The Bigbee Line

I don't understand this limit on wattage, surely better to have a 5 minute flash round with 2000 watts than all day with 900...... AND the carpet will be cleaner,,,,,,

Another niche product I've had the displeasure of dealing with.... Warmed up in the tanks and delivered piping hot to the third rail.... When cold its very thick and syrup like...

Thanks for the info. In the mid 80's I did a stint as Acting Chargeman on the Cleaning and Freight Gang. At the time the in thing was Wundergung a thickened version of exmover. I remember the company was in Tenterden, but cannot remember exactly where...

Tank Wagon via the Trainferry I've been looking to add some early Ferry Wagons from the late 50's / early 60's and regularly do a search on ebay. Came across this tank wagon the other day. Looks to be a tank wagon suitable for the period, Running from the continent via Dover and Headcorn for a Chemical Plant in Tenterden. In reality the Exmover used by BR was made in the Tenterden area..... A nice model. Sprung axleboxes and all brake work. Maybe just add a vacuum through pipe. It only has a handbrake on the veranda. Must check some contemporary tanks to see if a lever of wheeled handbrake would be appropriate. I know that some wagons operated to the UK with veranda handbrakes only. The lettering can have a black patch over the existing (to allow easy removal if required) just need to sort out some suitable lettering. Then need to check when the towing and tie down eyes were added..

I've seen a plan or an article in Railway Modeller many years ago for a Terminus that had such an arrangement, with the outer tracks forming a loop. The station throat then led to a double junction forming another loop and allowing continuous running. In the V of the double junction as a steam loco depot a bit like Faversham... That was a long time ago....

Jim, Thanks for the tip. I have been looking for pictures on the internet, thinking that there would be loads, but actually seem elusive... Especially showing the detail that you want.... Regards, Ernie

Ian, Drivers would take an engine without authority. In the 80's when there were loco's at Dover, Ashford, Tonbridge etc it was not unknown for the Ashford 'Foreman' to send someone over for a loco and it wasn't there... later found sitting at Tonbridge... Track Access as now didn't exist, just get on the SPT and ring out as 'Light Loco for Tonbridge' and off you went.... I'm sure you know of such things... nod nod wink wink Ernie

John, Thanks for the tip I'll have a look. Quite please with how these went on today. Thin but giving the chance to build up the colours, just need to find a few colour pictures of wagons from the late 50's / early 60's Ernie

Jim, Thanks for that. The brake levers are on the hit list.. Is the lettering Ok as it seems a little on the large size? Should I also more the pivot bar for the end door? Those look like easy fixes (maybe) Ernie

Do I, don't I..... Mmmmmm... Out came the brush and a quick coat of weathering wash on the Dapol 7 plank... A definite improvement. Compared with the 3H wagon it looks a scale bigger. I must say I prefer the look of the 3H over the Dapol. This is the weathering enamel by AK Interactive. Nice and easy to apply, I'll be sending for some other colours to give some variety

7 Plank Mineral Wagon After an evening sorting out stuff yesterday I thought I had to do a bit of modelling today. The mineral wagon needed its removable solebar fettled to allow adjustment. The holes were slotted a little: It was then screwed on, the slack taken out of axle end float and the 2 screws tightened, snug as a bug in a rug... On Saturday during our visit to Bristol we went to the Antics Online Shop. Not a bad shop, and I purchased some weathering washes.. I decided to give the Mineral Wagon some treatment: The some additional layers and then decals... The Dapol 7 plank seems too large in comparison. I might try weathering and see what that does..... Brass door stop from a bit of spare fret from some couplings Here with the door stop a little shorter; it was re-bent and the extra allowed a nice tang into the hole in the wagon side.. The couplings need adding, plus white line to denote the end door, white on the brake lever. I think some general whitish weathering.. Then that might be it... Maybe a removable coal load....

Oh no not the Meat Knife, just joking, I like your style....

Paul When were the last re-bodies. When I started on the railway in the early 80s, Ashford Kent. One guy on the platform had come from the works. They used to get told off for putting bodies on the wrong way round. The bodies were all the same way round. Whichever way the wagon came in, on went the body.

Larry Nice perspective modelling. Are the "square" corners on your to do list. Thanks Ernie.

I think we should have "train set" and "scale". Don't get me wrong as I'm in the trainset club. It's a bit like a guy brake testing a real wagon, using the timer on his IPhone. Then recording 15.34 seconds. Meaningless. 15 seconds will do. I remember when doing A levels you were taught to work to the least accurate figure. Everything else was a waste of ink. Rambling over.

BUFFERS Good morning. During non modelling periods I quite often find myself thinking through various things.... One of these is buffers, the thoughts are: Sprung buffers often have the mechanism gummed up or rusty The coil springs are very fine and prone to jamming. The shortness allows them droop, which I think looks naff. I had a thought about making the heads and shafts myself so looked for a low tech method. Last night I put one theory into practice using M2 bolts with the heads filed down and a thin brass washer soldered on.... Three variants: Close ups: Comparison with a Coopecraft head: Head comparison with a Parkside whitemetal RCH:

Andy The layout has been found a place to live in the workshop. I have given the stock side of things the lions share of my attention for the last few weeks. I thinks that is because I am finding the O gauge experience quite rewarding. The bigger bulk of things means that you can get stuck in and have a go without worrying too much about its fragility.. I need to make the wiring more permanent. The existing is cheat wiring as most was soldered to peco fishplates, in case I changed my mind.... It's now 'tablets of stone' so the wiring can be firmed up. Just need a bit of tag strip to terminate all the wires... I'd also like to wire the frog juicers to a three pin plug of some kind. They can then be used on any layout just plugged in on a modular basis.. So look out for the next instalment. Thanks for the encouragement Best regards Ernie

GETTING OLDER As you get older you forget things,,,, my foray into O gauge has been an enlightening experience. I am trying very hard to avoid the "Too much stuff" syndrome. But at the same time getting on with stuff and using all the bits and pieces that I've purchased. To that end I need to list all my O gauge projects and allocate the relevant parts. Sad but essential. Once my current eBay bids have run their course that will be it for purchases.

Connoseur Models Agricultural Implement Wagon PROTOTYPE. Seventeen of these wagons were built by the NER in 1916 for the transportation of farm machinery, tractors and small portable engines. These were driven or winched onto the wagon from an end loading dock and then lashed down into the well section using the floor mounted securing rings. The lowered centre section of the wagon provided high loads with extra clearance to allow them to remain within the railway loading gauge. When first built these special purpose wagons would be used to convey loads from North Eastern stations to destinations throughout Britain. After the 1923 grouping any LNER station could order up one of these wagons to dispatch a load to destinations throughout the country. These wagons lasted in service well into British Railways days. KIT. This is a very straightforward kit. Some push out rivet detail, a few parts requiring simple folding and a selection of small detail parts make this an interesting project. The careful modeller can make the individual load securing rings fully working and then use these to lash down one of the delightful 1:43 scale Die-Cast tractors or agricultural machines that are available from model and toy shops.

Thanks Brian. It's in a later series and flatter. I think there is a kit of one in etched brass that was a NER prototype. I think I might have to "wing it". As you know I'm a bit of an uncouthed heathen....

Thanks for the tip. I'll trawl the internet for pictures. A set of smaller wheels will give it the right look. Then to find a suitable load. I did think about a group of wagons representing a farmer moving farms....

HYMAC EP Perhaps... Good evening. I have decided to keep the wagon posts together... More disciplined and all that. My latest 'can't resist' purchase from Ebay was 4 spares of repairs O gauge wagons; 2 cattle wagons, a CooperCraft GW Machinery wagon and a Machinery wagon.... It arrived and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. A change from some purchases. The stranger is the machinery wagon. It has whitemetal headstocks, side frames, axle guards and curb rails. The deck is scribed plasticard. It's very heavy and has no makers identification that I can see. The white metal parts appear soldered together. It has been lettered E906245 LOWMAC. I cannot find much reference at all other than in my book ; British Railway Goods Wagons in Colour by Robert Hendry. There is a diagram on page 89 giving details of the HYMAC EP, of which 6 were built at Lancing Works. B906000 - B906005, So I might trawl my Southern Wagon books. The wheels in the diagram are shown as 2'9" and I suspect it had ordinary wagon size fitted as the buffer height is a bit on the high side.

Postings regarding wagons for O gauge will henceforth be on this page. Each new posting will have any additions edited to the original posting (keeping it all together) I hope...

Lewes is Sussex doesn't have a bay, but it has the big angle in the middle and an unusual line with platform on both sides.