News Service Editor: Pat Hammond
Page 1- Throughout 2008, these pages will daily bring you news of the British model railway industry.
Update 15th May 2008(MREmag Motto - 'Live & Let Live')
Thursday 15.5.08 0 Gauge Celebration of 1948To mark the 60th Anniversary of the formation of British Railways in 1948, Modelfair has commissioned a limited edition of 50 gauge 0 ex-GWR Castle Class locomotives by Ace Trains. These will be in the unique experimental lined light Pea green livery that was carried for a short time by a number of Castles immediately after Nationalisation. There are 3 names available:
7011 Banbury Castle
4091 Dudley Castle
5010 Restormel Castle
They are priced at £730 each and are expected to be delivered in July/August. Further information may be found at www.modelfair.com or by telephoning Modelfair on 0161 748 8021.
Snippet No.190 - Long journey for an 8F
By John Cherry
Rugby Central, 3 August 1957. A relief to the NewcastleBournemouth was run from York using Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No.48536 for the train throughout. It is thought that this was one of the longest - if not the longest - journey made by an 8F hauling a passenger train. Additional interest was that the leading pair of carriages were a Gresley articulated set.
(Photo: Rev AWV Mace in the book Cross Country Steam by Stanley Creer)
What's on TV?
By Brian Macdermott
Sunday 18 May - Meridian ITV, 17.45-18.15. Along these Lines. East Kent
Light Railway.
Sunday 18 May - BBC4, 19.10-20.00. Monsoon Railway (1/2). India's railways in the
monsoon season.
Having Your Say...
Good luck Mr Gorsky
I hope you will allow a brief follow up to the Neil Armstrong 'first words' item.
There is a commonly repeated story concerning Armstrong's last words on the moon, which allegedly were: "Good luck Mr Gorsky", and the story has entered the realm of urban legend. Use this link to read the details.......
Shortcut to: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blgorsky.htm
Pete Runnacles
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Colin Watts says of Neil Armstrongs 'One Small Step' speech: "The important point is that the world had no problem understanding his meaning".
Right.
Colin either wasnt there at the time or has forgotten the weeks of perplexed speculation surrounding that cryptic statement. It was so not understood that Kurt Vonnegut later parodied the confusion in a scene from his teleplay Between Time and Timbuktu to hysterical effect.
I doubt anyone will remember the fuss in a few more years since all the official versions of the speech, including the recorded re-enactment that you can experience at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, have been carefully 'enhanced' to include the originally very absent 'a'. The only place you might stand a chance of hearing the original is in, believe it or not, the Disney MGM attraction where at one time they would 'blue screen' kids into the Armstrong lunar footage holding a giant cue card. And they say Americans have no sense of humour.
How lucky that the signal has been found to contain the proper wording upon "careful examination" with "modern techniques".
The modern phrase for this practice is 'retcon', (Retroactive Continuity). The modern expression of disgust for having it done unnecessarily is "Han shoots first!". Put me down for one of those.
Imagine what will happen when this technique is seen as acceptable in any circumstance. Dont like the way the Titanic sank? No problem. Just wait long enough and get to work with the computer. Or maybe its that you want your version of the causes of the Sevenoaks Fiasco to be the 'real' one. Wait 25 years and fire up photoshop.
We are living in a Wikipedia 'mass opinion trumps fact' world. How marvellous that the digital age should put us back to 'everyone knows' instead of that pesky and expensive 'peer reviewed' fact system we had for a while after literacy became widespread and printing was reasonably cheap.
Steve Mann - NYC
Interesting, but let's get back onto 'trains' - preferably those little ones - Ed.
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Some Thoughts on Signals
(**Email of the Day**)My layout is complex by any standard. On one side of the 25' x 9' room is a 4-track plus bay station and MPD. On the other side is a 'down loop', 'down main', 'up main', 'down goods' and 'up goods' lines, flanked either side by sorting sidings and carriage sidings.
I can actually signal this lot with seven 'homes' plus three left-hand and three right-hand junction signals (not including the ground ones). At present, there are no signals whatsoever for the usual reasons (too brittle, too dear, or too complex).
I would like to see a signal manufacturer come up with something along the following lines.
* All signals to be operable - initially by hand, but with the option
of 'wiring up'.
* All signals to be snap-together.
* They should comprise a base unit into which can be snapped a vertical pole.
* The vertical pole should then have a signal unit(s) or a bracket unit 'snapped' into
this.
Like Worzel Gummage, you could fix various 'heads' to the vertical pole - for example, a 'home' or a 'distant' (or a 'home' plus 'distant'). A bracket unit could be universal (i.e. it could face left or right). Signal units could then fit into this to make up junction signals. The diverging signal could be shorter than the main line one.
The benefit of this system is that if you break a signal, it will probably only be the vertical pole. This could be 'snapped out' and replaced. This might sound a bit like a 'kit in disguise' but I'm sure that, if it were the subject of some clever, innovative design, it would work.
The base unit could be universal so it wouldn't matter what style of vertical pole was inserted. By having 'snap in parts' it reduces overall costs (doesn't it?). In this way, the manufacturer only needs to gauge how many different elements they need to produce something commercial. They would not be left with dozens of 'distants' or (say) left-hand junction signals.
The system would suit me well as I run WR (with SR) for a few weeks, then change over to LMR (with ER). Being able to change from WR lower quadrant to LMR round post in a matter of moments (or 'snaps') would be icing on my cake!
Brian Macdermott
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The recent postings on signals have raised a query in my mind concerning the correct use of 'distant' signals on our club layout, currently under construction.
We have a quadruple track main line, with 'fast' and 'slow' lines in each direction, although for the purposes of this question we only need to consider trains travelling in one direction where we have a 'slow' line running adjacent to the 'fast' line with a one direction cross-over from the 'fast' to the 'slow'. Further along, at the approach to a station, there is a loop off the 'slow' to provide two platform faces to the 'slow' line. The 'fast' line runs through with no platform.
The cross-over is controlled from an adjacent box whilst the platform loop is controlled from the station box.
Assuming a gantry in advance of the cross-over by my understanding there would be a 'home' signal for both the 'fast' and 'slow' lines plus a shorter post 'home' signal for trains crossing from 'fast' to 'slow'. In advance of these (off stage on the model) I assume there would be three 'distant' signals, one for each of the 'home' signals.
My concern is over what happens with the platform loop. I believe this would require a bracket style 2-posted 'home' signal. Now what happens with the 'distant' signals for these? I would expect a bracket 2-posted signal. However, due to the short section the 'distants' have to be placed along with the previous 'home' signals on the gantry but as approaching trains might be off either the 'fast' or 'slow' lines, both lines would have to be equipped with those two 'distants'.
To keep the number of posts down, one of the 'distant' arms would be mounted on the same post as a 'home' but even so we have a gantry spanning two tracks requiring at least five posts and seven arms (assuming the next 'fast' line 'distant' is further on) for what appears to be a quite simple track layout.
Have I got this right or have I over complicated it. Or, alternatively, have I missed something altogether which would make it even more complicated.
There is a further complication on the loop in that it could be used to terminate trains coming in from the opposite direction but I think that is best ignored for now.
In case it makes a difference, the layout is based around 1960 BR Midland Region. (although at times it goes back to LMS for one members stock).
I would be grateful for any comments please.
Jim Campbell
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Hornby Royal Scot Chimney
Can anyone please tell me if Hornby have successfully changed the as-supplied chimney on Royal Scot class 46140 The Kings Royal Rifle Corps (or any other model, e.g. The Rifle Brigade) with a replacement, scale size, chimney from Hornby assuming the latter are available. If so, please tell me how.
Alan Fryer
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Horse Boxes
To add to Mike Lutterworth's posting of 13th May, regarding the one-time popularity of these vehicles on the real railway (as later modelled by Hornby-Dublo/Wrenn and Triang/Hornby), I recall many occasions when, during the early 1960s, I had to publish, on the SR Exeter District Special Traffic Notice, a movement for a passenger train to attach or detach a horse box en route. Then later, at home, I would make similar moves on the Hornby Dublo layout!
At certain stations, where no shunt locomotive was available, either the engine would uncouple from the coaches and pick-up the horse box from the yard, or otherwise the whole train could be reversed back to collect it from an authorised siding. It all depended on the track layout and signalling.
But, after all these years, what I still recollect most was the regular conveyance of calves, from Crewkerne to Elgin, via Templecombe and the S&D. These used Special Cattle Vans (coded SCV) and perhaps these would merit being modelled commercially, too. For the record, on the Southern, by 1963, these SCVs comprised Nos 3729-3738, with electric lighting, double [size]/no partitions, 17ft. 6in. wheelbase, tare 12 tons. Farmers were served well in those days!
Stephen Derek
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Twickenham Station
Thanks for the replies regarding Twickenham Station photos from Brian Macdermott and Peter Gomm. Twickenham Museum has rail side and a long shot from the London Road bridge, but not a head on shot of the main house, yard etc.
Peter Gomm's suggestion is a very welcome one, except that that I don't think that Co. Limerick has a bus preservation society, although there is a regular vintage motor cycle club event from the UK here (motor cycles are my other hobby). I did attend the first Cobham Bus Day at the bus museum (I lived about two miles from it).
However, with the intended move to France in the near future, it will be easier and cheaper to get to the UK so I will let you know, Peter, and perhaps we can arrange 'summit'.
Ken Darville
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Lubricating Plastic Axle Bearings
I think I missed the earlier postings offering suggestions for lubricating Chris Patricks Hornby plastic square axles to improve running. That said, he ought to bear in mind the possibly adverse effects of any lubricant on the plastic axle and axlebox; many lubricants will attack plastics, however slowly. Chris has already noted the further potential problem of using a grease which offers some resistance to the rotation of a light axle.
One safe lubricant would be graphite, but this is not readily available in powder form and, if bought as a grease, could contain damaging solvents. Chris could try inserting the lead of a sharpened pencil (grade BB or softer) into each (clean) axlebox and twiddling it round to deposit a small amount of graphite. If this doesnt seem to work, he could produce graphite dust by filing the lead of the pencil and inserting a tiny amount into the axlebox fiddly but it should be effective.
Another lubricant which should be safe is a silicone spray, as commonly used by plumbers when assembling push-fit plastic pipe fittings or (so my wife tells me) for adding a sheen to the leaves of house plants. Here again, only a tiny amount will be needed; the aerosol will probably come with a fine capillary tube to aid application. Alternatively, squirt a small quantity into the wifes best eggcup or similar and apply it to the bearing on the end of a wire.
Nick Stanbury
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Two Recent Items
I read that two correspondents were talking about chain fine link and lubes for models. I obtained very fine link chain from Antics in Cardiff at £2.25, for a project I am doing (ref. 8611). They are also able to supply the Woodland Scenics lube pack for £19.95, containing a selection of oils and greases for model railways. I hope this helps.
George McKie
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Model Chain
The request by Colm Flanagan for a source for model chain can be answered by
Squires of 100 London Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1DD. They have a web address
at sales@squirestools.com and you can request a free catalogue on 01243 842424. Their current version
is green ('Tools and Materials' mail order catalogue 2008) and lists many sizes of chain
on pages 395-396.
I put items onto one of their order forms, as I think of them, and,
after reaching their posting limit of £10 (or when something becomes urgent), I place an
order. They have always been very prompt and postage is free. I have no other connection
to this firm other than as a satisfied customer but would recommend all modellers to
'stock' their catalogue - it is full of thousands of bits we all need.
Top Ten Books
What a good idea from Graham Higgins. Although a formal pole ("Not another
one!" - I hear you say) is perhaps not feasible a number of helpful suggestions could
be aired from time to time. In no particular order I would place the following in my top
ten: Stations and Structures of the Settle and Carlisle Railway - V R Anderson and
G K Fox - OPC - ISBN 0-86093-360-1, Railway Men Politics and Money - Adrian Vaughan
- John Murray - ISBN 0-7195-5746-1, The Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway -
James I C Boyd - The Oakwood Press - ISBN 0-85361-417-2, Architectural Modelling in 4mm
scale - Dave Rowe - Wild Swan - ISBN 0-906867-12-6, Williams's Midland Railway Its
Rise and Progress - New introduction by C R Clinker - David and Charles - ISBN
7153-4253-3, The Festiniog Railway (two volumes) - J I C Boyd - The Oakwood Press -
(cannot find ISBN number but can be traced on Haybooks.com), The Coast Lines of the
Cambrian Railways (two volumes) - C C Green - Wild Swan - ISBN 1-874103-07-0 and
1-874103-29-1, Life in a Railway Factory - Alfred Williams - Alan Sutton - ISBN
0-86299-128-5, An Illustrated History of LMS Locomotives (five volumes) - Bob
Essery and David Jenkinson0 - First three by Oxford Publishing Company, last two by Silver
Link and An Illustrated Review of Midland Locomotives (four volumes) - Bob Essery
and David Jenkinson - Wild Swan
0OK - that's 19 in the top 10 if you count all the volumes as separate books. If you can
get to Robert Humm's bookshop in Stamford's station building you will find most of these
books and thousands more so take your credit card and try to resist offering to buy all
the lot. You can buy on-line at Roberthumm.co.uk.
John Phillipson
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In the case of e-mails published in MREmag, individual responses from the editor are not usually sent unless there is an issue to be raised or answered. Our thanks to all those who contributed their thoughts, questions and answers which develop the topics covered above. A special thanks to Brian Macdermott and Dick Flower for their regular features.
If you have suggestions for the model manufacturers to consider, or if there is anything else you would like to discuss within the British railway modelling and collecting subject base of this magazine, please send me an e-mail, giving your first name and surname (no pseudonym please) to Pat@mremag.com Please try to keep your contribution short, positive, polite and definitely not libellous. Your contributions will be edited for readability and acceptability within the unbiased policy of the magazine. Care will be taken not to alter the views expressed but they remain those of the writer of the e-mail and are not necessarily shared by the Editor.
Remember! The manufacturers are our friends - not our enemies. They read this magazine and so when you comment on their products you are talking directly to them. Choose your words carefully as you would with a friend.
Have you voted yet in the new 'Wish List' polls? The links to the voting slips are as follows:
N Gauge Poll: http://www.gppsoftware.com/MREMAG/NGaugePoll2008.aspx
EM Gauge Poll: http://www.gppsoftware.com/MREMAG/EMGaugePoll2008.aspx
P4 Scale Poll: http://www.gppsoftware.com/MREMAG/P4ScalePoll2008.aspx
0 Gauge Poll: http://www.gppsoftware.com/MREMAG/OGaugePoll2008.aspx