tomparryharry

Please describe a white elephant within the context of your statement. Cheers, Ian.

I've had a look, but a bit puzzled... This gnats doo-dah. Is it imperial, or metric? Is it European, or from elsewhere? Does the gnat know? gnaturally, it's gnormal to have this sort of gnowledge....

I think I'm right when I'd say it's a 16" Hunslet. Also, I'm pretty sure someone made a kit of it.A similar locomotive is Glasshoughton. Ian.

In the case of historical accuracy, some producers are "waiting for the old people to die".

I'd be interested how many 'informed people' would actually apply for this job. Not many, I'd guess. When I went into foundry management, It was an 'internal vacancy'. Lots of 'oohs & aahs' but serious moves to apply? None. When I took my new job, there was lots of wailing, & gnashing of teeth. But, as I've said, you've had your chance. If your applicant passes muster, and can move to Barwell, job done. Worrying about house prices in a town you don't live in is quite frankly, laughable. Have you considered that the new post is commensurate with the financial trappings? Good luck to whom might get the job. Ian.

I always, always, keep a day spare for Mrs Smith. She may not use it, but it is available. If she wants to do something else, that's fine. It's easier to get a day off if I want it. However, it's important to remember that 'you make the spare day' first.... The odd cup of tea, at unexpected times, goes down a treat, as is the odd 'something nice'. It doesn't have to be much: Small box of chocolates, that sort of thing. Another little tip is to always have the kettle on the boil when she comes home. After all, I'd like that cuppa as well. Never talk trains after a mutually agreed time. Remember that you converse on a semi-professional level (I know; I can, and do). That way, I can't bore the ar$e off other people. It is OK to reply to questions, but only the subject in hand. Off now. It's my turn to make that cuppa... Ian. PS. She has 'put up' with me for 30+ years. Still learning the ropes....

I seem to remember you operating Penlan, some years ago. Also I enjoyed it as well. Ian.

You could be right. However, our china clays up here have lengthwise flooring. A 7-plank ruin has a cross planked floor. More research required, methinks.... Ian.

Mrs Smith wants the garage for her motorbike. So, I'm getting the garden shed, which is also fine. However, the shed size is 30'x 10' The door is locked both sides, otherwise other 'stuff' will get dumped there. My reasoning is that I've worked bl**dy hard for the last 40-odd years, now it's 'my' time. The foot is very politely, but firmly, applied. And, my construction job is happening this summer. Cheers, Ian.

On that basis, I could well imagine that the repeat invite was 'lost in the post'.

It could be that both 'operators' are highly introvert. As we all know, that can be quite common amongst us railway modellers. Little wonder therefore, that they were shunning the light; they may be scared witless; clung to each other for the duration of an empty exhibition. It wouldn't be funny for the exhibitor, either. I can just imagine the visitor surveying the dersolate scene with thermos flask & Tupperware box in hand, saying; "Oooh, you've got the wrong period for 1948...." Cheers, Ian.

It might be pertinent to remember that the floor planking is fore & aft, not side to side. Apparently done to allow easier tipping of the clay. Ian.

A bit of both, and in equal measure, if I might say. I've seen some fantastic exhibition kit that'll knock your socks off. But, the exhibitor looks painful, as if someone stuffed a rod up his bum. On the other hand, some exhibitor teams use it as a social occasion, in the wider sense. It's wise to remember that the visitor may not have your sense of perspective. They might know every nail, cotter, dowel & rod on the level crossing, but not necessarily his full compliment of social interaction. You can't fill out a MENSA form to gain entry. That, is one of the great variables of the exhibition, from the neatly dressed & well-informed visitor, to the visitor whom wants to know why the tail lamp isn't lit, but will know how many square yards of cloth in the first-class dining car. You will get them all, from decorum to dandruff. Happy exhibiting folks. Ian.

Taff Vale Railway please... It went well before my time, but enough existed well into the 1980's to have an effect on me, such as architecture, practices, and the social history that pervades the area. Plus, you can't have a Taff Vale locomotive, without at least 50-odd 7 plank wagons in tow. Cheers, Ian.

There used to be a train called the 'Pembrey Paste Traffic'. I would like to know what the wagon rake (plus the locomotive & other wagons ) made up the train. Ian.

This week's driver prize... Reversing the car out of the local hospital. Ford Fiesta comes along, and stopped quite tight behind me. " Need to reverse out of there" sez I. " Can't do that! It's all the way down there!" Sez he. "Well mate, you parked up my ar$e" came the reply" "No! I'm not moving!" "Suit yourself... and got back into our car. Surprise, surprise, he found out how to extricate himself, after all. Some people.... Ian.

Just as long it's not a 7:62 FMJ.

A little too much information, oriental viewer!

So, there I was, minding my own business. The bloke next to me kept trying to exhibit an 3-wheeled coach & elephant. Bit of a conversation point, though.... Ian.

As a slight aside, I wonder what the internal bore of the rail gun is? Is it rifled? I can see exhibitions, where rail borne artillery are taking pot-shots at other layouts across the exhibition hall. Ian.

A biiiig bucket of sand..... When the South African kit was working full bore, in went the sand. It cleans the tubes in an instant, and it takes a lot of the ash with it. Spectacular to see, and just as effective at night. too!. When stopped, the smaller smokebox door was used to clean the screens, and get the bigger stuff out. The ashpans are normally cleaned from the sides, across the grate area. Before those less than politically-correct times, it was usual to see the 'locals' doing these menial sorts of work. There's no sexual discrimination when there are lots of people, all carrying wicker baskets of coal.... Ian.

I'm determined to pay a visit this year. It seems every year, something comes along & tries to stop me! Ian.

I'm not a great lover of cliques myself. Very often, the clique exist to protect the weaker or insecure type of person. That said, as a generality, we 'are' the insecure ones. It can take a great deal of personal bravado to speak to a stranger. I often go to exhibitions. If I want to talk to a particular exhibit, I'll start with "I do like that". The compliment being the opening line. As a rule, it's the reason you'll start in the first place. You want to 'talk' about the subject in hand. A polite conversation will open many doors, far more than you thought possible. A smile opens many doors! Closing a conversation with "thanks for your time" (with the smile), or "thanks folks" leaves a positive impression. Some will glare at the public: it's not always your problem, it could be something else. They could be reeling from the effects of N gauge, no sugar in the tea, or they've soiled their underpants. Someone might have bought unpleasant news, like the chocolate biscuits are missing. The late Ian Hollis always took a 'spare' operator/social speaker/interactor along with Alkham. I learned a great deal from him, and I realised the person asking did, indeed wanted to ask pertinent points about the layout. Ian always encouraged the 'operators' to respond. It was part of the job. Yes, don't be afraid to respond to the questions. Cheers, Ian.

Historically (at least, in South Wales) the 7 plank wagon van was predominant. It's all to do how much cheaper being the carrying capacity of the 12 tonner, as opposed to the 10-ton wagon. I'd guess you will see 5 plank wagons further afield, or as specialised loads. Special coal will sometimes (but not always) travel in smaller loads (breweries, chemicals, etc). Flour was the life-blood of the valleys, so you would see a lot of vans, with companies like Hopkin Morgan, Pontypridd, amongst many others. Many foundries will use copious amounts of flour, (second/third rate foodstuff) used as a parting powder, and animal feed. A chain foundry, such as Brown Lennox, will use quite a bit of the stuff. You wouldn't normally see anything less than a 12 ton, 7 plank wagon on a locomotive job or diagram. A typical tank locomotive will carry what= 3 tons? On a big diagram, that's about 8 hours work. Little wonder, therefore, that the bigger wagon will still only last 72 hours. Naturally, the Western had their own N diagram coal wagons, with 10 ton & the Pole 20 tonner. The 4 & 5 plank have their own place on the railway. Building sand, roadstone, bricks, slates, timber, sanitary ware, wood, glass, terracotta finial work. refractory sand, etc. If you can get it in the 5 plank, the capacity is the limit. Cheers, Ian.

I usually take the shunting plank model to the Isle of Wight show in November. It generates a lot of social interaction, being a bit of a puzzle, a bit of model railway. Last year two lads 'had a go' with the layout, to such a degree of success, that I left them to it, and had a cup of tea! The upside of this is now that I have two 'new' operators for 2018, which allows me to socially interact with the public. Can I 'trust' a new operator? Well, yes, you need to have a degree of trust. If you're running a Pendon level layout, then probably more trust is required, but a pretty standard 00 layout is not going to come to much harm. Of course, the 'operators' are the same age group, and can also engage with both younger & older visitors alike. Me? More tea & sandwiches, and a chance to look over the other exhibits. All sorts, I suppose. Ian.