30368

A brief update. Still working on the scenic section adjacent to the shed. I have made a start on the large signal gantry on the down side of the main line. Because I do all the work on the layout, I have taken a compromising shortcut by using various adapted Ratio signal kits. I don't intend to have motorised signals. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Clive, This one passed me by during my 1970/80s John Peel listening Sessions after 10.00 PM - it was my way of searching for enlightenment when deep into bringing up my (lovely) family. Thanks very good. Mr Peel was truly great and a loss to us all. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Ian, Hope all is well and Happy New Year to you both. Thinking of the VEP Era, I suspect you are aware of the REP trial runs from Eastleigh that touched 120MPH + in the New Forest? I was not present on such a run so can't verify but reliable sources at the time reported this as a fairly regular occurance. Plenty of installed power but I wonder about the ride quality..... Perhaps a myth? Kind regards, Richard B

Yeadon's Volume 22, Class B1 (B18) to B9 pages 49-50 has some good images of Thompson's rebuild of the B3. 61497 is in Apple Green LNER Livery. Hope that helps. Kind regards, Richard B

As mentioned, a few more images created by my USA based son-in-law Andy Bain. Our daughter Alex, Andy and family left today after a great time over Christmas and New Year. They return home on Thursday. A few more of Andy's images of 70D's H15 day. Later in the day an up Salisbury local pulled by one of Basingstoke's S11 4-4-0's passes the shed. N class 2-6-0's wait for access to the shed. Kind regards, Richard B

70D back again with some more images created by my Son-in-law Andy Bain. I have more which I will post on my 70D thread. Kind regards, Richard B

Woodenhead, just great. Makes me proud of my Irish heritage - thanks Dad... Kind regards, Richard B

I have been playing around with a temporary backscene on my 70D layout. A 70D train spotters delight, four H15s on shed in a line. Added a new one of my pics. My US based Son in Law has taken some images too. They are far better than mine and I will post later. Kind regards, Richard B

I really like this image, it captures so well those small areas which abounded alongside the steam railway where one had a glimpse of a passing train, usually too brief, to read the loco number. Very nostalgic in my view! Kind regards, Richard B PS As to the DMU failure controversy, if the ER had run DEMU's instead of those mechanical monstrosities then the J6 would not have got a look in......

All I can say is Wow! What a truly great piece of work. Happy New Year Tony and thanks for all the fab pictures and advice. Kind regards, Richard B

I suspect Gilbert that even in Doncaster Works yard 157 would have a few water streaks on the smokebox etc... Perhaps some traces of oil around lubricators and slidebar? And after a run or two a light dusting of smoke dust over the front part of the boiler - weathering powder? Kind regards, Richard B

Really well styled cars and in many respects well engineered, crash survivability was well above average. The P6 still looks fresh with its wedge shape. Besides George Smiley had one so they must have been good.... Kind regards, Richard B

Lucky boy Clive, never saw them but admired them, especially Ghost Town.... Kind regards, Richard B

Me too and I totally agree, the Chief Engineer seems a very competent and dedicated gentleman. Looking forward to the first run. Kind regards, Richard B Founder F166.

Not a lot of progress to report. I have been adding some of the detail on the station side of the shed. This needs more work to the track in the foreground. Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Simon, A useful exposition regarding sources and their hierarchy and how the primary sources impacted on many of the myths surrounding LNER (or any of the big four) Locomotive design. My field of study was Modern European History, my dissertation focused on "British Preparations for War, 1935-39". Specifically Air Raid Precautions (ARP). Interestingly a whole load of HO (Home Office) records were locked for 100 years, those dealing with Inspection Reports concerning ARP preparations in 1936/37. These were carried out by HO Inspectors. I was eventually granted access under the FofI Act. As I suspected things were very bleak. Central Government refused to fund ARP until late in 1938 and left it to cash strapped Local Government to fund. Sounds familiar. My point being that the historian's task is to look at all the sources and in particular the primary sources to avoid being subsumed into current myths about history. However, it is important to understand that many people are strongly attached to what they thought happened in history rather than what actually and probably happened. Never thought I would be writing about historicism on this website! And now for something completely different! 70D Kind regards, Richard B

Primary sources are a record created at the time of the historical event. An historian would evaluate primary sources for bias or, as we might say now, an agenda. Sometimes the historian is more interested in the unwitting testimony, the underlying assumptions of the source creator, rather than the content. Whilst most retired generals may have created the official dispatch shortly after a battle their memoirs were usually written many years after the event and, I would argue, are therefore secondary sources. Montgomery made an industry out of his memoirs... I think that Simon ACM has made this distinction many times in his contributions to this thread on his book about Mr Thompson which relies on many performance records and accounts written at the time and he makes the modest claim that Thompson was not the "destroyer of worlds" that some seem to think he was. Some of his designs were rather good! Mr Gresley was a giant of steam because of his many achievements but not all of his work was great. I really don't know what the two gentlemen thought of each other, but I suspect that they may well have chuckled over some of the pontifications on the Thompson/Gresley subject found on this thread. Merry Christmas and kindest regards, Richard B

The model of you is first class and only adds to your lovely re-creation of LB. Only one comment, you need to smarten up a bit! You have had that pale blue pullover on for years.... Perhaps another ModelU version of you in a decent suit? Only kidding Tony. Kind regards, Richard B

I have done so Brian. Thanks to the Poll Team for all their efforts. It is a while since I thanked Gilbert. Thanks for all your efforts Gilbert, they are just wonderful and widely appreciated. I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year. Kind regards, Richard B

Dave, Really lovely work on the A1/3. The Finney Kits are really first class but it can at times be difficult to identify all the small etched parts. You seem to have avoided such difficulties. I note that Michael Edge is offering some tips which are always worthwhile. I found his advice so very useful during my builds. Given he is a professional loco builder how he finds time I don't know, thanks Michael. I am focusing on my layout at the moment but I look forward to tackling my Judith Edge V4 2-6-2 kit in the near future. If the A1 Locomotive Trust can build V4 number three (Highlander) then I am sure I can manage a 4mm version. Kind regards, Richard B

Well Didcot, a lot has changed since 1982 for Ferrari, including, a few Championships if I recall correctly.... Agree though, things not managed well this year. Kind regards, Richard B

Patrick Tambay was a gentle man. He drove Ferrari No 27 in 1982 a fateful year for Ferrari with the loss of the great Giles Villeneuve. Pironi and Tambay picked up the pieces and Peroni was championship favourite until his terrible crash at the German GP that year during parctice. Tambay, driving car 27, Villeneuve's race number, won the race the next day. A very emotional moment in motor racing history. As Mr Ferrari said, I knew I had the best driver in the world with Giles, I did not know I had the next best driver in Pironi, only for this hope to be dashed. Ferrari probably had the best car in 1982 but events put paid to their championship bid. Pironi recovered from his injuries only to loose his life in a racing speedboat crash some years later.... Kind regards, Richard PS - Ian, if any of the facts are wrong I am relying on you to correct me...

Hi David, Many thanks for the greetings and the same to you and yours. Thanks too for all the fine images posted - Haymarket is just great. Kind regards, Richard B

I couldn't agree more! Spiced up further by the regular appearance of WR loco's and the occasional LM or ER loco. My model of 70D still needs much work but some good progress.... Sorry for the diversion Tony but I liked your reference to Basingstoke as an exciting location, I thought so back in the early 1960's. Kind regards, Richard B

I have now finished the engine hoist, it needs a notice of SWL does anyone have a close up shot of the station side of the hoist that would show the detail of the notice attached to the hoist? I would guess that the SWL would be around 20T or so. Fairly pleased with the result which really adds to the Basingstoke "feel" of the shed layout. I just need to lay the rails to complete the job. I know that the siding is much too short but the best I could achieve. Kind regards, Richard B