tomparryharry

That lad might remember that day for the rest of his life, especially if those memories are positive. Well done to the operators of London Road. It takes a certain degree of 'enlightenment' which is sometimes missing today. Ian.

The hoarding on the shunting puzzle reads "Smasha, Bangham & Renchitt, Motor Engineers". Ian.

My earliest memories are from the very early sixties. I'd guess that I'm fast moving into the minority. A lot of my research started with the 1970'a, when a lot of stuff was only 10-ish years old. After that, I'm either into books, or artefacts that are still extant. Ian.

I think you're being too hasty. They did send Fred (the office boy) to fetch some new paint for the web site. His use of Canary Yellow, on a Cerise background, bordered by a Daffodil shading, was 'inspired'. Sam L'Spade.

Well, the 34xx-94xx book has shown up. Now for a very large mug of tea, and a serious dose of looking at. It's either some awful television programme, or some historical research. Easy really..... Cheers, Ian.

Oooh! Stephenson Clarke, Bargoed. Cambrian, Ely valley. Tirpentwys, Pontypool, PJJP, Pontypool, Any of the 10,000 wagons, run by 1,000 collieries, Coal factors, railway companies, shipping companies, industrial end users, chemical end users,, etc. The delightful little Peckett was a local locomotive to Tymawr colliery, Pontypridd until the early sixties. If you type in any of the collieries, Google will come up with the Welsh coal mining pages. These are listed by county, so Glamorgan, Monomouthshire, etc will be readily to hand. Happy hunting! Ian

In keeping with Bachmann using he letter A, Farish have now also, started using the same letter. Some confusion exists, as to the font style of the letter, and it's size. An insider noted: "It's all very well having a new A, but we need to consider the relative scale, and which era the letter A was introduced". He continued:- " There are a multitude of letters, some within boxes, and some without. To simply release letters, without due regard to sizes & era is just a problem awaiting to happen. Before you know it, you'll be knee-deep in eras, colours, fonts, capitals, bolds & feints", as he underlined the problem". Sam L'Spade.

I was given to understand that the 1944 -45 Great Western locomotive requirements indicated that new locomotives were needed to replace the last of the amalgamated companies' locomotives. Pretty much all of the remaining Taff Vale, Rhymney, & Cardiff railway locomotives. Typically, about 4F power. In all, these numbered some 190-ish locomotives. This dovetails neatly into the class 94xx builds. Ian.

I've always reckoned that there is a 'good' market for a re-worked 2721, with greater fidelity & detail. Strangely, I've also thought that it would most likely Hornby might do this. After all, why not? Apologies for taking this topic for going over to the Bachmann thread. Cheers, Ian.

You're probably about right. Please excuse my poor mathematics! Ian.

According to my drawings here, the 64xx 'should' be 31'1" over buffers, whilst the 94xx 'should' be 33'2" over buffers. That 'should ' equate to 124.03mm (64xx) and 133.66mm (94xx). I think I've got that right. That's about 9.63mm longer. Please feel free to check my figures, but it does go to show how much larger the 94xx actually was. Ian.

I do like your photo- very nice. I'm just awaiting the book, and then I'll have a go myself. My first go wasn't too bad, or difficult either. They both run ok already, so I'm looking forward. All of the add-ons are not too expensive, or difficult to make or obtain. Cheers, Ian.

On a purely personal note, but too late, I feel. It would have to be pretty spectacular the greater price commanded by he 94xx, over the 57xx. However, I'm sure that it will command an interest. Ian.

The Taff Vale were well on their way to amalgamating a group of Welsh-based companies, notably the Taff, Rhymney & Cardiff Railways. The Barry were dead-set against it, seeing it as a larger competitor. The geography of the Taff valley above Cardiff would have much changed, had the amalgamation gone through. Ian.

Just awaiting my copy of the pannier Papers to be delivered (34xx). Then, I'll give my Limby 94xx a serious dose of looking at. Ian.

That's a nice collection of photos. You can't have too many when something as important as this is happening. More the merrier, I'd say. Ian.

Brunel did, indeed, have a plan to take the atmospheric railway, all the way to Paris. Upon reaching Dover, the apparatus was expanded to full bore, and pulled through from the French side. At Calais, the apparatus reverted to the original mode of transport. The local engineers called it 'Le Suck'. Original tests proved promising: far in advance of anything seen thus far. However, it was not to be. Confusion ranged supreme at the middle of the tunnel, as it went from Right hand drive, to Left hand. This effectively destroyed the vacuum, rendering the system inoperable.

There's no reason why not. Hawksworth was well on the way, regarding this. If you look at the County, there's a lot of 8F in the mix. There is a lot of get-atability, just like the 15xx. Ian.

My graphic skills are non-existant, but.... Great Western Railcar front (later series 22 onwards) 47xx 0-8-2 facing rearwards, cab merged to railcar. Hawksworth 8-wheel tender. Oil fired, of course. Copper capped chimney? Wouldn't you? Ian.

Sorry Gents, more thoughts. Now Corbs has made up his list of excellent illustrations, it would have to be an 4-8-2. I can't see a bogie pivot under the firebox, it's just asking for trouble in real life. It would also need oil firing. You're fast approaching the physical limitations on a single fireman. I do like the look of that mixed traffic 2-8-2, BTW. Cheers, Ian.

I haven't done a conversion from the later Bachmann 57/8750 chassis yet. Is/are there any pointers to using the later chassis? Will it fit? Cheers, Ian.

Hello Dave, Happy new year! Do you still plan to release that lovely looking MSC Austerity, which we saw some months back? I've been a really good boy, and Santa still hasn't arrived..... Cheers, Ian.

In fairness to note, Kernow have listed models before, such as the steam railmotor. Nothing to stop Bachmann, mind. But, I won't hold my breath. I've got 3 Limby models here, so even if Bachmann bought them out presently, it will be too late. Ian.

It stopped every night at Westbury. On the engineering jobs, it worked up as far as Newbury, then reversed over Enborne Junction. Thence Woodhay-Eastleigh, where it picked up the coast route to Newhaven. Crew changes at Brighton. I saw the 5-BEL there many times as a 'nipper'. Sam L'spade

Hmm, more thoughts.... Lose the Cartazzis. 2 cylinders leading, 2 cylinders trailing. Oil fired. The leading connecting rods to axle n02, the trailing connecting rods to axle n03. Bogie both ends, so still a 4-8-4. Problems, however, with the bogie pivotal bearings in under the firebox. Long rearwards smokebox methinks...... Ian.