Phil Bullock

A fundamental difference is that away from the UK trains were fitted with headlamps to provide illumination - although whether braking was good enough to stop the train if an obstruction was spotted is a moot point! As has been mentioned back up the thread lamps on the front on a loco in the UK never fulfilled that purpose in steam days …. They were merely there to indicate the class of the train being hauled to assist signalmen and other operating staff in identifying the train. This means that to be credible headlamp positions on UK steam outline models cannot be fixed if realistic operation is to be modelled. The same with tail lamps…. If a locomotive is hauling a train the lamp would be on the last vehicle of the train not on the locomotive so the same issue applies. The function of a tail lamp is to designate that the train is complete ….. no lamp, the train must have split!

32-066 is the latest - and only - class 43. The earlier models were class 42 ….. do you mean the central can motor version or the pancake motor type?

That will be a cracking g train Neil. Looking forwards to seeing your clays run again too ….

Oh right had not picked up on that one! I usually go …. Will see how my layout is progressing, lost a week due to this orrible laryngitis that’s doing the rounds…

But being spoiled by eejits!

I vant plaice …. Und no nasty soggy chips ….

That’s the ones! Thanks Paul

Just watching West Brom v Wolves . No goals but a good game….

Hopefully we will have ours by the Redditch show….

I did see them …. Just about!!! In later years there was a train of acetic acid in tanks from up north to South Wales …. Smelt just like vinegar. As it ran from Saltend to name it the Salt-end-vinegar was just too tempting….

Thanks Paul …. And of course Worcester had vinegar in addition to sauce …. Hill Evans was the company, and hence the vinegar branch. IIRC it came out in wooden casks though … Hill Evans Vinegar Works Worcester

In case anyone is tempted that will be Lea and Perrins. Probably needs a glass lined tank to prevent corrosion!

I do look after them … would not want them trashing the place!!!

Nerves of steel are required….. it’s funny how our ladies never forget our transgressions but approval for this work is soon forgotten when static grass gets everywhere.,..

Right here!!!

Progress on scenery … And this one’s for @Clive Mortimore …. The Abbotswood Estate No problems putting layout up if I had those spaces …. Have been testing domestic patience by working in the kitchen !

Cheers … there are a few around…

4628 was a Gloucester then Worcester loco …. Went for scrap in 1964 still wearing GWR on her tanks…

And you two are not alone …. Got a couple of VF WR ones on order but most WR boiler fitted locos were RSH jobbies …

Cheers… it sounds like as often happens not everything is in the public domain. Hope they can move to fruition. Yes 2857 and 4566 groups certainly had a strong presence at the weekend along with the 42968 group. Good to see …. And hopefully they are getting a bit more help and support from the current management regime than the 813 group got from the last one . The railway certainly feels much more like it used to and seems to be innovating to create as much interest as possible eg the 37263 hauled train on Sunday evening. The return of more accessibly price on train dining might be a good move too but based on attendances at recent special weekends hopefully the railway can get back on financial track in 2024.

You can follow progress here. 82045 news It’s a brave man that makes predictions but the boiler is making progress and she is starting to look like a Standard 3mt tank ….

Locos coming out of ticket now seem to be facing an uncertain future. One would hope those with private owners have a more secure future on the SVR than company owned assets but it remains to be seen … has a decision been made on 2857 yet? The owning society had a good presence at Kidderminster over the weekend , let’s hope that’s a good omen.

Seeing and listening to this beauty in the sunshine at the SVR today only served to remind me what a super model Accurascale have provided for our enjoyment…,

Went to the steam gala today with @Pierre Le Brun. What a cracking day…. 7714 2968 43106 34027 75069 and 7812 in steam , trains full but not overcrowded and the sun shone. The river is in torrential flood but that might have something to do with displacement by ducks…. Never seen so many!!! We got down to Footplate …. Bought a couple of oak trees …. And to the photo fair. Also in to Wrangaton signal box for the first time, have been waiting for that to be open. Was staffed by knowledgeable volunteers who also showed us the locking room … thank you gentlemen. Great to see several friends too but the star of the show in the sunshine was Erlestoke Manor … looking at her today just confirmed what a brilliant job Accurascale have done. Thanks to all involved!! I can see why there have been comments about catering …. The Engine House fare was decidedly unimaginative, we fared better at the Highley kiosk with Cup a Soup and an Eccles cake. But I suspect the department is evolving….

Will be there ….. supporting the railway as much as possible in 2024 as I did in 2023. Might be nice to say hello … what are you doing today? It’s also probably worth pointing out bearing in mind the issues reported above with catering that the previous management regime seemed very focused on employing paid staff in public facing roles at the expense of railway operation. Current management seem to be reverting to something more like the previous model but that will inevitably take time to train more volunteers…. That is if they haven’t been disenfranchised under the previous model .