Bon Accord

About 18/19 years ago during my final sojourn in all things oil I was coming to the end of a leave from a 36 year old product tanker and was informed by the appointers that my next berth was in a 135,000m3 LNG job, despite my protestations that I had neither a gas DCE nor gas experience. Anyway off i went to join a ship that was about a year old and making money hand over fist on time charter such that they wanted for absolutely nothing with regard to spares and stores - they wanted it then they got it, in stark contrast to the oil fleet of the time. I was initially there as supernumary but I ended up having to take on the 2nd mates job when his father fell seriously ill and later passed away resulting in his repatriation, all in I was onboard for nearly 4 months. This was a seriously impressive and expensive ship in comparison to many of the older and even newer oil ships I'd been in and the accommodation was just as posh as the deck fittings and cargo gear. Cargo was a doddle as it was always full load - no part cargoes or parcels and being LNG topping off was fully automated/computerised and we didn't even strip tanks as we needed to retain a certain sounding (another difference from an oil job!) as heel to keep the tanks cool on the ballast voyage. She only had 4 cargo tanks all of which were equipped with twin deepwell pumps so realistically the hardest job was the ballast, which really wasn't! The mate was always a dayworker and they always had two third mates and a cargo engineer permanently appointed as the mate's right hand man. Most of the lads were alright, but I was under no illusions during my time on there that I was from what they disparagingly referred to as the "dirty fleet" whilst they were in the "clean fleet" and therefore they existed on a higher plain than mere mortals such as myself. I suppose it's no surprise they built up an aura of greatness as compared to other/real ships they always had everything going for them - well designed and well looked after ships in a lucrative trade, regular crews, a somewhat easy life etc. After that trip - and having by then gained a gas DCE - I was never to set foot on a gas boat again as next trip it was straight back to my bread and butter of a somewhat geriatric 120,000dwt crudie eeking out it's final months before the last run up the beach, although that's another story! Anyway 3 years later I packed in the oil game for good and went back to general cargo ships and later passie boats - one of my better decisions all things considered. Interestingly, despite nearly 20 years having passed since I sailed in that gas buggy it's still the most modern ship I've ever sailed in. The current chariot is one of my newest at 24 and was somewhat old fashioned even when built!

Regarding authentic consists for Maude, circa 2000 when by then in BR (early crest) livery she attended a Polmadie open day with 80105 and 419 - all three travelled by rail (hauled) to the event. On the evening of the last day after the punters had gone home, as much for a bit of fun as necessity, Maude was used for shunting the depot area which included some Virgin liveried loco hauled Mark 3s!

If memory serves footplate progression in Poland wasn't quite as linear as in the UK, with both Firemen and Drivers being considered (in some areas at least) as career paths in their own right rather than as with the UK situation. Accordingly I think it was possible to fast track to a Driver's position and so spending a minimal amount of time as Fireman (or only as much as training required) , yet at the same depot you would have other men as Firemen who may then stay at that position for life or go off in a different direction. It sounds a bit strange and it did strike me that way when I first heard of it.

Mine arrived today, very smart indeed. The thought had crossed my mind to paint it plain black and add some NBR decals and numbers as it's in the right condition.

Quite. Other tell tales are that neither of them has a fag in hand/in mouth and the engine and wagon are far too clean.

That would only bring it's own problems. A better solution would probably be to put a minimum age limit of say 35 and have spent at least 10 years outside of political employment, either directly or indirectly. Parliament desperately needs a disparate balance of experience, qualification and social status rather than ensuring everyone has been brainwashed similarly.

His father and his older brother had a real measure of admiration in the RN as despite their status - of which they were acutely self aware - they did their bit and won the respect of their men. Andrew however was never shy of reminding those who were forgetful just who he was.

But that wasn't carried out by a Polaris sub though was it? That's rather the whole point.

The only way the Vanguard/Dreadnought class would be used in any role outwith that of deterrent is if the RN was absolutely desperate and had literally nothing else to send.*** They're simply not suited to it - so no, it's not naieve to describe their non ICBM armament as for self defence purposes any more than it's naieve to describe Phalanx as the same - more recent batches of the latter have a point and shoot capability rather than solely being a defensive weapon against incoming projectiles but nobody would seriously suggest basing an offensive action around them. ***A cynic might say that scenario is on reflection perhaps more likely these days than in years gone by.

Usually only 1 is on patrol at any one time due to the rotation of refit/working up etc, so whilst technically it's possible to use them in an offensive role, realistically it's not going to happen for the reason you've mentioned - their location is always secret and to potentially risk that by using them operationally would compromise one of the primary tennets of our "deterrent". That plus they're a lot larger than the attack boats and not as nimble. It'd be a it like using an Albion class LPD in a guardship role - technically feasible yes, but a realistic ot sensible prospect?

Belgrano was sunk by what out US cousins refer to as a "hunter killer". The bombers only have torps for self defence purposes rather than offensive, same with their lack of offensive capability with regard to conventional missiles as compared to an SSN. Unless there is a global nuclear war, the next Warspite shall never gain another battle honour - which isn't really in keeping with the name and history.

I can't help but think Warspite is wasted on a bomber, the name and it's history is far better suited to a real fighting ship such as a surface combatant rather than something which will never be used in anger. Revenge is probably more appropriate, seeing as Trident is effectively just a revenge weapon.

In all fairness though the current ship conveyor in the Riverside isn't a patch on the much lamented Clyde Room as found in the old museum. The railway exhibits and cars were also much more accessible in the older museum despite it being smaller.

Correct. The name on the ski-jump is just something painted on for PR purposes and will not be carried in service. RN vessels only ever carry their name on the port and starboard quarters aft. Neither shall she wear a White Ensign until she is commissioned, in the interim she shall wear a Government Service Ensign (defaced blue with a horizontal anchor).

Gents, Thank you for all the information, it's a great starting point.

Excellent pictures. It wasn't uncommon to see one of the WBs on a wagon in between refits as I remember, although I think I eventually took this one out to Cyprus circa 2008 via the good ship EDDYSTONE. MILLREEF wasn't it? Seem to remember that was the most modern one of the lot until the new generation arrived.

HMRS do have quite a stash of drawings as per the website, but they seem to be facsimilies of original works drawings rather than those designed for the modeller.

A few pics of Marchwood Military Port showing the railway installation therein. Even though I spent 8 years there I rarely took pictures of anything railway related as it was of course there every day to see! First one shows some of the sidings around the blast screens (green wall like structures centre left. An ammo train would arrive at the exchange sidings (out of picture, but visible on Google maps), change over from an NR loco to two of the MMP shunters (Bagnalls as I recall), split as appropriate and then drawn into the area between the two screens, normally with a couple of vanwides at each end as barriers. The idea with the screens is that if there is a big bang then they deflect it upwards rather than horizontally. An ammunition train would usually only be held there for a short period (less than a few hours) prior to the cargo being loaded aboard ship. Timing of arrival of such trains onto the site was always tightly controlled so as to ensure least time possible standing prior to loading. Quite a few internal use vanwides to be seen in the picture in their usual storage siding, together with Warflats and some 4 wheel 20' container flats with some VGA vans on the other side of the screens. Another view, showing more of the sidings on the west side which included a loading ramp for warflats and warwells - a short train of flats loaded with Land Rovers can be seen together with assorted wagons. The latter are being used as storage for cargo which has been received in the port by road, loaded onto the wagons and left until required for transfer to a ship, at which point they'll be shunted round adjacent to the quays and the cargo transferred by forklift. An LNER high sided open on the right. CVRT waiting to be loaded onto a Warflat. These vehicles will have arrived by ship from abroad, have been driven off the vessel onto the quay and then loaded by quayside crane onto the wagons for onward shipment. This shows one of the out of gauge Warflats recovered from Germany in the mid 90s and used internally for transport. In this case it's holding an OSHKOSH tractor unit which had come to grief in Afghanistan and had been loaded onto a 40' flatrack for transport home for repair. This vehicle would eventually be craned onto a low loader for onward movement and repair, however to get it out of the way for the moment it was loaded directly onto the Warflat and taken elsewhere in the site for storage. Another of the out of gauge Warflats, this time holding a pile driver which had been transhipped from a low loader prior to being craned onboard the vessel in the background. The extra width deck extensions are quite visible with the brackets attached next to the bufferbeam next to the white lashing down point. Worksplate of the same.

Gents, I've on the lookout for a book or sheets of 4mm/OO Gauge loco drawings, specifically the modellers type i.e. side/front elevation, plan etc with all the pertinent dimensions. I can't for the life of me remember who used to produce these and whether they were in book format or supplied loose, but can anyone point me in the right direction with regard to a source or a publication? The names Roche and Skinley come to mind, but I can't find anything online resembling a catalogue or description of what's available. Specifically I'm looking for plans of NBR/GNSR/HR/CR locos. Thanks in advance,

With regard to Vanwides, after MOD traffic stopped with these vans over the network a lot of them were rounded up and used internally as barrier wagons when receiving/marshalling ammunition trains. Marchwood had a couple of dozen of them for such work, and also had a few LNER High sided opens kicking around the place too amongst some other odds and sods. All were repainted green and internal use. There was also a number of internal use (LMS built) Warflats around the place which had the slightly wider deck as used on the continent (I think used by the BAOR) and so out of gauge for the UK. The other interesting sight was the number of OCA's in use to/from Marchwood on MOD traffic which were still in original Railfreight red complete with logos, although by now faded to a dull pink. This was all the case certainly until I left Marchwood for the last time in 2014.

I'm wondering if Samhongsa was the company that did a very limited run of some NZR Ka class 4-8-4s some years ago in S gauge (running on HO track to suit 3'6" gauge)? I've been keeping an eye out for one for years but no luck as yet.

Very nice, a very underrated class of their time and somewhat overshadowed by their larger and smaller sisters. I've five all told; two in BR late crest condition, one in post war NBR livery and two unbuilt kits.

Not really teeth at all, just merely being fitted with what is really a desperate last line of defence weapon. If she - or any other warship - is ever put in a position where they need to use CIWS in anger then something has gone badly wrong and that ship is in BIG trouble.

Hornby's J36 really is going to become a signature of nearly all Scottish themed layouts in due course, a smashing little engine indeed!

There used to be a pub in Esperance (WA) named "The Flinders Bar" and with a painting of the great man on the wall, not too far a stagger from the general cargo wharves and one of the few highlights of the town from a "run ashore" perspective. The stupid things you remember...