Robert Shrives

JHB, Indeed. I spent 1991 - 2024 less 5 back on FR co works building hostel and marketing work. Trying to run some sort of services at BR, Reg rail, EWS , VT- XC in several colours - I was like a stray dog having several owners but nobody wanted to feed or pay the vet bills. Bashing heads with Railtrack and NR was fun in the day . Once I was refused permission to run a 153 dmu through the Severn tunnel as it only had one engine. Like a class 47 I asked? It was suggested I was sarcastic and difficult. Only when needed I replied, 153 ran... Hopefully back on topic the Enterprise services will be sorted and new shiny but tested trains will improve transport. Robert

The idea of sharing stock falls on the alter of risk minimisation- by only using own stock then crews expose the owners to limited risk compared to letting them operate hired in stock - even if they sign the traction. XC crews could not use GWR HSTs as not all cab switches ended up in same place due to the "non regulated" schemes , could not even use VT / Advanti 221 voyagers as cab switches had differing positions plus XC crews no longer sign tilt equipment. Thus spare Advanti sets sat on Central rivers while XC services short formed ran past.. This sort of "fun" repeated across the network. I recall running BR 304 emus Rugby to Crewe and back to ensure the 14 standing= needs an exam was avoided. Summer specials / adex stock was rotting garbage most of the time and hardly a good experience but even with rose tinted specs were operational liability. I recall a SO detached at Shrewsbury off a Birmingham - Pwhelli train - Itself a poor shadow of the weekend London - PWL services to allow Butlins inmates swap over. The coach lingered for weeks while resources found to rescue back to Tyesley for attention to dragging brakes. Finally some folk on a Euston - Wolves service enjoyed 08 haulage from Grand junction to the platforms one day when an 86 gave up the ghost. IIRC fun days! Robert

Well mine landed today. so Sligo should be awash with fuel now !! Lovely models but will need uber gunking at some point, will need to look at photos. Thanks to all involved in this project around the globe. Robert

The 66 is brewing up nicely having seen some bits and bobs across a desk near mine! A bit of a wait but i think it will be well worth it, still like my G1 one.

Good news but does it mean the big orange one has a model railroad in the White house ? Thinks before pressing send is it of "Orange" prototypes, the UK "special arrangement" might thus refer to MK2D air cons ... Robert

used link but not able to order as it will not recognise Wales Had hoped to get some black bogies and 3 tail lamp packs but just not able to... Robert

A bit of time today, avoiding the blow meant along with a delivery of tiny castings the GWR railcar has lurched forward with bogie side frames fitted on one side. The axle end gear box comes as double drive ended add on casting to the basic side frame so in BR days the double drive was removed I have trimmed back to more like photos. Body is a shapeways grainy affair bit having had quite a bit of sanding does look ok Power bogie is a blast from past it is a Mike Chinery 12mm NG power bogie intended for Irish NG railcars but is a lovely runner and railcar does not need to shoot about like an HST so works well on Branchline layout. robert

A good news and obvs a source of cutting and extending ... As it happens I was just a few metres away from the office where this was generated. So will follow with interest - I did help look at seeing if a CIE look-near- alike was possible upon this tooling even allowing for it being short and it was just not viable hence using the suggest vehicles to take on the Tourax decoration instead. Hopefully I can get my mits on some samples in time to chop up ! Robert

Two pics for added value ( I hope) 117 dmu with middle car at rear in blue drivers still in primer with more work required on roof domes. The 158 is a 3 D print in the grainy style of old from Shapeways I will carry on with it but I think it is a bit dead in the water given modern print standards. Robert

Mol, Ennis was on my ideas list a while back due to the curved platforms and terminating trains - I was going for a modernised trackplan but with benefits. Claremorris -Burma Road- Sligo a`la Patrick style of presentation was another flight of fancy - lottery requirement to oblige! NIR stuff did see a Portadown idea as well, along with a Belfast Central- Adelaide yard fancy. It hard from afar(ish) to avoid a fictional section to allow the multiple interesting train formations slide by. Your space with a double line loop and at a differing level a single line and loop attached to fiddle yards/loops could then be anywhere you fancy on the day. robert

A bit of an update, found box of DMU stuff so now having a review. Met cam 101 dmu has home made airvac vents two more coaches to go at. The green Tadpole needs roof details sorting - cable conduits on all three plus roof fans and hatch handles on PC. The Mk 3 is in primer, bogies done just need to sort couplings and bogie mounts, sadly Alan Doherty has no more etched sides so I only have 4 vehicles. The 121 is a mix of 3mm soc ends and Alan`s sides and roof, needs undergubbins and exhausts. I need a new box of roundtuits as well. Robert

Indeed the sets had quite a good reform game with power cars moving round - I guess exams/ faults along with a desire to run trains saw lots of fun! Trailers were augmented with loco stock - a one way conversion and of course repairs were necessary due to damage. Several vehicles went to Glasgow works and some power cars went back to Derby. IIRC loco coach driving brake 812 became a DMU vehicle and ended up having brake end removed and standard seating accommodation - done in Glasgow using part of sides from withdrawn Mk2. So a basic 80 class project is quite tool/ slide hungry which is cost rich.... Re 450 you never know. Robert

Looking to the north the 80 and 450 class units float a boat here. The 80 having some "cross over" with Mk2 stock . As we know Mol it is easy to spend somebody else`s dosh. Robert

Well cut and angled one end of a 5Bel roof and looks the part so that along with sorting fixing of roof using nylon csk screws and nuts I should be able to proceed a bit more. Robert

Darius, Amazing bit of work on the historical artifacts you obtain and this is the best one so far from your workshops, please keep up the inspirational works. Robert