DavidLong

On 10/01/2022 at 17:13, woodenhead said:

That place looks awfully familiar to me, think I have been there before for something completely non railway or council related.

 

Can also get there avoiding the use of Cross Country trains, bonus.

 

Looking forward to seeing the list of exhbitors.

Anything that avoids the ghastly and expensive Cross Country is always welcome. 

I've found some reasonable fares from Manchester with AWC (especially with an old gits railcard!).

David

8 hours ago, Tirov said:

The Toton to Bletchley light engine moves are training runs for a new flow of export cars from Toyota to the Continent via the Channel Tunnel. Trains will reverse at Bletchley for Wembley and the CT. There will be a return trip with cars built in the EU for sale in the UK.

Why would it need to reverse at Bletchley? If it takes the right fork west of Fenny Stratford it could curve round under the flyover and join the WCML facing south. In fact last Wednesday Realtime Trains shows a 6Z42 from Burton-on-Trent to Wembley doing exactly that move:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:99554/2022-01-12/detailed

Good news about the new flow from the Burnaston plant. Where are the cars being loaded as the plant doesn't have a rail siding? Indeed, is it Burton?

David

Here's the link:

https://trans.info/en/uk-government-to-fund-electric-road-system-trial-on-m180-near-scunthorpe-248190

There was also an episode of Gareth Dennis' Rail Natter about it.

David

Isn't the M180 going to be the site of the road overhead electrification experiment to be used by trucks?

David

24 minutes ago, Barry O said:

so I was "browsing" the Government data banks for how many non vaccinated people are in hospital with Omicron

 

Up to 29th December

 

see.. the data to back up the idea that a lot of people in hospital are unvaccinated was there, hiding , all of the time.

 

Baz

Still hiding. "This site can't be reached".

David

A possible sort of Plan B+ or Plan C-? From today's Graun:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/18/ministers-reportedly-considering-omicron-circuit-breaker-in-england

David

8 hours ago, Neil said:

 

I would be interested to see some statistics to back this up. I'm not saying you're wrong but equally I'm not saying you're right.

 

 

 

I'll agree that there are bits of the NHS that don't work as they should. The one that has been known for a long time is bed blocking because adequate funding for adult social care has not been in place for a long time. Both my late mother in law and more recently my late father were bed blockers. There are currently severe staff shortages in the care sector; low pay and low status have been endemic in the profession for years. A review solely into the NHS won't fix these problems and as long as they remain the NHS won't be able to perform as it would wish. None of this will be cheap to fix and I'd suggest that spending more on care, across public services would be a laudable aim.

By coincidence this has just been published on the Guardian website:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/12/number-of-healthy-patients-stranded-in-english-hospital-wards-rises-by-80

David

Note: that is 80% not 80!

Although I can't vouch for the standards used on recent 009 products it is the case that all current N gauge productions will run quite happily on Code 40 rail. The flange depth of 0.5mm is common to current N and 2FS, it is only the tread width that is wider in N. The FinetraX range of N gauge trackwork uses all Code 40 rail. The 55 thou visible height used by Peco is to allow the use of older N gauge products but is largely unnecessary these days. As the Fairlie and Baldwin are produced by Bachmann who also make the Graham Farish range there is a fair chance that the wheel standards are similar. Many 009 modellers use Farish mechanisms such as the 08 or 03/04 without modification.

This leads me to suggest that any N gauge track gauges will be absolutely fine when building the track.

Hope this helps.

David

More worrying is letting Bombardier/Alstom anywhere near the software . . .

David

11 hours ago, br2975 said:

As Cardiff City were 'oop North' gaining three valuable points at Preston's expense, and Pontyclun FC were away snatching three points from Ynyshir, where do I go ?

.

A short hop up the SWML to Newport, a couple of pints in a typical JDW emporium, followed by some real old school, lower league entertainment at Rodney Parade, for an almost 'local derby' against Swindon Town..

.

'The County' have always held a place in my heart since I went to watch them against Hereford in the 70s, when 14,000+ squeezed into Edgar Street.

.

Give me the lower leagues over the Premiership any day..................real grounds (not stadia), real fans, real atmosphere.

The worst tomato soup that I have ever had was one evening in the mid-1970s when I crossed the border from Bristol to watch Southport play County  at Somerton Park. Can't remember the score but that soup memory has stayed with me ever since.

David

Edit: Tracked it down. 13 September 1975. County won 2-0

51 minutes ago, Bryn said:

 

I stand corrected, it isn't currently a listed product. I might have been told some dud information or it has been removed.

Looks like it has been removed, Bryn. It definitely was there. IIRC it was a trial between Stephen and the Association with a view possibly to sell some of his kits via Shop 2. Looks like a success and they have all been sold!

David

On 19/11/2021 at 17:43, justin1985 said:

Answering my own question here - I stuck an unpainted one of the Dapol 20t mineral opens onto an order for some other bits from Hattons. To my surprise, it scales out well against the BR diagram book posted by the Barrowmore MRC. Also, the under frame is much finer than I was expecting, and could probably easily get away with just new wheels. Perhaps especially in its unpainted state, the relief on the door opening hinges etc does look a bit shallow.

 

Prototype length over headstocks: 21'6" (43mm at 2mm/ft)

Dapol length over headstocks:       44.3mm

Prototype overall width:                  8' 7 5/6" (c.17mm)

Dapol overall width:                         17.6mm

 

So, pretty good for 1:152! I think the pre-war Stephenson Clarke wagon here is a slight bit shorter above the doors, but the end door style matches - certainly close enough! https://hmrs.org.uk/photographs/stephenson-clarke-se-20t-steel-open-25503-two-doors-each-side.html 

Justin,

I would give Dapol their due as those dimensions scale out to exact 1:148. No scale bending here! The Association does three 12' wheelbase underframes which are all 1:152. The L&Y underframe has weird brake gear and is nothing like the gear for the standard RCH 12' underframe. The GWR DC brake 12' underframe would go with the Parkside 21T kit as all the Parkside kits are 1:152. The other one is the standard BR 12' underframe with post-nationalisation axleguards unlike the more open versions on the SC wagon.

If the underframe seems to be acceptable 'as is' then I would stick with it. Having, of course, got rid of those horrendous coupler boxes!

David

1 hour ago, sb67 said:

That's the one David, any idea what it's used for now, or 2012 at least.

I'm sorry I don't, Steve. Whatever and whoever seemed to be very concerned about security with all those heavy duty window bars and CCTV cameras. It was quite a surprise to find it alive and well though.

David

On 05/11/2021 at 16:29, sb67 said:

Thanks Chris, it was based on a photo in a book of Harrow Lane sidings in East London, I think the building used to be railway offices.  I've always admired layouts that are based on real locations and wanted to do something similar, lost my way a bit though as I didn't think the backscene through enough, but I am pleased with that building. 

 

That will be this one and happily it still exists or at least it did when I photographed it in 2012 (was it really nine years ago . . . !?)

David

6 hours ago, Ron Ron Ron said:

After a few months of leaks and speculation, the Sunday Telegraph reports that the cancellation of the eastern leg of HS2, will be officially announced this week.

 

 

.

Indeed and this from yesterday's Observer:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/14/government-to-finally-drop-plan-for-hs2-link-to-leeds-reports

David

11 hours ago, PjKing1 said:

Managed to fire up 1733 tonight for a very quick play with our Rosa, she was very impressed, also Edge Hills allocation arrived unexpectedly today.  I have to say I’m so excited about this project, yes O gauge locos are something to behold but with the likes of this 40 a bit of extra detail and it’ll be just as good and easier to model 

An excellent choice if I may say so, Paul. An EE Type 4 never offends!

I have these two in my stash. The couplings will have to go and they'll get 2FS wheels and probably sound.

I look forward to further developments at 8N.

David

https://mailchi.mp/760b2d3b2716/introducing-the-east-west-main-line-partnership?e=ddca3c6ce6

Includes link to submission to Secretary of State prior to the autumn spending review.

David

67015 at Holyhead on 16th September with 1V98 16.36 to Cardiff Central. Had worked in on 1W93 ex-Cardiff.

David

6 hours ago, 2mm Andy said:

There were a few posts on this subject in the "Any question answered" thread last year. Using wire-wound guitar strings seemed to be somewhat contentious!

 

Building relatively few wagons (none at the moment!) I usually use the N Brass Loco castings.

 

Andy

Thanks, Andy. I knew that I had seen something about this subject but couldn't remember when it was. The suggestions on that thread are useful. I have checked in my stash of wires and found that I have a coil of Nickel Wound 0.508mm banjo strings made by Vega of Nazareth*, Pennsylvania which I remember that I bought from a music shop in Cambridge about thirty years ago! This is about 0.005mm bigger than Nick's 0.45mm copper wire. Just to be on the safe side I have got a couple of coils of the copper on the way to me via ebay. Now that I'm back home I will also check out Pete Wright's article as suggested by a couple of contributors.

Many thanks for the suggestions both on this thread and the previous one from last year.

David

* Could this be the same Nazareth as in The Band's song 'The Weight'? "As I pulled in to Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead". I guess we will never know . . . 

21 hours ago, richbrummitt said:

Did you already review the magazine article by the late Pete Wright, also reproduced in Loco bits and pieces, called 'Skirl o' the pipes'?

I'd forgotten that, Rich. I'll have a check in my magazines.

David

Anyone got any ideas for producing tall vacuum pipes for wagons. Like this:

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/?q=m422441

Rather than just a single bent piece of wire I wondered if anyone had any success with a bit of extra detailing.

David

Sorry, this question should have been in 'Any Question Answered'!  Must concentrate . . .

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/sep/06/fifa-plan-for-biennial-world-cup-is-a-ridiculous-plan-that-could-become-real

In my view this is just as much a danger to the game as the ESL proposal. I'm afraid that Sean Ingle's final comment says it all: "A World Cup every two years won’t benefit football or the fans. Merely Fifa".

David

16 minutes ago, Kylestrome said:

 

Wouldn't they be 10.5mm overall? 

 

David

Sadly, David, I only just squeaked an O level pass in Maths . . . 

Or, as Captain Mainwaring might have said "I wondered who would be first to spot that" 

David

14 hours ago, Chris Higgs said:

 

It is. Although reports are the wheel clearances are very tight if you fit a size suitable for the large wheeled 54s.

 

Chris

Thanks, Chris. I was thinking about 9.5mm wheels as with the 0.5mm flange they would be 10mm overall which would be close to the 5'2" of the 54xx.

Did you decide on a gear combination for the chassis?

David

On 04/08/2021 at 13:02, Chris Higgs said:

I note that BR Lines now have a stock of bodies of the Bachmann 64XX. If there is anyone out there who was wanting to get my etched chassis to go with these, I am considering putting in an order with the etchers as I don't have any left at the moment.

 

What I do have if anyone is so foolish is a number of 56XX etched chassis which should go nicely with the new Sonic Models loco.

 

As some of you will have noted from the newsletter I don't send stuff from the Netherlands any more due to the Brexit customs hassle, so I am having to coordinate things in advance for when I will next be in the UK.

 

Chris

Chris,

I had spotted those bodies at BR Lines and I have one of your chassis etches. Am I correct in thinking that it is suitable for a 54xx?

David