Paul Plowman

This was sent in place of the usual 2 for 'train entering section'.

John Ashley

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Colin Hume

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Using the 2-2 bell signal is very simple; in fact, I reckon it was probably one of the easiest Block Regulations to learn - but it could only be used where specially authorised.

After the 'Train Entering Section' bell signal (2) has been sent and acknowledged the 2-2 signal is immediately sent and also acknowledged; n.b. 'Call Attention' is not sent before the 2-2.

If there is more than one assisting engine in rear of the train, then 2-2 is sent and acknowledged, in turn, for each engine.

If the train is assisted in rear by a loco with not more than 2 brake vans, the bell signal 2-3-1 is used instead of 2-2.

'Train Out of Section' must not be sent until all the assisting engines etc. have arrived at the box in advance.

(Note: GWR Regulations were slightly different and only one 2-2 would be used, any additional engines being advised by 'speaking telegraph').

Mike Romans

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Block Regulation 10:

a]. After the 'Train entering section' signal has been sent and the block indicator has been placed to the 'Train on Line' position for a train that is assisted by an engine in the rear the 'Engine assisting in rear of train' [2-2; Southern Region 1-4-1] signal must be sent to the box in advance to indicate that an engine is assisting the train in the rear. The signal must at one be recorded in the train register. If the train is assisted by more than one engine in rear, the 'Engine assisting in rear of train' signal must be sent and acknowledged separately for each engine so assisting.

b]. If the train is assisted in the rear by an engine with one or two brake vans, the 'Engine with one or two brake vans assisting in rear of train signal' [2-3-1; Southern Region 1-5-1] must be sent.

c]. The 'Train out of section' signal must not be sent until the assisting engine or engines or the assisting engine with one or two brake vans, as the case may be, have arrived.

[from 'Regulations for Train Signalling and Signalmen's General Instructions' BR ref. 29960 of 1st October 1960]

Neil Burgess

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In response to the request of the use of bell 2-2 to advice locomotive assisting in rear, the following procedure is used on both the Mid Hants Railway and West Somerset Railways where I am a signalman.

After the line clear has been obtained and the train enters the section, the signalman in rear bells "2" (train entering section). The signalman in advance responds "2". Now the signalman in rear bells "2-2". (train assisted in rear). The signalman in advance responds "2-2". Both signalmen record the code used in the notes column of the train register.

This code should also be used where 2 or more light engines, under power, are coupled together and enter the section.

Nigel Mann

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I believe I am right in saying that a particular application of this code applied to 'trains of engines', i.e. two or more light engines coupled together to 'save a block'.

In such a case the first two engines were signalled under the class G 'Light engine, or light engines coupled together' code [2-3]; but the remaining engine(s) were each signalled under Regulation 10 as if they were assisting engines.

I can't find a reference for this but perhaps someone might.

Neil Burgess

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Regulation 10 (1960 "Regulations for Train Signalling and Signalman's General Instructions"):
"(a) After the Train entering section signal has been sent and the block indicator has been placed to the Train on line position for a train assisted by an engine in rear the Engine assisting in rear of train (2-2) signal must be sent to the box in advance to indicate that an engine is assisting the train in the rear. The signal must at once be recorded in the train registers......"

The regulation continues to say that the signal is to be sent for each engine assisting in rear. There is also the special signal 2-3-1 for a 'banking engine' which has one or two brake vans with it!

This Regulation only applied where 'assisting engines' (officialese for bankers) were authorised by the Sectional Appendix.

John Webb

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In the first ever common Block Signalling Regulations authorised for all railways in the UK, the BR Regulations, October 1960 the bell code 2-2 Engine Assisting in Rear of Train, Regulation 10, states:-

[This Regulation only applies at the places where the use of assisting engines in rear is authorised in the Sectional Appendix, and as shown in Regulation 3]

[a] After the Train Entering Section signal has been sent and the block indicator has been placed to the Train on Line position for a train that is assisted by an engine in the rear the Engine Assisting in Rear of Train [2-2] signal must be sent to the box in advance to indicate that an engine is assisting the train in the rear. The signal must at once be recorded in the train register. If the train is assisted by more than one engine in rear, the Engine assisting in rear of train signal must be sent and acknowledged separately for each engine so assisting.

Merv Rogers

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[b] If the train is assisted in the rear by an engine with one or two brake vans, the Engine with one or two brake vans assisting in rear of train signal [2-3-1] must be sent.

[c] The Train out of Section must not be sent until the assisting engine or engines or the assisting engine with one or two brake vans, as the case may be, have arrived.

[d] In the event of the assisting engine or engines or engine with one or two brake vans not proceeding into the section after the appropriate bell signal has been sent to and acknowledged by the box in advance the Signalman at the box in rear must advise the Signalman at the box in advance accordingly and each Signalman must make an appropriate entry in the train register.

Merv Rogers

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When trains were being banked, the 2-2 bell code would be sent after the 2 ‘Train entering section’ code had been acknowledged by the box in advance.

The corresponding code on the Southern Region was 1-4-1 for an engine assisting in the rear, or 1-5-1 for an engine with one or two brake vans assisting in the rear. They used the 2-2 code for Is Line Clear for a Breakdown Train or Snow Plough going to clear the line, or a light engine going to assist a disabled train.

Charles Steele

The coach visible in the picture on Page 85 of The Western Since 1948 is, alas, not in full GW livery as the crest etc. has clearly been painted over; but it is in GWR colours. (yet another variation for Simon perhaps?)

Mike Romans

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Not all types of Hawksworth coaches were built before nationalisation so Hornby would not be able to make a complete set in this livery, those that were completed after nationalisation until BR agreed on the Crimson and Cream livery were painted in GWR livery without the GWR branding.

Simon is correct but of course there is always modellers licence!!

Let's hope one day they will upgrade their early Collett coaches which would not duplicate with the Bachmann later version, these would then satisfy those who want an early 'Castle'.

Ian Taylor

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The only livery that could have been applied to Hawksworth coaches built between 1-1-48 and the introduction of carmine and cream in (mid?) 1949 was chocolate and cream - there simply wasn't anything else! Plus, existing stocks of paint would have been used up first? Whether full lining would have been applied in early BR days is unlikely, but photo evidence is needed. With the usual 2-3 year repaint cycle for principal coaching stock, these vehicles must still have been around in 1951-52. Perhaps someone at Didcot will have more information.

Rod Stewart - Adelaide

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May I, through you, thank your contributors for their excellent efforts in finding reference to GWR liveried Hawksworth coaches being used on the 'rails'. I have always said that I do not mind being corrected and I have to say that on this particular occasion I am simply delighted that I was wrong!

Simon Kohler

Could it be that Geoffrey Figgins' problem is to do with time compression due to the small scale, so the tree thinks it is Autumn already?

A very tongue in cheek Graham Crawford

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Having made his trees Geoffrey Figgins can avoid this problem of foliage drop by applying dilute PVA. To give a more natural look, before this has dried I apply small amounts of appropriately coloured scatters; e.g. a lighter green to represent new shoots.

John Challenor

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Steve Mann NYC

I could not help being reminded by John Cherry’s brake shoe problem (03/03) of the mania created by the old Shell Money promotion of many years ago. I just pray Heljan are not sending us down that road again!

And I can only assume that Steve Mann of NYC (also 03/03) is not English. Otherwise he would know that it is a built in national trait never to read warnings on labels, instruction manuals etc. as we have an innate ability to understand any item when confronted with it. Just watch my wife unpacking anything!

Merv Rogers

With reference to James Storey's post on Model Rail Scotland 2010 and the N gauge 'Stove R' on the Dapol stand, whatever become of the plan to introduce this model in 00? I personally would have purchased several of these and I don't think I would have been alone. Let's see how popular this choice of vehicle is in the current poll.

Nick Lamkin

Further to my e-mail of last week, where one of your contributors appeared to have a running problem with the Dapol track cleaning vehicle fitted with a Hornby R8249 decoder, I am pleased to advise the following.

Dave Jones from Dapol gave me one of the track cleaners when we met at the Glasgow show this last weekend. Having had our technical chap run some tests, the following motor draw was noted:

Vacuum function .. 200mA

Polishing function .. 240mA

Grinding function .. 250mA

With these figures, it would appear that the Hornby R8249 decoder is more than capable of handling the current draw. What I must stress, however, is that when the motor is controlled via DCC, it is recommended that you do not 'drive' the motor on the full 12V, but try and keep it to half / three quarters speed; i.e. on or just below 9V DC.

I trust the above is of some use to your readers.

Simon Kohler

1938/39: a lighter 'Dover' green tried on some stock but wore badly. Bulleid introduced Malachite.

So, yes, mixed trains of green and red and cream would be a common sight, the proportion of red and cream increasing and the proportion of green diminishing as time passed.

Brian Macdermott (with acknowledgements to Chris Knowles-Thomas)

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Further to Peter Bedding’s reply, there were BR Mk1s in carmine and cream right until phase 2 of the Kent Coast electrification. I am not sure about the rest of BR(S) but that was I think the end in Kent.

Peter Edwards in South-West China

Help required as to a supplier of the shade of 'Southern' green paint to duplicate that used by Hornby Dublo on their range of coaches. I have made myself some new etched brass bodyshells for the old tinplate coaches and I am trying to locate an aerosol of this green colour.

I have tried Railmatch Malachite and have scoured the shelves of and DIY shops, as well as model shops selling Humbrol/Hornby and Tamiya spray paints, without success. There are dozens of greens out there but none that I have found are close enough.

Before I resort to having some mixed, can anyone suggest a readily available colour? I do not have or use an airbrush. Must be an aerosol.

Any offers?

Tony Winzar

I know nothing about Hawksworth coaches but it occurs to me that there is the possibility that they may, like Bulleid coaches, have undergone experimental schemes at the start of BR operations. The two-tone schemes might be plum and cream?

In respect of the Southern coach colours, I read recently that a 7 year repainting cycle was used which would give an indication of the duration of the various colour schemes in general terms.

Robert Inns

I was interested in Peter Goodman’s posting (01/03) regarding his layout conversion to DCC, and note that he has no problems with short circuits on turnouts whilst using Peco Code 100 trackwork. I assist a friend with a layout that was so converted but which uses Code 75 track with live frog turnouts and we do experience the shorting problem with certain items of stock. On occasions, when working on his locomotives, I have connected one of his DCC controllers to my layout which is Code 100, again with live frog turnouts, and have experienced no problems with shorting on turnouts.

It would seem logical to me that the finer the scale, the smaller the gaps on the turnouts and this may be an important aspect of the problem. I am aware of the modification that can be made to the Peco live frog turnouts but we have not gone down that road as all turnouts on the layout are ballasted in.

Merv Rogers

I read Mike Roman's recent post with interest. When I suggested that Hornby produced a 54xx/64xx or 74xx pannier tank several years ago, I received lots of the usual replies of 'not another GWR loco'! I personally think a series of these pannier tanks locos would be a good seller for Hornby. Also they could do a simplified version without all the handrails, etc. for the Railroad range. A push-pull 64xx, complete with a pair of auto coaches (in at least 3 different liveries), would also make a nice little train pack. Please think about Mr. K.

Nick Lamkin

ZTC made their own range of decoders as well as re-badging other brands.

I was asked by ZTC to keep the source of one decoder confidential. What they didn’t seem to realise was that every decoder carries the manufacturers ID in a user readable CV. Needless to say, they had not had this changed to ZTC in the decoders they re-badged.

Andrew Crosland

I obtained a copy of the British Outline Heljan Catalogue for 2010/11 at the Glasgow exhibition last weekend and noticed a further Birmingham/Class 26, an early variant (D5332). Will this version feature the connecting doors on the nose of the locomotive?

Have any other modellers noticed that the NEM pockets are high on the Heljan Clayton/Class 17, Birmingham Class 26 and 27 and are like previous Bachmann items, having cranked couplings to lower couplings to an acceptable height.

The Glasgow exhibition was one of the best for many years.

It is good to hear that you are to continue with MREmag - keep up the good work.

Alistair Barrie

More railway books have been reviewed and these will be found in the Book Review section which may be accessed by clicking on ‘Books’ to the left of this page and then picking the title that interests you from the index. For quick movement through the index, click on the appropriate letter in the letter index at the head of the column.

The Romsey and District Railway Modellers Society's 31st Annual Exhibition will take place on Saturday 6th (10:30 - 5:00) & Sunday 7th (10:00 - 4:30) March in the Crossfield Hall, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 8GL. Admission prices are: adults £3, children £2, families (2 adults + 2 children) £8.

Crossfield Hall is situated just south of the town centre and is surrounded by car parks. It is also within walking distance of the local bus and railway stations.

The exhibition will feature 12 layouts together with trade support and light refreshments.

by Brian Macdermott

Yes, you can. The ‘Northern Rubber Special’ of 30 September 1961 had Pullman Observation Car Sc280 on the rear. Crossing Copy Pit on the return from Blackpool to Retford, the special had a WD loco as the banker.

I operate a large model railway with a group of friends, using block instruments between operators. We are shortly to extend block working over a section where a banking engine is in use. This means that we will want to use the additional bell code 2-2 "Engine assisting in rear". Books on block working are unclear on exactly how this bell code was used in practice. I would be grateful if anybody can clarify this for us.

The potential hazards of using acetone, trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride (note: chemical names should be lower case) and the like have already been stressed but Rod Flanagan’s warnings should not be ignored. However, the banning of such substances in schools (along with playing conkers, skipping, eating chips etc.) should not be seen as indicating that they cannot be used safely in modest quantities by sensible adults.

Whilst industrial use of chlorinated hydrocarbons may be declining, it has certainly not ceased, although now more heavily regulated for health and safety reasons. That is why ‘consumer’ purchase of such items is now more difficult, albeit not impossible. In the early 1960s, any schoolboy could buy these solvents over the counter at Boots, as I often did (and lived to tell the tale).

My concern with Steve Mann’s war-gamer link was (and still is) more that the properties of certain solvents were being misrepresented than that the sources of supply were doubtful. But, either way, the unwary may waste time and money chasing or buying something which, even if available, might not work or might damage a model. Plumbers’ cleaning solvent is more likely to be trichloroethylene than acetone, although it should be identified.

Nick Stanbury

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All I can say after reading some of the placards being waved of late on the subject of solvents and brake fluid is that it's no wonder so many people break the delicate bits off their locos when unpacking them. Dear God, does no-one read the advisory labels on the packaging any more? I know they are not reading what I wrote.

Gordon Bennet!

Steve Mann - NYC.

Just a thought, but if any MREmag reader has also made purchase and it sitting there with 6 left hand facing brake shoes perhaps they might like to contact me via the editor.

I will leave you with famous quote from Richard III - "A brake shoe, a brake shoe, my Class 14 needs three left hand brake shoes!"

You have got to have a good sense of humour with this hobby otherwise you would just cry!

John 'shoeless' Cherry

I have been following the instructions on the packets and in the Woodland Scenic's manual, so far with little success. After about 20 minutes, the foliage starts to fall off and after 3 or 4 days not much foliage is left on the armatures. Any suggestions or hints would be appreciated.

Geoffrey Figgins

In answer to the question that was posed, the following applies to corridor main line stock:

Maunsell Livery. With minor variations from 1923, through 1937, it survived until 1940 - then surviving/deteriorating through the war. It was then maintained by patch painting and varnishing where malachite could not be justified. Probably some survivors were still in Maunsell livery post war.

Bulleid Livery. This was the experimental bright green of 1937, called Malachite. It was introduced where possible from 1940 onwards, then as much as possible from 1945, and then through 1948. It is said to have got progressively darker with time. It was maintained by patch painting and varnishing for as long as possible after 1948. Probably 50% fleet were still in malachite by the time of the introduction of BR green in 1956.

BR Carmine/Cream. This was used from 1949 onwards. All BR Mk1 coaches delivered from new were in carmine/cream. It was applied retrospectively (and begrudgingly) to Bulleid and Maunsell stock from 1949 to 1956 in absolute minimum of cases (like boat trains). Even so, some Maunsell 2 sets got repainted in carmine and cream and were seen at the Atlantic Coast end of the network. Most carmine and cream had gone by 1958 and all had gone by 1960.

BR Green. This was introduced from 1956 onwards and as expediently as possible.

This deliberately begs the question of the differences in Bulleid Green, and BR Green!

Peter Bedding

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Robbie McGavin's question about liveries almost defies a clear answer; the Maunsell olive livery was introduced at the Grouping in 1923, Bullied green in 1938, BR carmine and cream in 1949 and Southern Region green in 1956. But these are simply the starting points; coaches could run for many years without full repaints and Lancing carriage works were experts at touching up and re-varnishing existing liveries, prolonging their lives.

Southern sets were mostly fixed in composition, though some were re-marshalled, extended, shortened and dispersed over time if traffic patterns changed. This certainly seems to have been so for the larger sets; the smaller 2-, 3- and 4-coach sets seem to have survived intact longer and many were not changed throughout the lives of the vehicles. There certainly could be 'piebald' sets with coaches in different liveries and this could be accentuated by the addition of the many 'loose' coaches used for strengthening trains. As always, photographs are the best reference.

For a comprehensive account, including set numbers, try Mike King's An Illustrated History of Southern Coaches [OPC, 2003].

Neil Burgess

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I use the following dates for the changes in livery. Bear in mind that it took a long time to repaint some 7,000 carriages (and even longer when the War intervened).

From 1930: lining as Hornby's Olive green Maunsell carriages

From 1938: Bullied's Malachite green introduced, but it is estimated that 10% of carriages were still in Olive green at nationalisation.

From 1949: So-called 'Blood and Custard' adopted.

From 1956: BR(SR) green introduced.

Most carriages were kept in sets that were serviced together, so individual sets are unlikely to have had mixed liveries. However, trains often consisted of more than one set, plus loose 'strengtheners', which did result in a mix.

Mike King, in his excellent book, An Illustrated History of Southern Carriages (OPC) says that by 1956 only 60-70% of the SR stock had been painted 'Blood & Custard'. The rest was still in SR green, including some in Olive. So for 1956-7 there is an opportunity to run all four colour schemes together, but while repainting may have taken time, BR were pretty keen to add the 's' prefix and write their name on everything much earlier!

Set formations are readily available on the SEmGroup's website www.semgonline.com/coach/sets.html but I joined the Southern Railways Group www.srg.org.uk and use their data sheets, which set out the changes to sets over the years in some detail.

Chris Spencer

Model Rail Scotland, on 26-28 February, seemed better than ever, and had many superb layouts and a great selection of small and large traders with tools, electronics, lighting scenery and all things a railway modeller could want. Hornby displayed 3 different fully finished 6-wheel bogie Pullman cars, their GWR 28xx 2-8-0 and Hawksworth coaches and the LNER L1 2-6-4T unpainted but now complete with handrails, glazing and an incredibly fine and accurate ladder up the rear bunker.

Bachmann brought their LNER 04 2-8-0 heavy goods (I was told they should be in the shops a couple of months) and the JJA 'Auto-ballaster' with fine internal detail. They also had 'Presflos' on display, but they were just about the only ones at the exhibition. Tower Models had some on their stand, which had sold by around 11am on Friday. I was told Bachmann had 1,500 of each 'Presflo' made, but hardly any have reached Scotland and my own model shop has still not received any.

Dapol showed little new except the forthcoming 'Silver Bullet'. Their 'Stove R' was on the N Gauge Society stand and looks very good in a relatively matt finish. Heljan had finished versions of their Class 15 (due very soon) and the Class 86.

John Storey - Edinburgh

Greetings from a very wet South East Queensland.

I realise that this is not an example of "running on the rails" as Simon Kohler put it, but on page 241 in Alan Peck's wonderful book The Great Western at Swindon Works, is a beautiful photograph of corridor third number 787 in full Great Western livery. Of course, they may have repainted it before releasing it into traffic, but surely there would have been some test runs at least?

Steve Russell-Clark - Beenleigh, Queensland

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I thought I'd seen it somewhere and Simon Kohler may rest assured that Hawksworth coaches did indeed run in ordinary traffic in GWR livery - I have thus far delved out one very clear illustration, plus one that is about 99% certain. However, both are dated 1948 and in both cases they are behind a really good looking 'King' - so there's a further thought for you Mr K (once you've got that 54XX/64XX/74XX under your belt and on dealer's shelves, please....!).

And next, I'll have a look through the postcard collection ads; there might be another there - behind a very nice looking 'County', possibly.

Mike Romans

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There is a photograph by John P Wilson of Castle Class 5058 Earl of Clancarty heading the down Torbay Express on 5^th June 1949, with at least two Hawksworth carriages in Great Western livery. The photograph was taken in that very famous GWR publicity location, beside the sea, between Dawlish and Teignmouth.

Ian Allan published the photograph in their Locomotives Illustrated series, in the book version Great Western 4-6-0s the picture is in Chapter 2 ‘The Castles’. Whilst the photograph is black and white, it can clearly be seen that the first two carriages behind the locomotive are of the Hawksworth design with that unmistakable roof profile. They have twin stripes and Great Western branding in capitals and a crest between the words.

The first carriage behind the locomotive is a corridor brake third whilst the second is a corridor carriage but I cannot identify which class. Incidentally, both Hawksworth carriages have train name boards and the name is clear on the first carriage as being the 'Torbay Express', the locomotive is in GW crest livery with a BR smokebox number plate in true transition style.

Tudor Thomas

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You are probably being bombarded by now with references of Hawksworth coaches in service in Great Western livery. I have found a good clear photo on page 85 of The Western Since 1948. It shows Star Class 4-6-0, number 4060 in BR early crest livery but with the full train behind in GWR livery, the first coach, obviously a Hawksworth design, looks like a corridor composite but I stand to be corrected.

I think Simon Kohler may regret his words last Monday.

I have used my Dapol track cleaner with a Hornby decoder (R8249), operating with a Bachmann Dynamis system for over a year. I've not had any huge problems as a result. Even with the speed up for a prolonged period there are no major problems to report - just a nice clean track!

I hope this helps

Steven Ho

My understanding was that ZTC decoders were just rebadged Digitrax decoders. I have also heard it said, but never done it myself, that if you removed the ZTC label there was a Digitrax one underneath. In principle, therefore, ZTC decoders should be as good as Digitrax ones, that have a solid reputation. Regrettably, it was the UK made bits of the ZTC system that often proved problematical.

Brian Martin

The model rail press was out in force at Model Rail Scotland, at Glasgow. Hornby Magazine (or was it Model Rail?) displayed a delightful small station building, commissioned from Hornby, in a light brick with wonderful painting: it will be available through the magazine. I'm sure it will sell just because it is such a lovely model. It sounds as if they are proceeding with their 00 'Stove R' project, but have not yet got to the point where pre-production samples have been made. On the British Railway Modeller stand, Tony Wright had copies of his new and excellent book - I say that having purchased a copy and subsequently enjoyed his many photographs of locomotives and layouts over the years. Model Rail and Railway Modeller also made the journey north.

John Storey - Edinburgh

British model railway magazines are once again combining their efforts to produce the largest ever survey of buyers 'wants'. It covers 0, 00 and N gauge and uses software developed by GPP Software. There is a separate poll for each of the three most popular scales and voting is completely free. To vote, you will need to raise the voting slips using the addresses below.

This is your chance to say what you want manufacturers to make.

Voting is taking place 1st - 31st March and you each have 10 votes to place and may cast them as you like. You could put them all in one section or spread them over locomotives, wagons, coaches and lineside accessories.

When you have chosen up to 10 items from the lists provided, click the 'Submit Vote' button and exit. Once you have voted, you won't be able to go back in and change it or add something, so think about what you want before you go online.

The voting slips are at the following addresses. Choose your scale and go and vote:

We have received a copy of Continental Modeller and while we do not usually cover overseas railways within MREmag, some of the articles may interest readers.

The editorial by Ben Jones makes particularly interesting reading. It follows a visit to the Nuremberg Toy Fair and asks where our model manufacturers will go next in an effort to keep up with their European rivals.

Reviews include the Heljan/Hattons Class 14 diesel, the first Mathieson N gauge coal wagons, Dapol's N gauge 8-plank wagons, Hornby's sound fitted Class 50, Kernow's St Ives Bay N gauge Class 153 and 00 gauge Class 20 'weedkillers', Farish MBA, Tower 0 gauge J39, Bachmann Scenecraft signal box, Heljan Victorian station lamps, Dapol N gauge Virgin DVT and DOGA 'Warflat' kit. There is also an interview with Neil Kinison of ZTC and a testing of various model varnishes on the market.

Layouts included this month include Nevile Reid's 00 'Grubbe Street', Giles Favell's 'The Loop' and Ian Clark's P4 'Rockingham'. The Masterplan this month is narrow gauge 'Port Penorwic' and a reality feature looks at various narrow gauge railways in Britain. Another reality article is on Great Central expresses in BR days.

Abingdon and District Model Railway Club will be holding their annual exhibition on Saturday (6th March) at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, Audlett Drive, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3PJ. The opening times will be: 10.00 until 5.00pm and entry prices are to be: adults £6, concessions £4, children £3 and families £14.

The exhibition will feature 32 layouts as well as trade and society stands. There will also be demonstrations, refreshments, free parking and disabled access.

This exhibition will take place this coming Saturday (6^th March), from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday (7^th March), from 10am to 4.30pm, at Rainhill Village Hall, Weaver Avenue, Rainhill, Merseyside L35 4LU. The admission prices will be: adults £3.50, concessions £2.50, families (2+2) £9.50

The following 14 layouts are scheduled to appear: Tramway & Light Railway Society's 'Thorne Yard' (00/DCC), 'Grange over Sands' (N), 'Oak Ridge Canyon' (H0n30), 'Whitham Town' (00), 'Ferrocarill Internacional' (0n30), 'Skate End' (009), 'Dienw' (009), 'New Bridge Junction' (N), 'Bonnington Goods' (00 finescale), 'Shallowford Park' (00 finescale), 'Clairmont Yard' (00), a Hornby Dublo layout (00) and 'St Mary Meade' (00).

The following trade stands have been confirmed: World of Motion, PL Models, JD Models, Todmorden Model Supplies, Railbus, Geoscenics, Warrington Totems, GW Society, club shop and member's competition stand. There will also be three 'show you how' demonstrators and a raffle to win a one-off original (different) framed railway print each day. There will also be a full refreshment service and the venue provides full disabled access to all areas.

I have read a couple of things this morning on your site that I feel may require answering.

Hawksworth coaches: As far as we are aware the Hawksworth coaches only ran on the rails in BR colours. Of course, if there is evidence that they ran in GWR colours please let us know and I am sure, in time, we can oblige. Concerning those on the SVR – now there is a thought!!

R8249 Decoder: The Hornby decoder is rated at ½ amp for normal running and can handle peaks of up to 1 amp.

I shall be seeing my friends at Dapol this weekend at Glasgow and I will see if I can obtain one of their excellent track cleaning units so that we can run some tests.

Kindest regards

Upon reading a beautifully illustrated magazine on British railway preservation, I was again reminded of the magnificent work achieved by volunteers to keep living examples of rail transport for the inspiration and benefit of all of us.

It then occurred to me that the one thing in common that members of all branches of this hobby have is that we are all preservationists. As modellers, we may be preserving memories of steam days, perhaps even at a certain location, though of course it is just as legitimate to be providing an historical record of a time long before any of us were born - or recreating the railways of today! If we are happily freelancing in relation to prototype, this is still legitimately preserving a fleet of working models which we enjoy and which others can learn from. If we are collectors who keep our stock in cabinets, we are still very legitimately preserving railway models as faithful replicas for future generations, and if we write about railways we are leaving a heritage of both history and memories.

It is a reminder that the love of railways we all share should always overcome personal differences.

Richard Whitmore - Australia

I'm sorry I'm so late sending my sincere condolences to Robbie McGavin on the loss of his father.

Quite apart from the personal loss, Tom McGavin appears to have been quite a personage in the NZ railway scene over the years. I'm sure his loss will be felt by the NZ modelling community and his friends and former colleagues alike.

Steve Mann - NYC

Anyone looking for paint stripper to use on plastic 'ready to run' models should try Phoenix Precision Paints SuperStrip. Their website is at:
http://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/superstrip.asp I have used this on Hornby trains and RC cars with great success

Olly Chapman

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I never thought that I would be the one who played the Health and Safety card, but I am.

While I’m on the subject, Trichlorethylene, Carbon Tetrachloride and Chloroform were banned from schools in about 1990. I thought that their manufacture was being phased out. They are all ‘Harmful’, ‘Toxic’, ‘Dangerous to the Environment,’ and probable carcinogenic and/or mutagenic.

(164 words)

Rod Flanagan

Re: David Robinson's letter (24 February) about kits for the above designed to fit on an 8F chassis, isn't the wheel spacing of the S&DJR 7F completely different to that of the 8F?

Peter Bush

The Scottish Locomotives poll on the RMweb site has proved a great success and produced a surprising and quite heartening unanimity. To date, a total of 81 participants, armed with three votes apiece, on a wide slate of popular locomotives, ranging from the McIntosh 439 Standard Tank to Glens and Dunalastairs, overwhelming voted for the 438 (50), J36 (47), and Caledonian Jumbo (45), with the rest effectively coming nowhere.

The reasons given both during the poll and the earlier discussion which produced the short-list was that notwithstanding the glamour of the Glen or the Dunalastair, modellers really wanted working locomotives and, in particular, 0-6-0 tender locomotives – a sentiment much shared by modellers from other regions.

With the annual wish-list poll rapidly approaching a focus by Scottish modellers on these three favourites may hopefully prove beneficial.

Stuart Reid

Nick Stanbury is once again confused by my poor composition skills. I wasn't suggesting either that the linked forum didn't have as many, if not more daft, unworkable ideas as this one does at times, nor that he should slavishly follow each and every one of them in a fruitless quest to score solvents he doesn't want. I was trying to point out that there certainly are places in the UK where a responsible adult might attempt to buy a couple of pints of Acetone over the counter and expect success, and that others had done so and been kind enough to tell others where they'd done it. The plumber's supply seemed to be the most likely to me.

I regret the confusion cause by my lack of precision in my writing.

I do think, however, until someone actually goes into one of the places where it is suggested realistic amounts of the solvent might be purchased according to the linked authority, people should perhaps refrain from commenting on the practicality of doing so.

Steve Mann - NYC

I have read a number of responses to queries about converting existing DC layouts to DCC. Some answers could frighten anyone off from doing so. Anyone thinking of converting should read my article about changing my own complex layout to DCC, fitting the loco decoders to a variety of locos and featured in October & November 2008 issues of Model Rail. There is also a correction to the size of wire used, in the letters section of the January 2009 issue.

My 00 gauge layout 'Crewlisle' (latest outing was at the 2009 at the NEC), is on three levels, has double track continuous main line (with overhead catenary), a reversing loop, a 4 platform terminus, steam and diesel sheds and there is a cartridge exchange system instead of a fiddle yard. All track and pointwork is in Peco Code 100, with an electronic reversing loop module. The 30 points are live frog, as bought, with no additional wiring and the only polarity change switch is for the live diamond.

All 42 locos are fitted with the cheap Hornby R8249, ZTC 4007 or Bachmann 36-552 or 553 decoders and 9 locos have sound decoders. I have had no problems with either the decoders or shorts at points due to metal wheels.

Peter Goodman

Could some kind contributor please advise this (currently) SR-BR modeller when Maunsell olive green, Bullied SR green, BR blood-and-custard and BR green liveries began, finished, and overlapped?

With so many superb models of both locomotives and carriages for 1930 to 1968 now readily available, I want to know what I can 'get away with' in film and photo!

As I understand it, most carriage stock was run in sets, and I wonder how strict this was, and whether I can reasonably mix some blood-and-custard with, say, Bulleid SR green for trains based on a 1950-55 setting, and whether olive green lasted at all after the war.

Robbie McGavin - NZ

With regards to Alan Butcher's comments on the ZTC 2005 decoder, I purchased 6 of these decoders before ZTC's demise. Three of these have failed, one immediately on purchase, so I managed to get a refund, but unfortunately the other two are lost, Not a good advert in my opinion for this make of decoder. However, I have found the TCS dp2x-uk faultless (same type of no wires decoder) with the added bonus of a 12 month 'no questions asked' guarantee if needed. When ordering make sure you order the UK type.

John Bardsley

It’s a set of paper building templates. Mainly aimed at kids but might be a good starting point for adult modellers.

Dave Poynter

In the film 'The Titfield Thunderbolt', there is in the final sequence a shot of the branch train running down to the main line at Limpley Stoke, where another train comes past. Is at least one of the first two coaches not a Hawksworth, in colour, and much weathered chocolate and cream, at that? Doubtless the GWR insignia have been removed, so one could wriggle out of calling the livery that of the GWR, but it does suggest that Swindon colours were in use to a limited extent, even as late as Summer 1952, when filming took place.

One could look at black and white pictures of these coaches of the period for the characteristic double waist linings that distinguish post-war GWR livery.

Richard Coy

There will be 12 layouts, good trade support, the event's legendary cafe, free
parking, access for disabled and friendly staff. Admission is from 10am and the show closes at 4 30pm. Prices are unchanged from previous years at: adults £2.50, children and senior citizens £1.50, families (2+2) £5.50 and under 5s free.

Weather permitting (this is the Peak District!), there is a model railway show is this coming weekend at Chapel-en-le-frith High School, Long Lane, Chapel, SK23 0TQ. The opening times are from 10am till 5pm both days.

Admission prices will be: £4 for adults, £2.50 for children and concessions and £10 for a family of 2+2.

To describe an example card, there are several lines of instructions. I have the first line showing a departure from my platform 5.

The second line shows the train makeup, e.g. a Class 20 with 3 suburban coaches. A quick glance at platform 5 shows us that the correct train is indeed where it should be, so we can carry on.

A third line on the card tells us to set the route which is Barchester to South Bridge (F6), the (F6) tells the operator that South Bridge is fiddle yard road 6. The operator then activates the section switch for platform 5 and operates the various points, as per the control panel layout, for the road to F6. On all departures, without exception, route selection must ensure that all fiddle yard switches are in the off position before moving the train.

Pat’s comments about the future of the magazine are understood and appreciated. Just in case there are any more idiots out there like me, I recall the time when I was ‘chastised’ for exceeding 400 (now 200). This led me to ask Pat if he counted all the submissions. He replied that he used the word counter. Now, as someone who had Lotus Wordpro on his first computer and who has used it ever since, I thought he must know something I don’t. Wordpro, as far as I can see, does not have a word counter, but I have found that Microsoft Word does. I now use the latter and it has made my life easier. I have no experience of any other word processors and trust this will not be regarded as advertising.

I also appreciate that Pat has a living to make. I wonder if he might think it worthwhile to compile and publish a book from the hints and tips that have been posted here as I have found many of them valuable and useful. Copyright problems?

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I am so glad that you have decided to continue to make this available to us. I don't think I am alone in finding it a mature, sensible, balanced and very useful forum. Almost invariably, the modelling suggestions, tips and solutions are totally practical and correct. I am a member of other forums where ridicule, vitriol, irrelevance and triviality can be found all too easily!

The guidelines should be read by all potential contributors and reread often! Throughout my career as a science teacher, I was at pains to encourage accurate spelling, good grammar and clarity - three tools which are essential for the efficient sharing of information.

Long may MREmag remain in your very capable hands and readily accessible to its enthusiastic readership!

With reference to the discussion on the liveries for the Hawksworth coaches, there are official pictures of two Hawksworth coaches in Great Western livery on page 260 of JH Russel’s Pictorial Record of Great Western Coaches. That, surely, is enough justification for them?

If I had a layout to put them on, I’d want Great Western livery and a Gas Turbine to pull them – preferably green. I’d love to know what plans the Great Western had for the liveries of the gas turbines. Does anyone have an original colour (rather than the black and white reproductions reprinted in The Great Western Railway’s Last Look Forward) copy of Next Station?

Chris Lyddon

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Pete Williams rightly points to the Hawksworth coaches pictured in Jim Russell’s work on Great Western Coaches (Part Two) at pages 260 and 262. The interesting thing for me, whilst I cannot speak with any authority, is the fact that they are clearly ‘official’ shots as stated, taken on the carriage works’ traverser. I doubt very much that they entered general service as shown.

One has a crest (only), one has ‘Great Western’ (only) and the third coach has the crest between the words ‘Great Western’. No doubt these were put on the coaches for ‘publicity’ purposes as they were not being taken for the management to decide which combination to use in 1948.

Whatever the position, there clearly is no general usage of these coaches in GWR livery so they remain a BR option for modellers and do not give the GW guys a new opportunity to run trains of Hawksworth’s on their railways.

John Phillipson

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I am really pleased that Hornby have included these in their 2010 programme. But unfortunately as I model the preserved Severn Valley Railway, I shall have to wait until GWR livery versions are produced (please?) so that I can run an authentic train. Any BR liveried pre-nationalisation design coaches are of no use to me!

It is interesting that in the heritage world it seems that pre-nationalisation rolling stock is always restored in its earliest livery. The same is not true of locomotives however!

Malcolm Yates

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To amplify Pete Williams' point about Hawksworth coaches (Monday 22nd February), Michael Harris's book Great Western Coaches from 1890 (David & Charles, 1985) indicates that delivery of the new vehicles was slow and only 50 had been added to stock by mid-1947.

However, there is a photograph of corridor brake composite W7383, built in 1948, in two-colour livery with double waist lining - suggesting it is in chocolate and cream livery. Since the BR carmine and cream livery didn't come into use until 1949, there is a good chance that a lot of Hawksworth corridor stock appeared in chocolate and cream, even if a fair number of vehicles carried the BR 'W' prefix to the number - but not the suffix until the Mk1 stock appeared - and would probably have been running in this condition until around 1951-53.

Neil Burgess

Neil Burgess (Monday, 22 February) overlooks the fact that the Bachmann model has No.3440 on the front buffer beam – which to the best of my knowledge it never carried during its two previous stints on the main line (1957 & 1985), effectively meaning that no carriages are suitable.

There is photographic evidence showing the ‘Cities’ had buffer beam numbers with 34xx & 37xx numbering, including one of 3436 City of Chester with a front buffer beam number, c1904, in which the ‘ornate’ tender lining can be made out. (Page 17 City of Truro – Locomotive Legend – Silver Link).

However, if we disregard this point, City of Truro spent 9^th May 2004 on the Torbay & Dartmouth Railway and may have hauled a train including the Pullman observation car during its visit, justifying it hauling the Hornby model (the observation coach was in service on 8^th May). Additionally, since 1985, it can legitimately haul GWR preserved stock on the Severn Valley, and possibly other railways.

Ian Breeden

With the excellent 'Presflo' wagons from Bachmann, I have, like all good modellers, been wondering what other varieties could be produced, and a few new versions come to mind readily.

On plain BR Bauxite, we have PRESFLO CEMENT (two lines) PRESFLO ALUMINA (two lines), or plain ALUMINA. Others include SLATE POWDER (two lines) and more esoterically DELAFILLA, which was used on a small batch of wagons transporting very finely ground slate powder from Delabole on the BR(SR) Padstow line. One use of this product was in the manufacture of 78 rpm gramophone records!

There is the original APCM yellow livery, but this was soon replaced by the grey livery. Incidentally, one of the APCM wagons has been fully restored in the yellow livery, complete with side boards, on the Mid-Hants Railway. Lastly, there is one of my favourites - the ICI Salt version in the lovely ICI Mond green livery. Please Mr Bachmann, please!

Just a brief note to Stephen Nicholson to inform him that the R8249 decoder does not come ready insulated, however it does have a small charcoal coloured sleeve in the pack for insulating purposes.

Andrew Carter

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Dapol could not tell me the power rating of the unit.

Nick Mills

Further to the published responses to Chris Martin’s request for advice on converting to DCC (on 17/02/2010) I would add the following for his Q4 and Q5. I have found Nigel Burkin’s book Digital Command Control for Model Railways useful and his chapter on wiring the layout contains advice on how to modify Peco live frog points for use with DCC. As Chris suspected, this may well be the cause of his shorting problems.

I have assisted a friend to do what Chris is undertaking. No doubt Chris’s layout is sectioned electrically as was my friends. We merely removed the DC controllers and wired in the DCC replacements and then switched on all of the sections. We thought we might have to modify some wiring if problems were found but there have been none. The section switches have proved useful in tracing elusive short circuits.

Finally, in respect of locomotive decoders, you only get what you pay for but you can pay too much if you don’t need lots of functions. There is much advice on fitting decoders, but less explicit advice about setting CVs and individual decoder performance. Persevere and you will learn much from experience.

Merv Rogers

The further notes from Steve Mann and Jim Flanagan about sources of ‘paint stripping’ solvents are helpful but do need to be taken in context. In relation to acetone, I said previously that it "… will be very difficult to obtain in sensible quantities in the UK unless one has direct access to an industrial source." That remains the case (although perhaps ‘a trade supplier’ would have been the better term) and the various sources now suggested are all worth trying. Yes, it is fairly easy to buy acetone over the counter in very small quantities, but the cost is quite prohibitive for the uses we have in mind. In my experience, few dispensing chemists are willing to supply ‘dangerous’ substances these days, almost regardless of one’s credentials – but you might be lucky.

Some of the war-gamers’ suggestions in Steve’s link are incorrect and will lead to problems. Nail varnish remover is a cocktail of solvents, sometimes including acetone, and is ridiculously expensive. It will quite likely attack polystyrene – as certainly will nail varnish, cellulose thinners or anything else that smells of pear-drops (amyl acetate). Ditto trichloroethylene, used by plumbers etc. for degreasing. And acetone may likewise prove fatal to the cellulose acetate used for some early mouldings, e.g. by Rovex.

Nick Stanbury

Firstly I would like to say that your new 'rules of engagement' for e-mails are exactly what are needed!

My March Model Rail arrived today and I was keen to see what they thought of the Class 14 because I have been disappointed with mine. Much to my surprise they gave it 92% for performance and say that it's worth £115! I disagree - my first Class 14 had to go straight back to Hattons because of diabolical performance. Its replacement seemed OK until I added the brake mouldings, then all hell broke loose! The dummy drive shaft is so loose that the cams fouled the brakes mouldings and the resulting force on the couplings rods pushed the wheelset under the short bonnet out because the keeper plate under it is completely loose. After several hours of fiddling and fettling, I have a model that runs reasonably well, but I would not like to be the driver - it still yaws like mad. I will give a prolonged run in to see if things improve.

Nevertheless the model does look good!

Bob Kimber

I am glad you have decided to continue with the online magazine - I always look forward to reading it.

Christopher Reynolds

Alan Butcher

In the December issue of the Railway Modeller, Mr. DereK Gelsthorpe, the creator of the delightful Rowthorne, stated that he uses a block of wood to clean his track. Over the festive period I tried this method with a few pieces of softwood and found that it works quite well. The softer the timber the better the result. I used off cuts of 2 x 1 inches ( or 47 x 23 mm. if you operate in DCC ) and you can of course cut the wood to whatever size suits you and your layout. This is a very useful technique and quite inexpensive.

Over the Christmas period I noticed a build up of wine bottle corks an, following on from the above example, I tried a few experiments with these corks for track cleaning. Success! - real cork 'corks' are very good at this task, the synthetic ones not so.

I find that one cork will last very well over a normal running session, but an extended session may well require two corks. I prefer this later method for the obvious benefits that accrue form the purchase of quantities of wine. I find that red wine corks are best, particularly Shiraz! I do believe that my wife is now taking a keener interest in our wonderful hobby.

Please carry out your track cleaning responsibly.

Just a line to thank John Wass for his kind reply of 17.2.10.

Tom Burns, NJ

Aficionados of the S&D may not have noticed that Golden Arrow have reintroduced their large boilered 7F resin kit. It requires a tender and a simple adjustment to the cylinders of a Hornby 8F. Dean Sidings have also produced a 7F, small boilered with a plain boiler saddle, and a tender kit with wheels. The butchering to a donor Hornby 8F chassis looks much more drastic. The tender is of the cab variety, a type abandoned in 1924, so modellers wanting a later version, who have given up on a RTR one being produced, would need a tender top from a spares supplier like East Kent Models. I have no connection with the companies mentioned, except gratitude that they exist!

It's winter wonderland once again here on the Yorkshire Coast, but March is just around the corner and, with it, there generally blows in a change in the weather.

March next week! Yes, there is just one week to go before 'Wish List' voting begins. Have you had a look at the voting cards (addresses at the bottom of this page) and prepared your list of ten items that you want manufacturers to make next? Don't forget to give some thought to the 'commercial viability locomotive survey' (found in the MREmag 'Articles' section) that Brian Macdermott carried out, with your help, before Christmas. Be ready! The time to vote is fast approaching.

The magazine gives us the first review of the Heljan 00 Class 14 diesel, commissioned by Hattons of Liverpool. I am not telling you what it says - you will have to buy the magazine, but it includes an article on the real locomotives. Also reviewed are an 0 gauge 2-BIL by Electrifyingtrains, with good internal and external detail, the Farish revised Class 47s and MBA 'Megabox', Dapol's N gauge Virgin Charter 'book set' and St Ives Bay Class 153, TMC weathered minerals, Heljan's latest 00 Class 33, Bachmann's 4-CEP and grubby 08, the SECR H Class from OO Works, the Hattons by Bachmann Merseyrail Class 150/2 and the Kernow by Bachmann weed killer Class 20 pair.

The first layout visited is by Scarborough & District Railway Modellers, a club I co-founded with David Hall 'way back when', but have lost touch with in recent years. The attractive layout is N gauge 'Scarworth Junction' which is on tour this year. The next layout visited is Stuart Price's N gauge 'Foxfield Tunnel' - a skillfully landscaped winter scene. The most attractive of this month's layouts for me is the P4 'Clarendon' which is a rather over-tidy 1908 LNWR scene and quite mouth-watering. Then there is the scenically grand 00 'Broad Sidlinch' S&DJR layout at the North Norfolk Railway.

Practical articles include making streams, building points, easy uncoupling and the trackplan is Thorp Arch - an unusual circular layout.

I should like to express my thanks to Andrew Carter, Pete Williams, Keith Montgomery and Brian Lambert for their answers to my questions. They were all helpful and in the simple one word or sentence format that I requested, Hopefully I can progress in DCC now.

Chris Martin

Quentin Lewis mentions coaches suitable for the Bachmann City of Truro, but the answer may be simpler than he suggests.

Since the engine never ran in GWR days in the condition represented in the model - i.e. coned boiler, top feed, reinforced horns and full Dean livery - it wouldn't be accurate with any pre-nationalisation coaches. The model represents the engine as a preserved 'runner', i.e. in the condition to which it was returned to traffic in the late 1950s and as it now is after release from the old Swindon museum. Appropriate coaching stock is therefore BR Western Region sets, including Hawksworth and Collett coaches in carmine and cream, along with the 57 varieties of livery applied to BR mark 1 stock over the years. Given that its wanderings took it to Scotland on at least one occasion, Gresley LNER and even possibly pre-grouping Scottish companies' stock might be in order.

Neil Burgess

Following the difference of opinion as to whether Hawksworth stock ran in GWR livery, there are three pictures in The Pictorial Record of Great Western Coaches by Jim Russell on pages 260 and 262 of Hawksworth stock in GWR livery with "Great Western" on the coach sides.

Pete Williams

Nick Stanbury raises in interesting point about availability of materials, so I did five minutes worth of research using good-ole Google.

According to postings in this forum, made as recently as August 2009, acetone is widely available in the UK, from a variety of sources, to the walk-in customer.

Interestingly, I often send my wargaming pals to model railway stores and sources for advice and materials, but this is the first time I've explicitly given the complementary advice.

Meths, known outside the UK as denatured alcohol, is a good solvent, but I've found it more use for running my Mammod traction engine than getting the glue out of old metal kits. It hasn't been aggressive enough in my experiments (but your mileage will of course vary). I never used it on point, as I feared for the plastic dissolving and I already had brake fluid working for me.

Acetone poses a tad more risk, explosion and fire wise, as meths does and, of course, requires the proper respect in handling. I'm sorry if there was any confusion; I had previously assumed that anyone wanting to try it for themselves would know not to use the stuff near a blazing hearth while smoking and using a blow-lamp. (grinning at that image).

Rules of thumb for any organic liquid are: if you can smell it, it's evaporating. The stronger the smell, the more vapour is likely present.

Corollary: all organic vapours and colloidal dust suspensions are flammable and/or explosive if confined. The web should be awash in accounts of coal bunker, oil tank and sugar silo explosions to illustrate the point, but I'll leave that research as an exercise for the reader. After all, your keyboards are no further from your fingertips than my keyboard is from mine.

Jim Flanagan has concerns with brake fluid preventing paint sticking to the piece afterwards and in 'etching'.

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While I heartily agree with Nick Stanbury about the unpleasant and potentially dangerous nature of acetone, a good chemists shop may be able to obtain it for you. An art student friend of mine wanted several litres for a project, the local chemist would supply him once he had convinced them what it was to be used for. Mind you, I don’t think I would like to have that much lying around the place.

However, I have been informed that acetone is, or was, an ingredient of nail polish remover. According to the bottle on the current Mrs Flanagan’s dressing table it is "Acetone free" . I have yet to test it as a stripper of paint on a model but I can confirm that it works wonders on the bizarre coloured lacquers that her Ladyship smears all over her nails and the varnish on the bedside table.

Neat antifreeze seems to be quite a good paint remover (just spill some on the car and wait a few hours). Most modern cars and vans use a lot of different plastics in their cooling systems so presumably it does not affect the plastics used.

Jim Flanagan

Your correspondents have had some useful tips for owners of this fine looking model. Can I add that the recommended Hornby decoder R8249 supplied by Hattons is not insulated (or at least the ones they supplied me - despite their advance assurance that they were). I have already damaged two decoders with home made insulation - so am anxious to get to get an 'official' means of coding this locomotive. (currently awaiting their reply)

Stephen Nicholson

I take no credit for this whatsoever as the below information was provided at my request by an ex-railwayman friend.

In Don Rowland’s book on BR wagons there is a little more detail. B888000 was the prototype, Diagram 1/273. The big build was to Diagram 1/272, consisting of 1920 BUT there were variations in buffer lengths and couplings. 20 of this build were lettered, and coloured, for salt traffic. Nos. B888001 – B888890, B887800 – B887999, B873024 – 873193, B873200 – B873369, B873420 – 873569, B873570 – 873719 and B873794 – B873893. These were constructed by Shildon, Central, Metro-Cammell, Butterley, and Gloucester.

The 17t Fly Ash version was Diagram 1/278, built Shildon, B873771 – 873792 [22 vehicles]. The next version was Diagram 1/279, 21t Fly ash, one built by Darlington Loco Works, B 873793, B873894 – B873915, built at Shildon, and B 873916 – B873977 built by Ashford, 85 in total. A further fly-ash was B873062, a conversion.

'Prestwins', Diagram 1/274, were built by Metro-Cammell, B873000 – B873023, B873194 – B873199, 30 vehicles, and B873770 built by Pickering. A further batch, with increased capacity [i.e. longer frame], was B 873370 – 873419 from Metro-Cammell, and B 873270 – B 873769 by Central, all in 1961. Oddly enough the two Diagrams both refer to 20T capacity. The second batch were built with a lower overall height.

As the Editor says, as companies bought their own cement wagons 'Presflos' were used to carry sand. Also from the same source some 'Preslfos' ventured abroad.

I hope this may be of use to the modellers who have raised the queries.

Merv Rogers

I have been discussing the future of MREmag with some of you and come to a decision - which I will come to later.

I have probably bored you stiff with my moans about the magazine taking up too much of my time. Today has been an exception as there have been very few emails and so it has given me time to tackle this issue.

The facts are these:

1. Each issue usually takes the best part of a day to put together.

2. The most time consuming part is the 'Having Your Say' forum.

3. The most valuable part of the magazine to readers is the forum.

4. My modelling days are long gone. I am a collector and historian and I need to write and have time to write.

The problems are:

1. Much of my time is being taken up by correcting messages that the writer clearly has not bothered to read through before pressing the 'send' button, otherwise they would realise that they don't make sense. Sorting out this is the most time consuming job of all.

2. Many emails are sent by people who don't bother to use their spell-check.

3. Some people are unable to write well and must not be excluded, and so must continue to receive editorial help.

4. Despite introducing a 400 word limit, several have since gone well over that, thinking that an apology allows them to be an exception to the rule.

Possible solutions suggested to me were:

1. Remove the forum and reduce the magazine to an news service and database - (this would remove the most valuable part of the magazine and should be done as a last resort).

2. Exclude people who ignore the discipline of the magazine - (no one has ever been banned from MREmag and no one ever will be).

3. Farm out material to volunteer editors - (this has been considered but it was felt that the time in administering it would outweigh the time saved).

4. Leave out similar responses to questions - (this was tried but in analysing what to include and what to leave out, it was quicker to include everyone's answers).

5. Turn the magazine into a business with paid access and advertising - (I prefer to keep it open to everyone and, anyway, the administration of the business would be a lot more time consuming.

6. Impose further restrictions on size of contributions - (restrictions have been only partially effective as they can be ignored. Shortening an article so that it still makes sense doesn't actually save me time).

7. Abandon editing altogether - (this certainly has appeal but puts me at greater risk of libel, lets in the trolls and defeats a basic aim of MREmag - that of providing equality amongst participants (the reason why I remove Dr, Rev, Sir, The Honourable, His Royal Highness, etc., from names before publishing them and the reason why I try to 'equalise' the English in contributions).

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have now come to the following decisions:

2. If I find that anyone persistently expecting me to correct what I know they are capable of correcting themselves, it will be politely returned the email to them for correction. So, please reread everything before sending it and use your spell-check.

 Brian Macdermott and I have prepared the following notes which you might like to use as guidance in lightening my load. However, this is not a classroom, so don't let them put you off writing. Any help you can give me will be welcomed.

The greater majority of printed publications have what is known as a ‘Style of the House’. MREmag is no different, and that is why it is such an easy magazine to read. If you have genuine writing difficulties, I shall still accept your contribution and help you construct it ready for publication. Please do not be put off by the following advice!

Heading: Please start your piece with a heading. Don't leave it to me to do.

Length: Aim for a maximum of 200 words. Smaller amounts will be very welcomed.

Font: In the magazine I use Arial typeface and keep the main text to 12pt size.

Don't Enhance: Please avoid using italics and bold. Leave these for me to add (as they often corrupt in downloading).