boeing757

Sorry Adrian, just to clarify, is the J17 shown the DMR or the SM? Whilst on the subject of motive power suitable for E Anglia, do you or has anyone an opinion on the Ace Model kits of the J69 and N7 Thanks, B

Hi Paul, It has to be said the ballasting looks superb. I will certainly be using your method for Felsted when I make the trackbed this winter. At the moment I am over here in the UK trying to earn a few shillings before returning to Cyprus in Nov when all my initial attack on the trackwork will begin. In the meantime I am collecting useful items to take back for a relaxing winter's modelling. Have just bought a Connoisseur F5 and contemplating a J17, probably DMR. Also have an Ebay disaster in the form of an 08 shunter part built, which I hope to model on one used at Braintree. I still need to identify one used there. I am also scratch building a dia120 van, my first real go at scratch building. Hopefully when Dan Pinnock's castings for the springs and axle boxes arrive, the major headaches will be sorted. Still if I'd known there was a kit available, ie Dan's, I would not have started it, but I have several pics of them behind J17s so I had to have one. Thanks for this thread, do keep us up to date

Out of interest is this kit (B1) still available?

It really would be nice to see some previously unpublished views of this line. As an aside, does anyone have any details/drawings/ photos of the guard operated steps on ex GER stock used on this branch?

Thank you Paul, I think you may have solved it for me. Funnily enough I had a gut feeling the wagons were 'foreigners'. I don't have the reference you quote (yet) is there a drawing as well?

Hi Paul, Thanks for your efforts on my behalf, I will respond to each point. I am familiar with both the steam and diesel shunters at BSC, in fact I have had footplate rides on both. The crane you mention was one of two, one larger than the other but both Taylor Hubbard. They normally had the conventional bucket fitted but for the lime stone they were fitted with a spacer bar like a trapeze, obviously slightly wider than the wagon bucket.These were lifted and then tripped by the shunter with a pole and the bucket then rolled through 180 degrees and dumped the contents. I'm sorry but although it's a while ago, the wagons were definitely not Conflats. I think the WD must have been a rare visitor, I never saw one and I did spend an aweful amount of time around the station, incidentally the steel mineral you mention is ex French Railways. As well as the J17s the J19 was a common sight, again I was lucky to ride on both types. Thanks again, when are we going to see some more of Black Notley? Bob

Hi Paul, I am modelling c1956. The lime rock as it was known definitely came in in wagons as I have described. I used to watch the BSC crane lift the buckets off the wagon with a trapeze like beam and then the shunter would trip a catch with a shunting pole and the bucket would tip over and discharge the lime rock, one of the cranes is pictured in the background of Payes book on page48. In fact you can also see the lime rock pile behind the coal on the right. Please take it up with the GERS, I am not a member and feel my period of interest falls outside their remit. Thanks as ever

Yes, I have the Payes book and am familiar with the WD picture. When I was a schoolboy at Braintree High School I often used to venture down to Rose Hill and watch the 0-6-0 diesel shunter in the yard. I am now building a model but need an identity of one of the locos that worked there as apart from underlining in the Ian Allan I kept no records. Any help appreciated. Additionally, I remember wagons at Felsted for the conveyance of lime rock. They were an open framework with 4 I think transverse "buckets" which were lifted by the resident Taylor Hubbard steam crane by means of a trapeze like fitting. I can find no info about these wagons at all, any help appreciated.

It's gone far too quiet on this thread so I'll ask question which will ensure the thread comes back over the horizonat the very least. My layout at Felsted can stand the odd trip from Braintree by diesel 0-6-0 shunter normally stationed in the yard there, perhaps on an additional sugar beet train. Can anyone identify a loco that could have done this; or better still post or point to a photo of a Braintree shunter. Thanks, B

I was unaware there was a picture of 61156 on tha working, must find it. How I wish I had a camera that day. Regarding th Finescale model I'm sure it's excellent, just beyond my budget. Bob

'Pint of 'Thanks for the info, I was unaware SM did one. Out of interest is there a model of the J19 with round topped firebox out there anywhere? Bob

Good Morning Paul, Just stumbled onto this thread and have really enjoyed reading it. I am resident in Cyprus and have just returned to railway modelling having hung up my flying boots finally. I am an Essex boy and grew up at the sugar beet factory at Felsted in the 50's and early 60's. I am in the (early) process of building this station in 7mm so your efforts are really inspirational. The date for mine will be c1955, a little late for passenger workings but I can't resist an F5 with a couple of ex-GE coaches. The other must have is a J17 which were real stalwarts on the freight. I am using P Paye's little book for reference although I have noticed some small omissions, for instance after steam had been displaced I personally saw B1 61156 come through Felsted with a road/railer trial train, my last sight of steam on the branch. Keep on updating this thread, you must have many interested readers out there. Bob

Hi, you,re on the mark early today! Was going to say thanks for the steer to Premier, have you used them before? To answer your previous post yes I used to drive them, possibly the next best thing to a Gresley pacific.

Hi, following this thread with interest and envy. There have been a couple of references to Premier regarding coupling rods, can anyone provide details or better still a link? Thanks