TrevorP1

Good things there. Thanks Spams.

Always admired the Worth Valley's decision to paint 72 in golden ochre. I have no need of a USA, much less in WVR livery but resistance is becoming very hard....

Just asked a friend who was at Old Oak in the '80s. He came back with 'Ran Lee'.

I wonder if it's too much to hope that the model railway side of Hornby now passes into the hands of people who know what they are doing? Hornby obviously have some talented and dedicated staff. Equally there must be people who are... shall I say, 'less than competent'. The company has several products in the pipeline which I hope still appear and which I intend to purchase. However, I feel I would be a fool to buy them as soon as they appear since on recent form they are likely to be heavily discounted in the not too distant future. The obvious result of this is that I don't get my toys, the retailers I use have unsold stock and Hornby have a warehouse full of goodies that nobody will buy...

My work involves me machining parts for various steam locomotive projects or for maintenance. We are lucky enough to have original drawings for some engines but it's not unknown to have trouble fitting parts that are made 'to drawing' by accurate modern methods, often those involving a 'pitch circle'. Thinking about this it's not surprising. Imagine a dimly lit machine shop, a tradesman who needed glasses but couldn't afford them (no NHS remember) using equipment which needed more skill to use than many items which are easily available today. We've noticed that some loco works were better than others (I'm not going to start a war by suggesting which!) Having said that there was some marvellous, highly skilled work carried out 'back in the day'.

Lots of happy memories in those pictures. Thanks for posting!

Really want one of these but would like to do 1419, long time Fowey branch engine. This requires BR black with small logo, no top feed. So, to achieve minimum alteration, I need to respray Hattons 1409 and apparently fill the numberplate recess. All doable of course but it just goes against the grain buying a beautiful £125 model (DCC) and then attacking it!

The last two shots of the warships at Shenston Road are impressive! For a split second I thought the the pair side by side was Exeter St Davids, then I realised it was the wrong number of tracks and different background. But I was still puzzling where it could be till 'Shenston Road' gave it away! Not sure about the class 1 headcode on the hopper wagons though...

A welcome addition. Shown as May/June delivery on the Bachmann web site. £19.95 a pop...

Just found this thread. Really enjoyable films. The contemporary radio sets the scene far more than a yawn inducing commentary on the obvious. Really brought back some memories! But did people really buy that awful No.1 in the first film! Thanks for posting.

Some very neat work there. Like it a lot!

My plain crimson example has just arrived from Kernow and it is a beautiful little model. The height of the floor is bit of an issue but it doesn't show from rail level which will be my normal viewing point. Not sure what to do about passengers, or come to that the driver, as I fear 'amputations' may make the appearance worse... I'll consider this when the Hattons 1400 is available to make the train complete. Foe the record, as regards the body colour it is almost the same as the recent Hornby exLMS suburbans in the same contempory livery. I have a couple of these as they were used in the west country late 1950s early 60s. My other modelling interest is late 1980s Scotrail so it will be interesting to see how the coming Bachmann Mk2 DBSO compares in construction, detail, floor height etc

'Doombar' is always a good thing especially taken on the terrace of the Fisherman's Arms at Golant. My preference is for 'Proper Job' though, or maybe 'Big Job' if I dont need to be coherent fo an hour or two...

Thanks Craig and also for the good news about the valley and the viaduct. The viaduct shot was pure luck on many fronts. I see what you mean about the height of the sun there and will bear that in mind in future. Slowly learning about all these photo spots is very satisfying. You can look at pictures in books, on Flickr or even RMweb(!) but nothing beats knowledge on the ground. All the best, Trevor.

Possibly. I hope I am. The thought that anyone could see sense in running round a 700 ton train of CDAs on the main line, across a level crossing, in the middle of the promised upgraded summer service leaves me quite - tries to think of polite word - baffled.... Also just thinking of the little mishap and partial fouling they had last summer happening actually on the main.

Erm... Am I missing something or does that mean the engines on the clay trains will have to run round on the main line?

It's not uncommon for clouds to roll in as soon as I reach for my camera and so the disappearance of the sun during most of my time in Cornwall last week was no surprise! However... A clay train at Golant has been on my hit list for some time. Having missed one back in April by minutes I took much greater care this time and was rewarded. After a celebratory pint and sandwich in the Fishermans Arms I drove up to Ponts Mill for walk in the woods with the dog. I knew there was a 'full' due to go down to the docks but didn't take the thought seriously that I would be lucky enough to get a shot of this as well. However, having reached the Treffery Viaduct I found a tiny spot where there was some 3g and, sure enough, checking RTT I might be lucky. Half an hour later this was the result. What the photo doesn't reveal is that I was holding the camera one handed whilst with the other restraining our Jack Russell from eating another terrier which was passing at the crucial moment! The RHTT was about all week. Just for the record here it is passing Crugwallins. Please note this was taken from private property with the owners permission. A 'record' shot at Loswitheil of two things that will soon be gone. I'm hoping that I'll get another crack at this but it will be next September before I'm in Cornwall again. Hope these shots are of interest, Trevor.

Really useful to know that. I have no excuse now other than the 'to do' list getting longer! Totally agree with your PVA method for fixing plates. I don't use anything else. Never had one come off either.

The figures are fantastic Alan. If you can get those on the market I can see other manufacturers offerings being redundant at a stroke. Painting of my cast figures has just slid off the end of the 'to do' list! Suggestions? How about a steam era inspector in a bowler hat, a harassed shed foreman out in the shed yard investigating a failure or some 1970/80s diesel crews? More power to you. Trevor

Finally got round to having a look at my two this morning. Very nice. Must say I'm relieved that the lifting eyes don't look too difficult to do. My only slight disappointment is the lack of eched plates but this has been covered elswhere so I won't go on. I'm fortunate in being stacked out with things to do at the moment but I'm looking forward to seeing them together with the rest of the Warship fleet - reckon I've got enough for the 'Exeter St Davids style' scene now. It's going to be a while before I get round to that though. Excellent news from KMRC on the D600s yesterday so a great week for hydraulic junkies! [ And that's before my driving experience on Western Courier tomorrow ] Trevor

Castle Sadly it's looks like I've drawn the domestic card on Sunday. Would have appreciated a look inside the signal box and at progress on the County.... Never mind, next time maybe. Perhaps Pendennis will be in steam by then! Cheers and hope it goes well, Trevor.

Sorry to hear about the various back problems on here. In my personal and painful experience GPs are not to be rusted with back problems. My advice is to see a chiropractor, they really do know what they are talikng about.

Way back when I was a (very) young man I remember going on a trip to Shrewsbury on the vintage train with - I think - the two Halls. 1970 something. I didn't even take a camera! If only it were possible now!

I know! You've secretly restored the GWS vintage train and we're all off on a railtour behind 6023 to Plymouth. 4141 is already at Newton ready to help us over the banks.... (Anybody for a pint of what I'm on? It's good stuff!) Trevor.

Great work Brian! Admiring your nerve at attacking a brand new model. Now it looks like a Modified Hall!