Phil Bullock

Picture 14 definitely Worcester Shrub Hill goods yard - that's Tunnel Junction Signal Box above the Gane with Railway Walk on the skyline - the entrance to Rainbow Hill Tunnel is in the cutting off to the right. Phil

Excellent - the clay is new to me, but certainly logical! The MIAC site quoted above is a mine of info on all things 85A Thanks again for super thread Phil

Great to see the set of wheels still performing their intended task! Smashing loco - I too remember being bowled over by them when Mainline originally released them, way ahead of the game back then Phil

Getting in to Grass eh? Be careful, am sure the Missus has friends who might be interested in that.... hee hee Phil

Smashing stuff ! 08796 was previously D3964 which was at Worcester since at least the early 70s. You have described the freight workings to a T - Worcestershire never had as many interesting traffic sources as Gloucestershire, the only addition I can make is that IIRC there was a Foster Yeoman stone terminal in the yard for a short while . Cheers Phil

Have to agree with you Neil - in time that has to be the best answer, and can always get the chip re-blown when such a sound track becomes available. Smashing reminisces - thanks Gwiwer! If we are going down Memory Lane I was fortunate enough to see them all - unlike the 42s, which were never common at Worcester. Its my memories that spur me on to sort out my stud. D847 Strongbow - the first one I saw, at BNS, in Autumn 67 on a London train in BFYE D849 Superb looking just that, fresh off Swindon in BFYE, on a Paddington at Worcester D835 Ramilles BFYE through Abbotswood on the Malago Vale vans D840 Resistance at Bescot, MSYP D848 Sultan at Worcester, peeling prestolinth and paint, MSYP We used to buy a 2d single from Worcester Shrub Hill to Foregate Street just to get a ride behind one on a Hereford but my best memory is a trip up to London bashing the termini - D861 Vigilant MSYP for haulage on the way back to Worcester, me window hanging out of the leading drop light on a lovely summers evening all the way home from Oxford to Worcester. Happy days with my good friends John Howles and Brian Thomas, who is now Chairman of the Worcester Loco Society and who helps me with Abbotswood from time to time. Railways have given me much pleasure over the years, and adding the 43s to the stud is a significant part of the Abootswood Junction jigsaw. I rather suspect they will appear too frequently on phase 1 - another phase 2 incentive, finish the Oxford line! Phil

Guess it depends on how good the credit card machine wireless reception is - or shall I bring another SWMBO pre-signed blank cheque? Hee hee Phil

Absolutely Neil - but where does a good sound file come from until such time as we have a loco with a MAN engine installed to record? The sound files I have for other MAN engined traction - Class 22 and Blue Pullman - are OK as they go but perhaps lack the wow factor whereas the Maybachs in the Howes Western file are fairly gutteral with the correct pitch dip as the converters fill... But certainly open to other suggestions! Has anyone seen a decent video of a 43 with good audio anywhere I wonder? Phil

We don't know deliveries yet but time to start thinking about the fleet Initial thoughts are: D838 Rapid MFYE 9/68 - 3/71 D839 Relentless MSYP 2/66 - 7/70 D845 Sprightly GSYP 2/64 - 2/70 D847 Strongbow Late BFYE 2/67 (logo over nameplate) D849 Superb Early BFYE Serif numbers 7/67 - 6/68 861 Vigilant Late BFYE 3/71 - 10/71 That gives plenty of variety and scope for other varients once these are done. Hope Hattons hold their pre-order price. What to do for a sound File? Temptation could be to accept the existing class 42 files but that's the wrong transmission. As they had Voith transmissions a la western would it be a better bet to use the class 52 files? Howes is a pretty snarley version! - and perhaps talk nicely to Bryan at Howes to get the horns swapped for the ones off the Class 42 as the Class 52 ones are very distinctive. A single engine feature would also be useful for 861 on its last run prior to withdrawal. Better see my friends from Extreme Etchings at Warley for those nameplates.... Phil

Sorry Rob last time we came to Highfield Rd. - Must have been about 1981 - It was 2-0 to the sky blues. Worcester dont have their own ground at the moment. Based at the old enemy - Kidderminster! Phil

Last winter it was type 3s - several new 37s were sorted to join the roster This winter its 25s 5230 - BFYE 7612 - BFYE, Scottish exile with tablet catcher recess 7654 - GFYE Plus a 31 5528 - BFYE Pics as progress emerges Cheers Phil

Agree entirely Chris - this is a great resource Its the fact that they are 6 wheelers and there is a van in the middle of the train that gives it away - plus the fact that the train is running under class 3 head code, oil would be class 6 at this time. Both fully vac fitted but milks ran to generally faster timings due to perishable nature, although by the headcode these are empties heading back west Cheers Phil

PS post 125 afraid those are milks not oils! Phil

Fantastic stuff Chris - many thanks for sharing! BTM in 68? Memory Lane for me! Druid in MFYE was my first ever Whizzo, seen at BTM, probably Easter 68 but haven't checked the dates. Its why (s)he now runs the rails on Abbotswood And 5528 was one of the 31s transferred to the WR as hydraulic replacements, am just doing her in blue as per this Brush Veteran shot, just over a year later so she must have visited the plant to gain blue. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/91758-chris-ts-photo-archives/page-5 Unusual for the ER to send a recently shopped loco to the WR - most of the others were high hours. Please keep them coming Phil

All our diesel locos on Abbotswood are fitted with wire loops - height set to the same as a standard tension lock Works well - much less obtrusive and means you can retain the superdetailing - vac, steam heat pipes etc PHil

Unless they pulled the blinds down! Phil

Love the picture of D12 - split box peak with nose end doors... Thanks Dave! Phil

Excellent plan! Phil

What a dog! Always did like the split boxers - must get one Phil

Never saw anything bigger than sticklebacks in this part of the canal! Used to be some carp further out of town.... Phil

Cheers Jinty You are welcome - and great avatar BTW! Phil

He says he has plenty more!!!! Phil

Some more of Brian Thomas's super early 70s pictures The first one emerged at the 85A open day on Saturday Oh yes! That's 44006 on a down freight just to prove they did make it And that's a 45 on - Bolster Es again. Going in the right direction but cant read the headcode - could be the Llandeilo Jct to Langley Green working... A nice split box 45 passes the 4 track section - the nearest track is just a kick back siding, only ever remember seeing scrap stock stored in there And finally for tonight 8197 leads a class mate south on hoppers Thanks again for sharing Bri! Phil

You are welcome any time P

Very handy material for any manufacturer seeking to produce a 120 (hint hint!) Phil