. An "average" 1970s air-con rake has approximately 10 coaches. One is a Mk1 buffet and one is a Mk1 BG, that leaves eight coaches. Let's say two full firsts, one brake variation and the other five as open seconds. So if batch production was envisaged, Accurascale tend to go for pre-ordering which is sensible, for every 25 models produced I would recommend the following quantities: Five open firsts Two corridor firsts One corridor brake first Two open brake seconds Fifteen open seconds Edit. After the 1970s there was less of a need for first class coaches but the body shells were still used in the 64xx SO stock and, in the 1990s, the 62xx and 68xx TSO stock.

I don't really want to post about air-cons on a Mk2B thread but I will just make this comment. Folks shouldn't try to separate the three air-con batches of Mk2. The Mk2D TSOs had the toilets moved to regain 64 seats in the Mk2E stock, the Mk2E stock only had Stones air-con equipment to save money (they used those which would have retro fitted the Mk2C stock). Each Mk2 version was an upgrade from the previous version with the Mk2F being the best version (apart from some of the interior coverings). The Bachmann Mk2F was requested by the design staff to be given the option as a Mk2E version but was rejected on cost. A ridiculously short-sighted decision but those who know me also know of my personal experience with Bachmann management which is less than agreeable. (they're f@@@ing useless). Therefore Accurascale should make an air-con Mk2 which can be made as a Mk2D, Mk2E or Mk2F from the outset. There will be long term cost savings as long as it is the plan from the start, all variation requests by the modelling public are met and and a vast number of livery variations are possible.

As already posted on the Aberdeen Kirkhill thread, my friend Glenn has been busy weathering my TCVs.

I've still to progress with the curtainside wagon but Glenn has been busy weathering my TCVs. Although they worked to Edinburgh and not Aberdeen I feel they certainly add something to the layout.

Axle diameter 0.077" (my verniers are imperial!) that's 1.9558mm, length 1.020" that's 25.908mm

Gresley BGs lasted on every day parcels use until late 1977. As others have already said, it looks like one of these to me (other side):

Underside of the bogie for starters: Now the top of the bogie showing the brake shoe fitments: The gap between the outer edge of the tread of a Heljan wheel and the inside of the side frame is approx 1mm for every wheel. The Heljan wheels are 0.111inches (2.8194mm) in depth.

Just for comparison purposes: Heljan TCV with Bachmann Mk2F (the TCV has a higher buffer height but I haven't measured which is the more accurate): Heljan TCV with Airfix Mk2D (pretty much the same buffer height):