Trevellan

For some reason I missed this thread when it started and am really pleased that the book is being reissued. I saw an original copy soon after publication and was completely bowled over. Colin Gifford - along with a few other notables - has been one of the strongest influences on my railway photography ever since.

Thanks for revealing the origins of the LT stock. I'm old enough the remember the last Qs in service (on the East London Line), as well as the last few CO/CP stock trains. Photographically, I did better with the 1938 stock on the Bakerloo and the R stock on the District. Model-wise, at present I only have one set of the EFE 1938 stock in IoW condition. I note your comment about bearings for these. Out of the box mine have substantial rolling resistance!

Some lovely images of Torrington there Darren. Personally, I'm looking forward to you getting some shots of a class 22 on the "milk"...

This is coming on nicely. Love the LT stock! The feline interest made me laugh. When I built my nephew's roundy-roundy one of their cats decided to muscle in and was mesmerised by the Bachmann 158 we used to test my wiring. At one point he looked about to pounce on the train, so we gently evicted him soon after!

If it was indeed a smaller version of the W class 2-6-4T it should be straightforward to come up with a suitable drawing.

Ah, but the 22s will look great on Torrington Darren, especially if you apply some of your trademark weathering.

I agree with Ed. The MRJ exhibition was grossly overcrowded but on balance I'm glad I went along because it was definitely a show out of the ordinary. I did queue for Hursley for what seemed like ages before I got five minutes in front of it. A superb model by any standards, so I hope it's still in existence and operational.

The Captain, speechless? Whatever next? But yes, really good stuff.

For most of my major photographic purchases I have used Warehouse Express in Norfolk for several years. Their prices are competitive and the service I've received has always been good. I've no idea whether they'll stock your battery. Have a look at www.warehouseexpress.com

I think the Western looks smart in freight grey. The only reservation I have is that the front end needs some tweaking with the headcode boxes removed - symmetrical lighting perhaps?

Thanks for the latest pictures, which demonstrate the unique atmosphere of your layout. I particularly like the gronk on ECS – a nice bit of weathering. I can almost smell the spilt fuel and accumulated gunge below the running plate!

My model of D8229 arrived from Camborne yesterday, but will have to wait until tomorrow for a run on the Bachrus rollers. Still, coming from Cornwall I’m sure it’s been blessed by a pisky (at no extra charge) and will undoubtedly run like a dream.

In my little group we just called the D82ers and D84ers. I'm sure the drivers and fitters had their own pet names...

Southernman46 asks what the class 15s sounded like. The Paxman engines were totally different to the English Electric and Sulzer-engined locos that frequented my home area. I spent many hours in the mid/late 1960s around my local railway when these (and the class 16s) were still running on trip freights and parcels workings. Memory may be playing tricks but I seem to recall they sounded like a Valenta-engined HST - obviously without so much volume and turbo-scream. I can recall them pulling out of Broxbourne after standing for a while and throwing out some black smoke as the power wound up. Sadly, I never blagged a cab ride in one, but a friend at that time became a secondman shortly before the 15s were withdrawn and he confirmed that the view was never particularly good in any direction. Their duties were, in the main, either lost or taken over by 20s and 31s, so no real contest in terms of reliability, crew comforts etc. Still, like them or not, the 15s and 16s provided some variety for us local spotters and they did have character.

In terms of running qualities I suppose we've been spoiled to some extent by Heljan's earlier efforts. My 33s and 47s are all superb, smooth runners. Then along came the Clayton. My 14 had another 20 minutes on the Bachrus rollers last night and it still seems a bit jerky at low speeds. All lamp irons and footsteps appear to be present and correct, although I haven't plucked up the courage to check the bag of bits yet...

Well, I had mine running on the Bachrus rollers last night and it went from being jittery to relatively smooth with about 20 minutes in each direction. Not a patch on a Hornby 08, of course, but very little is. Overall, I think it is a nice model, capturing the purposeful look of the prototype well. Yes, the pick-ups are a bit 1960s Tri-ang/Hornby but they can be toned down. It'll be interesting to see if Bachmann decide to scale up the Farish version, as I'm sure there would be a bigger market for these at a more reasonable price.

I was fortunate to see many Austerities working in NCB service in NE England and South Wales in the early 70s. The sight and sound of one of Maesteg's allocation propelling a string of loaded wagons up an incline is something never to be forgotten. As others have said, they are strong for their size and more powerful than some smaller ex-BR locos. The IoWSR has made good use of its two Austerities while the Adams O2 is being overhauled - and the O2 is less powerful. Yes, a blue saddle tank does grate a bit with ex-SECR and LSWR coaches, but the Westinghouse pump is authentic and sounds the part. We suspend disbelief all the time with our modelling. Is this really any different?

Thanks for the update Gareth. I'm looking forward to receiving mine.

I've found the image I mentioned earlier in this thread and I'm not as senile as I thought. It was indeed E9131E and was used on a Merrymaker Mystery Tour from my home area to Southport. The shot was taken after arrival at Southport. At the buffer stops was class 40 no. 308, having hauled us from Crewe. The date was 22nd September 1973.

Interesting stuff. I had no idea that Gresley buffets worked on the Southern. A great excuse for a rake with a differnce.My thanks to Phill and Mark for their contributions. The Merrymaker Mystery Tour I travelled on was from Broxbourne and we ended up in Southport. I won't go OT, but the traction was notable. I think the buffet may well have been 9131, but I really must dig out the picture I took at Southport...

If my memory serves me correctly, three Gresley buffets made it into blue/grey livery: 9128, 9131 and 9135. I remember seeing one on a Merrymaker excursion in September 1973. I took a black and white picture of it, but cannot recall if I've scanned the negative yet. You may also be aware that some BR Mk1 buffet/restaurant cars received Gresley pattern bogies as an experiment.There's some good reference material around if you are prepared to do some research.

Glad to find you on the new RMweb Dave. Like you, I have struggled a bit with the new look but I guess it will all become familiar eventually...

I may have missed references to layout dimensions on the old thread, but I had assumed Waverley West to be a lot bigger than the dimensions quoted with the trackplan. I hasten to add this is not a negative observation - I'd currently kill for that sort of space for a layout! What it does show is that you've incorporated a lot into the available space, but without it appearing in any way crowded.

It must be great fun to operate and it's good to see the shots of Haymarket with Deltics. Keep them coming please.