34101

On 08/01/2024 at 11:45, andyman7 said:

 

 

Mainline models were contract manufactured by Kader who made things for Bachmann, so the relationship with Bachmann was always there. I would argue that Mainline wasn't a false dawn, just a drawn out one as it was the Mainline range (and later Replica Railways releases using the same tooling) that gave Bachmann the insights needed to set up Bachmann Branchline, with the involvement of key Mainline personnel

 

If you know their foibles and how to deal with them, many of the models can be kept running indefinitely. The main issue apart from quartering/split gears are things like plastic slide bars disintegrating. A number of my Mainline 'heritage collection' models are operational because two broken models have been used to make one working one. 

I seem to recall that Godfrey of Replica was approched by Kader with a view to him running the new Bachmann Branchline as MD but he declined as he wanted to keep Replica independent.

Apologies if this has been reported elsewhere.

158 856 on Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich service partially derailed and damaged after hittng a fallen tree between Thetford and East Harling yesterday evening.  Track damaged.  One passenger hurt but could have been much worse.  This train is normally travelling at 90mph on this stretch but the driver hit the emergency brake and got the speed down but still hit the tree.

News report with photos here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-68225061

I had some HD locos serviced by

http://www.scalespeed.co.uk/

He rewound the armature with new wire and remag the magnet within the chassis.

Made quite a difference and still running nicely.  Maybe worth a try.

No connection other than happy customer.

Only ever rode on one from Leeds to Halifax.  An interesting experience.

Some passenges foolishly brought cups of coffee on board.  At least it washed the floor.

Give me a Hastings DEMU any day!

On 04/07/2023 at 22:34, PhilJ W said:

There was a line built by the ECR that ran from Great Shelford to Six Mile Bottom closed as long ago as 1851 yet traces of the line can be seen in Google Earth.

The line actually ran from Great Chesterford (near Saffron Walden) to Newmarket.  Some of the formation is under the A11 dual carriageway heading north from J9 of the M11.  It reappears as a line of trees beside the northbound A11 past Stump Cross towards Four Went Ways.  The formation there is under the slip road for Cambridge and Haverhill at the A1307 junction.  After that junction the old formation is clearly visible towards Six Mile bottom, as is the former junction with the Newmarket Cambridge line.  The line terminated at the lost and lamented Newmarket terminus station,  It closed not long after the Newmarket Cambridge line opened, and was one of the very first railway closures.

The line from Cambridge and Great Shelford met it at Pampisford, and the formation is still visible from the northbound A505 just before it meets the A11.  This line went on to Linton, Haverhill and eventually to Sudbury and Marks Tey.  There was a branch to Audley End off this line, near Linton, and part of the platform is still visible in the car park as Audey End station.

There is pressure to reopen the Cambridge Haverhill line, but Cambridgshire CC seem to prefer a guided busway solution. 

170273 and 170201 await their next turn of duty at Cambridge 3rd July 2011

171728 leaving Hastings 28th July 2007

Copyright my photo

170208 approaching Ely 13th march 2010

Copyright my photo

170208 approaches Stretham Crossing, near Ely, 25th June 2013

My image copyright

The 3D printed cabs on ebay are very good, superior to the resin Hurst ends.  Britannia Pacific may be able to supply the sides for the MBLS, they do supply some parts from their range but not generally complete kits.  Failing that then Worsley Works may be able to etch them for you, although not currently listed.  Electra Rail (Adam Warr of this parish) does vinyl sides in several liveries for the 442, allowing you to adapt mk 3 coaches, although the doors are very different on the 442.  Adam is now working for Dapol and is looking to sell or wind down Electra Rail, which may cause a problem.  Loss of Electra Rail would be a blow, especially to n gauge.  Sourcing mk3 3rd rail bogies may be an issue for you.

Hope this helps

No connection other than a satifisfied customer, I received news that Simply Southern were closing down.

A small manufacturer of mainly East Sussex wagons, including Hodgsons Pride of Sussex, Farmers Direct Dairies of Hastings, Harveys of Lewes, Russells of St Leonards West Marina and the legendary Polegate Treacle Mines. Some real liveries, some imaginary.

Russell was of particlar interest as we lived by the station forecourt, although Russell had long gone by the time we arrived from Eastleigh.

The details (from their email):

We have all our stock on sale which must go.

Sadly with the recent Passing of our mum and other circumstances after 13 years of trading Simply Southern will be closing 31st March 2023. I'm still hopeful someone will take it on as a going concern and see our brand continue. Please email me if your interested in our business.

I would like to thank you all for your kind support over the years and from when my father started the family business back in 2010 operating it with my mum. Sadly they have both passed leaving it to myself. 

My thanks to them for the wagons they have produced over the years.

Sad to see another small supplier go under.

Don't remove the magnet from the chassis or take the bolt out that connnects the  parts of the magnet.

These magnets must be remagnetised in the chassis or the magnet will lose its magnetism very quickly.

In my experience neodymium magnets are often too powerful and increase wear on the armature bearings creating a different problem.

I've had  Hornby Dublo / Wrenn motors fixed by Scalespeed down in Fareham - no connection other than a happy customer. I think he is still going.

There are others out there who can do a re-mag, see previous post, for example.

Hope this helps.

Thank you.

I had driven past it many times and suddenly realised it had gone.

Moral (to myself)  : read the previous post before posting!

Drove past Polhill yesterday.  The restaurant is closed and surrounded by builders barriers.

The coach has gone.  Hopefully to somewhere where it can get some TLC.

Anyone know where it went?

Alclad II brand has split from its UK producer who are based in Norfolk.

The trademark agreement has reached its end.

The product is now marketed under the HR Hobbies brand, still produced in Norfolk.

You could also look at AK's Extreme Metal paint - the military modellers seem to really like it, and it is buffable like the old Humbrol metal paints.

I was privileged to descend Alveley colliery before it was closed in 1969 with a group from the then Worcester College of Education (now University).

With workings less than a meter high there is no way I would consider coal mining as a career.  I had total admiration for the men working down there.  it was dark, dusty, hot and claustrophic.

Of course the mine was beside the SVR.  Good luck finding anyone to do that job now, and voluteers would never be allowed.

a few more:

nearly done ....

A lovely half hour.

and a few more:

Back in 2007, 18th April, I was sent to a school in Battersea to work with some science teachers.  Travelled Kennet - Cambridge - Kings Cross, Bus 59 to Waterloo and a cab to Battersea. Afterwards they gave me a lift back to Clapham Junction, so back to Vic, striaght back by tube to the Cross and home.  Took a few photos.

The LBSC hotel at St Leonards West Marina was built across from the station, but was never opened as a hotel.

It had a row of shops at the front of the ground floor.

It later became Pickfords furniture store and is still there.

The Bo-peep hotel was moved to its present postion, when the station was built.

After closure of West Marina, West Hill Road was extended as the station approach was removed and variuos bottles from the original inn were found when they carved off several metres of our back garden for the new road.

The hotel building is behind the timber merchants.  This burned down many years ago.

(image: my copyright, taken 1958)

Thanks to all of you for your help with this - you pointed me in the right direction.

Its from a Faller HO B-196 hopper car ballast tipple and motorized conveyor.

There are pins on the underside of the operating bottom-discharge cars which engage with the strange rail opening then closing the hopper doors.

Cheers

Richard

I initially thought it might be some weird sort of three rail, but I agree, it looks like an operating rails for some type of accessory. 

Agree about the pin issue, it would strike rails at point work. Thank you both for your thoughts.

I now have a photo of the rail end and it looks to me like there is an electrical connection between one running tail and the central metal strip.

Search on the interweb and auction houses doesn't come up with anything.

The rail is in Plymouth and i'm in Suffolk so actually getting my hands on it is difficult!

Cheers

Richard

My brother has acquired this unusual rail.

It is 16.5 mm gauge, but much deeper sleepers than normal.

Can anyone identify what it is, please?