talyllyn1

This 1963 photo (courtesy of the Narrow Gauge Museum, Tywyn) shows No 2 on its first steam trial after delivery from Gibbons Brothers. No 2 Dolgoch - 1963 by talyllyn1, on Flickr I remember seeing the loco just a few weeks later - the quality of finish on an effectively brand-new locomotive was absolutely stunning. It was this shade of green (also on No 1 at the time) that the TR hierarchy wanted on the rest of the fleet, and which proved so difficult to match. Cheers Dave

The shade finally settled upon for TR Standard Loco Green in the early 70's was indeed to the same specification as Land Rover Deep Bronze Green, as confirmed by John Bate (again, in his book "The Chronicles of Pendre Sidings"). This was the closest available standard paint match to the livery applied at Gibbons Bros Brierley Hill when they rebuilt No's 1 and 2 in 1958 and 1963 respectively. It seems that nobody recorded the paint specification used by Gibbons, or who supplied it. It's possible that Gibbons had it "in stock". They overhauled quite a few traction engines and road rollers around that time. Hon. Treasurer Pat Garland ( a keen GWR enthusiast) had friendly contacts at Swindon, so it could have been "acquired" from there! Now, just do a web search for "Land Rover Deep Bronze Green" and discover how much Land Rover enthusiasts agonise over the correct shade! Cheers Dave

The TR most definitely has not used the same green livery since the mid-60's. I well remember a heated debate at a TRPS AGM (1965, I think) when No 4 Edward Thomas was turned out in a distinctly lighter shade of green than previously. No's 1 and 2 had been restored in a darker shade that some of the leading lights (including Tom Rolt) called "GWR Green" and this was considered by some to be more suitable. The TR's Chief Engineer John Bate has recorded in his "Chronicles" book the hilarious result when he passed around various shade cards for consideration at a TR Council meeting to try and get a decision on the "correct" shade. He was delighted with the unanimous selection as "this will save us having to repaint No 4 - it's the one we've used!" The rebuilt No 3 Sir Haydn was subsequently given this livery in 1969, as can be seen in this TR postcard. The difference to No 6 Douglas is obvious, and although the two Corris locos appear to be in a shade close to LNER Doncaster Green, this is probably down to the limitations of colour printing at the time. It was very much lighter than the previous livery though. PENDRE 1969 by talyllyn1, on Flickr The "new" shade still caused unhappiness with some members however, and eventually a darker shade was used. The 1968 TR Handbook states "The green was formerly Brunswick. Now conforms to BS 2660.6/074". The latter would be the lighter shade carried by No's 3 & 4. The 1973 edition records "Dark Brunswick Green in future (at present 3,4 and 6 in 6-074)". The "Dark Brunswick Green" became the standard, often referred to as Deep Bronze Green and also (apparently) "Landrover Green" or even "British Army No2 Green"! As to the more varied liveries applied since, I'll confess I'm an old TR traditionalist who would prefer them all in the TR lined green, while acknowledging that the livery has no historical relevance other than that it was introduced by the TRPS soon after acquiring the railway. That said, I do like the lined Crimson Lake livery now carried by No 2 Dolgoch. It is the best interpretation possible of a livery carried by the loco on the early 1900's, although the exact shade can obviously never be determined! According to unverifiable folk lore, at some point in the past No 1 Talyllyn was nicknamed the "Black Tankie", which gave an excuse for the present lined black - a livery I hated at first, but it's grown on me. I just wish it had Cambrian-style red lining rather than what can be taken for BR mixed-traffic livery. As to the "Thomas" masquerades - well, it enchants the children and brings in the money. so we mustn't get too serious. It's only a coat of paint, after all. Cheers Dave

Southern lined green? That's TR Standard Loco Green! Nice photo though. Cheers Dave

Here's the second sound-fitted 0-16.5 Talyllyn Railway model I've built, with another Paul Chetter masterpiece sound file - No1 Talyllyn. He's reworked his J94 file to give a more "narrow gauge" sound, substituted a prototypical GWR whistle, and best of all some "right away" calls from the fireman. Apologies for the poor video quality from a cheap camera, and the occasional wrong button pressing! And another one on a yard length of track showing the slow motor control achievable from the Zimo MX648 decoder.

An update to my previous post about my sound fitted 0-16.5 Talyllyn Railway No2 Dolgoch. It has been away to Paul Chetter who has kindly done a "re-blow". The exhaust beats have been softened to make it more "narrow gauge" and a few extras such as a guard's whistle added. Best of all is a genuine Caledonian hooter, as fitted to the prototype. There are two sounds sets - identical save for a slightly harsher exhaust beat on one of them. It's thus possible to replicate the driver changing the cut-off. Paul has also fitted a larger sugar cube speaker between the frames and the sound quality is much improved. To say I'm delighted with it is an understatement! Cheers Dave

Words fail me with this masterpiece, other than to say that the driver looks distinctly "vertically challenged"! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NARROW-GAUGE-LOCO-GREAT-WESTERN-/221227381563?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item33822df33b

I forgot to say Paul, I love the way you can "drive" the loco with your sound files. Much better than previous ones I've fitted in 00 steam models. The cylinder drain cocks sound is particularly good, and coasting is very effective. Cheers dave

Hi Paul, I'll admit at my age I'm not that "up to speed" with CV setting, so I use a Sprog programmer with Decoderpro to do my fine-tuning. I just reset the "chuff rate" a few times in the relevant window until I got it right. Unfortunately all my stuff is packed away at the moment while SWMBO gets her way with house redecorating (oh, deep joy!), so I can't tell you what the actual values are. I'd be very interested in that sound file with the 8f hooter on it! Cheers Dave

Most definitely a Wrightines kit. Construction of one is covered in my TR topic here:- http://ngrm-online.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6290-0-165-talyllyn-workbench-no-1-talyllyn/page-7 Cheers Dave

Here's something a bit different - my O-16.5 scale model of Talyllyn Railway No2 Dolgoch, with a Digitrains/Paul Chetter Zimo decoder and small sugar cube speaker. Chuff rate amended accordingly:- http://youtu.be/D0vqZcBAO_I It's actually not a genuine Dolgoch sound, but Paul's J94 soundfile. The "light engine" mode seems OK for the prototype. All it lacks is a Caledonian hooter to go with the existing one (Dolgoch had two whistles in the 1960's period depicted by the model). Cheers Dave

Any similarity to the prototype is purely coincidental! http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3ccac8a73d

Twasn't meant to be sarcastic, but "perfection" and the Heljan western are a long way apart. I won't repeat the body shape errors here - it's been done to death. As for performance, yes it is impressive, but the high current draw is known for blowing some DCC chips. These are sufficient reasons for me to change mine to a new Dapol model - mind you, I only have one! Welcome to rmweb!

I doubt that performance ability exceeding that of the prototype will be high on most peoples priority lists. " I'm a self-confessed perfectionist & I'm really happy with my Heljan Wessies." That's the best contradiction in terms I've read for ages!

I really, really don't need a Western diesel. I've got boxes full of locos and stock in the loft awaiting the day I can build the layout that will probably never happen. For me, the railways died along with steam on my 19th birthday in 1968, so I'm no diesel fan. That said I've got a few green "first generation" diesels stashed away, and also a maroon Heljan Western. So I don't need another one, but.......I've found myself eagerly viewing this thread for more updates from DapolDave and detail revelations from the knowledgeable. This will surely be the best RTR diesel ever released and so, in recognition of DapolDaves' sterling efforts to get it right, and even though I will probably never get to run it, I've thought "sod it, you only live once - I'll buy one!". More power to your elbow Dave - hope you get better soon. p.s. please produce the maroon syp with a shorter name than "legionaire" to make it easier to substitute other names!