JohnH

I'm just making an observation and expressing an opinion Paul and I was interested to hear what other owners of the model thought. I have studied your excellent wagon photo site for many years and I am extremely grateful for your efforts in making the valuable photos available to all of us. I'm fully aware that the Polybulk and the PBA are very different wagons - I spent far too much time in the late 80's and early 90's chasing the PBA and Polybulk wagons in Cornwall, Devon, the Potteries and Scotland . I appreciate that the model may have been scaled from official diagrams but it still doesn't look quite right to me. I've studied several PBA photos of my own , on your site and in the mass of wagon and freight books in my possession. As an example when comparing the classic shots of a PBA trundling down the Auchmuty branch next to an 08 and my Bachmann/Kernow modelling equivalent, to my eyes at least, the model PBA looks lower and not quite as 'chunky' as it should. I've a poor photo of my own taken from the bridge that overlooked the yard at Gloucester that shows 4 PBA's coupled to 2 Polybulks. When I try to recreate this photo in model form, the PBA looks too small in comparison to the Bachmann model. As I mentioned in my original post, maybe the Bachmann Polybulk is oversized, or maybe their 08 is... I applaud Kernow for bringing out this model and I would be interested to hear anyone else's comments about it from other modellers who actually has one in their possession.

I received one this morning. First impressions are good. I like the etched walkways, the bogies are nice with in line brake shoes for 00 gauge wheels and the printing/paintwork on my example is well executed. Good pipework detail and handrails. One thing I noticed straight away is the overall size of the model. I'm assuming that all the main dimensions are accurately scaled up from the prototype and yet when placed against other stock, to my eyes the model looks slightly lower and 'thinner' than it should when compared to some of the locos and wagons in my possession. I remember seeing full size PBA's and Polybulks in the same train around St Blazey in the late 80's/early 90's and while obviously being of a different design, they both looked 'massive'. When I place the model PBA alongside the Bachmann Polybulk, they almost appear to me to be built to a slightly different scale. Maybe the Bachmann Polybulk model is overscale? Does anyone else have an opinion on this? At the end of the day, I'm glad I've got one and will probably order a few more (when funds permit...)

Thanks Cheesysmith - it would appear they do

I'm fettling up some old Mainline/Dapol 00 class 56 body shells. Most are missing the cab front mounted cabling/pipework. Does anyone know of a source of spares for these items? Many thanks as always for any help.

Fort William in the 1980's was one of my favourites. There wouldn't be many 37's there, maybe between one and four, but there was something special about the sidings and the backdrop of the spectacular scenery. Depot staff were always friendly too. I loved the chalk board with the days diagrams scrawled on with the trains allocated locos - who needed a TOPS report...

Is there any chance of posting these TOPS enquiries Rivercider? I'd be fascinated to see the actual traffic figures at these locations.

I saw several HEA's used alongside HSA's and 'Black Adder' POA's on scrap traffic at Trafford Park, Manchester in the late 1980's. The HEA's may have been modified but had not at that time been re-coded. The traffic was 'Frag' from Norton Metals to ASW Cardiff. HEA's were also used on other traffic flows apart from coal and coke. Some were used to carry calcified seaweed from Cornwall and also rock salt from Over and Warton near Winsford.

I'd got as far as chopping up some old Hornby TTA chassis and cutting out 3mm plasticard to make the basic 'box' body. I've recently been working on various QCAD etch artwork drawings for the end platforms/etc but progress is slow...

Hi Phil - I'm still no further on with my own PRA construction project. Any chance of sending me details of your progress Cheers

These 16 tonners look really nice. I noticed some have the MHO TOPS coding - are these from the Fox transfers sheet? I've never been able to find what an 'MHO' actually is or if it ever existed... I asked on RM web some time ago about this and I wonder if anyone had come across any more information recently? Thanks for posting the photos - look forward to seeing some more of your work.

Is April (2017?) the expected delivery date for these?

A very positive experience with Brooklyn Trading too - very good communication and quick delivery. Wonder if they've any left...

Thanks Southernman46

More great photos Dave! In C6819 the rear brake van looks like a CAR - would the one next to the loco be a CAP or a CAO?

Thanks for the information Brian. Another quick question - in theory could you use any of the CAO/CAP/CAR vans on a partially fitted or unfitted train?

I'm refurbishing a few old Airfix/Dapol kit built brake vans that I've picked up at swapmeets over the years. I'm looking to transform them into two CAO's, a CAP and a CAR. Pardon my ignorance... but presumably the CAO's won't need the underfloor vacuum cylinder or V hanger, but what from the original kit should be underneath the model on a CAP and CAR? Also what would the relevant bufferbeam pipework be for the various models? I realise I'll have to source roller bearing axleboxes and correct buffers where appropriate. Thanks for any help.

David, you really are spoiling us with these excellent photo's - especially the West Highland Thanks for continuing to post them. They are a daily treat for many of us.

More cracking photos - great stuff!

More brilliant photos Kevin - please keep posting Not wishing to be a pedant(!) but aren't the vans in the Gaer Junction photo VAA's or VBA's? The doors are different on VCA's.

Just ordered some - thanks for posting the links!

Thanks very much for the information Rivercider - just what I wanted to know.

As the title. I'm working on my Scottish themed layout based 'somewhere north of Inverness' on the Kyle or Far North lines in the flexible time frame of between 1978 and 1985. I'm trying to re-create some wagonload freight trains and wondered when the last MCO's (or other unbraked vehicles) would have been used on these lines. Thanks as always for any help.

This is a great idea Rich and I wish you all the best with the project. I presume you've got David Ratcliffe's excellent 'Freight Train Formations' book? May be worth speaking to him for further information.

Thanks Beast!

More brilliant photos Dave. Is there any activity at Millerhill at the moment?