Sets of 00 scale Morris Dancers (with Musicians) are available - they are unpainted, but can be bought ready-painted at considerably more £££...
A model of Thaxted station would make an attractive layout, especially now that a suitable locomotive has been produced. The coaches used might present more of a challenge, perhaps.
Sets of 00 scale Morris Dancers (with Musicians) are available - they are unpainted, but can be bought ready-painted at considerably more £££...
A model of Thaxted station would make an attractive layout, especially now that a suitable locomotive has been produced. The coaches used might present more of a challenge, perhaps.
Lead me not into temptation, but do tell me about the locomotive!
This comes to you from a train hurtling along at around 80 mph through a blizzard on the old New York Central line from Buffalo to Albany. There is surely no more civilised way to travel.
Regrettably, no. It was one of those big General Electrics whereof it was once asked, "Is that the locomotive or the box it came in?" And the rest of the trip was glacially slow.
A friend has messaged me with this photo, hoping to find out more for a friend of his. You are all aware of how limited my knowledge is on this front, and I am aware of how much you have! So have at it!
I'm not sure, but I think it could be a North Eastern Railway Class B (LNER N8).
It could very well be an 0-6-2, which would fit, if you look at the two leftmost chaps at ground level there's what look suspiciously like a connecting rod between them.
There's also the trailing pony truck, and the suspicion of a sandbox at the front end of the leading splasher. Of course, if someone could find the running numbers of NER locos, we'd be home and dry!
There's also the trailing pony truck, and the suspicion of a sandbox at the front end of the leading splasher. Of course, if someone could find the running numbers of NER locos, we'd be home and dry!
I'm no expert on the North Eastern but I think I can help. I have a copy of Locomotives at the Grouping, LNER by H. C. Casserley and S. W. Johnston, frst published in 1966. Ex NER kept their numbers in 1923 and, assuming that is 371, that makes it what the LNER called an N8, previously a NER B or B1.
It does not appear to have survived long enough to have been renumbered in 1946.
According to the LNER on line encyclopedia, some of them were originally two cylinder compounds. The slightly odd configuration of rivet heads on the saddle suggests this might be one of them. I'm further speculating without any justification for doing so, but the hills in the background and what looks like a shed, make me wonder whether this might have been taken at the Tebay end of the line over Stainmore. But please, if anyone actually knows better, say so.
What strikes me as odder is that it seems to be carrying class A express lamps but not to be fitted with air brakes or a Westingouse pump, which I think was the system the NER used. Does anyone have any suggestions for an explanation.
Back on Amtrak again today, kicking up our own blizzard as we fly through the fresh snow across upstate New York, dreaming of Hudsons or Mohawks in their rightful place at the head end.
I passed on the info about the choochoo, and hav ejust received the following "" ...it was almost definitely taken in tebay. That's where mum grew up. Please thank them for me""
Hmm... I can't think of any locomotive whose appearance was really improved by smoke deflectors. Also, the Niagaras didn't (to my eye) have quite the balanced appearance of the Mohawks. But then, I'm too young to have seen either in action. (I did see Pennsylvania GG1s at work when I was there in 1972).
Of course the NYC always had to fit "maximum power" into its fairly restricted (by US standards) loading gauge.
The Penn Central "Genesis" should look good - although not a GG1! I wonder if they'll do the red or the green; hopefully with the multiple narrow stripes rather than the broad one.
With reference to the Tebay photo, it's not often that I have an excuse to get my copy of RCTS LNER Part 9A off the shelf, but doing so tells me that NER number 351 was built in March 1889, converted from compound to simple in 1911, and withdrawn in September 1930, by which time it was part of LNER class N8. There is a picture of it in LNER days in the book, at fig. 122.
With reference to the Tebay photo, it's not often that I have an excuse to get my copy of RCTS LNER Part 9A off the shelf, but doing so tells me that NER number 351 was built in March 1889, converted from compound to simple in 1911, and withdrawn in September 1930, by which time it was part of LNER class N8. There is a picture of it in LNER days in the book, at fig. 122.
I think they'd like to see the photo in the book as well - not sure you can attach pics to messages, world you be OK for me to message you my email? A phone pic would be fine, I'm sure.
As an antidote to all the shi*e that seems to be happening across the world, and about which I can do very little (alas!), I've spent a few hours over the past day or so improving (I hope) the scenic effects on a couple of my little 00 scale 'shelf layout'/Inglenook Sidings dioramas.
I acquired, a while ago, some bargain resin 'ready to plant' buildings from Rails Of Sheffield, to replace a few of my cardboard efforts, and to extend Captain Parsley's office accommodation at Iron River Junction (where the Suffix Border Railway's locomotive depot and HQ are to be found) by the addition of a nice new Nissen hut. It has Windows...
The SBR's main intermediate station - Potcommon - now has a nice new Post Office adjacent thereto, and a waiting shelter for those wishing to continue their journey into remote parts of Suffix by post bus, or by Fred Cash's Country Coaches.
I used to love assembling kits - and it's great to see that the antediluvian Airfix plastic kits are still being made by Dapol! - but ready-made and ready-painted buildings are a great boon to those of us with poor eyesight and too many thumbs...
The track may look a bit overgrown, but read the description! This is perhaps the 'greenest' tramway in Europe...
Note that what appears to be an adjacent 'road' is, in fact, a dedicated cycleway.
No doubt for economic reasons, the Tramway People have painted some cars in all-over advertising liveries, but I much prefer the traditional green-and-yellow.
I know just what you mean...and yes, the Carris livery is superb. Mind you, the preserved mirror-image Carris AEC Regent bus in green and white also looks wonderful, too.
I guess Helsinki paints its trams in bright colours so that they can be seen from a distance in winter.
I know just what you mean...and yes, the Carris livery is superb. Mind you, the preserved mirror-image Carris AEC Regent bus in green and white also looks wonderful, too.
AFAIK the Carris trams have always had that livery. The buses though have chopped and changed: when I first went to Lisbon in 1978 they were green (some of the older double-deckers had that cream windows surround); the new buses entering service were orange at the bottom and cream around the windows (as were the few Fleetlines, also the AEC buses when they got repainted, which didn't suit them); now they are yellow with a black window surround.
Yes, I remember the orange-and-cream Regent Vs (rather the worse for wear).
Other operators in Portugal used different liveries. Without recourse to a Book, and from memory:
Coimbra trams and trolleybuses were yellow-and-white (like Lisbon) Braga trams were dark red and cream/white Porto trams were brown and cream, with maroon and white for trolleybuses Sintra trams (the saloons) were dark red and cream/white, but buses were green and grey.
Yes. I just managed one ride on a Coimbra tram before the system closed. I think the yellow was slightly paler than Lisbon's, and there was a white strip along the bottom.
Can't speak for Braga or the Porto trolleybuses, but the Porto trams that remain (basically a "museum service") still bear their traditional livery, as do most of the Sintra ones I believe. Incidentally there is a Porto tram at Crich; while the superbly restored Ipswich tram in the transport museum there sits on a Lisbon truck (which actually is the wrong gauge: 900mm not 3'6", not that it matters).
Looking at online photos, I see that Porto trolleybuses (they had some lovely Lancia double-deckers, which would have looked very much at home in Bournemouth!) were a lighter red than I recall - but, as you say, operators change their colours from time to time.
Best get back to railways...and reverting to the possibility of modelling the Elsenham - Thaxted line, the latest version of the Hornby GER 0-6-0 tender engine (in GER Blue) would look good. Mind you, the line was short, and had no turntable(s), so some modeller's licence would be required.
Indeed it can, although I think an LMS Garratt on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway might be stretching things a bit! (Mind you, there were GWR Pannier tanks on the Dornoch branch in its final years; and didn't Bulleid light Pacifics come to the Great Eastern line's aid when the wheels on its Britannias started shifting on their axles?).
A Garratt would be almost as long as Thaxted station...
The Panniers in the Highlands (I think there were two sent north) did duty as the Helmsdale pilot/shunter, as well as working the two mixed trains to and from Dornoch. I guess that, by the time they arrived, almost the only other steam locomotives to be seen in the area were the ubiquitous Black Fives.
Spamcans on the GE main line? Yes, but AIUI this was a bit of an embarrassment to TPTB, even though the Bulleid engines acquitted themselves well.
I wonder how they fared starting off from Ipswich up Belstead bank?
I think that the Great Northern folk would have been surprised to see their 2-6-0s doing so well on the West Highland, or the GER folk with their 4-6-0s on the GNSR.
Comments
A model of Thaxted station would make an attractive layout, especially now that a suitable locomotive has been produced. The coaches used might present more of a challenge, perhaps.
Lead me not into temptation, but do tell me about the locomotive!
https://www.accurascale.com/collections/j67-j68-j69
Not cheap, but they received very good reviews (on the whole).
*drools down front*
IIRC the line opened in 1913, so could squeeze in a gorgeous ultramarine buckjumper...
These days it's usually quite quick and easy to install the decoder yourself (says he whose railway may possibly be running in 2026).
I don't suppose there's a NYC Hudson on the front, though...
https://flic.kr/p/2rPnyxA
It could very well be an 0-6-2, which would fit, if you look at the two leftmost chaps at ground level there's what look suspiciously like a connecting rod between them.
It does not appear to have survived long enough to have been renumbered in 1946.
According to the LNER on line encyclopedia, some of them were originally two cylinder compounds. The slightly odd configuration of rivet heads on the saddle suggests this might be one of them. I'm further speculating without any justification for doing so, but the hills in the background and what looks like a shed, make me wonder whether this might have been taken at the Tebay end of the line over Stainmore. But please, if anyone actually knows better, say so.
What strikes me as odder is that it seems to be carrying class A express lamps but not to be fitted with air brakes or a Westingouse pump, which I think was the system the NER used. Does anyone have any suggestions for an explanation.
Perhaps they just put the lamps there for the photo!
It seems to be a special occasion as I can't imagine babes in arms were encouraged on shed.
@Enoch handy when a typo doesnt change anything!
Thank you, everyone!
Hmm... I can't think of any locomotive whose appearance was really improved by smoke deflectors. Also, the Niagaras didn't (to my eye) have quite the balanced appearance of the Mohawks. But then, I'm too young to have seen either in action. (I did see Pennsylvania GG1s at work when I was there in 1972).
Passing Croton-Harmon yesterday I just glimpsed one the the GE Genesis locomotives in the faux-NYC livery: https://railfan.com/metro-norths-new-york-central-heritage-unit-to-debut-on-hudson-line/. It didn't quite capture the elegance of the NYC 'lightning stripe' livery, but it was still rather attractive among the bland packaging of the others.
The Penn Central "Genesis" should look good - although not a GG1! I wonder if they'll do the red or the green; hopefully with the multiple narrow stripes rather than the broad one.
Enquiring minds need to know...
I think they'd like to see the photo in the book as well - not sure you can attach pics to messages, world you be OK for me to message you my email? A phone pic would be fine, I'm sure.
And yes, @Bishops Finger , I'd love to know too!
Great, thank you!
I acquired, a while ago, some bargain resin 'ready to plant' buildings from Rails Of Sheffield, to replace a few of my cardboard efforts, and to extend Captain Parsley's office accommodation at Iron River Junction (where the Suffix Border Railway's locomotive depot and HQ are to be found) by the addition of a nice new Nissen hut. It has Windows...
The SBR's main intermediate station - Potcommon - now has a nice new Post Office adjacent thereto, and a waiting shelter for those wishing to continue their journey into remote parts of Suffix by post bus, or by Fred Cash's Country Coaches.
I used to love assembling kits - and it's great to see that the antediluvian Airfix plastic kits are still being made by Dapol! - but ready-made and ready-painted buildings are a great boon to those of us with poor eyesight and too many thumbs...
This is quite an extensive metre-gauge system, and they have some lovely old heritage/preserved cars, which come out to play from time to time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyaHyk_yN5o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fXyxee3l5Q
The track may look a bit overgrown, but read the description! This is perhaps the 'greenest' tramway in Europe...
Note that what appears to be an adjacent 'road' is, in fact, a dedicated cycleway.
No doubt for economic reasons, the Tramway People have painted some cars in all-over advertising liveries, but I much prefer the traditional green-and-yellow.
I know just what you mean...and yes, the Carris livery is superb. Mind you, the preserved mirror-image Carris AEC Regent bus in green and white also looks wonderful, too.
I guess Helsinki paints its trams in bright colours so that they can be seen from a distance in winter.
AFAIK the Carris trams have always had that livery. The buses though have chopped and changed: when I first went to Lisbon in 1978 they were green (some of the older double-deckers had that cream windows surround); the new buses entering service were orange at the bottom and cream around the windows (as were the few Fleetlines, also the AEC buses when they got repainted, which didn't suit them); now they are yellow with a black window surround.
Other operators in Portugal used different liveries. Without recourse to a Book, and from memory:
Coimbra trams and trolleybuses were yellow-and-white (like Lisbon)
Braga trams were dark red and cream/white
Porto trams were brown and cream, with maroon and white for trolleybuses
Sintra trams (the saloons) were dark red and cream/white, but buses were green and grey.
Can't speak for Braga or the Porto trolleybuses, but the Porto trams that remain (basically a "museum service") still bear their traditional livery, as do most of the Sintra ones I believe. Incidentally there is a Porto tram at Crich; while the superbly restored Ipswich tram in the transport museum there sits on a Lisbon truck (which actually is the wrong gauge: 900mm not 3'6", not that it matters).
Best get back to railways...and reverting to the possibility of modelling the Elsenham - Thaxted line, the latest version of the Hornby GER 0-6-0 tender engine (in GER Blue) would look good. Mind you, the line was short, and had no turntable(s), so some modeller's licence would be required.
They do look resplendent in blue, though, even if only in model form!
The Panniers in the Highlands (I think there were two sent north) did duty as the Helmsdale pilot/shunter, as well as working the two mixed trains to and from Dornoch. I guess that, by the time they arrived, almost the only other steam locomotives to be seen in the area were the ubiquitous Black Fives.
Spamcans on the GE main line? Yes, but AIUI this was a bit of an embarrassment to TPTB, even though the Bulleid engines acquitted themselves well.
I think that the Great Northern folk would have been surprised to see their 2-6-0s doing so well on the West Highland, or the GER folk with their 4-6-0s on the GNSR.