billy_anorak59

Tah-daaah…! 👏 Well I needed about four hands, but got it done in the end. At one point, I could have sworn (and I did swear) that the lens were too big to fit the holes! In the dark, and rain? And probably 30-ish feet up? No thanks – it was a tussle on my own back doorstep! So, for the first time in the 43 years since it was chopped down, Bebington’s Up Fast starter has it’s lenses back – many thanks for all the help, and the ‘how to’ photographs. Much appreciated. Cheers!

With or without lubrication?

That's great, clear as a bell; a picture (or three) paints a thousand words - many thanks for taking the trouble to show me the ropes. I'll give it a whirl at the weekend, and let you know how I get on. Thanks again.

Many thanks for all the pointers - it's much appreciated. It sounds very much like the old car windscreen method as outlined by raymw and LNERGE which I've heard about many times - trouble is, and although I've tinkered around with the mechanical bits of many an old car, I've never done it, or indeed seen it done. So, with that in mind, can I take LNERGE's offer up for a couple of pictures (whenever you can) please? Might just help me get a better idea. Beast: 1974 would make a lot of sense, my guess wasn't too far out! Thanks for the info. So this arm would have been carried on the Up Fast post just before the road underpass - the sister to this one (but hidden behind the island waiting room)?: Thanks again all.

Not sure where to post this – ‘Prototype questions’ or here. Hopefully, I’m more likely to find the signal experts here, but please excuse if I’ve got it wrong. Circa 1975, and I’m travelling home past Bebington Station (in the Chester direction) on a DMU – the line was not electrified in those days - and I spy out of the window a home and a distant signal arm lying at the side of the track. Even though both arms had been ‘gas-axed’ from their pivots, I really wanted to save them, so when I got home I thought I’d chance things and ring up the station to see if they were wanted. Eventually, after persuading the ticket office staff that I was serious (not mad!), they agreed to let me have them, as long as I came and picked them up myself. I only had a push-bike to my name, so the bus it was, but because of their bulk and weight, I could only manage to take one of them - so I selected the home arm, and I managed to get it home on the bus with many funny looks and covered in soot! Anyway, that’s the history; Now the question. As previously stated, the arm had been cut down very crudely, and both spectacle plates were smashed too. Years later, and I have managed to find replacements, complete with rubbers, which is why I am posting here. Can any of the signalling experts help please? I can’t for the life of me get the rubber surround and lens into the spectacle case apertures. I’m sure they are the right size, but the rubber is rather thick and is not pliable enough to flex onto the case lips. Is it because the lens itself is not allowing the rubber to flex enough? (should the rubber go on first, and then the lens, or can the lens + rubber be fitted as one unit?) …or is there a trick to doing it? Pictures of the arm and lenses here (please note that the lens wired temporarily in place was before I had obtained the correct materials) : Any S&T chaps out there that can help please?

Greg - apologies for the tardy reply - holidays, and no access to computers. Thats a great spot, and I think that nails it - you're a super sleuth extraordinary! From that evidence, the subject of my pic is no longer in question. Thanks to all who offered assistance - Cheers!

Much appreciation to all of those that have offered information that might identify the loco in my picture - thank you. I'm not sure if we've reached a consensus though... A coincidence indeed, Neil! Wow, so I missed all that? so near, yet so far to fulfilling my Warship dream. (I don't think the family would have appreciated me taking in the sights of Laira though - they were all sat in the car while I bumbled round the station for half an hour. That was all I got before we had to move on to the next scenic delight) Thanks again.

In the summer of 1972 the family was on holiday in the Cornwall/Devon area. I managed to badger my Dad into stopping at Plymouth Station for about half an hour, in the hope that I might see a Warship - little did I know then, that they'd had a heavy purge the year before, so never actually saw one in service. Anyway, as a special holiday bonus, I was allowed 3 frames from the families holiday film to take at the station, and took one of a 47, a 'Peak' No 122 (is that a '45?), and this one: The thing is, at this distance in time, (precisely) 45 years-on, I can't be 100% sure of it's identity. I always had it as D1051 'Western Ambassador' in my mind for some reason, so perhaps something stuck from the day, but is there any way to tell for sure? Was there anything specific marking that loco out from the others that might positively identify it as such from the photo? Cheers

You may have seen this, and possibly a bit later than the time period you're after, but a nice shot on the excellent 'Derby Sulzers' website showing brand new Ellesmere Port built Vauxhall Viva HCs loaded on flats at Hooton in 1972. http://www.derbysulzers.com/5052hooton72.jpg Cheers

Thanks for the reply David - appreciated. All makes sense, and although I pretty much agree with all the reasons you have outlined, I was asking with my selfish 4mm railway modeller hat on - so any sense on my part goes out of the window! Even a 'taster' range of just a few models might test the water? All food for thought though. Cheers.

I’ve read through this thread, and I am quite surprised that while permutations of cars, buses, lorries, and road borne plant, are frequently cropping up as wished for, there remains one mode of mechanised transport that has not been mentioned anywhere (unless I’ve missed it). I don’t know about everyone of course, but when I was growing up (60’s), the majority of my neighbours didn’t own a car – if they needed to get anywhere, it was walk, cycle, bus or train …unless of course, you had a motorbike as cheap run-around transport – and a lot of people did, including my Dad, with his BSA Bantam (goggles, gauntlets, flying boots and all). So, my question is: Why no motorcycles in the Oxford range? Has this topic been discussed elsewhere? – if so, my apologies, I haven’t found it. The Prieser (10081) and Noch (15904) motorcycle packs are OK-ish (though H0), but don’t look all that representative of British machines to me, and are certainly not to the quality of the ‘Beeza’ attached to Oxford’s sidecar combinations thus far. As this is a round-about way of getting a wish list in, would there be any ‘mileage’ in a range of small, medium, and large British motorcycles from the 50’s/60’s, another from the 70’s (but with a heavy Japanese influence taking place, and another from the 80’s/90’s? Separate riders for riding, or removable for when parked? If the front wheels could be turned for a parked vehicle, so much the better. The motorcycles could be packaged in a set of three (say) – I was thinking something like: 50s/60’s (Small): Triumph Tiger Cub BSA Bantam Francis Barnett/ Greaves/ James 50s/60s (Medium): Triumph T90 BSA C15 AJS / Royal Enfield/ Norton/ Ariel 50s/60s (Large) Triumph Bonneville / Thunderbird BSA Shooting Star / Gold Star Vincent Black Shadow / Brough Superior … Emergency and military variants too. 70s/80s (Small) Suzuki AP50 Yamaha FS1E Honda 90 70s/80s (Medium) Honda CB400/CB250 …etc …etc – hope you get the picture… I guess this would be probably too ambitious, and a smaller selection would be more viable, at least in the first place. Add in some Lambrettas, and Vespas; then you could have a ‘Brighton 1964’ or ‘Mods and Rockers’ gift cameo set for all the Southern region fans, containing 2 x scooters and 2 x motorcycles, plus an Austin LD ‘black maria’. For modern image? Well, I’m not well up on modern bikes, but modern scooters are all over the place, and at the bigger end of the scale Hondas, Suzuki Bandits and the like would seem prevalent? Gold Wings and Harley-D’s for ‘Large’? I haven’t seen any model mobility scooters, though I don’t doubt that someone, somewhere has done them. So is there a reason for no motorcycles? Practicality of only two wheels (I.e. standing them up), and that’s why Oxford have only done them with sidecars? Or is there no demand? Limited returns on the investment? More intensive to assemble? I’d genuinely be interested to know what people think.

Great stuff Jim - took me right back! Loved it. ..and 'Snap!' - recognised Crewe Works Open Day 24th September 1977, and matched up an EM1 screen grab with a photo I took on the day...

Only just found this thread - please excuse a latecomer. I only live 'down the road' from Buckden, and I have to say you have captured the feel of the place to a tee! I remember the old station building well (but long closed when I came to know it) - unfortunately, no photos. I agree with the earlier comment that the whole area has taken on the appearance of a lunar landscape recently too... Not Buckden, but close - have you seen this website?: http://huntingdon.ccan.co.uk/content/category/categories/transport/rail Some unusual shots of the line around the ECML, Huntingdon and Godmanchester including demolition trains - may be of interest? If you've seen it before, apologies - and I'm looking forward to your next developments and watching with interest!

Two photos I took at Warrington Arpley - circa.1986: 20077 20195 and 20143

Mentioned numerous times earlier in the thread, but here's my contribution of 44 008 at Chester in Jan '78. One at Chester General, and the other heading out under the city walls. Apologies for the quality, but the light was going, and the Instamatic couldn't cope very well... Hmmm - no Class 24 in this shot?

At Crewe Heritage centre c.1994...

There may confusion between the Brown-Boveri 18000 and the MetroVick 18100 here? 18000 used heavy fuel oil and 18100 used aviation kerosene.

Just an observation, but I'd say the Cuneo painting came first? The painting shows the original wraparound windows (I reckon), and the model has the 'as modified' set up.

Looking good, I'm following with interest! Is the track plan finalised now? Just for inspiration, does Birkenhead Mollington Street tick any boxes for you as a base design? Certainly had atmosphere - you might be able to get some details from this pic: Good luck, whatever!

...and 'Sutton Park' here at Post #68 might be of interest: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/2848-forgotten-railways-of-the-midlands/page-3

Correct LNERGE - as you say, J2456 is taken from the B1043 just on the outskirts of Offord (Cluny). As we speak, the new A14 is being constructed, and will obliterate this view.

Gilbert - The second picture on post #14677 - is that a spring in the 4 foot? Anything lost it's bounce?

Wasn’t sure where to place this, ‘UK Prototype Questions’? I reasoned though that ‘Road Vehicles’ would find most of the people with the knowledge… It’s regarding a road vehicle that has become rather intimately, but unintentionally, connected to the railway. Does anyone know the identity of this coach which is ‘somewhere in Scotland’, and can anybody identify the location too? (Apart from ‘somewhere in Scotland’) My father took this snap in either 1952 or 1954 (I can’t remember), whilst on a motorcycling tour. I know he visited Gareloch, Fort William, and Inverness, and I ‘think’ the photo shows the coach branded with ‘SMT’, but it's not totally clear (Is that Scottish Motor Transport?). That’s all I have. No reason for the questions really, I’d just be interested to know and appreciate any details that anyone can fill in - it may interest people anyway.

Ooops, sorry Brushman - 50037 was what was written on the back of the pic - I guess my note taking was even worse than my camera skills. You're right, it was a works open day...

Thanks Gary - yes they have a certain charm regarding the faded colours and format, and that they record a certain place and time, which is priceless! I must admit though that I never fail to impress myself with my natural flair for composition that plonks everything to the left.... I never did manage to compensate for the fact that the instamatics' viewfinder was offset in relation to the lens.