Corbs

Well unfortunately I am unable to go back in time and ask Dübs why they chose outside cylinders for the 'General Don' when they built it

Well the idea was that it was originally ordered from Dübs in 1874 to work copper ore trains down to the docks at Kirk Ronan from Crovans Gate, but in 1905 the owning company sold it to a neighbouring concern. The new owners initially used it on taking stone trains down the valley to Knapford Harbour from the quarries up in the hills, but it was superseded on these duties in 1907 by two new Kitson 2-6-0T locos, which had more adhesive weight and bigger wheels allowing faster running for goods and passenger services. The Dübs was thereafter lightly used, though its small coupled wheelbase made it suitable for the tight curves in the harbour area. It did take the occasional stopping goods or acted as a banker on heavier loads. In 1923 the TK&F was absorbed into the NWR and as No.108, it returned to its old stomping ground at Kirk Ronan in 1929. It was withdrawn in 1945. All imaginary, of course....

Wow, I have such room envy now!

Alas I think you are right, John. I may need to bite the bullet and get on with it.

Is that better for grip on crewmembers' shoes?

It's nice to just have a play sometimes. I got the DSLR out, dusted some locos down and took some snaps. The run-round loop point is still broken I think it needs to be dug out and replaced as superglue does not seem to work for long, and the operation is very limited with no run-round facility. I think Thomas and Henry need copper caps to bring them in to line with the others.

A veritable treasure trove unearthed right here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/album/93-alternative-railways/

I rather like the split level one, if your wagons are heavily weighted it may be a good challenge to get the locos blasting up the bank!

Ahhaa it's just the cylinders and motion from the Adams, I couldn't stretch to a whole loco just for those parts! The tanks are the 101 tanks, heavily cut down

Atso, did you use low melt solder for this kit?

Here's one I made earlier - it's a freelance Dübs 2-4-0 based on 'the MNR's 'Caledonia' and the WC&P's 'Clevedon'. I made it from a Hornby Pug, 101, radial tank and a marker pen.

Looking forward to coming to the Portishead show and seeing this along with Clevedon

I rather like that Hippogriff!

Sorry about this Gavin. What I do remember was that you once got frustrated with a whitemetal kit for an E2, and it ended up in the bin. Fast forward and you ended up producing the most detailed and accurate kit for an E2 there has ever been, in multiple versions and scales. You have the skill and ability to overcome.

Very exciting! I'm a sucker for a 'neverwazza'.

I like this one way mucho!

Sounds an interesting project!

I think it might be because it's a more generic livery so doesn't tie it to a particular location as much

The TK&F locos have been put to one side, I'm waiting on a few little bits before I do a 'push' on finishing them off. I brought NWR No.503 "Colonel Henry Regaby' out to play, and having it alongside 301 made me feel that the simplistic (and small) N W lettering kind of let the loco down a bit. I don't mind the larger lettering as an 'austerity' livery, as Thomas has on the other side, so decided to copy what I'd done with the blue E2. I tried to use a fibreglass pen to remove the lettering, which unfortunately removed the paint, so I carefully masked off the tender side, gave it a coat of Ford Laurel Green (same as Percy) which is a close enough match (and should blend with some weathering). Then I used the same gold letters as on Thomas and matched the spacing. I think it looks a lot nicer. When I get around to lining out Percy's cab on the other side, I may change his lettering too, and the other locos may follow suit (one pre/post war side and one wartime one).

By chance I took some photos of the frames at Didcot yesterday.

Superb. When I was a boy I would never have dreamed of Lyn coming back from the dead, let alone on the actual L&B!

This one? https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ea/bd/e3/eabde39e45fffbad6ace3d3b76bef263.jpg

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."

Similarly, the golden valley 'Ajax' loco is available for £49 or £74 depending on which ebay seller you choose!

You're right! Sorry I had gotten confused - the big clue was the J DOYLE sign in the picture. Good news in any case