Phil Bullock

With the change in management at SVR with Gus Funster at the helm we have gone back to management by a railwayman. Gus has many contacts in the railway industry and these are beneficial in several ways … not least financially with the railway storing, working on and testing stock from companies on the big railway but also with infrastructure companies who can train staff on the SVR without the access issues they would have on the main line. Win win all round! The main line connection is invaluable…

Cheers ! So that sounds like 40 in a 12 ton open …. Much more realistic than my sums! The trains ran as class 6s as far as I can see so fitted opens seem to fit the bill …. With salmons for the completed panels . Were mountings for rail clips fitted at the manufacturing plant or the PAD ? Thsnks again

So I model an earlier era … late 60s early 70s. Traffic through Abbotswood and Norton included conco sleepers in open wagons … photos I can find include wooden and steel bodied hyfits and also shock opens. The trains ran from the Dowmac plant at Quedgley to the PAD at Newland and were covered by Gloucester trip locos …. Possibly Class 14s in 1966 but certainly Class 22s 67-71 and thereafter whatever Gloucester had spare. Interesting traffic! But how would the sleepers be loaded? Is my calculation of 15 to the ton correct? In which case a 12t open could theoretically carry 180. But how would they be loaded/unloaded? Were they loose and just handled with a crane and chains? Any advice gratefully received! many thanks

Yes Shenston Road is a cracking layout! One or two locos are duplicated on Abbotswood …. 😉 Will be interested to hear how you get on with any mods…

I think @ERIC ALLTORQUE is just being enterprising…

Cheers! Is anyone doing the open containers I wonder?

it certainly does! Would do rather nicely for The Retreat at Norton on my new layout. Kit or scratch build?

Well yes …. But for full flavour would need the adjacent Great Western Hotel!

Happy New year John. That looks great … redolent of Gloucester docks for sure

Nice! They don’t sit still for long….

You might think that is the lesser of two weevils … 😀

This weekend is the Christmas Tree Festival at Pirton Church … and there’s a railway around one of the trees! Has undergone a bit of winterisation…. @The Stationmaster Mike you might recognise the red curtains doing further duty …. Happy Christmas everyone and thanks for dropping by…. If anyone living locally fancies a bit a of Christmas cheer there’s tea coffee mulled wine mince pies and cakes all weekend !

And that is probably the most conspicuously lacking functionality at the moment…

It’s complex’s isn’t it! But it’s fair to say other manufacturers have in the past supplied sound fitted models with issues such as sound files which were for the wrong chip version meaning that the loco was half a mile down the track before the prime mover spooled up… The confounder with this model seems to be inconsistent performance in a few models… and given the variability in control systems being used Accurascale’s tenacity in supporting users is surely something to be admired….

Totally agree with your comments re DCC …. It has to be worth the cost of a sound loco (or two) to get a good control system. A cheap hobby? Hmm I’ll tell the missus that and see what happens … 😀

Wasn’t it because the banana boats were all refrigerated by this time and the bananas arrived green and were ripened in warehouses here? Hence transport temperature less critical

IIRC the Caprotti 5s were considered very free running but not quite as strong when the chips were down so we’re allowed one coach less on challenging workings. @Stationmaster Mike … that crank and rod are a drive for the mechanical lubricator above the footplate as mentioned up the thread

View Advert Cambrian LMS D1667 five plank open wagon Purchased in error at Warley show last weekend. A nice little Christmas project for someone, have just done 4 others. Original price as per photo, £8 as is without wheels or bearings or £9 if you want those included. Advertiser Phil Bullock Date 01/12/23 Price £8 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert 4mm white metal banana vans x2 Two kit built banana vans for sale. White metal so heavy! As these are steam heat they predate my era and it seems a shame to risk damage by removing fittings. Fitted with 3 link couplings . £20 the pair including p&p Advertiser Phil Bullock Date 01/12/23 Price £20 Category OO / 4mm scale  

Just done rail lamp on mine. Lovely models! With the removable roof wiring was a doddle. Pick ups easy too … I just reversed the bogie at one end so the insulated wheels are on opposite sides on each bogie and arranged pick ups off the axles. Just hope that wiring doesn’t confuse my reversing loop power switching set up! Some light weathering to follow….

Thats the difference between Italian caprotti as correctly modelled here by Hornby and British caprotti as fitted to the last two, the caprotti Standard 5s and DoG. Developed by Associated Locomotive Engineering, a branch of the Heenan and Froude company in my home town of Worcester. The Black 5s with British caprotti are a bit more elegant than the locos fitted with Italian gear.

Isn’t that enough geesting gentlemen 😉

Nice thought Steve …. But this is a specific issue and I did rather fear a blizzard if it’s a wider offer, I have a layout to build too! Let’s see if owt comes from this….

FOD …. Twixt Wye and Severn

And those efforts certainly are appreciated Chris. Thank you.