The Bigbee Line

When with Railfreight Distribution in 1997 I visited Morris Cowley. After the visit I dropped in on Littlemore. A single siding with a small ground frame. There was no run round so trains reversed in, then travelled to Morris Cowley to run round.

Dave, Are you going to post the rest of the 'East Kent' article?

Give us chapter and verse as I'll need to do the other side of the same bridge.......

What you can see is ordinary red oxide primer..... Nothing special, easier to get hold of than maroon. Wagon repairers only have a small palette when it comes to repairs.....

Pete, I've got a single slip on the way. It will be used on another 6' x 1'6" set up. Look familiar?

Pete, Stupid question and late in the day. When you chose the viewing side, what made you choose to have the gas Works at the front?

Pete, Looking Good. Is the idea to shunt wagons up the Gas Works incline and leave them on the level section at the top? Looking forward to the third rail appearing.

Not a bad price for the wheelsets and underframe though. Not sure if this one has been spotted - an Airfix Mineral http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRAINS-MINERAL-WAGON-B-R-16-TON-AIRFIX-HO-OO-MODEL-KIT-DJ-/200670605550?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item2eb8e670ee for £40, bargain

You have inspired me to get my finger out with a shed. An inconveniently placed tree is getting the chop, literally, tomorrow. I'm getting an 8 x 14. Just working out the best place for the door.

If I change it will be to O gauge. Not industrial but a short line interchange with a main line. A line running from the shed into the garden is on the cards so O would be good. I think I need to give myself a good talking to....................

Nice looking shed. I'm currently sourcing one and your looks very nice. I bet there's a few readers that will be green with envy.

Mertr0land said More sheeted 16T’s St. Mary Cray (near). 31692 & down goods. 3.6.59 by Roger Joanes, on Flickr What's under the sheets? I am wondering if it's 'night soil' from London. Any other ideas?

Would making the ladder rests smaller help the illusion. I did some yard lamps and used the post as one pole of the supply (pardon the pun). As they were larger I got away with Athearn Bulbs from their diesel locos and a washer as the shade. Nice layout, another thread to read when I have the time.

I'm up to page 21 on this excellent thread. I hadn't read much before as I'm easily distracted and this thread could distract anyone. My brother has lived in Preston before and the buildings remind me of visits 'up north'. In the 1980s I did a two day trip with my son. Day two was from Preston to Leeds on a DMMU, the driver had the blinds up, so we had great trip. I can't remember too much except that it was up hills and down dale in a big way, very exiting. Wish I had a digital camera in those days. I am looking forward to an evenings reading. Particularly like the brake vans, thanks

Clive, I might have missed something. What do you use as primer? Does you friend use the Halfords Volo (is that Volvo) Dark Grey as a top coat or primer.

I took the part finished underframe to the Norwich Model Railway Club and it was running night. I clipped the worm and motor back into position and tentatively applied some power. It's a little quick off the mark, but had no problem propelling a raft of wagons around the track. I was very impressed. https://www.flickr.com/photos/55938574@N03/13434951305/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/55938574@N03/13434947945/in/photostream/

A 'dry run' piece of 30thou plasticard was cut to form a floor. The Kato truck assembly sits inside the chassis, located by the ends of the stub axles . The shortened side frames and the floor were assembled and the solvent left to harden overnight. First job this morning was to spring it onto the Kato truck. Here seen sitting on the track. The equalising / pick up beams not fitted at this stage. I will need to check buffer height. Any adjustments are easily made by altering the axle guard slots. I need to add packing pieces behind each axle guard, these will be the opportunity to adjust the ride height I have 2 x 'scale link' AEC "Y" type "00" bonnet/radiator castings ordered. Once they arrive I can sort out the above floor level bodywork. The task list includes: Finding space for a decoder. Adding as much weight as possible. Fitting Kadee 'scale' couplers

Pete, I wasn't aware of the Code 75 shortage. I was in GE Models and had heart failure at the price of a Code 75 Single Slip. They only had insulfrog so I avoided the pain. Anyway enough waffle. Nice picture of the bridge, do you have one at higher resolution? Thanks,

Snowploughs? What does a Southern loco need snowploughs for? Call those Snowploughs, this is a Snowplough..... Taken from the footbridge to Ashford Market

33008 now fitted with headlight on Flask duties at Lydd CEGB 14th October 1993

Dave, Can you set it down into the canopy a bit more? Also will the roof have a slightly steeper pitch? Sorry to criticise at this stage, just tell me to f off.......

Some of my Class 33 pictures from the archive A 33/2 waiting to leave Betteshanger Colliery, with a train of HTV's, for Cricklewood Recess Sidings. I was a Guard at Ashford and we were supposed to relieve a Faversham Guard at Sandwich. We got dropped off at the box and the Faversham man got home an hour early Passing two other 33's at Hither Green, the P.A.D. is in the background The original trainferry dock has a short second lease of life when the replacemet linkspan had a problem. Here two 33's wait for the 'Chartres' to berth Ferry Chargeman Albert Turner waits patiently. Albert was a true character. 33008 named 'Eastleigh' at Dover Town waiting to depart. Driver Watson of Dover

59001 at Eastleigh after some damage repairs 16th June 2009. More pictures on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/55938574@N03/sets/72157642874160594/

Does that mean I can't run my 5-BEL as a mis-routed special? Seriously, a little modellers license is quite useful, a few years here and a few years there. I can tell you that when looking for steam loco's for the diesel / steam transition on the Central and South Eastern Sections, a browse through withdrawal dates can be quite depressing. My own 'requirements' are to use the following: diesels 03, 04,24 and 33. steam loco's C, T9, M7, E4, The E4's for example were withdrawn by 1963 and my investment in Hornby Maunsell coaches were slashed after the Kent Coast electrification. So I need to be a bit relaxed. The other option is to pick a particular day and be very draconian. That's my 2 cents, off to fit my replacement Bachmann motor into the N class.

Colin, Interesting stuff. What wagons were the highfits used as the fitted head? I presume they were loaded with sand as well? Thanks for the useful information, Ernie