Phil Bullock

Hydraulic fans of a nervous disposition might want to look away now. Remember those scabby minerals? well heres one with a trial load... Swindon did send wagonload traffic of scrap to Sheffield - there are some well known pictures on the web of Warship and Hymek body panels piled high in a Sheffield scrapyard. D824 isn't fair game for our time frame - D801 MSYE and D802 BFYE certainly are so those will be the pukka loads, D840 & D848 both also MSYE are also candidates. And how about early class 22 withdrawals - kicking myself as I missed a class 22 body shell on the classified last weekend! Sorry - but it is history Phil

Joint progress tomorrow Steve Phil

Agreed Neil -she had miniature ploughs MArch 72 so isn't then Phil

Brilliant Neil! There isn't much to date that picture of 7001 is there? The state of cleanliness does make you wonder if its around the time of the Hymek Swansong tour in 73..... And look at the number in the filth on the roof of Queen! Theres something to model.... More please! Phil

Excellent Mark! That gives us some real inspiration - thank you for sharing Phil

Thanks Mark Will have to investigate that then Phil

Too true Porky! Similar trainloads of Hornby and PD hopper currently in Elmstone Hardwicke works for Abbotswood duties Does the PD dia 146 kit come with a VB option? Phil

Thanks Brian Pauls excellent site has vac fitted 147s but they are all the rebodied style Phil

Hang on a mo - will the new 21 ton body go on the tope chassis to give us a fitted diagram 146 hopper? Phil

Nice idea Brian - have a couple of rechassied Wrenn bodies lurking I reckon that will be in the next Bachmann announcements too P

Cheers Mike Am sure you are right re Hornby's policy! Looks like there might have been enough around to form the basis for us though Thanks as always Phil

Thanks for sorting the website access Paul Brilliant photos as always - and as other posters have pointed out examples in S Wales - so good to go Looks like there were 1/146 welded hoppers as per PD PC77 kits that were built as fitted too so those will be fine for fitted heads Thanks folks! Theres a trainload of Hornbys on the way from Liverpool as its unfitted running to H4 timings limited t0 35 mph so may take a while to get here... Phil

And a direct web search for pictures has them at Toton and Derby, which would seem to fit in with Clive's memories. In deference to SM then it seems like we can get away with mixing some in with a PD fitted head and perhaps some modded Dapols Cheers Phil

Thanks All Paul's wonderful web site would be a good guide am sure - but for some reason cant get on to this collection at the moment it asks for a password. But the thumbnail it shows is of one off the North Eastern piste at Briton Ferry if I am reading it correctly So still hunting! Phil

Would be great to see you MArcus Great Electric Train Show is Gaydon - 10th - 11th OCtober, see http://www.greatelectrictrainshow.com/view_article.asp?ID=8555&pubID=62&t=1&s=0&sO=both&p=1&i=10#continued Not sure about Stow at the moment Phil

Many thanks Brian Have you got shares in Parkside Dundas? hee hee The Coal concentration hoppers were bauxite - was that a doppelganger livery or were they welded/fitted? Cheers Phil

Hi folks Hattons are listing the new 21 ton hopper http://www.Hornby.com/shop/new-for-2015/wagons/br-21-ton-hopper-wagon-2.html Looks to me like Hornby have gone for the same diagram as the Parkside Dundas PC80 model - see http://www.parksidedundas.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_LONDON___NORTH_EASTERN_RAILWAY.html Is this a correct assumption please? HAs LNER brake gear and extended brake handle. To run a train of hoppers on Abbotswood we will need a fitted head - were any of these wagons fitted? Also they are not roller bearing fitted - is that an issue for these wagons in the 70s? An alternative would of course be to build some Parkside Dundas PC77s - or add vacuum brakes to some older Dapol/Mainline hoppers Many thanks in advance Phil

More smashing pictures Dave Having enlarged its a 25 on the weedkillers - early body shell with numerous small grilles, but they are eccentric rather than symmetrical as per 31 Andy beat me to it! Cheers Phil

Absolutely Andy Think 71/72 WTT was the end of completely unfitted trains on this line - look back at the photos, all trains are running with fitted heads and there are none to H4 timings in the WTT (which were limited to 35 MPH so I assume were unfitted) Phil

To be sure there are discussions to be had around the use of drones - but none the less found this rather nice clip lurking on Youtube Phil

One of this winters projects has been a rake of Parkside Dundas Vanwides Heres the finished rake Dave's buffers and coupling hooks plus Modelmasters transfers have finished them nicely... The observant may notice we have lost one - and sods law that was the one with the translucent roof, sorry Brian! What happened? Internal weighting is liquid lead set in superglue - didn't realise it hadn't set when I turned van upside down, subsequently needed to remove roof, wouldn't come off due to glue etc - ruined roof and sides trying to get it off GRRRR Next project is scabby 16 ton minerals for some very specific traffic yet to be revealed - got the weathering finished on them yesterday, now just waiting their loads... All will be revealed shortly! Phil

Henry Williamson penned a story - The Bottle Birds, its in The Peregrine's saga and other Country Tales - about long tailed tits. Captures the life of these charming little birds perfectly. Williamson - author of Tarka the Otter - is an under-publicised author IMHO - his Salar the Salmon has been with me as a favourite book since I was at primary school. Cheers Phil

Toads do well under our decking! Phil

No date on bacchy web site yet At least another 12 months I reckon - and my wallet hopes! Phil

Went to rugby match in Cardiff today En route this rather dapper chap seemed very happy to pose for a photo - taken from no more than 5 yards away! Phil