tomparryharry

In Taff Vale days, the brake van was tucked in behind the locomotive. The logic being that the loaded train, going downhill, would close up against the loco & van. "Hey Butt! Chuck a bit in! It's gettin' a bit quick yere!" Cheers, Ian.

Hi Corbs, Sorry If I've not explained myself fully. A 42xx is far more suited to short distance work. It doesn't have a water scoop, and, more importantly, a limited water supply (1,800 gallons). The 28xx has a normal 3,500 gallons, and scoop. The ROD fares rather better, being 4,000 (4,250?) gallons). I guess you can alter the bits around, but I've never seen them. As I've said however, you probably wouldn't see a Swindon No1 boiler on the ROD. The Western bought 80-odd of them, which allowed a vast amount of spare parts. The 42xx has extra jointing on the coupling rods, to allow more sideplay on the rods. I don't think I've see them on a 28xx, or an ROD. In the valley work, the42xx is more forgiving on the curved sections. The ROD had a poor reputation on the Western (so I'm told) which was somewhat unjustified. Once again however, if the Western had a particular traffic requirement, then there's nothing to stop us seeing any particular type. Churchward is well known for instructing Harold Holcroft to "get me out a 2-6-0, and bring in all the standard parts you can." History has (I think) been unfair on the poor old ROD. There were 521 built. If it wasn't right, you can bet they would have been rebuilt by other companies of the big 4. A good second-rank (some would say first rank) heavy freight locomotive. Cheers, Ian.

The 42xx and the 28xx do different jobs. The 42 is a short distance movement, the 28 for longer distances. you wouldn't normally see a 28 working 'up' the valleys, but you would see one 'across' the valleys from, say Neath to Pontypool Road, and the long jobs from Pontypool to the Birkenhead area, on the Jellicoe Specials'. The 42xx was excellent iron ore haulage, especially from the midlands, like Banbury, down to South Wales. As we all know, the 72 came about because there was a surplus of class 8 haulage in south midlands/south Wales. The ROD came available because it was cheap! Remember that the GWR was a company, and it answered to its shareholders. The £100 locomotive had a lifespan to the point when it became uneconomic to repair. One of its advantage was that the loco had a huge field of spares. If it had a working lifespan of only one year, then no problem. Take it apart. This only became a proper problem when a locomotive failed to fulfil its expected lifespan. You really don't need to change for a No1 boiler, when there are 50-odd repaired ones awaiting the call. The longevity of the ROD is down to its sturdiness, and a vast spares base. The 28xx appears to be a bit faster. Haulage across the classes seems about the same. Certain jobs on the diagram couldn't be used, as the relatively lower speed meant longer times between block sections. Some night time jobs were specifically meant to be ROD turns, whilst the balancing day turn would be a 28xx. Horses for courses. The big railway was a common carrier by law. That's probably why you see so many different classes, doing vaguely similar jobs. Cheers, Ian.

Thanks to reading other posts on here, I finally plucked up my bootstraps, and finished off my 56xx. Whoopee! And as a further bonus, it works as well! I'm so dizzy now, I think I need to lie down for an hour. Thanks folks. Ian.

Oh dear! Listening? That old phrase springs to mind...."Hoist by your own petard......" By the way, some ones cribbing. The Hornby "Phillips, George, Aberdare" is also the Oxford "Phillips George, Aberdare" Both with the number 251, both in the same livery. Oh, I see! The tampo machine had a drink, and is seeing double! Cheers, Ian.

So, £20:80, minus £16:99, leaves me with what? £3:81? Assuming by that, and that I like 50-wagon trains, means I'm into break even by wagon 5-6. Of course, as you will note, that there is diminishing asset stock as you work through your wagons. The prospect of a prototypical wagon rake in 4mm runs in at £1,000, unless you like short trip work, where you'll see a 9f, with 3-4 on. A daunting prospect indeed. I can't crib however. My 'ideal' is a big lizzie, with the usual 16 coaches on. The piggy bank will get a pasting.... Ian.

Talking of discounts.... The 7 plank wagons.... £16:99. Really? I'm in the wrong game..... Mind you, the tampo operator gets driven to work by a solid gold Cadillac, accompanied by 2 dancing girls, and a whine waiter. Ian.

Got a discount, then!

Mrs Smith has said that when I die, she'll flog the lot. I guess that's ok, after all, I'll be gone. However, if Mrs Smith passes first, then I'll need to extend the railway room.....Quite a large extension, I think.... Ian.

Hornby Express has a certain ring to it. Perhaps Hornby might take your idea and use it to good effect. The idea of awaiting the reduced-cost model might backfire. After all, in these cost-conscious days, to wait 5-6 years will screw up the returns. Time to quietly ditch Design Clever, methinks. If Hornby stick to top-quality product, then their future is assured. Now Hornby. Let's talk about that nice 'extra full-fat, gold top' pannier to complement your very nice Great Western Guards van. Go on, you know you want to..... Cheers, Ian.

To me, the design clever concept seems a backward step. If design clever delivered to a cheaper cost, then the producer would keep quiet. After all, why need to let on? Design Clever appears to me as a PR concept that hasn't done Hornby any favours. Solid moulded pipework on what, after all is Hornby's flagship model, bit sad really. On the other hand, people will still grimble if the finished cost RRP is £12:50, hand delivered in a Rolls Royce, with accompanying Handel's Messiah.... Ian.

Bacon. The aroma of bacon. You can get the colour right, the gauge is down to the last thousands of an inch. But, you can't always replicate the aroma of a footplate breakfast at 06:30 on a cold or snowy morning. Ian.

Is my purchase necessary? Well, it could be.... I do like scale perspective trains. So, a nice little Taff Vale 01 (Wills Finecast) hauling about 50 on is just fine by me. However, no-one makes a Powell Duffryn wagon in RTR, so it's a different colliery company at the moment. Cheers, Ian.

Aah, not quite. Like you, I've paid the mortgage some years ago. I've done my time on the treadmill. However, as I type this, Mrs Smith has been with me, marking out for a 30x10 railway room in the garden. It appears that the odd little 'something nice' pays off. Cheers, Ian.

Ho Ho Ho! You're such a wag! Ian.

Sorry Colin, I can't fully agree to that. I'm in the other camp. We need to hold the producers to account. Otherwise, any producer will sell off any old tat, and at top dollar too. Who wouldn't? My evidence is this:- Which TOAD brakevan would you choose? The 30+- year old Airfix/Bachmann model, or the Hornby version, which is fairly faithful to the real thing? I should point out that like you, I would also like some of the fairly rare exotica to grace my railway room. However, having finally having an opportunity to purchase said exotica, I'd expect it to be top notch. I'd guess that deep down, you owe it to yourself. We all do. Cheers, Ian.

I do like the photo of 2477 outside the factory at Tysley, especially the GW roundel. Any idea of the approximate age? Cheers, Ian.

We've been part way there before. there was a poll to establish what we would like. The result is the AA13/15 variant by Hornby. It's pretty well known that we will ask for ever increasing fidelity models. It's also well known that we will choose to pay extra (within reason) to achieve that. The onus remains with any producer (not just Oxford) to raise the bar, and possibly reap the rewards. If you want better quality or fidelity, you will need to lead the producer to the water. Pushing the beast is like a stubborn mule; it won't work. Education is the key. Above all, tell them when they get things right. Nothing acts more than a bit of positive encouragement. If, on the other hand, your pleas fall on deaf ears, not to worry. There are lots of other avenues to pursue. you can always compare quality & fidelity across the labels, and make your choice accordingly. Caveat Emptor! Cheers, Ian.

If those nice Hornby people would re-work a lovely little Great Western pannier or two, that would be a clever design.... And now, Potter-like, I'll scurry back under the stairs..... Cheers, Ian.

I'd guess that Skalextric sells more than model railways. That, I'd guess is your biggest problem, as the demographic continues to shift. "We'd make more, but we're waiting for the old bu**ers to die". Not me, you understand, just what I overheard at Tesco's superstore in Westwood Cross.... The Gr1m Reaper.

Oh dear! I do hope Hornby stay away from Design Clever. I remember the negative publicity surrounding the 42/72xx models, and the 2HAL emu's as well. Hornby have redeemed their approach to fidelity & quality in the last few years, and are to be congratulated. People will buy good quality models: They may grumble about the price. But sales still continue. You wouldn't see re-runs of the Big Lizzies or the Peckett otherwise. Cheers, Ian.

Slightly off-topic, but.... As a kid in the sixties, we had a local wallpaper/decorating shop. Every year, the shop owner put a window display at Christmas, mostly Triang model railway, and quite a large layout. I would spend ages in front of the widow, transfixed. It got to the point that the shop owner came out, and invited me in to run this (for me) this huge layout. Naturally, I had the time of my life. Father had the shock of his life, walking past, and seeing me operating. Secretly, he was a little bit jealous, as he wanted to have a go as well! However, that Saturday afternoon has firmly stuck with me down the years, and the generosity extended to me as a kid was, and still is, a hugely positive experience. Ian.

From here, it looks good. For my tastes, I'd been needing to take the shine off the handrails, etc. Time for the piggy bank to make an involuntary donation, methinks.... Ian.

John Hall Tools, Churchill Way. I bought my first H&M Duette, which I still have! Lendons was a bit of a hike, from Heath High level, all the way down Fidlas Road. I started my first SMP soldered track there. Happy days! Ian.

Rice pudding, if left in the fridge, can go cold. Forget all of that scale stuff. What about 000? Lone Star Treble0-lectric, anyone? Ian.