tomparryharry

Thank you. I remember a Swindon open day, with Shannon on a well wagon. Down past the scrap line was an old tin hut, with hundreds of dets, all ready for disposal. The safety screen was a pair of side tanks, still faithfully inscribed 'great Western'. I regarded everything I saw as 'normal'. After all, it's a very large industry, with very large machines. The size & scale didn't overawe me; I understood the perception, and the scale required. However, those same perceptions hit home hard when I returned last year. The old saying 'don't go back' came true in spades. The foundry would have held professional fascination for me. It takes a lot of space to show a foundry in full flight. Perhaps dangerous to the visitor, but even a 'dummified' demonstration would be better than nothing. The entire operation compressed into a space perhaps 50x20 feet. I felt rather sad. I'm not a Swindonian; I never 'worked inside', but I do know what it takes. Museums should hold directories of aspects of production. If you want to see Western locomotives, go to Didcot. If you want to see iron, go to any of the many educational museums that retain the skills. Blaenavon, Black Country, that sort of thing. Don't let a graduate curator set the scene. I'm not knocking curators in any way, but they will have very little practical experience, and most important:- First hand Interpretation. It's very, very difficult to interpret something, when the 'Rosetta Stone' is thrown in the skip. I like Swindon; The flavour offered is a bit too bland. I know there will be counter arguments about the pros & cons of museums versus real life. I'd accept any of those views. But, 30 years down the road leaves precious little hard evidence. My last example is this; Who remembers old money? Who has still got a florin, or old penny or (even) a farthing? Not many, I'd guess. "We used to use these" You get the picture.... I guess I'm just a sad old man.. Ian.

Brookwood. For some, that was pretty terminal.... B. Ramstoker

I've just noticed that Hornby all 'Swindon'. Display with rods down.... Still, I intend to have one, preferably Westminster. Cheers, Ian.

Oh! Come on! The clevis pins on the sanders are totally different! I don't know, some people......

I'd agree. For Western modellers, the 57-8750 panniers, and the 56xx just about hit the nail on the head by Bachmann. Both locomotives accurately portray just about any Welsh location to a tee. To their credit, Bachmann has appeared to poison their own chalice. After all, why buy the proposed locomotive (which we can't mention) when you can buy its earlier (and equally good) antecedents? Now, if Bachmann want to save money, stop making the generic Toad brake van. The Hornby product is much better in quality & fidelity in this case. The same goes for the same generic 7-plank wagon, done up in all sorts of fictitious liveries. I don't want to knock Bachmann, but c'mon guys! You know you can do better! Happy modelling, Ian.

I travelled to Swindon some months back. The Works turntable looks very unloved, as is the broad gauge turntable uprooted from its old spot. Swindon has always looked forward, and never really backwards. My gut feeling is that the museum will someday be dismantled, purely & simply because there will be no possible way to convey the true meaning of a large industrial concern. It's all very well showing dummies working in a smokebox of a 42xx, but where is the heat from the forge, or the sheer noise & vibration? Where's the riveter's tic-tac? (Riveters used sign language to talk to the throwers & catchers, where's the cone?) Once you lose the skills, it's gone, and gone for good. It would have been better if Swindon filmed everything, and then knocked it flat. At least, you can wipe the slate clean, and start again. There is a beautiful 'apprentice piece' of a locomotive cylinder, in 1/4 scale. It's in the entrance lobby. How can you relate to a new apprentice, when people don't actually know what it's for? I 'd better sign off now. Getting a bit emotional. Cheers, Ian.

1st visit to the 'Small Show' today. Lots to see, and lots of re-acquaintances. It was nice to put faces to names, some of which I've only known via the pages of RM Web. As a so-called small show, it drove a fine line between that, and a RM web get-together. No doubt in large measure due to the venue & organisers, and the people who attended. It ticked a lot of boxes in fine style. Nice work team: Just the sort of 'thing' to have just after Christmas. Blows out some cobwebs, sort of thing. Ian.

Bit of an odds-on favourite with this one. What to do next year? Oh! I know! How about re-tooling that nice (unforgotten) 2721 pannier, with a decent chassis and all the bells & doo-dahs. To be honest though, I don't think we'll see too much after this year. Hornby have pulled out all the goodies this year. Still, not bad going, well done Hornby. Ian.

50 miles is an hour & half journey. You can own a Bugatti or a pogo stick, it makes no difference. What you will do, however, is catch the chap in front a whole lot quicker.... Ian.

It's business, I guess. So, major high street retailer phones up, "can you supply model x range?" You can bet your bottom dollar everyone would be on the case. May I produce Exhibit A, where the late-lamented Woolies portrayed a great range of Airfix products. It's only a hop, skip & jump to the day where you can buy bow-ended Collets along with the Bratwurst. Hornby would give their all to have sales space with either Lidl or Aldi. I could easily see the 'Coke train' that everyone has commented on this week, on sale in you local German oriented food store. At least the bread & milk is fresh! Cheers, Ian.

I think 8 hours on the blade would cut Mr Clarkson down to size... Ian.

The proposed wagons interest me. I do hope they make a reasonably accurate representation of whichever/whatever livery they choose. Companies like Powell Duffryn and Nixons Navigation are a bit of a straight bet, but things like the Cambrian Combine sometimes needs research, as it covers 2 eras. Remember also that a different valley will have a different grade of coal, and a different company that specialised in that type of coal. A degree of additional research will be required to match the wagon to the valley. I look forward to seeing what Oxford can produce. So far, so good. Cheers, Ian. Edit: I've just seen a photo of the 7-plank, ex PO wagon via facebook. It looks quite good, but I do wish Oxford would put some 'other' P numbers on their wagons. Still, they're getting 3-link couplings anyway...

Nice, looking forward to it.

I like it. Touches of Cardiff's West Canal Wharf, and the antique warehouse just under the bridge. I'm assuming it's on show this Saturday? Cheers, Ian.

'Tis a pity that the moulds/tools to the Beyer Garret kit appear to no longer exist. Should such access to the model still existed, I'd bet some enterprising model maker would be making a rather natty nickel silver chassis for it. Just pipe dreaming, me. Happy modelling, Ian.

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A nice little 16-ton mineral wagon, please, to Oxfords current (pretty good) standard, without Bachmann's' silly prices... I reckon that'll sell by the wagonload, pun very much intended.... Happy modelling, Ian.

There are about 5-6 16 tonners at Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway. However, it takes a certain standard of driver to take a rake down the valley, even if fitted stock. Also, the guard has to be up to the mark as well. Ian.

A working vacuum pump? I shall be checking for 25" of vacuum.... Only joking.... I wanted to check the pressure gauge....

It doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, bi, black, white, yellow, purple or blue.... Everyone stoops to pick up the tenner, if you get my drift.... Some of my 'weirdest' clients were also my best customers, as they thought an honest attitude 'refreshing'. Takes all sorts, I guess..... Telling the London Transport joke will get me kicked off the forum...... Ian.

Machinist to graduate trained engineer... Machinist: "What is 3/4 x 1/2?" Graduate trained engineer; "Err, I did Social Sciences in university...." Yes, it did happen. Ian.

I say! This is a family show!

That's very nice indeed. Can I make a few observations? I should stress these are only observations, and they changed over the years. In operating a Barclay, there would be a plank of wood semi-permanently squeezed into the gap on the footplate, so the fireman/driver had something to shovel up to. The safety valve cover 'might ' have been changed for a typical Western style cover. Shunters are 'minimum effort' workers, so don't be surprised if you found a set of 3-link or Instanters hung on the bufferbeam: Less effort required! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished article. Nice! Ian.

That hits the nail very firmly on my head (ouch!). According to Mikes's yardstick, I'm very much a 'targeted acquirer'. The term 'acquirer' hints at items gained my nefarious means. I certainly wouldn't condone such actions, and I know I share the same outlook with the great majority of RMWebbers out there. By the same token with some stuff out there..... "Hang on! I've been robbed!" Ian.

Sorry team, a bit late to the debate. 'snowflake' was a foundry term for someone who couldn't pull his weight. Well known phrase in Cardiff, and probably used elsewhere as well. Cheers, Ian.