scots region

Gilwell, did you get the idea for the garret from 'Locomotives Panorama'?

It popped into my head last night that '8ATT' bears more than a passing resemblance to the proposal, I wonder...

Micheal, how would a modern articulated drive shaft work? I think I can imagine some kind of ball and socket arrangement to transfer the motor power.

Micheal, what would be the best method of construction for a modeller today, hoping to create the same proposal? How for example would you calculate the scale of the drawing in Cox's Book?

Micheal theres a PM for you.

According to E.S Cox, who worked in the Derby drawing offices from 1925-7 the Midland had, "Adopted the American plan of separating the Motive power department in part from that of the CME., and making it responsible to the Operating department" This suggest that the two departments were more likely to make motive decisions before consultation with the CME, which might in part explain the top heavy civil engineers faction. Dick I would seek out "The Gresley influence" by Geoffrey Hughes.

I apologize I was not aware of that factor This makes sense, I must research the Midland freight policies before I move this forwards Asmay I'm sorry if I came off as ignorant, the sources I have read on the Midland Railway lead me to believe that Derby caused the LMSR trouble in the early years. I have in doing this broken one of the key rules of researching, to be mindful of prejudice.

I shall seek it out horse, I'm not denying that Derby could put out a quality product, it was just too small.

Hello all, this might not be the place for this. But anyway, as a few of use will know the Midland Railway made famous use of a 'Small-engine' policy, this doctrine set out by Darby called for numerous short trains hauled by 0-6-0s and 4-4-0s, with double heading common place. This largely conservative take on Locomotive development was the famous source of the numerous delays suffered by the Midland network and of the image of vast plodding coal trains. The Midland clung on to the policy right up to the Grouping and the stanch refusal of derby to seriously recognize the need for change crippled the LMSR in it formative years. At least that is my understanding of the situation. Yet paradoxically the Midland did produce two famous 'large locomotive' designs, the famous S.D.J.R 7F 2-8-0 and the equally well known 0-10-0 banking locomotive for the Lickey incline "big bertha" and from what I can tell there every suggestion that, in particular with regards to the former, that the best of Derby practice had been carried over to the Somerset goods. The Midland was very good at producing simple and rugged, if small, machines. For Example the 3F 0-6-0 which endured right up to the 60s, some thirty years after the company that had created the design had ceased to exist. This has left me wondering, what could have forced the Midland Railway to have abandoned its small engine policy sooner? One idea was for the L.N.W.R to have a direct link to Derby, putting a sword jabbing at the Midlands heart. Another was for the MR to have directly absorbed the S.D.J.R, thereby forcing the requirement for larger machines. Please let me know what you think. Yours ScR

Hello all, brand spanking new to this topic, just signing on to give you all my deepest hopes of a Happy new year 2013. Good luck and fortitude in all your deeds. Yours ScR

The 03s brilliant, but that backscene looks like a bad Photoshop, waaaaay to much going on.

OOh, caught the edge of the layout, rookie mistake.

Lovely atmosphere in that shot, its almost as if you've gone back to 1964 with a digital camera.

Smashing job Paul, she'll look the very dab with some minerals behind her.

I'm probably breaking the rules here, but in my defense I will say that they have all the engineering principles (at least to my mind) of conventional steam locomotives. Which could open the debate, if something acts like a locomotive is it one? Anyway I quite like Roundhouse's Jack. His baby sister Katie is very pretty child as well. Finally Cheddar's Goliath was very handsome whilst it was around.

In regards to the problem of Sameness, I think we need "ready made snap together body kits" for entry level modelers that can then be painted and modified to suit the owners taste. This would give young people an idea as to what they could go on to achieve in this hobby, as well as the immense psychological boost of being able to look at some thing they know to have created themselves. On a much larger note I would support the recreation of an A1/1 and would even cast the first £10 towards its construction.

Good to see you giving this another shot Simon, you deserve it after the heartache of the original. On another note has Mr king at all though of signing to have these resin parts mass produced? I agree that they represent a great opportunity for youthful modelers to get a hand up the ladder and arguable should be extended. Yours ScR

You know it occurs to me that little has been said for narrow gauge locomotives so far. I mean what about poor old "Dolgoch"? Whilst all these pacific types were having glory heaped upon them, this plucky little machine was keeping her line in order years after her sell by date and is still going today. Yet she is as ever sidelined by the "Celebrities".

I echo the above comment, superb, I'm dead jealous.