Downendian

Hi Neil, no most of the offending Facebook images cite RMweb as the source. Neil

Thanks for the reminder Andy, I've seen my copyrighted images from my (our) diesel hydraulic thread appearing on Facebook hydraulic groups, obviously cut and paste and with no correspondence with me. I'm very happy for them to remain here but not too happy with them appearing elsewhere. I've not done anything about it Facebook wise, but a polite reminder from the boss is helpful. I've only ever posted these images here as Facebook seems a bit of a free for all. Neil

Hi Brian, I'm wondering now if this was the same working passing through Bristol. I distinctly remember it being MGR hoppers. Do you know what wagon types were used? Neil

I'm with Chard on this one, I want an ScR 24/1 headcoded sulzer because of my memories of a handful still in service on my mid 1970s jaunts to Scottish sheds, and seeing lines of them stored at Millerhill. However for my layout the Bachmann version is the one, as LMR 24s apparently made it to Bristol on parcels trains and a handful of other workings in the early 1970s. I'd rather save time for the long list of other ongoing projects and buy Bachmann to start with, and save for the SLW headcoded version, I have already two of their earlier releases, and can vouch for their quality. In my opinion the SLW model has driven Bachmann to significantly up their game with their new release, perhaps that's why the incubation period for release has been so long, Neil

Some 1970s recollections of routine double headers in the Bristol area Pairs of 25s and less frequently class 31s on trains of fertiliser from Avonmouth in VVVs (presumably required for the Lickey incline) heading North. Pairs of 37s on Tytherington stone trains of PGAs (in the period between the Westerns and class 56s which operated singly, 1977-79) Pairs of 47s (sometimes a class 46 and 47) on South Wales MGR coal trains to Didcot Class 37 banking the Danygraig-Stratford freightliner as far as Stoke Gifford, with either a 47, 46 or 52 taking the train forward. To assist the climb from the Severn tunnel from STJ. Pairs of LMR 25s on Adex summer Saturdays to the South West Pairs of Bath road 25s on the PW trains needed for the 1975/6 HST GWML upgrade. And of course often any type 4 loco assisting a failed class 50 in that era. Neil

Patient : doctor I had a bad reaction when I applied that pile cream you prescribed me last week. Doctor : where did you apply it? Patient : on the 0730 to Waterloo Neil

Delighted to see progress with the class 24. Although I realise Bachmann had always stated they were doing the version that mainly saw service on the LMR, with minute tooling differences they could easily produce the Highland version, with headlights and slotted boiler blanking grilles. However, SLW are almost certain to be doing that, so perhaps avoiding duplication is the reason. I really love the water/fuel tanks on the 24, hope they will be available as spares. The class 117 and 121 are on my shopping list and agree with other comments that the underframe detail sets new standards of superdetailing. Edit : surprising that the first generation DMUs are not initially offered in BR blue (as opposed the blue/grey). The livery that dominated in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. I'm sure they will come in due course. Neil

At least Mike didn't mention middle wickets Neil

Re the battery box cover colour, I've just perused my library of hydraulic books. The best collection of D6XX photos in my collection is in Hugh Dady's Heyday of the warships. P4 D600 28/2/58 covers clearly green P5 D601 June 1958 green, p6 6/10/58 green. P6 D603 4/7/59 green P14 D603 5/6/61 possibly black but could be heavily stained green. P15, D604 18/5/59 as above P38 D600 blue full yellow ends 14/6/67 box covers look black but possibly work stained blue P39 D602 BSYP two photos first 9/67 "under frame dirt" and second 28/12/67 possibly blue Edit : rear cover D603 departing Newton Abbot green. 15/7/59 So pretty definitive for me that the delivered D6XX had green covers, but what happened in the early 60s with weathering and repaints and to the blue pair remains unclear. Neil

Hi Craig I have a photo in my collection (not my copyright so can't post), of a blue full yellow end hymek with the lion and wheel emblem clearly visible where the blue paint has worn away, and yes it had BR arrows too. As Nidge says this wasn't done deliberately however. I've seen Heljan models in blue however where someone has added a BR lion and wheel totem, but unprototypically. Neil

That was Romania Brian, and it was class 56s. Neil

Excellent point John, I'll be looking straight at the Heljan spare sprues for their 25 when they appear, but they won't be around for very long if they can be used on the Bachmann model. Neil

It was the release of the Bachmann 25/3 that drove the resurgence of my modelling in the 1990s/2000s. With all the errors they still run very sweetly, but the cab shape and false sole bar do still jar with me. I've yet to start on mods to remove the sole bar on my fleet of Derby type 2s, but will certainly have a couple of these. Nice one Heljan, I'm sure they're looking at shrinking a certain O gauge DMU as well. Please get the prominent roof grille right though, this is the major let down on their BRCW Bo-Bos. Neil

Latest fishing ornithology tale. I really need to take binoculars next time. A pied flycatcher chasing a large moth seen yesterday, spitfire-me109 style. Lovely, the moth got away, I've never seen a pied flycatcher before. I've seen lots of wildlife whilst fishing, yesterday included a grass snake, a small deer rustling in the woods behind me a few feet away, and a drone hornet regularly visiting my swim. This has to be one of the most frightening British insects, it was 2-3'inches long. Neil

Although difficult to tell from the photos on the Tower website, I'd agree that they appear to have corrected the headcode panel error. The panel is in a different place if you look at the adjacent vertical handrails, and it looks "right" now. The first version just jarred with me. I passed on the last batch because of this, I'm well tempted but will need to sell some bits and pieces first to go for a £500+ model. Neil

D6327 bsyp is the same shade of green/blue Geoff http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/55510/4D-012-006-Dapol-Class-22-Diesel-Locomotive-number-D6327 I'm now glad I resprayed my own to this livery a couple of years ago, it looks much better with the correct shade of blue, plus it rectifies the black body side grilles which shouldn't be black either. It was a pig to mask up though. I will be getting a model of D6331 though. Neil

On the subject of fledglings, I've spent the last few weeks fishing when all day I'm sat in a swim literally a few feet from a bird box, where a pair of blue tits have taken up residence. I watched them carefully as they busily collected caterpillars, spiders and a host of other insects, scaring off the prying magpies as often as possible. Yesterday their brood of five fledglings emerged into the outside world, and gave me a puzzled look as they left their first home. Some flew directly out into the bushes with mum and dad in attendance, the last one pictured here took a little more time and was more cautious. A joy to see. Neil

Hi Tony I've got one palitoy peak (Royal Marines) that is still languishing somewhere. I'll take a look at it and report back. Thanks for looking in! Neil

Terrific photos Chaz, thanks for sharing. Neil

I'll go rummage Phil! Neil

Well Phil you are in luck my friend!I'll PM you. Neil

This one came up recently Russ See http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/61530-downendian-details/page-3&do=findComment&comment=1685270 Neil

This one definitely not my back garden, and if I hadn’t of witnessed it myself I wouldn’t have believed it. Less than 10 minutes ago, whilst fishing a large bird of prey was seen over the lake, and dived into the water and left with a fish. On reading on line Osprey sightings in Wiltshire have recently been recorded. What a sight! Neil

Fishing today in Wiltshire, Brimstone too, plus many other unidentified on the wing, plus a dragonfly. Grass snake, about 2- 3 foot long swam no less than 10 feet away from me, haven't seen one of those for a few years, Oh and a 13lb common carp, the first of 2018. Neil

Hi Dave J5302 possibly 45 002, unusual because of the pair of TOPS numbers, plus a split box loco. J5332 isn't 45145, as it wasn't a namer, was my last peak to clear the class, but not 45135 3rd Carabinier, as it was a split box loco on that date. Great photos as always Neil