Oxford N7

[Andy Hayter]

The problem is not prayer, the problem is an "r" inserted between brackets which Microscoff interprets as the registered trade mark ®.

[Steamport Southport]

Yes. It's a bit like when you put a symbol in and it thinks it's a Smiley.

 

 is colon P

 

 is colon D

 

 

Jason

Edited May 21, 2017 by Steamport Southport

[DougN]

Do we have an ETA on the N7... I noted on the website it is this year... I am trying to have the Quad Art I mentioned earlier ready for its release.... Strangely for me the coaches are comming together very quickly, painted & "transferred" the bodies, Bogies have been assembled, Now the roofs have been fitted with ventilators. That was almost 2 full packs of MJT ventalators! I have on order MJT turnbucke underframes. then it will be foot boards, sole bars and interiors then "glazing". I havn't built anything this quickly in years. 

[No Decorum]

The problem is not prayer, the problem is an "r" inserted between brackets which Microscoff interprets as the registered trade mark ®.

Indeed. It’s like numbering paragraphs (a), (b) and ©. I believe that somewhere in the depths of the options it is possible to turn autocorrect off.

 

I love Microsoft as much as you do.

[Dunsignalling]

That's interesting.  I've noticed a lot of 1947 Great Western stuff.  Aside from Overlord and Kingswear, I don't recall seeing much early '40s stuff, but take your word for it.

 

The decade 1938-1947 is probably quite do-able RTR.  Before then, the earlier it gets the harder it gets.

 

I have been building up stock for a 1935 layout for some decades now.  Every single coach has had to be kit-built.  That was until Hornby released their new Colletts.  Now I have duplicates!

 

In RTR terms, even 1935 is Another Country!

It doubt it is entirely coincidental that, within each broad category of railway modelling (pre-group, grouping and nationalised), the more popular eras fall immediately before major events, either in the development of our railways or on a more significant scale in the wider world. 

 

Thus, the periods immediately before the two World Wars and that preceding the real beginning of B.R modernisation (which I date from the electrification of the WCML in 1964) seem to attract large portions of their respective cohort groups. 1935 is, perhaps, a tad early with evidence/memories of the early 1930s depression still lingering, 1937/8 look much more positive from a railway perspective, despite the war clouds gathering.

 

Our railways were in a bad way after both the major conflicts and nationalisation was very much on the cards after the first as happened in most of Europe. After the second, it may well have been inevitable, whatever the hue of the government. Railways in a run-down condition generate little nostalgic appeal and modelling them is a relatively recent and specialised niche activity.

 

They were also not pretty (in many respects) in the early 1960s but, for those who witnessed it, the transition from steam and the upheavals in society that took place concurrently, represent another major turning point. Indeed, we modellers of that era may only think the twilight of steam is the important factor that determined our choice of period. 

 

As for the manufacturers, the steam/modernisation boundary is fruitful commercial territory - with its adherents inclined to buy both steam and non-steam models, so its not surprising they place so much emphasis upon it.

 

John    

Edited May 22, 2017 by Dunsignalling

[Dunsignalling]

Perhaps it isn’t a fluke. Perhaps GreenGiraffe22 has just bought a lot of stuff and upset market research.

I wondered about the prayer. I thought it was a bit much to ban the word as fouling the “no religion” rule! As for Microsoft, I don’t think I’ve come across any software as hopeless as its grammar checker. Perhaps I haven’t looked hard enough.

Try using square brackets.............

 

p[r]ayer

Edited May 22, 2017 by Dunsignalling

[Edwardian]

 

Thus, the periods immediately before the two World Wars and that preceding the real beginning of B.R modernisation (which I date from the electrification of the WCML in 1964) seem to attract large portions of their respective cohort groups. 1935 is, perhaps, a tad early with evidence/memories of the early 1930s depression still lingering, 1937/8 look much more positive from a railway perspective, despite the war clouds gathering.

 

 

 

Well, you see, I'm nothing if not perverse!

 

There is much to be said for the Indian Summer before the deluge of war, however, I suspect that there are other reasons why the late '30s are a popular period for 'Groupers'

 

It seemed to take until the late '30s for the LNER, perhaps because it was reputedly cash-starved, and the LMS, which had to await the advent of Stanier, and the Southern, which seems to have devoted much of its early enrgies to electrification, to establish that new Golden Age, only to be cut short by the antics of that funny little man in the bottle brush moustache (no, not Chaplin, the other one).

 

The project I mentioned was Great Western.  In many ways the Great Western reached its apogee a decade earlier - the Churchward revolution, the improved fast lines and routes, to Wales, Birmingham and the South West, were established before the Great War, so the stage was largely already set, as it were, for the company's last great flowering.  Once the legacy of the war years was shaken off, the period 1923-1927 saw the introduction of modern passenger coaching stock, the Castles (the most powerful locomotive of its day!) and Kings, and the Cheltenham Flyer (the fastest train!). 

 

Of course there were further developments shortly after, the Halls and the 60' Riviera stock, but by 1936-1939, there was little to do but build coaches with larger windows and introduce 2 or 3 more mixed traffic classes!  The last great moment of romance, for me, was the Centenary Year, complete with the new stock for the Limited (I might give those 'streamlined' 4-6-0s a miss, though!). 

 

So, much for my self-justification.

 

Not a lot to do with N7s, I fear!

[Dunsignalling]

Well, you see, I'm nothing if not perverse!

 

There is much to be said for the Indian Summer before the deluge of war, however, I suspect that there are other reasons why the late '30s are a popular period for 'Groupers'

 

It seemed to take until the late '30s for the LNER, perhaps because it was reputedly cash-starved, and the LMS, which had to await the advent of Stanier, and the Southern, which seems to have devoted much of its early enrgies to electrification, to establish that new Golden Age, only to be cut short by the antics of that funny little man in the bottle brush moustache (no, not Chaplin, the other one).

 

The project I mentioned was Great Western.  In many ways the Great Western reached its apogee a decade earlier - the Churchward revolution, the improved fast lines and routes, to Wales, Birmingham and the South West, were established before the Great War, so the stage was largely already set, as it were, for the company's last great flowering.  Once the legacy of the war years was shaken off, the period 1923-1927 saw the introduction of modern passenger coaching stock, the Castles (the most powerful locomotive of its day!) and Kings, and the Cheltenham Flyer (the fastest train!). 

 

Of course there were further developments shortly after, the Halls and the 60' Riviera stock, but by 1936-1939, there was little to do but build coaches with larger windows and introduce 2 or 3 more mixed traffic classes!  The last great moment of romance, for me, was the Centenary Year, complete with the new stock for the Limited (I might give those 'streamlined' 4-6-0s a miss, though!). 

 

So, much for my self-justification.

 

Not a lot to do with N7s, I fear!

I do agree that the GWR seems to have peaked a few years before the others, though if I were modelling the GWR, I really couldn't do without a Grange or two...... 

 

Back on topic for my next post, honest. guv.

 

John

Edited May 22, 2017 by Dunsignalling

[GreenGiraffe22]

I made the point because I suddenly noticed an abundance of Southern locos in wartime black, then the new E4 and soon H and H2 with later versions of their Southern numbers, then the Merchant Navys, the Dunkirk set, and suddenly the various warflats by various companies and the USA tank which includes a US Army version, I may have missed other items too. It's nothing compared to the offerings for 50s/60s modellers but still seemed like a lot

[Edwardian]

I made the point because I suddenly noticed an abundance of Southern locos in wartime black, then the new E4 and soon H and H2 with later versions of their Southern numbers, then the Merchant Navys, the Dunkirk set, and suddenly the various warflats by various companies and the USA tank which includes a US Army version, I may have missed other items too. It's nothing compared to the offerings for 50s/60s modellers but still seemed like a lot

 

Fair point.

 

I note that Model Rail has recently done a feature on post-war Grouping liveries, which dealt with wartime schemes to an extent. 

 

From the sounds of things, the LNER would be an attractive company to model post-war; A4s back in blue and an attempt, at least, to paint everything else green, including the classes that would have been black before the war.  

 

Which leads me to wonder, did any of the N7s get painted green by the LNER after the war, as that could result in a most attractive model?

 

See what I did there? 

[coachmann]

Young people probably look at the steam-era as a whole unit and they pick from it whatever period takes their fancy. When I was young, I wondered what it must have been like when LNWR and MR locos and coaches rode the rails. In old age I fell back on my strongest feelings of nostalgia, which were mid 1950's anti-diesel.

 

Obviously, people modelling a particular era will always want to add more locos and stock and RTR manufacturers will play to the most assured market. Of course RTR will produce short runs in liveries for less popular eras (as they stand today), but will this make some people change to 'low-volume sales' eras?  

 

No N7's carried LNER green livery. The reason for grey in late GER early LNER days was the blue could not be guaranteed and was four times the pre-war price.

Edited May 22, 2017 by coachmann

[Gilwell Park]

Do we have an ETA on the N7... I noted on the website it is this year... I am trying to have the Quad Art I mentioned earlier ready for its release.... Strangely for me the coaches are comming together very quickly, painted & "transferred" the bodies, Bogies have been assembled, Now the roofs have been fitted with ventilators. That was almost 2 full packs of MJT ventalators! I have on order MJT turnbucke underframes. then it will be foot boards, sole bars and interiors then "glazing". I havn't built anything this quickly in years. 

Hi  Do you not need a Quint Art for your N7?

 

Roger

[DougN]

Roger, I didn't have one in the "one day kit box" but I had the Quad art. This weekend I am concentrating on the interiors. Yesterday I did 95% of the window glazing, cut up all the interior coach seating I could find. I seem to be at least a pack short. So today will be complete the glazing and paint what seating I have. Also if I get to it paint the roofs! So a fair bit of modelling to do today!

[Gilwell Park]

Roger, I didn't have one in the "one day kit box" but I had the Quad art. This weekend I am concentrating on the interiors. Yesterday I did 95% of the window glazing, cut up all the interior coach seating I could find. I seem to be at least a pack short. So today will be complete the glazing and paint what seating I have. Also if I get to it paint the roofs! So a fair bit of modelling to do today!

Doug

 

I can sympathise, mine took ages and you seem to be adding a lot more detail than I did.

 

Roger

[Baby Deltic]

Hi Do you not need a Quint Art for your N7?

 

Roger

N7's certainly worked quint arts out of North Woolwich. I think quad arts were more common on the Great Northern suburban services out of KX hauled by N2's etc and quint arts were more GE. Edited May 28, 2017 by Baby Deltic

[DougN]

One thing about the quad/quint sets is once you start you seem to be constantly doing the same thing over and over! I think I need to drag out the air brush to do the roofs. I did brush paint them it is just not the the standard I want!

 

I have painted all the seating I have in a dark brown which from what I have been researching doing seems to suggest that due to their high use they became quite grotty quickly. The partitions need to be painted in off white. Which should just about match the roofs! However one of the side effects to the roof above is my tin of humbrol Matt white is a little too aged!.. I wonder if I can pick up a new tin some time during the week in my travels.

[Pint of Adnams]

N7's certainly worked quint arts out of North Woolwich. I think quad arts were more common on the Great Northern suburban services out of KX hauled by N2's etc and quint arts were more GE.

There were the much better known GN Quads working out of Moorgate and King's Cross and the less well known and much fewer in number (14 sets) GE Quads working out of Liverpool Street to Hertford (East) and Bishops Stortford via the Cambridge line. These comprised two standard length (51') carriages book-ending two shorter ones. GE Quins usually worked the Enfield and Chingford services but later between North Woolwich and Palace Gates; some also worked between Liverpool street and Ilford.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

N7's certainly worked quint arts out of North Woolwich. I think quad arts were more common on the Great Northern suburban services out of KX hauled by N2's etc and quint arts were more GE.

 It should not be forgotten that small groups of N7s were allocated to the ex-GN sheds at KX and Hatfield by the LNER, with condensors fitted to the KX allocated locos specifically for the operation on the Metropolitan lines to Moorgate hauling Quadarts. The N7s were very effective 'down the drain', but lacked speed for the longer inner sub turns, and were in time wholly displaced by N2s at KX. This work earned them the soubriquet 'Swedey Met' (the N1 was a 'Met tank', the N2 a 'Big Met'.)

 

The Hatfield shed allocation continued under BR (34C). The N2s there were intended for the main line work, the N7s (no condensors) for the three branches that Hatfield shed served. There are however pictures of these N7s in the KX approaches, so they did on occasion wander onto the main line. (For a few months in summer 1959, an ex-GCR N5 was allocated to Hatfield shed too, for three varieties of 0-6-2T at the one location; it appears to have worked on the same branch turns as the N7s).

[Pint of Adnams]

 It should not be forgotten that small groups of N7s were allocated to the ex-GN sheds at KX and Hatfield by the LNER, with condensors fitted to the KX allocated locos specifically for the operation on the Metropolitan lines to Moorgate hauling Quadarts. The N7s were very effective 'down the drain', but lacked speed for the longer inner sub turns, and were in time wholly displaced by N2s at KX. This work earned them the soubriquet 'Swedey Met' (the N1 was a 'Met tank', the N2 a 'Big Met'.)

 

The Hatfield shed allocation continued under BR (34C). The N2s there were intended for the main line work, the N7s (no condensors) for the three branches that Hatfield shed served. There are however pictures of these N7s in the KX approaches, so they did on occasion wander onto the main line. (For a few months in summer 1959, an ex-GCR N5 was allocated to Hatfield shed too, for three varieties of 0-6-2T at the one location; it appears to have worked on the same branch turns as the N7s).

All of the class - up to and including the final batch built at Doncaster during 1927-28, the first with the round-topped firebox and incorporating other detail differences, were originally fitted with condensing equipment. This was removed from all of the class between January 1935 and February 1938. Remember that the Enfield Town and Chingford services ran out of Liverpool Street under the old Bishopsgate station, later a major goods depot, and were working hard in semi-tunnel on the climb up to Bethnal Green. There were other tunnels on those routes.

 

The N7s had 6 4' 10" dia. driving wheels and, with the Westinghouse air-brake, were the perfect machines for the fast acceleration, quick stops and fast restarts between the closely-spaced stations on the GE suburban lines. The N1s and N2s had 5' 8 " driving wheels and were far better suited to the more leisurely GN suburban workings. Simply a matter of horses for courses and probably the consequence of an operating department bright idea.

[Paul.Uni]

Artwork for OR76N7001 GER No. 1002 & OR76N7002 LNER No. 8011 is up on http://www.oxfordrail.com/76/OR76N7.htm

[Norton Wood]

Artwork for OR76N7001 GER No. 1002 & OR76N7002 LNER No. 8011 is up on http://www.oxfordrail.com/76/OR76N7.htm

The artwork for the model looks fantastic, eastern region modelers have been very lucky the past few years, just hope that a GER T26( LNER E4), J17 and BuckJumper J69 will be made. But that's hopeful thinking

Edited June 15, 2017 by Norton Wood

[Nimbus]

The Models are fantastic

In the literal sense? They don't exist yet!

 

The Nim.

[Norton Wood]

In the literal sense? They don't exist yet!

 

The Nim.

They look great from what we can see so far  

[PaulG]

Unfortunately both illustrations appear to show a Belpaire firebox, whereas an earlier illustration appeared also to show roundtop firebox version .

Paul

[Norton Wood]

Unfortunately both illustrations appear to show a Belpaire firebox, whereas an earlier illustration appeared also to show roundtop firebox version .

From what Oxford Rail's website has said they do intend to do a number of versions beginning with the GER and early LNER versions then following with the later round top versions, I do think it's good to get a GER liveried loco though it's different and I think all the models will sell well.