tomparryharry

Your locos will need minor attention at Tondu. So ideally, you can use a 'borrow' from any of the sheds like Llantrisant (pannier or 42xx) Canton, Ebbw Junction, or even. Severn Tunnel Junction. Anywhere else, and you're over the borderline. Brand new locos, ex works from Caerphilly (stored in the Rhymney Railway's old C&W workshop, or just returned from Barry after a H/G, because Barry re-started doing these in the late 50's. The world is your oyster. Ian.

I've just taken out my 002 model, after being stowed away for a year. I've lightly oiled the loco for testing. Nothing, zilch. The other two models are just fine & dandy. As others have suggested, I've cleaned behind the wheels (thanks folks). I finally tracked the fault down to a dry joint on the 'chip' socket. I moved that, and it took off like a scolded cat.... "Slow down yer bu**er!" So, here's the problem. I see that there are 4 wires leading back into the loco body; 2 black, 2 red. I'm a DC luddite; I'll never chip the loco. So..... which ones do I cut & rejoin? Any insight or such is, as usual, gratefully received. Cheers, Ian. Update 5th December. Well, success of sorts. Having taken out the chip socket, and the blanking plug, I thought I'd give it another try. The loco exhibited fits & starts, which meant a partial fault somewhere. It couldn't be a complete fault; after all, electricity was getting through now & again. I did find a fault in the transverse movement of the axles. the leading & middle axles moved across beautifully, but the rear drivers? Oh dear! So, out with a dab of electrolube, and after a while, we had movement with all 3 axles. Back to the rolling road, and lo & behold, powered movement. However, it's still fits & starts, which leads me to possibly conclude that there may indeed, be a dry, or partial joint on the board. I may hardwire the circuit, and circumvent the board. I've reasoned that the 4 board cables are just an inserted portion of the process, so I may go down that route. I know I'll lose DCC capability, but I'll willingly trade fancy gimmicks for absolute reliability. Me? Luddite? You don't say! Naturally, any input from fellow RM Webbers is gratefully received.

If you're working with an exchange siding, then I'd guess so. Being 1950's, austerities were still pretty new, so you're likely to have a pristine loco. NCB, British Steel (early 1960's), pre-nationalised steel, opencast, In fact, any location. Personally, I'm looking forward to the MSC variant. Arthur of this parish has done a very nice rendition; well worth the wait. Cheers, Ian.

Dear Santa, Please can we have... A new model Dean Single. A 6-wheel Peckett. Something different, say, something Eastern. You know Hornby doesn't do much of that sort of stuff.... Dai Jestive.

Aah! Not my work Mike:- Honest! As I'm typing this, I've just found a photo of 1655 on the down relief at Pontypridd goods yard. even more reason to add one or two.... Googling the 'Coflein' pages takes you onto places like Treforest Estate. One image shows a pannier at work at Willowford. You can see the steam, and you can see the loco & train. Unfortunately, although you can make out a pannier, it doesn't show 'what type' of pannier; shame. The drop down from Maesmawr was lightly laid, on mostly ash from Upper Boat Power station. I wouldn't guess it's a red route! Cheers, Ian.

Well, bring it on. Funnily enough, I'm not enthused about the 15 & 94xx panniers. Don't ask me why, I just don't know. It must be me. That said, I've got 2 Limbach 94xx here, and they work very well indeed. Yes please, looking very much forward to this. Mucho playtime! Wheeeeee! Ian. Oh, did I forget to add? Put me down for one, please. BR black, early or late, it doesn't matter. 1620 number plates, Why people think I'm a lazy so-& so, I don't know why......

That means you'll have (GASP!) Lincoln biscuits. Anyway, cold tea is not the problem. it's weak tea that is the real scourge of our age. Young George (who knew how to make proper tea at Bachmann) went out to buy biscuits when the 94xx project started.... We haven't seen him since..... Co-Co Knutt

Abercynon shed had a couple of 16xx. I need to check, but one was diagrammed to work at Treforest Estate, and Treforest tinplate works, Try as I might, I can't find evidence of what locomotives worked there before the arrival of the 16xx Cheers, Ian.

Not far now for the 19mm stuff........

I can think of one where 4-6-0 is certainly a niche (although nice) example. Of course, when it comes to 2-6-0, we have a couple of Western examples to choose from. When it comes to the prairie tanks, we have an additional two examples to drool over. If a new RTR example was released every year, I'd be long dead before they reached the end. Cheers, Ian.

Hey! Stop copying me! That's my train set you've been talking about! Anyway, I like to ring the changes. I'll change the pannier to run bunker first.... Now, where's my Triang clerestories....? S.C. Rooge.

Well, mine was a late release (4871, weathered). It had an hour each way on the rolling road, after being lightly oiled. I'm not on DCC, if that has any bearing on the issue. It runs just fine. Having read other readers on here, I might consider putting a piece of lead in the smokebox, should it be required. But the lead thus far, has remained in the spares box, awaiting the call. Happy weekend everybody, Ian. PS. I've always said that the 48/14xx is quite a small locomotive in real life. If you try overloading the rake with 16 Mk1s, you will be disappointed!

I would like a rake of Lieners tank wagons to accompany the 16xx, or an 08 shunter , which tripped the yard every day. Still trying to get more photos though. The Wiggins Teape building was huge, but before my time. I did wonder if there was a connection between Berry Wiggins, and Wiggins Teape proper. Ian.

Probably needs a pannier to take the load. Alright, alright. it's Friday! I'm only joking! I hope you get to the root of the problem. Ian.

Working with a sheerlegs is quite involved, but straightforward. Firstly, select which end of the locomotive you are working on. For instance, lets say a 4-wheel bogie on a 4-6-0 locomotive. Position under where you intend to lift. Next, go to the opposite end, (cab end),and slightly lift, and pack up the locomotive frames. This provides enough height to get at what you need. By now, the axlebox keeps will be taken off, and the coupling & connecting rods as well. Lifting the locomotive uses the rear packing as a bearing pivot, and allows enough bearing weight to allow the withdrawal of the bogie. as it lifts, the main driving wheels move through an arc. We would sometimes keep the driving wheels reconnected, depending on the wheelbase of the coupled wheels. Cheers, Ian.

I'd guess a properly-worded request to Mr. York and his trusty team will no doubt make it happen. Yesterday, we all sat down to a little café in Minsterly, Suffolk. Spot-on food, tea, and (gasp) change in the wallet. Happy travelling, folks. Ian.

None, and I never will have. Sorry, but Flying Scotsman just doesn't do it for me. Gauge, size, scale; nothing. Everyone seems hyped up about Scotsman, I don't know why. Give me a Western pannier any day.

Yes. Even then, they're undersize.....

Well, it does depend upon what you want. Tea is generally good, as they can't really mess up tea, and I'm a fastidious tea drinker. Tea, a little milk, no sugar, and as strong as you'd care to make it. Anyway, better & cheaper than most services. I generally don't use McDonalds burgers anyway. As a slight aside, It occurs to me that at any given weekend, there will be a couple of Transit-sized (or larger) vans tootling around the UK, at one show or another. We all know that any show manager will tell you that logistics costs will make or break any show. Finding out where the better value places are can raise your spirits, just by knowing you've saved yourself a possible lot of money, and not ripped off. The value of something like RM Web could be used in a wider application. I travel a lot east-West across the UK, and I know most stops on the way. That's just luck that puts me there. Not as nitty as price per litre, but where it's generally lower, or something to stop outside of the service area. If you ask me to attend to say something like a long cross country journey, I'd be mentally geared up for a long haul, arriving tired, thirsty & generally peckish. I'd bet that I'm not alone, and I'd certainly point out places where my fellow RMwebbers could stop and get a bite, and still have change in the wallet. Perhaps we could have a section on here, called 'travelling & logistics' perhaps. As a demographic, we're a mobile lot, and although a great deal use public transport, we're still wedded to motorised, private, transport. Happy weekend, Ian.

In situations like this, it depends if Mrs Smith is driving, or 'directing' me... If she drives, I'll shut up & enjoy the scenery. On the other hand..... Let's just say I ensure the tank is full, before we leave.... A handy little tip. If traversing the M4, there is a massive Sainsbury just off Junction 12, Reading West. (take the A4). It avoids the services, food and general quality are leaps & bounds better, and there is a McDonalds as well. I use this whenever I'm 'feeling the need'. Naturally, fuel is some 15p/litre cheaper, compared to Reading services. Happy motoring! Ian.

Nice one Stuart, I'm really interested in this one. One of the Vivian (Swansea) Garret would be high on my list. Cheers, Ian.

That's an interesting little tool. Where can I buy one? Cheers, Ian.

Much impressed by the images. I spent a minute or two.... Mk1, or MK2 Ford Capri? Having done that, I realised it's an old black & white image. Very convincing... Ian.

Treforest Industrial Estate used to have around 5-6 inglenook-esque layouts on the estate. Mostly with one or two short spur sidings here & there dotted over the place. There was a run-round facility with a wagon capacity of about 15 4-wheel wagons, and a Carriage & wagon depot permanently staged there. I need a road trip back there sooner or later. Scenic breaks a plenty, with single lines weaving in & out of the factories. Typing this brings back a lot of memories... Ian.

I tend to use real coal, on the basis that there's a lot of it about. That granular load looks good, BTW. Ian.