Downendian

I've only got one Bachmann 2F, bought as a "look & see". The rest of the rake got caught up in the Hattons/Bachmann affair, so I may well cancel as my recent cash has been preoccupied with freightliner purchases. If the Hornby 2F cuts the mustard, then I will buy them - I'm not too fussed re DCC lighting etc, and the Hornby versions look to be a cheaper investment. If the detail differences between the two (Bachmann/Hornby) is significantly different I'll have a rethink. They are showing BSO images of the blue/grey models for the FOs, I assume a simple typographical error. Neil

A work of art Kevin, lovely. Neil

I've built over 20 of these - wire (flower arrangers) formers for trunk and main branches, covered with hot glue and then painted. Sea moss branches/twigs then hot glued to main branches. I've used many shades of woodland scenics coarse turf sprinkled onto the sea moss and held in place with hairspray I pinched from the wife. This does shed a bit, so I have used spray adhesive (Peco, meant for static grass) as well. It's very therapeutic and light relief after working on rolling stock and permanent way. Neil

Well in December I took my first ride on a 800 to London for two consecutive days doing a bit of lecturing. I liked them, but not as much as the HSTs, I assume that without the diesel they will be smoother.I'll always board the unit closest to old Oak in the future, the first one gets packed with late boarders. Neil

They were both east and westbound on the London line. The OHLE ends abruptly in Yate just after the overbridge on the old LMS line, so I can see what you mean!Neil

I saw a couple of 2x 800s today at Westerleigh junction as I drove past, all units with pans up. I'm travelling to London soon, taking the wife to see a show, so will look forward to the smooth ride under the juice. Neil

I've got two craftsman kits in the Wings Phil, but they will need to wait. With a bit of luck the RTR versions will render them obsolete! Neil

A foregone conclusion Phil, just as this conversion approaches the paint shops. Neil

And another of D15 must be the same day at Temple Meads, although marked Strathwood I bought the original slide. Not quite as good as the previous shot, but of personal interest as I'm 95% sure the guy nearest the camera chatting to the driver is my grandfather who worked at Bath road at that time. I'd like to think he's chatting to my Uncle Alan (his brother in law) who was a Gloucester driver. Neil

Likewise, I've beheaded a few class 44 and 46 shells to make 44009. Genesis make class 45 head code boxes and this could be grafted onto the front of a 44 nose transplanted onto a 45/0 body. Of course the 44 bodyside grilles are different to a 45/0. I do enjoy butchery too Chard. Neil

Craftsman did a class 44 conversion kit way back before the Bachmann model. That had the nose doors, maybe a simpler route Chard if you could locate one? Does 45120 have the roof panel mods as per a 45/1? Neil

Found it D15 at Temple Meads in 1967. My copyright Neil

I'll agree with Clive re D11-15, I've a photo of D15 in this condition, I'll try and post it when I find it. Re the "sealed" beam peak, I'm making progress with mine which I will post in the near future. I've just found this guide when looking at the next project, a class 45/1. The guide describes the process to build a flush front, and work required to remove any sign of steam heating. http://www.45133.co.uk/uploads/2/2/3/1/22313750/converting_a_bachmann_class_45_model_to_45133.pdf Neil

Has anyone fitted C-rail containers to their flats yet? I've had a preliminary look, and it appears possible although the slots on the container may need a bit of fettling. Neil

Ah yes I'd realised that Paul after I'd posted, central wales a different route! Neil

I'd somehow missed this thread. The 3S15 (sometimes 3S14) was the last train we waited for spotting at Bristol Parkway in the mid 1970s. It was then the 2027 Bristol TM to Glasgow sighthill parcels and the consist was a glorious mix of GUVs, BGs and ex big four parcels stock. It routinely returned a foreign class 25/31/37 (split box 37s were especially remembered) from Bath road. I understood that the diesel was exchanged for an AC electric at Bescot. In the early 1980s after my spotting days had finished, I understood it was rerouted to the Newport-Hereford line and regularly brought class 40s to Bristol in their twilight years. There's plenty of photographic evidence for this on Flickr, even video. I'm using this train to justify my 40 fleet in my 1970s Bristol based layout, although sadly I never saw one on this service. Edit : as per Paul's comments Neil

Well I've just paid for my two- Just a short wait I hope now. In the meantime some beautiful slides I've just acquired with copyright. D603 at Iver late 1950s/early 1960s D602 Paddington in the same time period They're on my hydraulic photo thread but not everyone reads that! Neil

Hi all At last some eBay success. Copyright negs of D6XX are especially rare, I managed to pick up two today for £11, again very good price indeed. First D602 at Paddington which is undated, but late 1950s early 1960s Second, D603 at Iver in the same time frame I apologise for the copyright mark, but I've had a few of my copyright slides from this thread appearing elsewhere. Just in time for the Kernow release, which I hope to buy two, with a third, D602 hopefully in the new year. Neil

9008/55008 had unique square buffer cowls https://goo.gl/images/wGXwHE I assume this will be replicated? Neil

Well this took me by surprise and with hindsight it shouldn't have. I'd only last week looked at two of my Bachmann deltics on my modelling shelf and thought, these are well due a retool. Having seen the EP for the CIE A/001 class recently released my expectations of the first U.K. Loco from Accurascale was very high, and what an excellent choice. The images produced so far look extremely promising, and an order from me is virtually guaranteed. For me growing up and being spoilt with a daily dose of WR hydraulics, Deltics were extremely iconic as they were to a lot of us and still are. When I started spotting in 1973/4, the first major objective was to see one. At the tender age of 12 in August 1974 me and a friend were dropped off at Euston by his father whilst he was on business. Despite being told not to stray from the station I was adamant we must pay King's cross a visit to see a "Delly". Being only really a kid, we failed to navigate the short distance and spent the day collecting AC electric numbers. My friend was also very keen to heed his fathers instructions, which I was happy to ignore, "King's cross is only another 100 yards away I think " I said as my friend was panicking outside St Pancras, begging me to return to Euston which sadly we did. The next month, on my first trip to York shortly after arriving, 55 019 appeared in the distance on a Northbound train. I was awe struck, and the sight and sound of a Deltic still brings back those early powerful memories. By 1976 I'd seen all of them, and particularly imprinted on the memory is Meld on what sounded like full chat powering through Peterborough on a non stopper whilst we were waiting for a class 105 to March. I always get off my backside and go lineside when 55022 makes it on a raltour to Bristol. I'm delighted to see Brian Hansons involvement in the project, and I've a few Shawplan Deltic components in my parts box waiting to upgrade Bachmann models which were on the to do list. Despite the wide choice of available models, mine will be 55019 in 1974 condition, so a renumber will be necessary complete with a 1S headcode. Many congratulations to Accurascale and thanks for giving a middle age bloke a chance to rekindle some happy memories from my youth, Neil

Very sad, classic images captured by Norman from "my" era, the 1970s. I'm pretty sure I saw him photographing a peak and Westerns on a brick overbridge East of Bristol parkway, complete with very sophisticated looking gear (to us teenage spotters) around 1975. The photos later appeared in the railway press. Unfortunately like Norman that bridge is no longer with us, swept away in the GWML upgrade. His photos dominated in the combined volumes and locoshed books of that era, thank goodness we had "professional" photographers in that era, far better than my boots instamatic shots. As Andy mentions him, I also saw GR Hounsell climbing up the embankment at Winterbourne near Bristol to shoot a pair of Westerns on a special in April 1975, he told us it was coming. D1051 and D1023 if my memory is correct on the Western Enterprise rail tour. Neil

Terrific post Steve, very insightful. Neil

Thanks Rick I'm particularly interested in the period between the Hymeks (1972/3) and class 31s (1976/77) being rostered for the CF-Pompey services. I mentioned earlier that I thought in the period 1974-75 seeing 9 car DMUs probably on this service. This has emerged a 6-car DMU formation of class 120 https://www.railcar.co.uk/images/1223 I know that class 123s were used too. So I'm pretty certain those 9 car trains I saw daily in 1974/5 were Pompey trains. With regards to the Cardiff-Weymouth what loco would be used in the same period? I know that Westerns (or more commonly class 47s) were used on Weymouth-Bristols (I rode behind D1068 on this service in summer 1975). But the Cardiff-weymouths did not call at Temple Meads passing through Rhubarb curve at Dr Days junction. Neil

Returning to this old thread, I've just seen (but can't post due to copyright) a photo of a class 207 at Cardiff Central, looks like late 1980s. I'm still intrigued by the Weymouth/Bournemouth to Cardiff services and whether the class 207 I saw at Filton junction in 1974 heading west was on this service, and what was its routine formation. Neil

But doesn't sound anywhere near so good. Echo the comments on Pompey-Bristol/Cardiff firmly in the hands of Hymeks till 1973, then WR DMUs including class 123, class 205s to Bristol only then class 31/4 then class 33. I've seen several class 37s pressed into service on this route in the 1970s. Neil