TomJ

After a few weeks away I’ve returned to the modelling den and one of my part finished models has clearly caught the sun! I build most of my card models with Scalescenes brick or stonework printed onto card by an inkjet printer. It has gone rather faded and acquired a pinkish tinge!

Other than the obvious - keeping the curtains drawn - is there anything else I can do to prevent this? Any varnish that might protect? Or would a better quality printer make a difference?

Many thanks - never considered that too much sun could be a problem in Yorkshire!

I’m wondering about how I might add another flow to a 50s/60s layout and use some lovely fish vans

I know that fish was counted as a NPCCS

and vans were often attached to passenger trains for speed. 
 

What I’m not sure about is how the traffic was handled at the receiving end. Would the fish be offloaded in the goods yard or in the station? And if it was a couple of vans attached to a passenger train might they be detached and shunted off elsewhere? Would a large town/small city justify a dedicated fish train or a few vans attached to another train?

Thanks everyone 

That’s what I was thinking of! I knew it was a dock on the east coast south of The Wash!!

Was it Ipswich docks?

I’m not sure it’s of a standard that anyone would pay for!!!

Just in case it helps anyone I had exactly the same problems. Accessing it on safari via my iPhone and couldn’t get into prototype discussions or layout topics. 
I’ve just cleared cookies (before booking flights!) and it’s all working fine now

I’m definitely more of a builder than an operator! So as my current project is about as finished as it ever will be my thoughts are turning to the next one. I’m wondering what people do with their old layouts. I can’t imagine anyone would want to buy it. There isn’t space in the spare room to store it. So I could either dump it in the garage or strip what I can and scrap it.

I’ve got a bit of a sentimental connection to it - but equally keen to start the next project!

This thread seems to be as good a place as any to ask!

If adding a goods shed where do people think it looks best? CJFs original design alongside the platforms - al la Moor Street? Could help disguise short platforms? Or the later design where it’s a kickback opposite the station throat?

Opinions welcome!

2 hours ago, woodenhead said:

So it is possible that the tunnels could be up and running with passengers in March, just as the Government drop all Covid restrictions - so has Covid really just been a massive cover up to mask the delays and over runs on Crossrail?

Not correct at all I’m afraid. The reality is that Covid and lockdown were cover for changing the batteries. Many of the ‘pigeons’ you see are actually secret surveillance drones. After a few years the batteries need changing. But of course that has to be kept secret. Hence lockdown to keep everyone indoors 

So looking at some Devon books got me thinking. The Devon banks are ferociously steep, 1:36 in places, and second only the Lickey Incline. Yet many photos show quite long trains , passenger and goods, ascending without assistance. I know many trains were double headed but a lot weren’t. In contrast the Lickey seems to be notorious with almost every train needing to be banked in steam days - and a fleet of banking locos, some enormous!

So what’s the difference? Length? Locus used? Curves? 
Just interested in the comparison. 

Thanks for that. Really interesting. Pity about the 9Fs not crossing the Tamar. I have a soft spot for them. Perhaps they made it to Kingswear on holiday trains? I mean they definitely made it to Newton Abbot, and Kings were permitted to Kingswear……

14 hours ago, jazzer said:

I am positive I have more than once seen a Britannia at St. Erth with the Cornish Riviera when they were quite new but wide firebox Pacific’s were like something from Mars for many Western Region fireman so they never really got the best from them until eventually their allocation was centred at Cardiff Canton in sufficient numbers for the crews to get used to them and they then seemed to get good work on the Paddington expresses such as the Red Dragon . 

 

A Standard class 5 73027 was photographed at Newton Abbott in 1960 on the Saturday Only 8.50 am Swansea - Paignton relief.and 73023 followed on the 9.05am Swansea- Kingswear.

 

9Fs we’re pushed into Summer Saturday service on the Swansea/Cardiff - Paignton/Kingswear trains and also on the Newquay- Cardiff route.

 

 

So did 9Fs cross the Tamar? And did they make it to Newquay or was there an engine change anywhere. Not seen any photos of 9Fs in Cornwall but will love an excuse to run one on my Newquay inspired layout!

Thanks everyone. Looks like a rethink is on the cards!

I’m day dreaming how I might fit a more Mainline layout into my box room that is train room/office. Thinking of going right round the walls (thin shelf over the desk and main station opposite). To get more storage space I was wondering about putting some loops underneath the station. 
 

How practical is this? How much clearance might I need? I’m modelling in N gauge. There wouldn’t be any stock marshalling in there - just storage of rakes of trains. 
Perhaps I could use a mirror or some kind of camera to view the loops better?

Anyone done this? Any tips? Thanks 

I’m currently adapting a Scalescenes kit to make a two road GWR engine shed. I’m a bit stuck on these smoke vent chimneys. 

What where they made of? Don’t look like brick to me. Presumably wouldn’t be timber. Perhaps sheet material of some sort?

Any tips gratefully received!!

Given how chaotic every one of my recent journeys with Cross Country have been - with no trains arriving or departing anywhere close to their stated time - I’m not sure if anyone will actually notice the changes to the timetable 

A rail replacement bus would be a controversial cover

2 hours ago, Darius43 said:

Now half way through 1982.  I had forgotten about the “Junior Modeller” section.  I wonder how many of those featured are on RMWeb today?

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Im still here. Albeit a ‘student modeller’ not a junior one. 
 

July 97 in case you’re interested!

Was rather weird to see my article that I hadn’t read for 20+yrs!

If people are looking for another excuse to buy one then the IoW units were tested on the mainline before heading over the Solent. Apparently the first unit was tested between Basingstoke and Eastleigh. I’m sure I remember on a trip to the IoW seeing the ‘new’ trains in sidings near Portsmouth. 
 

This thread has pictures of them

at Haslemere.

It wouldn’t take much imagination to see them running in on other NSE lines!

I’ve been looking at some plans for colliery layouts, including Paul Lunn’s one in the recent Model Rail

I’ve got a few questions about how the internal networks were operated by the NCB. I know that the rules were ‘different’ to BR and that brake vans were a rarity 

Would wagons be propelled through the screens? I’m imaging that locos wouldn’t be allowed through - is this correct?

So leading on from this - on the plan you’d have to propel a train down the gradient, trucks first. And pull up the loaded ones behind the loco. Were there rules about locos having to be at the bottom when on a gradient (to prevent runaways) or could you get away with it? It seems brake abs weren’t used despite lose coupled wagons. 

If the plan needs wagons pushing through the screens AND the loco at the lower end of the gradient then I need a rethink!

 Thanks 

Thanks everyone for all the advice, pics and references. I found a copy of ‘Rail Centres Oxford’ (for 65p!) which is very inspirational. Certainly lots of locos on my shopping list

Im looking at getting a rake of coaches for the N-S inter-regionals that came through Oxford. What coaches would you see in the early 60s - SR, ER, Mk1 or a mix? Would it be all SR or all ER coaches or where they mixed rakes?

I’ve got a choice in N of Maunsell, Bullied, Mk1 (green or maroon?), Gresley or Thompson coaches! Choice can be too much sometimes 

11 hours ago, Davey said:

No, it goes to Wool in Hampshire.

 

Davey

These are some of the worsted jokes I’ve heard

sorry!

I believe the Lambourne Valley Railway was built under the light railway act. Like many it was built by an independent company - but in this case had its own rolling stock and locos. Later taken over by the GWR who rebuilt Lambourne station and introduced their stock 

Currently day dreaming/arm chair planing a future project based on Oxfords long lost (some say fictional) city terminus. Set in the late 50s, early 60s. I have found out a lot of information already, especially about the inter regional trains and ‘foreign’ locos seen there. But my knowledge of things outside Swindon is limited so I need some help filling in the gaps!

Am I right that there was a link from Banbury to the GCR? And that this was used for trains going from the south coast to the north?

As I understand the SR locos would work to Oxford. Would an ex-GWR loco take over as far as Banbury? Or would you see an ER (or was it LMR by then?) loco taking over at Oxford? And which non GWR classes particularly would you see if you were an Oxford trainspotter?

Basically if I were to get one or two foreign locos to add to my ex-GWR fleet for variety what would be a good choice? I’ve already got a SR N and a West Country on order. Anything else from the SR? And what should represent trains from the GCR? 
 

Thanks

Many of the visiting locos from RH&DR to Ravenglass and Eskdale are too long for the turntables at either end. In those cases the tenders are detached and simply pushed onto the turntable after the loco. Always a good show for those watching 

Obviously a lot easier in 15inch gauge!