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Perhaps another angle on the Steam V Diesel discussion. During my BR Duel Trained fitters apprenticeship steam was still very much running the SW main line for most of my "time". I spent time in Eastleigh Works and Easteigh Diesel Depot (and many other depots) steam and diesel were being overhauled and serviced at both these location and at Eastleigh Running Shed. In the works, the younger tradesmen were very keen to be re-trained on the new traction because that was the future and they wanted a job. I suspect it was similar for drivers and firemen. Many of the older men stayed with steam being too old to start again. Many of the skills and crafts needed for steam were not required for diesel traction. I recall watching a fitter scrape a whitemetal bearing checking the surface using engineers blue. It was a demonstration of truly great skills. Diesel plain bearings for crankshafts were in various over-sizes and were off the shelf ready to fit. The skills required for diesel traction were therefore very different from steam. Being good at faultfinding diesel engines and/or control systems was much prized. I am sure that many are aware that working on steam loco's in running sheds was very hard and filthy work with very few facilities to clean up after. On the very few steam jobs that I worked on a 6' 2" very skinny fitting apprentice was of very limited use to the fitters! In contrast, by the age of 18 I was given the Diesel Depot foreman's toolbox and a fitters mate and told to get on with repair jobs. Many a Sulzer 8LDA engine had its turbo charger changed by me and the mate. I had the overhead crane to do the heavy lifting! So in a way, what drivers and fitters thought about steam being replaced by diesel traction was probably not a particularly live debate at the time, the decision had been made so what mattered to many was I must get the training to convert and keep my job. Kind regards, Richard B

Absolutely astonishing no matter who did the work. You are very lucky Tony and thanks for the images. A truly great project. Kind regards, Richard B

I see the sense in your suggestion, we should leave Tony's thread to continue its usual fascinating course. There is a flaw though, the thread suggested is closed and archived. I happen to agree with the arguements put forward by Simon Martin. As far as I can see he is simply suggesting that many of Mr Thompson's designs were far better than many model railway/railway enthusiast types, like me, seem to assume. Some of his designs were not so good, like many other locomotive designers. Having said that, since Tony has asked us, very gently, to end this debate on this thread we should do so... Kind regards, Richard B

I suspect so....... Well done you! Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Steve, So is that a model or reality? I assume the backscene is a photograph but even so absolutely wonderful!... Kind regards Richard B

I must say that this Thompson/Gresley debate does at times take on the mantle of the Brexit debate! It is more about belief and myth than reality and data. Sir Nigel Gresley was one of the greatest Locomotive Engineers of the 20th Century, as was Churchward and Stanier and perhaps Bulleid*. Suggesting that a lot of data (primary sources) probably indicates that Thompson's locomotives performed better than the generally held view in no way detracts from, for example, Gresley's towering achievements. Thompson and his team designed some excellent locomotives and I include his pacifics in this too, they may have looked brutal, but seemingly they were effective. As to the claim that statistics or data (the primary sources often referred to) were fixed or doctored may be true in some cases. But since investment decisions to improve railway fleet reliabilty relies on accurate data (something I was involved in), to suggest that they were "all fixed", as some seem to suggest, is just nonsense. The compilers of the data were held accountable! The times I have heard those who should know better say, that a given class was unreliable and/or difficult to drive, was common and not in any way related to the facts are legion. On the railway, it could be very much "give a dog a bad name".. Sadly, people tend to make decisions (and I am not immune!) based on what they believe is the reality and not the facts and yes, I know, in this age of relative values we all have our own "reality".... As someone once said in relation to Physics it makes no difference if you believe it or not, it just is..... * I accept that this little list is just my view, my apologies if I have missed your favourite! Kind regards, Richard B

Thanks so much Blandford. Perhaps as a retired old chap I have more time to devote to the hobby? Kind regards, Richard B

30755 The Red Knight is just about complete. It requires a wee bit of filler here and there and then final painting. I will also consider if a little weathering is appropriate, say a day or two after returning to its home shed having done a turn or two. The tender parts are being cleaned up ready for assembly. I went to Railex Buxton yesterday, a fairly small but really well put together exhibition. Whilst there a bought some books, tools and a very dubious Peppercorn A2 kit. I also joined the LNER Society, whom had a stand, and enjoyed chatting about P1s and P2s and the Gresley-Thompson debate. We agreed that accepting Thompson had an unfair "press" and was a good engineer with some great designs to his credit in no way distracted from Gresley's towering achievements. On this theme, Mr Churchward was undoubtly one of the greats of UK locomotive design setting the path for GWR design. But I also think that the designs of Mr Urie of the LSWR were trendsetting, certainly for powerful mixed traffic locomotive development. His contribiution is often overlooked. Some pictures: Front steps and cylinder drain cocks/pipes are Hornby items to reduce risk of shorts between bogie wheels and the body. Kind regards, Richard B

Red Knight is nearing completion. The smoke deflectors are fitted and next is the buffer beam. THe cab spectacle "glass" is in place ready for the roof to be fitted. Kind regards, Richard B

Really interesting set of pictures, many thanks. TRs were always a lot of fun. My late brother bought a new TR6 back in the 1970s only to give up on it about a year later due to fuel injection troubles. If I recall correctly it had Lucas mechanical fuel injection which just did not seem to work very well. He got fed up with all the black smoke and 5mpg performance. Lovely looking car though. I suspect current owners of the TR6 have sorted those problems by now? Kind regards, Richard B

The US part of the family have returned home and a great time was had by us all. A bit more time to spend on model railway matters. I am working on the cab area at the moment. The backplate is about finished only the spectacles to fit before fitting the cab roof on. Next will be the buffer beam and smoke deflectors and then I will have to have another shot at the cab side lining... LIke most close ups, which are very cruel, the real thing looks fairly good! Kind regards, Richard B

N15 hybrid kit is nearing completion with the pipework for the injectors complete. Made from scrap parts mostly although the exhaust injector is an Alan Gibson casting. I think I might have to remove and replace the cab sheet lining, just not right! Kind regards, Richard B

And I seem to remember they worked to and from Strawberry Hill Depot where us in the Rolling Stock Development Unit would check them over. The "PEPs" then sired the GN 313 units. Kind regards, Richard B

A picture of the shed approach line with 32331 waiting to go onto the shed. Picture by one of my son-in-laws. Ballast train heads for London. Kind regards, Richard B

First go at this thread. Thanks to our USA based daughter's husband, some good pictures of my part finished model of Basingstoke shed 70D. WE have not seen our daughter for almost three years so it has been a joy to see her and her two kids. 32331 approaches the shed yard from the ex GWR lines and continues on towards the turntable and coal stage. A work in progress.... Kind regards, Richard B

Sorry to digress but couldn't resist this, a great song from a guy that lived on the same council estate as me in the 1950/60s. Nor this lady. Kind regards, Richard B

30755 now has its boiler assembly attached to the running plate. All seems to fit together well err, that was the plan... The Fox transfer set for the King Arthur does not include the single orange line for the running plate and the lining for the cabside seems more in keeping with the Maunsell version of the loco than the Urie. As always, the quality of the Fox transfers is first class. The front end of the frames will need some adjustment to clear the leading bogie wheel. Kind regards, Richard B

Fabulous. Hard to accept now that myself and three mates (we were all over 6 foot) travelled from Hampshire to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in my new white FIAT (in fact a Autobianchi) 500 Giardiniera around 1969. We loved the fold back sunroof and the fact that it had a slightly longer wheelbase than the saloon. Unlike the 500 in the picture the engine in this car was a flat twin to create more luggage space. I really appreciated the wonderful simplicity of the design. Kind regards, Richard B

Brit 15, Lovely modelling and, in my opinion, a very good reason for railway modelling is the desire to reconnect with our own past by creating a version of it in a model. In addition railway modelling provides great satisfaction by providing one purpose and the feeling of achievement...... "I made that". The "owner" of this thread, Tony Wright, is a great proponent of that view and it is one that I concure with totally. I have many interests and activities outside of the hobby all of which are rewarding in their own way but our hobby is the tops. Sorry for pontificating... Kind regards, Richard B

I will probably be out doing other things for a week or two. Our USA located daughter and family arrived today and will be staying with us for just over a week. We have not seen them for almost three years given Covid. I am sure many others have suffered similar disruptions to family life too. We are off to see them in November. A few pictures of the boiler now that it is lined out. Very pleased with the result. Work continues on the running plate with the addition of the two reverser lifting levers. Handrail knobs probably too long...... Kind regards, Richard B

The boiler assembly has now been painted. I have decided to model 755 following its GO in December 1951 when it was painted in the darker shade of BR Green (Phoenix Paint P100 BR Loco Green Pre 1954. This is a gloss paint. I shall line the boiler out using Fox King Arthur transfers. The running plate has had its brass overlays fitted. Hornby 30777 is in the lighter post 1954 green although given all the Hornby BR Green flack in recent months perhaps its not!..... Kind regards, Richard B

Yes they are thin, 0.33mm which, when they are painted, I prefer the look. The finished diameter is probably about 0.4mm or 1.2 " which is a bit undersize I agree. I am enjoying the build though made from all those leftovers, its a bonus. I am very pleased with the performance of the chassis which goes around the tightish curves of my layout well. One of my weak points, pickups, seems to have been overcome with my efforts to give this careful attention. Kind regards, Richard

I have been working on the boiler and tried a different approach. Instead of fitting the boiler and then fit handrails etc I have fitted as much as I can to the boiler before fitting to the running plate. I know other builders use this approach so I am making no claims for originality. It seems to have worked well, I may even paint and line the boiler before fitment. I have fitted as much as possible but not the feedwater and other pipework that runs between boiler and running plate. Gravitiy oil feeds to, I suspect, the steam chests show up well. It all fits rather well to the running plate and chassis. Kind regards, Richard B

Richard not Chas Mick Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Mick, I must admit that I didn't have that problem the axles have sufficient sideplay. Pehaps some variation in the etch? Maybe my example was from a latter batch. The parts have now arrived from Paul at PDK and what has been supplied will save me a great deal of time. I was ready to scratch build the boiler backplate but the casting will save a lot of time. Smokebox front has been cut out and is ready for filing to profile. I still have to clean off the glue smudges. The boiler fits very well. It starts to look a little like 30755! Kind regards, Richard B