30368

If I recall correctly there used to be a well established and fairly successful Railway HQ in Derby prior to the madness that was called Rail Privatisation kicked in. The Railway Technical and Research Centres. It produced some rather successful products like the HST etc... More importantly it supported a critical mass of skilled and clever scientists and engineers and continually renewed its skill base by supporting graduate and technician training in the industry. The country is crying out for such skills if it is ever going to re-establish a significant engineering industry to mitigate the very likely national financial and economic disaster when banking and financial services moves to Europe, USA and Asia. City types don't give a monkey's for the UK*, just the next bonus. Kind regards, Richard B * No judgement intended, it is their job to do so.

Today's progress has focused on the cab. The cab interior is simplified given the motor protrudes into where the firedoor would be but its ok. Kind regards, Richard B

Working on 30368s cab this morning. The cab components - roof strakes scratch built due to me loosing the etched parts. The cab sides and spectacle plate etches have had rivet and set screw detail added as closely as possible to the prototype. It is clear from images though that these details change as the loco is overhauled.... Spectacle plate temp fit. Looks a bit like a 700 class now. Cab sides just tacked. Sadly the motor does protrude into the cab but I will see what can be done. Kind regards, Richard B

I guess so Phil, sorry, so you are off the hook. I have eight grandchildren altogether ranging from 9 months to 27, mostly at the adult end. My two stepdaughters are about ten years younger than my two so that accounts for wide range. They are all smashing with at least one lad mad keen on granddads layout. He also rides (as do I) on the lovely little railway (14" gauge I think) that runs around the park in the centre of Buxton. The same railway that my two daughters used to be coersed onto when they were little when I last lived in Derbyshire. Kind regards, Richard B PS H15 is running in very well up and back past 70D, still on the same tender load of coal.

I see your point Phil, who was it that created this model? It's the best I have seen. Having said that, the Trainee Track Layer is doing a very good job too but, depriving many grandchildren (?) of their playthings is not clever.... Kind regards, Richard B

I shall take a look at how he is doing.... Richard

Splashers constructed and fitted. A very fiddly job. Kind regards, Richard B

Playing around with the sunlight in Buxton or more correctly, Basingstoke shed yard. Kind regards, Richard B

The motor is fine Phil, I'm very grateful. The kit has the instructions but limited value really, anyway I never read them now....I know, you can tell. Gap under boiler is large but no splashers yet and they will close it. It is in line with the Hornby "Mentor" model. If you really knew me you would never accuse me of patience.... Kind regards, Richard B

I have now painted the chassis and reassembled with the drive train in the conventional position, back towards the cab. I have shortened the motor shaft to maximise the possibility of a detailed cab. The boiler needs some fettling to fit over the drive train, fortunately not much. Chassis runs just as well in the revised configuration. The centre spasher will hide the gearbox to a great extent and on this side the reverser lever will help too. Fair bit of motor into the cab... Kind regards, Richard B

HI Mike, The B4 is looking very good. It is true that you reach a stage in a loco build when the prototype "look" just jumps out at you! I am pleased that Spring has arrived in Yorkshire, it is still very reluctant to appear in The High Peak! I have had a look back at my B9 build, not very different from your B4. It seems that I tried a couple of motor/gearbox combinations but really no trouble in fitting any of them under the firebox and out of the way of the firebox backplate. Mr Robinson's locomotives always look nicely balanced. Kind regards, Richard B

Duncan, Thanks so much for these two great images, they will be very helpful. I see that 368 lost her Dub's Builders Plate, at least on the firemans side, by 1961/2. The image of the snowplough particularly useful. That's how I remember her. Kind regards, Richard B

I am very pleased with how the boiler is coming together, PDK kits always well thought out. Smokebox wrapper prepared for soldering. A piece of brass wire stuffed down the chimney pilot hole helps to align the wrapper before soldering. Main boiler construction now complete. Kind regards, Richard B

Indeed not Gilbert. Appearances of 60700 always appreciated. Many thanks, Richard B

Thanks Phil. Yes 30368 was fitted with a snow plough and I will be looking at scratch building one later. I think the gearbox built by you will fit either one way or another. We shall see. My layout aims to model the BR life of 70D and its engines so 30368, sheded there all its BR life, will eventually need a snowplough that can revert back to normal for earlier periods. The loco's that I have built (L12, S11, G6, N15X etc) reflect the need to have examples of all the loco types that were shedded at 70D between Jan 1948 until 1967. Kind regards, Richard B

Yes I take your point but really not an option! Tony Wright would have something to say about a loco capable of pulling only 2 coaches! The high pitched boiler on the 700 creates both an opportunity and a dilemma! Kind regards, Richard B

Having now, mostly, assembled the boiler it seems unlikely that mounting the drive train into the boiler/smokebox will be possible due to the size of the gearbox and the need to probably extend the boiler cut out to clear the box. That would defeat the object of the exercise. I will though, give it a try. Kind regards, Richard B

Chassis is just about complete with brake gear fitted. Runs really well. Boiler requires a fair amount of bending to get the profile correct. I use copper wire to squeeze the boiler together for soldering over a wooden former. Chassis in plan view. The firebox profile will be created after the boiler seam is soldered. Kind regards, Richard B

Yes I believe so although I understand that silicon based lubricants help, I'll report back. I really had no choice given the ash pan arrangement on the 700 class. Kind regards, Richard B

THe last rays of the setting sun (yes it even shines here in Buxton occasionally) highlight the little wood behind Basingstoke shed as an M7 simmers up against the buffer stops. The spares van is just leaving to return to the stores at Eastleigh Works with various brake valves for overhaul. Please excuse my poor photography and yes there is still much to do before my layout is complete! Kind regards, 30368

Chassis now ready for running in. The pick-ups are a hybrid of the wiper type on the leading and middle driver and an Alan Gibson plunger on the trailing axle due to the lack of clearance around the firebox ashpan. Seems to work fine. It is a live chassis determined by the wheels that came with the kit. Firstly the gear box train is run in - forward and reverse. Phil, the gearbox clearances are just fine, I know that you built this some time ago so a good job! Then the coupling rods fitted. Kind regards, 30368

Hi, Update on the chassis. The images I had of 700 class suggested that the loc guard irons were mounted on the inside of the frame but this was not clear so a quick analysis of the excellent collection on 700 class images on Smugmug confirmed that this was the case. I also noted a series of rivet heads on the extended frames when these loco's were superheated by Mr Urie. So suitable scraps of thin brass sheet were used to make some frame overlay's. Firebox ash pan soldered in position too. I will bend the guard irons into place when the chassis is complete. I have assembled the chassis with the motor /gearbox mounted under the firebox, providing it clears ok, I will actually mount it towards the smokebox. With the wheels in position the next job will be the pickups and finally the brake gear. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Phil, That reminds me - I started by apprenticeship at Eastleigh Works Apprentice Training School on Monday 2nd September 1963. On early port of call that first week was the Easteigh Scrap road. I remember it was a lovely sunny week and I recall vividly 02 30199 awaiting her end. The tank sides had lost a lot of the black paint and the red lead was showing through. If you have a copy of Eastleigh Steam Centre of the South Western - Barry J. Eagles - page 60 has a wonderful picture of 199 just as I remember her. Memories indeed. Kind regards, Richard B

Many, many years ago, when I still lived at home, we moved to the village of Old Basing and went to school in Basingstoke. On the way to school, walking from the Bus Station to school, we had to pass Basingstoke Engine shed. Each morning my brother and I would walk along the grassy bank and looked over the spear fence to check out what was on shed. One engine we knew would always be present was 700 class 30368, a long time resident of that shed, and laterly fitted with a snow plough - Basingstoke was one of the highest spots in Hampshire. 30368 was a reminder of times past and a proper LSWR survivor. Hornby make a really nice model of Mr Drummond's 700 class (as modified by Mr Urie) 0-6-0. I have a number of them and was satisfied. This was fine until Phil (Mallard60022) very generousely gave me a spare PDK 700 class kit having no further use for it given the Hornby model. I have now finished Phil's H15 for him so it seemed the right thing to do next. So here goes an attempt to build a very good kit into something that equals the very high quality of ready to run models that we are blessed with. The Hornby model is really first class. Phil had assembled the chassis, motor and gearbox and coupling rods. I have just added the leaf and coil springs to the chassis. KInd regards, Richard B

Thanks, some really nice images. As I recall - big Chevrolet V8 + Bertone styling and Italian Craftsmanship. Very fine looking cars. Kind regards, Richard B