tomparryharry

Hello Dave, it might prove cheaper to use some brass wire, to make your own. I've made mine from small staples, but in steel. It's vary good for manual dexterity, in either metal. 

Cheers, Ian.

It's a 4-wheeler, so pay particular attention to the coupling rods on the drivers. It 'might' be that a coupling rod is out of sync with the model, but in one direction only. If the drivers are coming off, then check the quality of the quartering. Check the relation betwixt axle(s) and driving wheels. Does it crab? If running, the loco favours one side of your track; reversing, and the loco has a tendency to 'move over'.

I hope that might help.

Cheers,

Ian.

On 22/07/2023 at 13:39, The Johnster said:

 

 

 

A 45xx could legitimately be produced in Rhondda & Swansea Bay red.

I think you need to check it in RCTS, John. It might well be red, but I think it's actually black, with white, blue & yellow lining. I could be wrong, however....

On 22/07/2023 at 13:39, The Johnster said:

 

Work-experience employee... "Hey! I wonder what this button does...."

I can never, ever understand peoples' fascination with the intimate gritty details of Hornby. Little wonder that other companies keep information sewn up tight until it's ready.

Mr. Kohler has had a glittering tenure at Hornby, and in time, I'll even forget the mess-up with the 42-72xx tanks...

Miss Hoern  leaving? Well, it's Thanet, really. It does that to people. The all-embracing aroma of cabbage & cauliflower... I doubt very much that Ms Hoern will be changing Hornby to Tescos at Westwood. 3-4 positions over an 8-year period will always look good on a CV, so good for her, I say. 

It's crude to mention salary figures on a public forum such as this; I'd be bloody annoyed as well.  One less customer for the rock & sweetshop down along the seafront....

On 01/07/2023 at 23:33, The Johnster said:

 

Drop me a PM if you're ever in the Cardiff Area, Andy, we'll meet up somewhere for a pub lunch and I'll be more than happy to accommodate your desire to hear about meagre amounts...

 

I would say there is a difference between socialising with friends and having 'friends' that exploit opportunites to display conspicuous consumption at your expense.  Your 'friends' sound to me to be definitely in the latter category, and perhaps you should seek the company of people who are more deserving of it.  I certainly have chums and acquaintances who are millionaires or not far off it (not an unusual achievement these days), and while some of them go on several foriegn hollys every year, live nicely in decent sized houses, run posh cars, and in one case a light aircraft*,  they do not seem to be insecure enough to feel the need to talk about it much, and don't behave like this at all; I wouldn't spend time with them if they did! 

 

 

*'Biggles' does talk about flying a lot, but, then, it's his hobby and passion, and I talk about model trains a lot, so fair enough!  He even grew a handlebar moustache!

Vote #2 from here. 

1 hour ago, spikey said:

 

I seem to be in a minority of one in failing to see how anyone can find anything degrading unless they choose to see it that way.  

I've worked since I was 15, and right from the off, the taxman has looked for what he wants, and left me the rest. The perception is that 'they' have first dibs on 'my' money. I was unemployed for a while in the late 70's-early 80's, and going to sign on was, for some, quite traumatic. Having to justify my existence to someone who knows nothing about me, or judging me, is tantamount to an insult. I didn't want to be unemployed, but I was, and had to suffer the visit to the dole once a fortnight to 'sign on' is degrading, which, or whatever you want to call it, is exactly what it was. The turnover of office ladies at our local DSS was very high indeed. Why? Seeing the desperate faces every day, and asking the same invasive questions, removed any sheen of the job.  It's all-pervading in some parts of the country. I don't know where you are, but seeing 439 of my friends losing their jobs is a bitter situation I had to witness. I worked with some of the finest people I ever broke bread with; They were a tight-knit bunch, but even now, I wouldn't change one of them. 

And then, some teenage snotty will ask highly invasive questions. The applicant says he doesn't have any money, But! the person will say "It says here that you did have money, where's it gone? Little wonder the office staff had 4" glass to protect them...

If you re local to Tilmanstone, go and ask... 

I haven't seen one in the flesh:-Yet.  So far, it's looking very good. 

Just observations... Coat hangers on the sander rail, some with a Mackintosh.  Kettle on the stove (these were blessed heavy, with a spigot on the bottom). Certain jobs had an upholstered seat. Fag-ash & cinders in the stove baseplate, water jack in the corner, and an ex WW2 gas mask bag, suspended by a bit of signal wire...

A lot of them were clean; some were not. Will I buy one? Silly question!

19 hours ago, dcordingley said:

There's obviously a good deal of detailed knowledge about Toads on this thread, so I wonder if I might pose a question which has been exercising people on another forum. There is a view that Toads were never fitted with piped brakes, and in consequence were always painted in "unfitted" grey in BR days. Others state that at least some Toads were retrofitted with pipes in the BR era, and therefore appeared in "fitted" bauxite livery. I've seen photographic evidence of at least a couple in bauxite, but I wonder if there was a difference in "fitting" through pipes and/or vacuum brakes. Can anyone shed any light? 

 

David C.    

Some vacuum fitted vans went over to departmental use, and as such, were repainted drab olive.  Local conversions were very much 'ad hoc' in nature, and depended upon what department (or payment/cost centre). Remember that at about 30 years, stock became superannuated for accountancy purposes.

1 hour ago, kevinlms said:

You get a similar type of responce if you ring up to say the internet cable has been damaged - perhaps someone cut it while working in the garden or something.

You get the idiots, who want you to reset the modem and check that the power point is working etc. Or they ask how do you know that it's the cable for the internet that is the broken one. Very tempting to indignantly complain that the internet hasn't work since! But of course you need to be careful, as you risk being hung up on AND they'll list you as abusive!

Their correct responce should be to agree to send someone out, on the proviso (and they can record it) that if it turns out to be a problem caused by you, there MAY be an incorrect call out fee applied.

He he! I reported a call to BT to report a line break... "We need to check the line" Ok, off you go, sez I... 

"It's ok, there's no fault on the line..."

"I've just said to you it's a line break"

"How do you know it's a line break?

"Because half the wires are trailed across the garden, and the other half are whistling in the wind, like I am..."

Then; oh yes, there's more...

Sez operator.... "If it's a line break, how come you're taking to me?

"Have you ever heard of a mobile phone....?  

I

56 minutes ago, spikey said:

 

Can you help me to understand that?  As one who is on a means-tested benefit, I simply fail to see what the problem is.  

 Means testing can be extremely degrading. Some people can cope with the interviews, but a lot of people can't. I know; I'm one of those people. 

The Havenstreet guys did some 'offset planting' when the new carriage sidings were installed. I can't remember offhand, but I'm fairly  sure the replant ratio was roughly 10-1.  Mostly oak as well, and the stand there is self-seeding. 

17 hours ago, The Johnster said:

It's a good point, and I reckon I can tell the 'professional' railwaymen on a volunteer heritage line.  It's not easily definable, but a sort of attitude mixed with an awareness; looking down a train just before it starts to see that all the door handles are in line, checking tail lamps, that sort of thing, done almost subconciously and without cognitive awareness, but done!!!  I still check tail lamps on passing trains, 55 years after leaving the job...

Once you get in the grove, you more or less stay in the groove.

5 hours ago, Northmoor said:

Wasn't it an early senior manager of the the Festiniog - which had more than a few senior British Rail managers amongst its volunteer ranks - that they were, "Not run by railway enthusiasts, but by enthusiastic railwaymen"?

Yes, quite right.

On 20/06/2023 at 22:14, Budgie said:

 

Not only undignified, it could be downright dangerous. What happened it you tripped while running?

You never, ever, run. Running signifies you are not in control. Walking past the general public requires a firm, but relaxed gait. 

When volunteering at Havenstreet many years ago, a lady enquired whether we (footplate staff) were professional. We replied in the negative "No, having a day off, volunteering". "Oh! she replied, I thought you were professional railwaymen, as you looked so relaxed about it". 

I'd suggest that the Keyser worm & screw run in a fixed set of centres. Lifting the motor on the axle centre should only serve to rotate the 'angle'. The mesh staying the same. As Johnster has mentioned, there's nothing to lose by trying. I think it's a mechanical hiccup, rather than electrical, and you can test that by putting a test feed onto the pickup wires.

Hope this helps.

Ian.

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Thanks for avoiding the politics, but I'm not sure I follow.

 

The US FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) outlay from their disaster relief fund is pretty staggering lately.

 

They spent US$1b just on relief for Hurricane Ian (Florida west coast) in 2022. US$347b over three decades. It's not just widespread disasters either. There's been at least two Texas communities destroyed by tornadoes in the last week.

 Michael, it's the old cynic in me, I guess...

FEMA might well have a disaster fund. Good for them, I say.

Anything larger over here will elicit a response such as "here's an umbrella voucher. This will allow you to redeem the VAT value of said umbrella, subject to a fiscal limit of £2:75." 

On 21/06/2023 at 18:35, Ozexpatriate said:

 

 

There is a high cultural value on 'self reliance' in the US, and many people believe that they should not count on the government to rescue them in the case of a disaster.

 

 

Do you honestly, truly, believe that of our current set of clowns? For clarity, I will deliberately omit any references to political parties.  

21 hours ago, OnTheBranchline said:

Or for 4. If you’re really desperate, drink cider.

No desperation here. Get the cider in...

20-something years ago, I was stood in front of a furnace, hand bailing 2 tons of molten aluminium; Sweaty work indeed. A work colleague approached...

"Hey, Smithy..."

Yesss, What's up?

"You know when you have a really cold one, and the condensation  runs down the outside of the glass?"

"Yesss, why?"

"Oh, just wondering..."

Very, very many expletives deleted. "B@$T@*D!!!!

Aha! Define normal!

Retirement? Yesssss!

Workload? Increasing to Gale Force 10!

Ahhhhh! I sound like a shipping forecast! Actually, Mojo has remained, but the list of jobs is relentless. Modelling is zero, but I know it'll return. The current weather is doing wonders for my demeanour; I haven't smiled this much since the last time....

We're still working through the house renovations, but some 'prep' work has been done, namely lifting the suspended floor and getting in 150mm (6") of Kingspan insulation. Nearly all of the near neighbours have gone over to gas combis, and ripped out their fireplaces.  We altered our dining room, but I'm keeping the front room fire fully functional. The big secret, IMHO, is not to get the house 'hot', but to keep it 'pleasant'. Getting cool? Put a thin jumper on.....

We haven't re-done the upstairs bedroom (front) but when we get to it, I'm thinking of a flue-based heat exchanger, with a facility to enable a hot water supply to a tap. At least that way, civilisation can be retained...

I mistakenly over-ordered insulation for the shed project (nearly completed), but I had more than enough in stock for the shed ceiling, and the ground floor in the house.

Mrs. Smith is currently researching the growing of potatoes in the back garden. Chips with everything!

On 07/06/2023 at 19:59, 45655 said:

A (sadly late) clergyman friend in Yorkshire used to say that his greatest fear when doing parish visiting was being offered tea with condensed milk…

 

Keith

Alton.

Coffee with tinned milk is ok, but no sugar. That way, you can taste the coffee. Tea is likewise. No sugar, and as strong as you can make it.

I've never tasted Oreo's, and I suppose I never will; not being in the frame of desire. The Lincoln biscuits are made in Ireland, as are the lemon biscuits made at Peak Freans. 

3 hours ago, ndg910 said:

I can just about justify one on the basis I have a 94xx and venerable Dapol County that dont quite fit my late 30s/early 40s time period either. I was hoping for the whitewash car or GWR Dynamometer car but very happy with this. Now where is that wishlist gone? - Aberdare, 1101 class dock tank, Toplights, Super Saloons......

 Well, the toplights are 25% of your list, so that's not bad. 

The poor old Aberdares  are a real niche, after all, there was only 80 of them ...Meanwhile, on another unrelated page, Flying Scotsman is due another release. After all, it's been 6 weeks, Y'know!

1 hour ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

Usually something a bit bigger than a small tank engine for fuel purposes. Ivatt and BR Standard 2MT 2-6-0s seemed popular in BR days. Possibly due to the tender cab when running in reverse.

 

One behind a Collett Goods here.

 

http://steammemories.blogspot.com/2014/12/western-region-w-80974-w-inspection.html

 

 

 

Jason

It depends on where the loco is going, Jason. The water stops dictate what loco is used, as you probably know. 

I can see why; it's a good choice, and quite pretty, to boot. I can visualise a 48xx (or pannier) tootling around the system. It's not normally for me; after all, it's about as rare as a Gibbons Blue Backside on the system. 

That said, it'll probably sell very well, and why not?  As a bit of a footnote, there is a ex-Western saloon on the Pontypool & Blaenavon railway.