TravisM

I recently took a trip from Peterborough to Ipswich and given its light loading on both outbound and return journeys, a 100 mph 2 car Class 170 is diagrammed for these services. I was wondering if a Class 153 would not have been better used or are they diagrammed for Ipswich-Felixstowe and other similar branch line services?

I think the Hornby Class 91 and Mk IV’s have sold quite well considering there very basic and to some degree not much improvement over “toy trains” against true models. With the introduction of the 800’s on the ECML and rundown of the fleet, the Mk IV’s are going to be spread about over the country (awaiting confirmation that they will be used on the Holyhead-Cardiff’s as there disabled compliant) and the rumour of the stock and 91’s on the WCML on the slower Euston-Manchester and Blackpool’s, a modern model of these still might be worth considering.

I’ve always liked Rapido Trains Models, so I hope they do more UK trains and created my own wish list; Class 86 Class 91 with matching Mk IV stock Class 92 I’m sure there also looking at doing the Mk V stock and new DMU’s and EMU’s from Bombardier and Stadler.

I’ve been photographing Whittlesea signal box and i thought I’d model it. I was wondering if there is a kit available of a similar GER signal box?

I’m pretty sure I know the answer but I was just wondering if any IEP testing has been done on any of the ECML diversionary routes south of Peterborough? Has one had been tested via March, Ely and Cambridge, also via the Hertford loop?

Thanks, I thought it was Stowmarket, so I was looking in the wrong place.

I assumed that they always went via London for security purposes but can I ask, where do the flasks from Sizewell get loaded as using online maps, I couldn’t see a branch line from the power station to the main line?

I was wondering if DRS’s nuclear flask trains are run on set routes and timings or do they get diverted occasionally and flexible with their timings? I’m thinking of modelling one of the trains from Sizewell (flasks loaded at Stowmarket I believe) to Sellafield and wondering if they ever were routed via Peterborough?

All 10 have been sold to GBRf and 60095 is at Eastleigh for a repaint.

Did this one end up at the SPRS at Bo’ness as part of their 3 car E&G Inter City set?

I hope your right as just ordered three lol, the first being 66789

I’m thinking of trying to photograph the DBC class 60’s at work and wondering if there is a good single location, if there is one to photograph most the remaining loco’s at work. I’m not interested in the recently acquired GBRf ones or those dumped at Toton.

It was repainted after a collision repair when the top of the cab was totalled when it hit a coal loading chute at a colliery in 1988 (I think).

I remember when I was on the railways being told by another driver who did his secondman training back in the 70’s, was shown how the boiler would work with the engine shut down as either one or both of the Spanner or Clayton boilers were heated by a burner using engine fuel oil, but as Titan said, to move the steam heat it needed pumps and other ancillary equipment which would have flattened the batteries in a short time.

Hi Dave, I’m seriously contemplating getting several of the 66’s but can I ask, are all the different variants arriving in the UK in one hit or are they going to appear over several months?

Hi Chris, I’m modelling Elton station In the same vein as your Black Dog Halt but as if the line had remained in place and passenger service had resumed under Network SouthEast. The station would be a simple affair, pretty much like Whittlesea but I was thinking of keeping the semaphore signalling and crossing gates so would have needed a signal box but if it never had one, that seriously limits my options. If you still have a copy of your article on the layout you built, I’d love to see it and any other photos that you may have.

Hi Nick, that’s excellent, just what I was looking for. I’m pretty sure that the station would have had a signal box of some sort as it had a siding and cross overs but I can find no sign of one on diagrams. I’m sure the crossing gates would have been manually closed by the station staff.

I’m trying to find track diagrams of the long closed line between Peterborough and Northampton, especially Elton station but I’m drawing a blank. I have pictures but there mainly in the 50’s or after passenger most freight traffic had finished and the line was singled, in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Has anyone got any information or links to websites on how to locate these?

I just looked on Flickr and in 1989, 20088 was in triple grey but no sector markings and didn’t have snowploughs at the cab end but by 1991, it had gained a 3 piece set, still in triple grey and with no sector markings, 20088 under the cab windows, 088 on the front under the drivers window just above the solebar. I doubt it had snowploughs on the other end.

Emailed several in Scotland asking if I can pre order one, so hopefully I should be lucky lol

Same here. A list of dealers that are going to stock it would be great so I can pre order one.

Thank you for that’s that’s exactly what I’m looking for. You can see that the line was once double tracked and the former lines station starter is now used for the opposite side. Any clues as to when the pictures were taken?

Thank you for that and can I ask, does Frinton-on-Sea have OHLE as well? If your prepared to share some pictures to give me some inspiration, that would be wonderful.

It will be a single line with a level crossing at one end of the layout, followed by a one or possibly two car platform length of simple design. I’d prefer to have crossing gates rather than flashing lights and arms on the level crossing with a signal box watching over it all. The service would be hourly from Northampton and Peterborough in each direction plus occasional freight or PW trains. I hope that makes sense?

I was wondering if BR’s white platform station signs are still in use on smaller stations on branch, minor lines or have most been replaced by the TOC that is operating the train service?